Refresh for the fall

As autumn rolls around, summer themes need to make way for fall colors and themes in retail assortments and displays. This is especially important with apparel.

Even if you’re not a high-fashion boutique, there are many ways to embrace fall fashion and appeal to both local shoppers and tourists in the shoulder season.

Showcase cozy apparel

"There are many ways to embrace fall fashion and appeal to both local shoppers and tourists in the shoulder season."

T-shirts and shorts might be core items for your store year-round, but they don’t need to dominate your displays. Move those items to secondary locations and bring layering pieces forward.

Transition color stories

If you’ve been showcasing apparel in bright summer hues, now is a good time to introduce warmer, richer tones. Transition your color stories to shades such as deep red, navy blue, charcoal gray, burnt orange and black. These tones instantly convey the feeling of fall.

Reposition products

Fall is also the perfect time to begin managing summer inventory. Identify items you don’t plan to bring back next year and start moving them into a designated sale section.

A well-merchandised sales area with neatly organized racks can still maintain your brand image while driving conversions. As fall progresses, feed more summer styles into this section strategically.

Transitioning into fall doesn’t mean a total store overhaul. It means thoughtful edits in product focus, color and placement. With a few smart moves, seaside retailers can stay relevant and profitable well beyond summer.

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Michael Hale, CEO of Retail Rehab, transforms retail spaces and helps drive up profits. michael@retail-rehab.com, www.retail-rehab.com