2013ChristmasVision by Altar'd State

2013 Christmas Vision Christmas Vision 2013

Tis the season to celebrate with snuggle time by the fire, stockings waiting to be filled, lights all a glow, and the Birth of Jesus. This Season we are reminiscing times of old… your windows and décor represent comforting times with family and friends. Rustic expressions of Holiday traditions will fill your windows and provide a warm welcome to the Holiday season and your guests.

Food for Thought: During the months of November and December Altar’d State will average… 25% of its annual business 220,000 units of apparel sell thru 166,000 transactions To put it into perspective…wear comfy shoes because you will be busy!!! (just make sure those shoes are cute! )

Execution of this window set is three parts. Shopping, Preparation, and Execution. Stores will install their Holiday windows the weekend of 11/2 & 3. Prep work should occur during the week leading up to this. A shopping list has previously been sent to prepare for this endeavor. Try to get all shopping done as early as possible so you can begin your prep work. Shopping By this point, you should have already purchased the items from Goodwill (clothing and belts) and your firewood. Instructions are to follow pertaining to these items. Also, review the Christmas Visual Supplies list to make sure you have all the items needed for this execution. Make sure you purchase any items needed by using a paid out from the register. Review your outlet situation and how you will plug in your garland, wreath, and trees. Get an approximate idea of how many extension cords you will need.

Supplies List Items Shipped

Items to be Acquired

Tools/Supplies

Tin Roof

$40 of Thrift Garments

S Hooks

Giant Bells

$10 of Thrift Belts

*Thick Twine

Large Bells

Firewood

15lb Fishing Line

Four Bells on a Rope

Extension Cords for Lights

50lb Fishing Line

Small Vine Sphere

White Spray Paint

Measuring Tape

Large Vine Sphere

Set of 2 Branches for Deer

Staple Gun

6’ Pine Garland

Staples

100 Count Lights

Scissors

Wood Spindle Ornaments

Xacto Knife

Snowflake Ornaments

Wire Cutters

Pine Picks

Drill/Phillips Head Screwdriver

Berry Picks

Hammer

30 Count Lights

Tissue Paper

White Ribbon

Pair of Gloves 2+

White Deer Head

Small Eye Screws(2 Per Frame)

Deer Head Screws

Hole Punch

Hearth

Level

Masonry Nails Stockings 19” Milk Cans 12.5” Milk Cans 12”x24” Air Duct 15”x24” Air Duct 18”x24” Air Duct

Items Shipped/Owned

Spanish Moss

7’ Trees

Large Pine Cones

6’ Trees

Small Pine Cones

Wreaths

*Use the thicker style twine. Do not use the thin sisal that some have used in the past.

Once you receive your shipment, PLEASE inventory everything and make sure it is all there. The earlier the better in case we need to fix something.

Preparation -To be executed during the week leading up to window installation.

Branches Retrieve some branches from your neighbor’s yard. You will need two for each deer head you will receive. Pay special attention to them to make sure they will resemble “antlers”.

Fluffing The first plan of attack is getting all trees, garland, and wreaths for the window Fluffed. This is extremely time consuming, but will make all the difference in the world with your presentation. Test your lights on the trees to make sure they all work.

Fun Facts: •The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers •Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone

Lights There are 100 count lights for your garland and 30 count lights for your wreaths in the windows. Prep these items so you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to do this the day of installation.

Pine and Berry Picks Stores were allotted four pine picks and four berry picks per wreath that hangs in the windows. Prep your wreaths for installation by placing your picks in the wreaths. Remember these wreaths are hanging horizontal so you want to mix it up and not place the picks all on one side of the wreath. Make sure you anchor the picks by bending them around the frame of the wreath.

Frames Print the templates of your deer and Christmas tree. Cut them out using an Xacto knife. You will use these later. Gather your fabric from Goodwill and select the frames you will use for the windows. Begin cutting the fabric and stapling it into your barnwood frames. Think about the presentation and which fabric will look the best in each location and frame size. On the frames for your window, screw in two eye screws on each frame. Remember to think whether it will hang landscape or portrait.

If any of your Goodwill garments have cool elements like closures or pockets, make sure you show that in your frames.

! !

Take about half of your remaining frames and continue to place fabric in them. These will be used on your shelves throughout the store.

Use the deer and tree templates and white spray paint to put the images on the fabric in your large frames. Do your best to make sure they are centered in the frame.

! !

Tie the wreaths you were provided or have from last year (except the ones needed for the windows) in the remaining barnwood frames with white ribbon and thick twine. Find someone that is good with bows and add to some of the wreaths. You can also incorporate the ribbon and twine in the wreath. See example to the left. Be creative…your wreaths in frames don’t have to be the same. However, make sure you use the twine with the ribbon so it doesn’t look like a “funeral” piece. These frames will also be used as décor on your shelves.

Pine Cones and Ribbon Prepare your fitting room decorations. We have allocated 3 pine cones (one small and two big) for each fitting room. They are pre-wired. 1. Use the wire to make a tight loop at the top of your pine cone. 2. Take strips of twine and attach to the loops. 3. Then take a separate piece of twine and tie a bow. 4. Punch a hole in the sign and tie twine to it. Connect the strands of pine cones, sign, and extra ribbons with a bow. You want the pine cones to hang at alternate lengths by size.

1 2

Fun Fact: In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

! ! 5

Once you begin decorating, you will attach one set of these to the top right corner of each mirror in the fitting rooms. Use either a staple gun or push pin to do so. You should have extra pine cones…use these to decorate your mirrors in the lounge and to place around the store in your displays.

Stockings Have someone prepare the stockings by stuffing them with tissue paper. You want them to take shape and look full without bulging. These will later hang on your mantle.

Mannequins If time allows, maybe pre-pull outfits for the windows. Remember that this window is fairly neutral in color, so we want outfits that will blend well and have pops of color in the window. Our recommendation is to use neutrals as your base (Beiges, Browns, Tans, etc) and add touches of Crimson in accessories or a single outfit with that as the focus. As usual, segment your personalities within the windows. This means if you only have one window, you should have Romantic and Classic represented for the Holiday season. If you have two windows, one should be Romantic and Classic and the other Boho and Indigo Girl. Of course, as your number of windows increase, you will segment your personalities even more.

! ! Fun Facts: •According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington •Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold •Alabama was the first state in the United States to officially recognize Christmas in 1836 •Christmas wasn’t declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870

! 6

Removal of Fall As always, we in the Visual Division would also like to participate in giving back. Elements that are not to be kept or haven’t been sold should be donated to a local kid’s shelter, church group, teacher, etc. If anyone is interested, items may be sold (we are counting on you Frisco!)

Hoops •Small-$10 •Medium-$14 •Large-$18

Barn Quilts •Small-$40 •Med-$60 •Large-$85

Wood Beams •$15 each

To ring up these items, or any visual elements, use the Non Merchandise Item selection on your screen. This will automatically calculate tax and you will not have to enter an description.

Items to Keep Hoops that don’t sell (may use another time or could be repurposed for store décor) Metal Buckets Metal Shackles

Items to Discard Barn Quilts Beams Yarn Branches

! ! ! ! ! !

Installation Hanging Tin To hang your tin panels, you will need gloves, thick twine, scissors, and of course your tin panels. Start by putting on your gloves. This is an absolute necessity. The edges of the tin are incredibly sharp and can cut you easily (just ask Norm). BE CAREFUL. Next stage the allotted number of panels per window evenly across your window, making sure they are all equal distant apart. If you have an odd number of sets in a window, place a set in the center and work out towards the sides. An even number should have a space in the center of the window. Once you feel comfortable with the placement of your panels, you can begin hanging. The top of your first panel should be about 8’ from the floor. Start with the top piece and begin by tying a knot in the top left hole. Run the twine over the left “S” hook, across your right “S” hook and back down to the second hole on the right. Make sure the height is correct and tie off the panel. By hanging your panel this way, it will allow you to easily adjust them to be level. Continue by hanging only your top panels all the way across your windows, double checking the height as you go. This way if you have to adjust your panel spacing you only have to deal with the top one. Once you have confirmed that the spacing of your panels is correct by stepping outside and taking a look, you can begin hanging the bottom part of your panel. Hanging these is very similar to the top panels. Tie a knot in the top left hole of the bottom panel. Then run your string through the front of the bottom left hole of the top panel. Take your twine along the BACK of your first panel, out through the bottom right hole of the top panel and down to your remaining hole in the bottom panel. Tie it off with a knot. Continue this process until complete. There should be about a 4” gap between the top and bottom panels. Remember to keep checking from outside to make sure things are evenly spaced and level as you are making progress.

Hanging Mantle Before you hang the mantle, you should place two screws that will hold the deer head. Screws were sent with windows and are in clear plastic bags. The top of the deer’s neck should be about 9” from the top of the mantle. Double check that the deer head fits securely on the screws before you hang the mantle.

Review your floorplan and identify the location of where your panel should be. There are pre-drilled holes in your mantle. Use the thick twine and hang in the same manner as you did the metal panels. The top of your mantle should be about 7.5’ from the floor. The placement of your mantle should be a couple of inches in front of your panels.

Hanging Shelf We have sent you rusted Craftsman type nails. Holes are predrilled in your shelf. Use a hammer and place your nails. Be careful when you are hammering so you don’t snap the sides of your shelf. You will use the thicker fishing line to hang the shelf. This might be the most complicated to hang. It should hang about 5” in front of the mantle and about 5” below it (approximately 5’ from the floor). Place four “S” hooks in the ceiling so they would be above the holes in the shelf. What worked best for us was this (using at least two people)… Don’t cut your fishing line yet. While one person holds the shelf, take the end of your line and run it up through the back left hole. Go up through the back left “S” hook and across through the back right “S” hook. Bring the

fishing line down through the back right hole. Run it across the bottom of the shelf and up through the front right hole. Take it up through the right front “S” hook and across through the front left “S” hook. You are on the home stretch…hang in there! Now bring it down through the front left hole. Before you cut the fishing line, adjust the height to where you want it. Cut your fishing line leaving extra to tie with. Connect your two ends tying a secure knot (remember to tie a little higher than you think it should be because the fishing line will give a little). If done correctly, your shelf should hang level from front

to back and side to side and be able to adjust if necessary. Good luck!

This is only our suggestion…if you have a better way; please feel free to do so. Just ensure that the shelf is level.

Hanging Bells or Vine Spheres There two sizes of bells and bells on a rope and two sizes of vine spheres. These will hang using the thick twine and “S” hooks. Review your floorplan for placement and an idea on staggering heights. This will vary, so use your talented eye when placing at alternating heights.

Hanging Frames The frames will hang using the thinner type of fishing line. Use the same execution as you did with the top panels. This will allow you to level your frames. When hanging in a group of three for example…the top of your large frame should be about 7’ from the floor, your medium frame about 6’ from the floor and the small about 5.5’ from the floor.

Fun Fact: There are approximately 21,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States. In 2008, nearly 45 million Christmas trees were planted, adding to the existing 400 million trees 10

Hanging Garland Review your floorplan for Garland placement and understand where your nearest outlets are. Work from the middle of the window towards each side. Of all the elements, garland should be hung closest to the window…but not touching the glass. Make sure your garland is turned so the lights will plug into each other. The garland should have a slight dip in the middle. Stores with high ceilings should use fishing line and “S” hooks to hang their Garland. You may connect the ends of the garland to each other once you get them hung.

Hanging Wreath Chandelier You will use the white ribbon to hang your wreath. The bottom of your wreath should be about 7’ from the floor. The wreath should be hung towards the center of the window in regards to depth. Cut three long strands of ribbon and attach to the wreath evenly dividing the wreath into thirds. Knot the ribbon at the top and hang from an “S” hook. Be careful to make sure your wreath is level after you hang it. For stores that have high ceilings, use fishing line to tie from the knot to your “S” hook. Connect your lights to the lights in your garland.

Fun Fact: Approximately 30-35 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S

Hanging Ornaments Separate your ornaments by style. There are four to hang from the wreath and three from each garland. Try to stagger them so the same style isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t adjacent to one another. Hang some towards the front and some from the bottom to create interest.

! ! ! !

Air Ducts and Firewood Begin with your largest air duct and handle with gloves. It is kind of challenging, but the flat end should slip into the creased end to close the cylinder. Place it on its side with the finished side facing the window. Begin stacking your firewood until full. Execute the same for the medium and then the small. The containers should be full of woodâ&#x20AC;Śbuy more if needed.

Hanging Stockings There should be four stockings for each shelf. Hang them so the toe faces the right. Notice how the loop runs on the stocking to best keep it from turning on the nail.

! ! 12

P lacing Trees You have received two sizes of milk jugs for your trees. Of course the larger is for the large trees, and the smaller for small trees. Remove your metal plate from the tree and place the tree in the container. Review your floorplan for placement. Plug your trees in with the extension cords and hide the cords as much as possible. Don’t forget to store the plates so you know where they are when your trees come down.

P lacing Mannequins Begin placing your mannequins by personality and don’t forget to create variance in placement and height…NO SOLDIERS

Hanging the Deer Head Now go back and hang your deer. This is to keep your mannequins from tapping the head and breaking it. Double check to make sure it hangs securely. Place your “antlers” You may have to trim your branches some to get the height and depth right.

! 13

Finishing it with Spanish Moss Your final step in the window is to place the Spanish moss. You want a subtle display of the moss. Definitely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over power the display with moss, but it should be placed on most surfaces and on your trees, garland, and wreath. Try to evenly spread throughout your windows. If you need more, purchase a bag from Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Fun Fact: Christmas purchases account for 1/6 of all retail sales in the U.S.

Decorating your Shelves You should have already prepared your frames with wreaths. The other items we want to use are firewood bundles. Take about five pieces of wood, bundle them up using your belts from Goodwill. Place your frames throughout the store on shelves with your other store dĂŠcor. The firewood can be used on shelves and on tables as risers. Use a little moss on both of these items also.

Decorating your Fitting Rooms Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to hang your Pine Cone strands.

! Butterfly Cling for the Fitting Room Mirrors !

Stores are receiving new clings for the fitting room mirrors. These items, along with instructions, are located in the boxes with your Christmas elements. Although the instructions state that the Butterfly should be located in the bottom right corder, we have decided to place them in the bottom left corner. From all of us in the Visual Department, we wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday season! Merry Christmas! 15