Energy

Consider what the your body does in an average 24-hour period: Your heart beats 100,689 times. Your blood travels 168 million miles. You take a breath 23,040 times, inhaling 438 cubic feet of air. You eat more than three pounds of food, drink about three quarts of liquids and lose almost a pound of waste. You speak 25,000 words. You move 750 muscles. Your nails grow .000046 of an inch, your hair .01714 inch. You exercise seven million brain cells.

And you wonder why you feel tired sometimes?

In-store marketing fixtures grow weary over time, too. Just as surely as your body’s working, so do those displays, those endcaps, those power wings and POS signs. They get thumped by carts, scraped by products, worn by cleaning, and faded by UV light but still they soldier on, communicating with any passerby.

When they start to look tired, it’s time for a refreshing. It might be a new sign, replacement of parts or the complete replacement of the unit. Displays and fixtures work hard. Keeping them looking their best requires investment but it’s money well-spent.

Magic Glass

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." ~Arthur C Clarke~

Do you remember when you first learned about the Internet? Or when you first used a spreadsheet program? Or marveled at color TV? I'm dating myself but I remember all of those things. They all seemed like magic to me.

What magic lies before us? How will retailing continue to morph? How will technology transfigure our lives? Here is one company's vision for what lies ahead in the not-too-distant future.

Mobile Mania

Have you noticed? Retailers everywhere are rolling out mobile apps for iPhone and Android platforms to make using their stores easier to shop, coupons easier to use, and advice easier to acquire.

They know that we'll only see more and better applications for smartphones with each passing week. Better to get on board, learn as you go and be seen as a store that's deploying the latest and best tools for shoppers. Here's an excellent article that shares relevant data on the trend from the August 4, 2011 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.

Retailers are driven to adapt by competition and shoppers. As either or both employ newer tools like smartphone apps, they will respond. And the shopping experience will continue to evolve and improve as online and in-store complement one another.

A Facebook friend posted the accompanying photo of a bug display - yep, real (though dead) bugs - that he saw in a grocery store. Though not pictured, in addition to the aforementioned bugs, the display also sells bug books.

You can use displays to sell just about anything. Even dead bugs.