At Fishs Eddy, the puns and irreverent humor begin at the sidewalk and continue throughout the eclectic, often wacky assortments.

By Amy Meadows
Photos by Amy Meadows except where indicated otherwise.

We frequently hear about professional artists and writ­ers struggling with creative block. Trust me — there is not a single visual merchandiser (or independent retailer, for that matter) who has not hit the wall, trying to produce ideas for eye-catching, sales-driving installations or themes.

I can no longer count the number of wedding or swimwear windows I scraped together, trying desperately to avoid what might be considered tropes: bouquets, netting, and gift boxes for bridal and beach balls, umbrellas, palm trees, and cabanas for swimwear. Ugh — not those tired old things again!

Yes, you know they will be OK. But the goal is always to surpass OK. Where can you turn to for inspiration? For resources? For assistance? Before the internet and social media (gasp!), our studio walls were covered with tear sheets from magazines, stacks of catalogs, and opportunities for travel to industry markets to spot innovative developments in mannequins, prop fabrication, and trending themes.

I can always count on ABC Carpet and Home to create mouthwatering, inspiring visuals. Antique bed springs as a fixture? Yes, please!
Trade shows are not necessarily known for creative presentations, but keep your eyes open for signage, color usage, and fixtures.

Happily, the world now comes to you by way of Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook — while still providing access to industry events, suppliers, and market trends. Some of those key trends include eco-friendly mannequins, forms, and fixtures, as well as 3D printing and fair-trade propping.

Remember — inspiration is everywhere. Remain open to discoveries, and I guarantee that in addition to the straightforward and accessible tools and resources listed below, you will find your ideal paint color while dining out. You might spot the perfect solu­tion to a crowded cash wrap at the beauty salon or stumble upon a clever riser idea at the farm market. Before you know it, you will be back at it with a few new ideas up your proverbial sleeves!

Retailers Worth Watching

While you do not necessarily want to borrow another store’s visuals, it is always a good idea to benchmark other retailers, whether they are competitors or not. While each of these retailers has robust online accounts with tons of images, there is nothing quite like a visit to New York City and the chance to experience these stores firsthand. I am talking about floorplan comparisons, lighting quality, what you like (or dislike) about the signage, merchandising, and overall vibe.

Anthropologie
Can I move in? I find these stores to be the perfect blend of skilled layout and shoppability while consistently demonstrating eclectic charm. Vignettes, tablescapes, and window displays effort­lessly combine old and new, rugged, and refined. I always leave with ideas.

ABC Carpet and Home
While there are plenty of photos and reels online, it is difficult to accurately convey the scale of this store. The windows draw you in, and you quickly fall under the spell of exquisite bedding, rugs, furniture, and home décor at every turn. Wow!

Fishs Eddy
Quirky. Charming. Clever. Who knew a store specializing in vintage plates and restaurant supply overruns could utilize antique photos, hand-drawn signs, and clever puns to such great effect? Always crowded, always fun, impossible to leave empty-handed.

Hooray for flagging tape! It works well for marking utilities AND creating festive backdrops and wall coverings. All this budget-friendly, festive, flagging tape fringe at The Stutz for pennies!
While the food at this Oaxacan restaurant was delicious, it was the tablescape in the foyer that stayed with me . . . those melted candles!

Social Media

Pinterest
What began as a site that ran heavily on casserole recipes and bridesmaid dresses has become an essential research tool for retail­ers, designers, and other creative professionals. I currently have several boards under my business name, Windows Matter, and I encourage you to check them out.

My collections focus on prop, fixture, and design ideas that are well-suited to the needs of independent retailers — achievable, accessible, affordable. If I were working with you as a consultant for your store(s), I would typically create a private board where we could exchange images and concepts that work (or perhaps those ideas do not work, and here is what we would like to avoid).

It is a terrific platform for the exchange of ideas when a picture is worth more than one thousand words.

Instagram
This is another extremely worthwhile platform but for slightly varied reasons. The stories and posts are nice, bite-sized amounts of info and imagery. If you are a scroller or a skimmer, you will be able to take in a great deal of information quickly and react/comment on what appeals to you. The algorithms will do the rest of the work, making sure you receive a steady flow of similar content.

Some of my favorite accounts are:

  • @retaildetails
  • @frontdoorbackretail
  • @mcdesigncollaboration
  • @wolfson15a (Amanda Wolfson)
  • @northriversideparkmall
  • @allkinds_studio
  • @retailmavens
  • @popdecorative
  • @meghan_curran (a day in the life of an Anthropologie

There is also a myriad of accounts for area business districts, theaters, and libraries. And libraries are a secret weapon, with their classes, exhibits, and visiting artists.

Do not forget local museums and botanical gardens! Newfield’s annual Art in Bloom in Indianapolis invites area artists and floral designers to create botanical interpretations of paintings and sculptures in the permanent collection. The results are consistently intriguing.

Special Events

I would often assign my visual merchandising students to conduct research in auxiliary fields. If you enjoy creating displays but want to do more, where might you take your skills?

Quite frankly if you can sew, stage, paint, and build, the world is your oyster. SO many companies — nationwide — build scenery for TV shows, fashion runways, botanical gardens, amusement parks, and even escape rooms! While these are almost certainly all union shops (IATSE, AFL-CIO) operating at a corporate level, ddo not discount the creative content they produce!

  • MNK Studio Art (www.mnkstudioart.com) — this amazing duo is multi-disciplinary, taking on projects ranging from space activation to photo-styling.
  • Vim + Venture (www.vimandventure.com) — I first discovered this team when their innovative wedding setups for place cards/table seatings popped up on Instagram, featuring everything from lovely fresh florals to retro LPs and HiFi speakers.
  • David Beahm Experiences (www.davidbeahm.com) — so much more than the bridal focus they began with. Not coincidentally, David Beahm’s background in theater helped launch his vision for over-the-top weddings, parties, and black-tie galas.
  • Creative Arts Unlimited, Inc. (www.creativeartsinc. com) — fun, creative, and educational. Also, given the work they have done for children’s hospitals, I would add healing.
  • Spaeth Design (www.spaethdesign.com) — I am sure you are familiar with their work in animated windows for Macy’s and Saks and their window displays for Tiffany’s and other prominent retailers. Based in New York City, they can pull from some of Broadway’s finest designers and fabricators while creating shopping mall attractions and event décor.
  • David Stark Design (www.davidstarkdesign.com) — ceilings draped with Benjamin Moore paint color cards; candle holders made from loaves of French bread. I have always loved the ways they often utilize prosaic items for elegant and eye-catching decorations.
MNK Studio Art does it all! I am especially fond of this space activation for The Orchard in Westminster, Colorado, which screams fun for visitors and residents alike. While this makes quite the splash at this scale, I can imagine this color story — perhaps this wave formation — in a window or feature wall. PHOTO COURTESY OF MNK STUDIO ART

Have an interesting display to share? Or a question about visual merchandising strategies for your business or your district? Visit www.windowsmatter.com for more information. ilMindedWorld and Twitter via @RetailMinded.