I’m sure you’ve all had the experience of seeing yourself, your home… or your store… in pictures and thinking
OMG does it REALLY look that bad?
There’s something about our vision that edits reality into what we want to see: a neat and appealing shoe department, a crisp and clean sales counter… even if it isn’t.
Sometimes it takes a photograph to really show us what a stranger sees. Like:
All we can see in this jewelry showcase are the price tags!
Imagine how much better these bags would look, colorized and stuffed with tissue.
How much better would this wall look with some arranging… and hanging?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
I take pictures of my resale booth to send to my sisters as well as study at home. I can easily see where I can better merchandise, where my eye is drawn and what new spaces I may have to fill. Lighting ok after that lamp sold?
Do I need a quick flip? Is it shoppable? Great tool, that camera. I had years of experience as a merchandiser for HobLob and use much of that training. I know the power of basic tricks.
Thanks for commenting, Mary… would love to hear your “top 3” basic tricks! (Or top 10, or whatever!)
I read your response last night and couldn’t sleep. My head was reeling with thoughts so I am doing a common sense kickback to you.
First! Be considerate of your customer. I make sure that my area is clean and organized. My displays are SAFE and lit. I need to remember that today’s shopper are savvy and don’t want to dig through piles of broken junk when they have entered an antique/new and used shop. They come in with expectation….
Second! Stand out. Somehow. I am an employee of the mall where I work and I discovered that the average shopper spends about 45 minutes, is either a young mom (or moms) with kids in tow, retired persons with time to spend and on weekends it is families of all ages. I make sure that two to three people can easily navigate my space, a wheelchair will fit, that it is relatively child safe. I have a bowl of wrapped candy at about waist high at all times,
my “stock” is displayed in ways that inspire rather than soldier ranks, my branding is simple and consistent. It takes only a few minutes to tear a sheet into strips and tie it around a mason jar, or a roll of a few music sheets and increase its perceived value. and at .99 a shopper sometimes buys in appreciation of the displays! Handwritten signs all over are an insult.
Third. Sell only what sells. My personal style is extremely eclectic but I live in a relatively rural area. Country primitive sells better than steampunk in mid-Wisconsin. I walk a varied line between what is trending (weekend and holiday shoppers) and what is practical (cast iron pans, linens and, of course, the .99 toy for the kids.)
Fourth. Music. I am a young 60 and play appropriate tunes that were popular during my college days. Young retirees with disposable income always comment on the music. NO THICK AS A BRICK! more like Eric Clapton.
I will leave a shop that has on the radio tuned to the local country station.
Fifth. Never ignore a costumer. NEVER! They aren’t always right but they always deserve some kind of satisfaction.
I will sleep tonight although I could go on.
I get much out of your site and recommend it to others. We don’t know what we don’t know.
It is kind of like thinking we look “good” until we see a picture of ourselves and realize that we look older and fatter than the person we see in the mirror everyday.
Nancy, it’s not like that AT ALL! 🙂 It’s just that, in a photo, we can see areas that need improvement (or better lighting!) And believe me when I say, about personal photos…. people see you a LOT more like what you see in the mirror, than what appears in the photo… friends’ eyes are veiled with affection; strangers’ eyes are veiled with introspection… they’re busy thinking about themselves and don’t use their critical eye on you!
Good post! Yep — taking photos is the best way to see around what our brains “see” everyday. We stop seeing the little details that never get fixed. I refuse to let anyone take photos in my kitchen it’s so gawdawful. lol