Sept. 19, 2011 - Exciting window displays attract more customers, and more customers coming through the door mean better business. Learn what can be done to maximize business opportunities in each of the four seasons at Create Excitement with Window Displays, a series of live demonstrations to be held Oct. 19 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Expo 2011.
The demonstration will be hosted by Suzy Caiger, owner of Ada’s Flowers in Oakville, Ont. and a renowned window-design specialist. Caiger’s floral magic was seen at The Canadian Pavilion during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
“For a store, the front window is a calling card,” says Caiger, who will be hosting the three demonstrations over the course of Expo. “If the window is dusty and full old-fashioned silk flowers and half-dead plants, chances are people will not go inside. However, if the window is bright, imaginative and displays products in eye-catching ways, customers are more likely to tour the store and remember its location. Your window should be your top selling sales rep and can be worth thousands of dollars if utilized well.”
Caiger acquired Ada’s Flowers in 2001. Although she had no floral experience, she was trained as a visual merchandiser in the United Kingdom before coming to Canada in 1987. She took to the floral industry quickly, twice being named a finalist for Oakville’s retailer of the year. She was FTD’s New Member of the Year in 2005 and has been voted best florist in Oakville.
In 2002, Caiger began helping run the Ontario Florist Show, now known as the FTD Canadian Conference. She spent four years as the show’s design co-ordinator, learning alongside some of the top designers in North America. She contributed her design expertise for The Canadian Institute of Floral Design at Expo 2010, and is returning to pass on more of her knowledge this year.
Her demonstration at Expo will provide useful tips for planning eye-catching store window displays that use colour, lighting and size for maximum impact. “Window Boxes” will be on display that will give attendees the opportunity to see different techniques. These windows are being sponsored by CMC Wholesale, Floridus Design Images and Westbrook Floral.
“In small businesses, window displays are often left to untrained staff to handle,” says Caiger. “We are hoping to offer some very cool ideas store owners can take with them and implement in their own store windows.”
The Create Excitement with Window Displays live demonstrations are held in conjunction with Landscape Ontario’s Expo, formerly Garden & Floral Expo, Canada’s fall show for the floral and garden industry. Now in its 12th year, Expo is a one-stop shopping venue for florists, floral designers and interior plantscapers looking for both the flowers, plants and containers used to create inspiring arrangements that brighten homes, businesses, or special events.
For more information, visit www.loexpo.ca.
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