Staying on top of what influences your consumers' behavior can be a real help to you and your retail store. Consumer perceptions, impressions, behaviors and trends should be considered when you're setting up your store and window displays. Talk to your customers and employees for an up close view of what is going on in your store today.

Customers may be leaning toward finding meaning in the products that they buy. If they want to be on the bandwagon of new technologies, they might be interested in clothing and accessories that have accommodations for their new phones and MP3 players. They might be more interested in trendy laptop bags than they were in years past. Having this knowledge may influence your decisions in not only what you carry in your store, but also how you display such items.

For example, your front window displays could change from sporting the latest fashion to something a bit more imaginative. Your mannequin might be sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop, listening to her favorite music through her ear buds. She could feature that hip new laptop bag that you're promoting.

If you're promoting sportswear, you might consider garments that have special pockets for carrying those exercise essentials, like MP3 players. Some have special routes for headphone cords to keep them out of your way while you exercise. Along with new technologies comes new apparel to accommodate them.

Your counter top displays might change from offering wallets and key chains to featuring MP3 armbands and cute cell phone holders. Consumers want not only the newest electronics, but the cool accessories that go along with them. Keep these new trends in mind when you're deciding how to set up your store and what items to promote.

By talking to your employees and customers, you can figure out what other trends might be emerging. Digital key chains that display someone's favorite pictures might replace the one that they've had for years. The way that you present these items can impact the way that people feel about them. Prominently displaying them with good lighting and great signage can change someone's mind about how they feel. You can purposely change something from a want to a need with just a few strategic plans.

Use your window displays, counter displays, lighting and signage to manipulate feelings and facilitate your customers' needs to follow new trends. Use your mannequins to help them visualize themselves being a part of evolving trends. If you can cater to your target audience's needs and wants, then you can have a successful business. Staying on top of things will keep you on the cutting edge of society's ever-changing attitude about what they want and when.

Predicting the consumer behavior of people entering your store may not be an easy task. It may take some trial and error. Most of all, it may just take time. When you train yourself to think like your clientele, you'll start to see more success. Keep up with the latest trends and make sure that your mannequins do too. Your displays can keep your store in the now.