Even with so many people shopping online, selling designer sunglasses in-person still works. Retailers can do very well in small shops, boutiques, and mall kiosks. They can sell at trade shows, flea markets, farmer's markets, and even local festivals. Regardless of the venue, displaying one's wares is a crucial part of making the sale. There are plenty of options when it comes to sunglasses displays.

Do you sell in-person? If so, how do you display your designer sunglasses? Olympic Eyewear carries a small number of portable and stationary sunglasses displays. It is probably a safe bet to assume that at least some sellers take on the task of building their own displays.

Stationary vs. Portable Sunglasses Displays

We are by no means display experts. We sell bulk wholesale sunglasses online. As such, there isn't a whole lot of need for us to be experts in retail displays. Having gotten that out of the way, it makes sense that retailers would have different display needs based on how they actually sell.

A permanent retail outlet in a strip mall or downtown shop would probably use a combination of stationary and countertop display cases. For example, we currently carry a countertop display that can hold 16 pairs of designer sunglasses. We also have a carousel sunglasses display that sits on a countertop.

Combining countertop displays with some stationary floor displays would give a retailer the opportunity to put out a decent selection of products within a reasonable footprint. That is key in retail because rents are generally calculated based on floor space.

Displays Should Enhance the Product

It makes sense that a retailer's display choices should be commensurate with the products being sold. You don't want a display to detract from the sunglasses you are trying to sell. If anything, you want your display to enhance those sunglasses.

This suggests staying away from cheap-looking displays that also make your products look cheap. Displays don't necessarily have to cost a fortune; they should just look like they do. The better the display, the better a pair of sunglasses looks in it.

There are some limits, of course. A retailer who only sells at trade shows, festivals, and flea markets is running a portable business where customers do not expect to see pristine displays. They understand that equipment takes a beating when you travel. So there is some latitude here. Nonetheless, a display still shouldn't be falling apart. It should not look so beat up as to detract from the product.

Whatever Appeals to Customers

We have been in the sunglasses business for quite a while. Over the years, we've seen some very interesting ways to display sunglasses and accessories. From basic, no-frills plastic displays to the most ornate custom builds, displays come in all shapes and sizes. It really boils down to figuring out what appeals to customers.

A fancy display that looks like it came from Madison Avenue probably wouldn't fit at a farmer's market or flea market. Likewise, a cheap plastic display with no frills would seem out of place in an expensive Manhattan boutique. The retailer needs to know their audience and play to it.

So, how do you display designer sunglasses? Is your business portable or stationary? Do you require a large footprint, or can you afford to go smaller? Your display needs are dictated by how and where you sell. As long as your sunglasses displays work for you and your customers, there's no need to change anything. If they aren't working, perhaps it's time to step back and ask why. The answers will provide a path forward.