Where would I find clothing racks, hangers, shelving, display cases, and a cash register that is used?
By Stephanie from Bakersfield, CA
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Look for companies going out of business. Sometimes people on craigslist will post and just keep an eye out in your own area. Google going out of business plus name of your town.
1) Going Out of Business: There's lots of businesses downsizing or going out of business all together these days. If you see a business with going out of business signs posted, you'll surely find some goodies! I found some displays this way when the Joann's Fabric store near me closed down.
2) Saturday Markets: At every Saturday Market there's a person who runs or coordinates it. At the end of the market season (or before) call or go in & ask them if there's a vendor who's not coming back the next season or someone who's interested in selling their display's or part of them (This is how I've found some of my display). You can also type up a short little blurb on your computer then print out 50 or so copies & hand these out to the Vendors at your local Saturday Markets. Just say "I'm looking for these things (make a list) if you know of anyone who's interested in selling these things call or e-mail me at such & such".
3) Repurpose: Use you imagination. I've also gotten lots of my display's from the thrift store or Liquidation stores & Garage Sales. For example, I'll take a CD rack & it into a display to hang small things on. I also used the grid from the top of an animal cage to hang things on. I had to clean it well then spray paint it silver. It looks like brand new! I bought matching queen & king sized flat sheets in black to use as table clothes & to cover folding padded screens. The sheets wash super-easy & if you find a good sale you can get a good deal on them! ...I found those 13 inch small grids that snap together to form display cubes at Costco & also a whole box of the at a thrift store. In case they don't come with them, you can buy the round attachment snaps online. These small snap-together cubes are simply wonderful because they can be configured to any form, width or height!
4) Damaged Goods: New but slightly damaged or returned things are usually half off at stores that wholesale displays! I found some super good deals on brand new grids & display shelves in a Display Store that had a "Clearance & Damaged" section of the store. It was in an out-of-the-way part of the store. Ask if they have a section where the things that have been damaged in shipment are. All you need is a can of spray paint to cover the chips & blemishes! Walmart has a brand they sell hat's only 99 cents a can. I bought my big folding (cafeteria) tables at an office supply liquidation store for $12 - $25 each because they had damaged corners. It didn't matter because I covered them with table cloths anyway!
5) Great Ideas: Go around to the saturday markets & art fairs to look at what the vendors & artists are using for their displays. I make it a point every year to go to the biggest Art Fair in our area. I can't really afford to buy anything, I just go there to get display ideas! For example, lots of venders use plastic lattice in place of grids & shutters instead of slat walls. They'll use 3 tall shutters hinged together in a "C" or "U" shape with several boards put through the slats. This way it can be folded up quickly at the end of the fair.
6) MAake Your Own: Most people I know make their own displays. This way they'll be EXACTLY what they want! They'll use everything from metal or PVC piping that's been spray painted or card tables with a nice table cloth over it. When I had my store I bought some plywood then covered it with polyester fiber-fill batting then stretched it around to the the back & attached black sheet fabric over it with a staple gun. I made 8 of these. Each were 8 feet tall & 2 feet wide (a piece of plywood cut in half) then I drilled holes in each of them in several places at the same height. I then zip-tied them together to form a long tall black screen. These were used divide my store in half. As far as making your own displays, at first I was very intimidated (being a 53 year old gal who'd never even used a drill or a saw!) but once I learned to use a jig saw & a drill, it was as easy as pie & very, VERY empowering! These days my Mom calls me "Bobbie the builder"!
7) Craig's List: You'll be surprised how many people just want to get rid of things like this! They don't want to pay the prices at the city dump. Go ahead & write out an add & post it... Just don't meet anyone alone & don't let anyone come to your home or know where you live (for safety's sake!).
8) Walmart: They have stand-up clothing racks (some with wheels). Look in the "laundry" area. Buy the GOOD, high quality one. Not the cheaper model. They usually also sell nice clothing racks at Big Lots if you have one in your area.
9) Closet Shelving: Go to Home Depot back in the wire closet shelving area. Take a look & use your imagination. They have all kinds of great hardware for display & hanging clothes, etc. You can configure this stuff any way you want!
* Let me know if I can help you. I really enjoy making & looking at different displays.
not sure if you are still looking for any fixtures but i have a few i want to get rid of. my business is moving so i cant take all the fixtures i have with me
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