Form or function? How do you arrange your shelves?
Sorry, but these shelves, neat as they are (and the shop pictured is just pleased as punch with their new shelving and labels), just don’t tempt me into discovering what’s available to purchase. Looks like a stockroom to me, not a wonderful shop of exciting things to explore.
Focused or free-form? Which would you say your shoppers were? Do they really, truly come in your shop for, specifically, a Figurine-People or Ashtrays (yes, there are shelves so labeled.)? Or are they more impulsive, seeing something that they didn’t know they couldn’t live without?
Tidy or Tempting? Which do you think will sell more?
(Hint: Statistics say 53-60% of all purchases are made on a whim. And once you subtract cars, wedding gowns and feminine hygiene products, that figure is probably considerably higher.)
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
In our small shop we do what we can to fit everything into place without hiding anything. The displays are constantly changing because the table with the vintage china sitting on it gets sold and we have to scramble around to find another spot. We had a jungle display set up in one area until all but three items sold and no more jungle items came in…….now the big tiger is sitting in the window and the jungle corner is displaying a collection of Precious Moments snow globes. I’ll admit sometimes my displays get boring…….then a consignor brings in something awesome and I am inspired once again.
Leslie, that’s what I LOVE BEST about the business… the constant evolution of goods, and the need to think “outside the box”… turning the “jungle corner” into the snow globe country! And maybe nestling the left-over tiger next to some animal-print dresses or vases…
More “outside the box” thoughts from resalers over on my web site, Too Good to be Threw, at http://tgtbt.com/tob.htm
I love it when resale shops color coordinate items. Except when they do it with clothing
Oh, forgot, we tried color coordinating. Not a good choice, it was boring and got to be a total mess very quickly.
It might work for clothing, but not for home decor.
We are very free form. Our shelves will tell a story or group items that “seem” to go together.
We also, “shake up” our shelves frequently. That means we move items around and redo so that new items can fit or enhance what is already on display. We love it when a customer clears a shelf. That means we got it right!
I really don’t find either one of these to be really inspiring. Just because you group colors together does not make it an interesting display.
Thanks Jayne for your comment. What would YOU… or more important, your shoppers… find inspiring? Love to hear what you have to add to the conversation!