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Mannequins aren't all they are cracked up to be…. |
Written by Philip Thomas
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
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When we think of mannequins we often recall images of winter and window display scenes. Most people associate mannequins with retailing and department stores. What some people don't realize is the variety of applications for which people use mannequins. 1. Large Uniform Service Company: A regional division of a national uniform service company utilizes mannequins to showcase their clothing uniforms. In this case the company uses the mannequins for display purposes, but in a less traditional btob marketplace. Company agents remarked that the mannequins add significant value to their products, because their customers can see clothes worn in three dimensions on a proportional body, rather than hung and/or flat. Moreover, the company saves significant money and avoids the logistics of staging a fashion show for each customer visit. To avoid trends in mannequin styles, the company chose white mannequins. This flat color provided a neutral appearance that will weather style fluctuations and provide more value. 2. Manufacturer of Nationally Branded Body Spray: One of America's largest consumer goods corporations chose to use mannequins as a live direct marketing promotion for their main target market. They set up mannequins in high foot traffic thoroughfares at college sporting events. While most people are desensitized by mannequins, the choice to place mannequins en masse among pedestrian foot traffic garnered significant attention. The on-site marketing team was able to capture the attention of their target audience and draw them toward reps who were able to hand out promotional materials such as free samples, coupons, and free branded clothing. By coupling promotional clothing displayed within a creative mannequin scene the marketing team was able to convince large numbers of people to take and wear the promotional clothing. The team was also able to exchange more samples and coupons to the large crowds they built. 3. Used Car Dealership: An established used car dealer in Birmingham, Alabama purchased a mannequin. The dealer's initial concern was the weather-fastness of the mannequin and whether it would withstand four seasons of weather. This was not an issue as a good quality three-layer mannequin will withstand a couple years of weather in a moderate climate, but there are some things that cannot be controlled such as wind, hail, and bird droppings. Armed with this information the dealer purchased a mannequin. The mannequin was placed on the street and the base was sandbagged to prevent tipping from wind gusts. A helium balloon was tied to the mannequin's hand. The mannequin was dressed in a bikini bathing suit. Almost immediately the dealer noticed car traffic acknowledging the mannequin as motorists showed their approval by honking. Many customers would ask about the mannequin's purpose. After a month the purpose became apparent. Local media wrote about the mannequin and stirred up even more customer traffic. Tracking metrics for the month benchmarked against the previous year's same month the dealer increased his customer traffic and total transactions. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
NYC Display, Inc is the leading manufacturer and distributor of Mannequins, Dressing Forms, Jewelry Display and Store Fixtures in the USA. NYC Display Inc has been providing custom orders, rentals and consulting for over 20 years.
NYC Display, Inc is the leading manufacturer and distributor of Mannequins, Dressing Forms, Jewelry Display and Store Fixtures in the USA. NYC Display Inc has been providing custom orders, rentals and consulting for over 20 years.
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