Hats, scarves, tights – sell more accessories in store this winter

There’s no denying it – women love accessories! However it can sometimes be difficult to plan an outfit and envision which accessories would complement it best – retailers can capitalise on this indecision by creating a range of displays showing off their accessories with other items in store, which could encourage shoppers to purchase the whole outfit!

Display seasonal accessories

Seasonal accessories – such as an umbrella for spring, sun hat for summer and hats, scarves and gloves for winter – are a great way to start showing off your range of accessories. If you also sell other clothes, display mannequins are ideal, whether you opt for a fibreglass mannequin or an eco-plastic style. You can show off hats and scarves to great effect with other items of clothing from your range – it’s even an opportunity to display some of this season’s bags and shoes. Your visual merchandiser can come up with seasonal outfits that are sure to draw consumers’ eyes – don’t forget to buy accessories such as wigs for the mannequins themselves, especially if you want to show off your range of hats.

Tights please

Seeing what tights look like on a mannequin can persuade women to make a purchase – in a closed package, it can often be hard to tell what the material will actually look like on. Using leg mannequins to display tights, knee high or over-the-knee socks and other hosiery, even leggings and skinny jeans, is a great way to showcase your products and attract customers to buy items they hadn’t previously considered.

Mix n’ match

One mistake inexperienced visual merchandisers or store staff often make is to make displays too co-ordinated, where everything is matching. Interest and variety is key, so try a pop of colour, such as a bright yellow handbag with a white top, blue jeans and a pale blue scarf. Mix n’ match your best sellers with items that linger for longer on the shelves – somebody may like how they look together and purchase the entire outfit!

Spending some time on your displays and focusing on seasonal accessories can help you to sell more hats, scarves and gloves this winter – make sure that cosy winter accessories are easy for customers to spot too – try wire baskets on display stands so customers can rummage, or slatwall panels with hooks and rails where scarves and hats can be displayed to their best advantage.