No, I’m not pushing the winter holiday season yet for resale and consignment shops (although we need to talk, soon, about this.) I’m alerting you to the fall season, which may be rapidly leaving your area.
Before it does, there’s something you need to do.
Pumpkins, corn stalks, mums...it's fall even without foliage if need be.
Get out there with your camera and take some really great shots of your shop front to begin compiling a seasonal wardobe of photos for your web site, your blog, your print ads, even your business cards. Capture those gorgeous hues of foliage around your shop for a graphic image that you’ll use to promote fall incoming, fall fashions, and back-to-school next year.
Some tempura paint, a few talented high-school students looking for fame...and any window becomes a fall fantasy.
Add some customers…real or stand-in family and friendly neighbors…entering and exiting your shop, dressed in season-specific outfits. Do manage your models: plan coordinating looks, a variety of customer types, and don’t forget to add those shop-name-emblazoned shopping bags in seasonal colors! (Sorry, you’ll have to use your imagination on this. I couldn’t find such a photo…let us know if you have one!)
The fall fashions here depend more on the rich colors of the Oriental rug than the rich colors of maple trees in autumn.
Does your storefront area not really show the seasons? No trees, no flower beds, no way to get a great autumn shot? Fake it! Do up your windows, your sidewalk amenities, your models in seasonal themes. You could even borrow a few silk trees to stand sentinel on either side of your shop doors.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kate Holmes, Kate Holmes. Kate Holmes said: Quick, whip out your camera:'Tis the Season for #consignment & resale storefront shots. http://wp.me/p4qZP-1CV […]
I try to take pictures of my storefront often, but I never end up doing anything with them. I guess I need to really start marketing with them. Thanks for making me keep thinking, Kate.
Hello Kate. Great advice. Great post. I’d love to see more retailers use exterior shots. The signage and storefront are a big part of a retail brand. Especially if a store relies on drive-by traffic.
If I may add a short note abut pictures; retailers should save the digital photos in high resolution and/or as large as possible. Websites, blogs and Facebook albums use low resolution pics, but if a retailer plans to use the pics in advertising or in any print medium, higher res will be needed. When I request a picture to use in a magazine article, I am surprised how many times the retailer does not have the correct size available.
Quick tutorial: Most cameras have an option somewhere that tells you how many pictures you can take on that disk. If you simply set it to the lowest number, you will know that you are getting the best picture possible. Seriously, who takes 1024 photos at one time anyway 😉
Getting off my soapbox. Have a great day.
~Becky Lang Tyre, Retail Details blog
http://www.swirlmarketing.com