Mannequins come in all shapes and sizes. You can buy white ones, flesh coloured ones, and even chrome ones. With or without make-up or hair, adult or child plus there are even specialist mannequins available (sports). You can have movable limbs, no heads, torso’s only…and the list goes on! They are, without a doubt, an essential part of a window and shop fittings display. I can hear many of you saying ‘but I don’t sell clothing so I don’t need one’. Oh yes you do! …..
I’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Chrome, our new showroom mannequin. 
She reminds me of a movie from my teenage years, which oddly enough is called ‘Mannequin’. It’s about a young artist who is unable hold down a job. He finally feels like a proper artist when he designs a perfect mannequin) that ends up in a large department store. The artist goes on to rescue the owner this store and gains employment. Reunited with his mannequin, whom he falls in love with, they set about making fabulous window displays. Needless to say this upsets the competitors who stoop to desperate measures in attempt to stop the pair. I won’t tell you the end except to say it’s a classic happy ever after story.
You don’t need to sell clothing to need a mannequin. I’ve seen them in DIY stores, displaying tool belts and safety equipment, furniture stores have used them to enhance the ‘real’ look of their displays and I even know of someone who once had one in the front passenger seat of their car just so they could drive in the 2+ lanes round the city centre. We do not recommend trying this!
Our top 5 considerations for using mannequins:
- You need good sturdy mannequins on display in a store, ensuring there is no risk of tipping or falling over.
- Lightweight mannequins are great for an online business; use them for photographing your clothing for online sales.
- They are not just for clothing; use them to display accessories like jewellery and handbags.
- If you are short on space or just need to display one item of clothing i.e. a top, consider using just a torso mannequin or a ‘legs’ mannequin.
- For specialist clothing, like sports gear, consider using a specialised mannequin.
Retail sales monitoring has shown that mannequins increase sales: never underestimate the power of visual merchandising.
Crown Display offer a full range of top quality Shop fittings, slatwall panels, retail shop shelving and Retail Accessories. We can provide you with customised sizes and finishes, bespoke counters and display unit, as well as a professional nationwide shopfitting service. Give us a call on Free phone 0800 587 5880 or visit www.crowndisplay.co.uk
