Could your consignment, resale, or thrift shop use two of these fantastic maternity display hangers?
They are my highest-recommended way to make all clothing displays look and sell great. Store Supply Warehouse is now stocking this maternity version because TGtbTers asked for them (and Tom was at SourceMart in June because I suggested it to him!)
Store Supply Warehouse and TGtbT want YOU to sell maternity better so they are giving away free two pair of tummies! All you have to do is
reply here at Auntie Kate the Blog with your best tip on selling maternity wear.
- Is it important where your maternity section is located?
- How you arrange sizes or colors?
- Nifty signage?
- Contacting potential customers?
- Leaving coupons in OB-GYN offices?
What ideas do you have? We look forward to them! Simply “reply” here with your best tip by Monday October 5 and you’re entered into the drawing! (Sorry, replies in any other location will not be eligible.)
Store Supply Warehouse will ship TWO lucky winners each a pair of these forms.
Winners will be chosen randomly on Tuesday October 6 from all replies here at the blog. And be sure to visit our drawing sponsor, Store Supply Warehouse and see their other choices in these great forms plus everything else they have! With all items in stock in their three warehouses, SSW can deliver to 96% of the US in 2 days or less.
UPDATE October 6, 2009: Winners have be drawn!
The winners of the consignment and resale shopkeepers’ Win a Brace of Bellies contest for a free pair of maternity display hangers have been selected.
Winner #1 is Kirsty of House of Consignment in New York State. Tom Smith of Store Supply Warehouse will be sending her a pair of these great forms to perk up her maternity displays. Hope that you sell enough more maternity, Kirsty, to get your shop listed as a Sponsor on HowToConsign.com Clickable Map & Directory, the #1 Google site, so folks looking for shopping opportunities in your part of the world discover you and your site!
Our second winner is one lucky lil gal. Elizabeth of Mommy’s Lil’ Rascals in Pennsylvania won a Spotlight Shop listing at HowToConsign.com last year, and now she too has won a Brace of Bellies!
Congratulations to these two shopkeepers, and many thanks to all who entered our contest!
Here are a few of my tips. First, I make sure that any resale items are in PERFECT condition. I do not accept faded clothing at all, as I want my customers to feel as though they are in a retail not not a resale shop.
With regard to children and maternity wear, we have our “mama’s baby” section (baby clothes) and our “baby’s mama” section (maternity). It’s fun to hear when customers yell to their friends “i’m in the baby mama section!” – everyone gets a laugh. I think keeping the mood light and fun in a store keeps people there longer.
The mama’s baby section is displayed in color groups by size and separated by gender. Boys clothes are a lot harder to find for new moms so I make sure I try to get baby boy clothes that are cute and in pristine condition, this way I can give it a slight markup over the large volume of girl clothing.
The Baby’s Mama section is conveniently placed next to the infant/toddler clothes to catch the eye of the shopper. These are also displayed by color groups and size. It’s easier for someone who is looking for a black top to just go to the black section of the rack. Also, a large shelf is placed on the wall next to the maternity section that houses breast pumps, yoga pregnancy dvds, bottles, cloth diapers, and anything else maternity – pregnancy-newborn related.
To increase sales, as stated above, keep quality of merchandise very high. Your store will be known as the “good” store. People are willing to pay a little more if items are in excellent condition and they feel as though it’s as good as “new”.
Also once a month on a random saturday, have a sale! The randomness will keep people guessing so they are more likely to stop in even if it wasn’t in their plans.
Always keep aisles free of clutter, and try to have things arranged as neatly as possible. We use a flip n fold to neatly fold items.
I’ve thought about having an incentive item for the store, like buy $15 worth of items in one visit and receive a card that gets stamped with the store logo. Once your card reaches 10 stamps, you can get $10 off a $15 purchase!
I think that would work, but I haven’t implemented that yet in the store.
I’d love to win the forms so I could have maternity items displayed in the window. I believe that would draw people in even more.
Thanks for the generous offer in this contest. Best of luck to all store owners!
My children’s and maternity store is in a narrow space. I keep the maternity at the back of the store so the expectant moms have to walk past all the great baby stuff on their way there. Maternity was my best-selling category last month, closely followed by baby gear and infant clothing. The dressing rooms are at the back of the store anyways, so it is convenient to have the clothing right there.
You need to have a large selection in order to make it worth it for moms-to-be to stop in.
We put our maternity section directly next to the fitting room (we are kids/maternity). This way it is more private for the mom-to-be to come out and get more to try on. We also have the infant apparel, nursing items and baby gifts next to our maternity section. And yes, Kate, we have put our business cards in OB offices. : )
By the way, I was one of those at the NARTS conference who requested maternity forms. Can’t wait to get some whether through winning or buying.
The best selling point for maternity in my little store is having it visible as soon as you enter the store. It is a strong, consistant seller…and not just to the mammas-to-be! I also mix it up frequently, and always display cute ensembles.
Maternity does best for us when placed amidst the baby clothing. When a new mom-to-be starts to shop she first looks at the baby clothing. Suddenly, there she is…faced with an adorable arrangement of Maternity!