This straight Entry Loop Hook was not used much as a Loop. Look lower left to see merchandise hung and draped casually over the same hook, regardless of the Loop. A hinged metal tag provides a built-in articulated label holder. The Straight-Entry configuration too is a bit unusual, but very eye-catching in a contrasting metal alloy. Finally an uncommon hole pattern is used to form the perfed metal display surface. One might ask, what is not different about this retail tool display found in a woodworking specialty store.

 For additional coverage of this display surface pattern SEE…
“One-of-a-Kind Perf Metal Pattern.”

For related articulated holders SEE…
“Hinged Metal Plate Label Holders”

For vertical label holder discussions SEE…
“Label Orientation Alternatives“
“Rotated Toothbrush Label Holders” and
“Backplate Anchors Toothbrushes.”

SEARCH “Straight Entry” to follow the specialty hook thread.

SEARCH “Perforated Metal” to follow the display surfaces thread.

Courtesy of The Sideroad Website

If the store fixture is the tool, then learning to be a merchandising craftsman with that tool is the mark of a true retail professional. Here, then, for all such aspiring professionals is practical advice for merchandising effectively and promoting sales courtesy of The Sideroad website and Retail Services Consultant Donna Geary. Among the subtopics covered are merchandise density, accessibility, size and price vs. shelf position, taking advantage of eye and hand level, face-out merchandising, vertical merchandising, cross presentations, merchandise outposts, and performing a shopper reality check.

Yes, I know, that for the most part, you know all this. But a quick refresher course never hurts. Link on over to Donna’s online article “Merchandising for Sales and Profits: Promoting Impulse Sales.”

For a “fixture-only” perspective SEARCH
“Best Practices” here on Fixtures Close Up.

For Fixtures Close Up posts that uniquely deal with stock arrangements SEE…
“How to Correctly Face Apparel.”
“Wrenches Fixtured Step-Wise”
“Erratic Hooks Tighten Display.”

This vertical display system features an unusual hole pattern I have never seen before. The closely spaced rows seem to be standard Pegboard pattern, but the alternating rows are unique. Many of the fixtures were Straight Entry Display Hooks that mounted to the standard hole pattern. No Scan Hooks, front wire Label Holders, or Back Tags were used. Though as you can see labels were adhered directly to the display surface of each facing to identify and price it. View the small inset or CLICK the thumbnail for a closeup view of the pattern

If you are familiar with this perforated metal pattern, please educate and enlighten us all by leaving a comment. To see more of it VISIT… “Articulated Metal Tag for Labels.”

For other Perforated Metal posts and patterns SEE…
“Hook Styles for Square Perfed Metal“
“Hybrid Perforated Metal Hook”
“Loop Hook for Square Holes”
“Poor Display, Outstanding Fixtures”
“Inventory Control Front and Rear”

For a flat horizontal use of Perforated Metal SEE…
“ Perforated Pallet Rack Shelf OverLay.”

SEARCH “Perforated Metal” for all posts related by display surface.

SEARCH “Straight Entry” to follow the specialty hook thread.

Image Courtesy of Retail Environments Magazine and the Kapsiki Boutique, Palm Beach, Florida

It looks like I am not the only admirer of unusual retail store fittings, even when homemade. This use of Copper Tubing as fixture comes from the “Inspirations” section of A•R•E Retail Environments magazine. CLICK the thumbnail to see a magazine cover closeup, or link out to their latest Digital Edition.

For more examples of such creativity
here on Fixtures Close Up, SEE…

“Do-It-Yourself Store Fixture“
“Brass or Bronze Fixture Finish“
“Rivet Detail in Retail“

Need a similar result in lighter gauge, VISIT…
“All Wire End-of-Rack Hook.”

Moving farther afield you might enjoy the thread originating at
“Radical Departure Fixture Design.”

I admit it. ‘Twas I who propped and photographed this package hanging in two ways. It was all I could imagine for the second package hole. But the large circular knock-out is so unlike the normal that I wonder if there is another use for it. Sometimes camping gear and tools are sold in packing meant for user storage or display. Might this second hole allow the tiny and easy to misplace flashlight, to be hung in its large hard-to-lose clamshell from a tentpole or guy-wire while camping? Usage comments are welcome and invited. CLICK the thumbnail for a closeup view of the skewed presentation. Display hardware you ask? Simple All Wire Scan Hooks with Flip Front Label Holders. I cropped them out forcing you to focus on the unusual packaging. *****

For other asymmetrical and unbalanced product display SEE…

“Hook Displays Hammer Diagonally”
“Scissor Display Asymmetry Offers Trial”
“Lash Curler As POP Objet D’art”
“Asymmetric Package Display”
“Odd Sign Insert is Die-cut Shape“
“Fixturing Unbalanced Packages”
“Hammer Hardware Holder”

Normally I am on the lookout for creative store fixtures. But creative new ways to market in retail always intrigue me too. Here an LED Flashlight is packaged with pet poop pickup bags as a reinforcement to the sale. The package pitch is that the flashlight “provides added safety, makes picking up pet waste quick and easy … and that it attaches to any leash.” Scheptical I consulted my city-dwelling, pet-owning friends (I am rural where animals may poop as they see fit). I was told this is a winning combo. Still parochial, rural-ensconced me, can’t grasp the situation. If you must curb and clean up after your dog in the city, don’t the street lights provide the necessary illumination? Is the dog-poop political party too impotent to have the municipality turn up the lumen level (see “lux“)? CLICK the thumbnail for a better look at creative marketing worthy of an early Award from Fixtures Close Up. The only thing missing from the selling strategy is ASPCA and UL product approvals.

For others in the Fixtures Close Up Award series, SEE…

“2011 Creative Cross Sell Award“
“2011 Creative Hookery Award“
“2011 Smallest Slotwall Award“
“2011 Unruly Fixture Award“

“2010 Creative Cross Sell Award“

For more of my dry, observational wit SEARCH “Silly” here on Fixtures Close Up.

A graceful curve defines a new approach to Hang Tags, here applied to Endless Basket. I’m not sure the concavity improves label visibility, but it adds a small design flourish not seen elsewhere. The rear kickstand does help maintain a better angle though. CLICK the thumbnail for a closeup view of front and back. *****

For other fixture alternatives SEE…
“Basket Tag Baselines”
“Bakery Shelf Label Challenge” and
“Hang Tags in Vibrant Color.”

For an unusual but related post SEE…
“Hinged Metal Plate Label Holders”

SEARCH “Basket Tags” for all related posts.

This cute chubby Hamster (or possibly Groundhog) served as speechless spokesmodel in this cosmetics point-of-purchase display. The Bell Jar further focused attention and elevated the item‘s merchandising. The Hamster either escaped or possibly was kept from chewing the product by the Bell Jar itself. There was no indication the Hamster was a giveaway with retail purchase. So he must be sales staff.

For other Bell Jar posts SEE…

“Bell Jar Squared for Shelf Edge”
“Candles in Bell Jars”
“Lingerie in a Bell Jar”
“Swedish Bell Jars on Display”
“Cosmetics in a Bell Jar”
“Twin Fragrances in Bell Jars” and
“Fragrance in a Bell Jar Redux”

For plush animals in retail SEE…

“Plush Uglys Point-of-Purchase Stand”
“Plush Toy Shelf Dividers”
“Hook has Two Monkey Load Limit”
“Fencing Overstiffed Goods” and
“Plush Bolster as Belt Displayer”

For one of my favorite movies SEE…
“Groundhog Day (film)”

For an explanation of the holiday, SEE…
“Groundhog Day (Holiday)”

Back tags can provide important planogram and stocking information, and sometimes even sales info and pricing. Typically they are printed precisely for duty as a Bag Tag. These self-adhesive equipped Back Tag Holders would allow use of plain-paper Back Tags … Or possibly eve product labels, or imagery cut from the package. Just peel the carrier away and stick your message in place.

For loosely related fixtures and uses, SEE…
“Label + Card = Custom Back Tag”
“Imaged Battery Back Tags”
“Rare Anti-Sweep Grid Hook with Back Tag” and
“Planogram Back Tag Bonanza”

For more Back Tag examples SEE…
“Diagonal Back Tags as Point-of-Purchase Sign”
“Back Tag Says Whoops”
“Steep Angle Tip Display Hooks with Back Tags”
“Erratic Hooks Tighten Display”
“Color-Coded Back Tags”
“ICC’s Backstop Gravity-Feed Hooks”
“Retail Pet-Peeve in Spanish”
“The Ultimate Black Back Tag”
“Out-of-Stock Back Tag”
“Grid Backdrop for Cookware with Back Tag”
“HD Loop Hook Hardware with Back Tag”
“Betty Boop’s Holiday Best with Back Tag’
“Light-weight Xmas Multi-Hook”

For an industrial back tag use SEE…
“Firestop Tag Back”

An amazingly visible retail promotion based upon a single simple sign. In a wall of bank-vault-secure metal post office boxes, one is left open to promote the service with a sign. It even includes a “call to action.” UPS’s corporate color may be sedate brown, but their POP and merchandising thinking is colorful and creative.

For other mailbox fixturing SEE…
“Santa Mailbox In Store”

For plain box (not mailbox) point-of-purchase SEE…
“No Peeking Until the Holidays”