Apparel and Accessories

Cozy Choices (From page 73) ments of achieving this goal. “I always like to move merchandise around a lot. I constantly move products around. I always focus on a theme for the front of the store, with mannequin statements. I like to build outfits. Many people who come in will buy the full outfit off the mannequin. I always like to match things up so they tell a color story,” Pesce said.

Miller tried a new merchandising approach this past season: “We started doing ‘bars’—a stocking

“Tie-dye is coming back for spring/summer 2022. [Also for summer], I predict a lot of pastels and soft hues. Bright colors and metallics in boutique clothing. Florals and rainbows in prints.” stuffer bar, a toddler bar with sunglasses, small items in glass jars. We set up tables with the items in glass jars right in the front of the store so people saw them when they walked in. I also love a good theme. When I go to the markets, I take a lot of notes. If I see a lot of something, we’ll try it here. It makes sense to group items by theme or color. We commit hard to themes here,” she said.

Johnson invests in signage to help tell the story of a product and educate customers about its popularity and where it’s trending. “I think signage is important. I call them ‘shelf talkers’. I found an article about a line endorsed by Oprah. I printed out the article and

Apparel Product News

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put it by the items. It sold really well. Have shelf talkers that are always current—it really helps. [If a celebrity is using it], it’s one more thing to show customers that an item is trendy,” she said.

Customers are returning to shopping in brick-andmortar stores after a year-plus of buying online. “The revenue is much different, but people are getting the consumer confidence to come back into stores,” Johnson said. “People are definitely looking for more comfy in baby apparel, and they are buying fewer accessories. I used to sell about $5,000 in bows and barrettes—it’s nowhere near that now.”

Even in baby apparel, comfort and simplicity will continue to drive styles well into the New Year. ❖

(For more information, or to order, call 920-573-7869, email sales@jackrussellapps.com, visit www.jackrussell.com or circle 20 on the reader service card.)