A
Accent lighting The use of lighting to emphasize displays or merchandise units
Adjacencies Deciding which products sit next to each other on a floor plan or layout
Ambient lighting Overall lighting used in-store
B
Balance Visual weight
Banner Printed text or graphics, often suspended from the ceiling
Barriers Fixtures used to block customer flow
Base plate Metal or glass plate that houses the fixture (spigot) that supports a mannequin
Beam (lighting) The light projected from a lamp
Brand awareness Understanding the brand and its mission statement
Branding Communication tool used to enforce a designer, store, or product
Bust form Torso of a mannequin, often without a head, designed to display tops only
C
Capacity fixtures Units designed to carry fast-selling items
Ceiling grid Metal structure fixed to the ceiling of a window or interior display
Chevron Arranging fixtures at 45-degree angles to encourage customer flow
Closed window Window with a back wall
Colorways The colors manufacturers have chosen to use in their fashion or home collections
Concession Another brand bought into the host store
Cross-merchandising Pulling unconventional products together to create a display or trend area
Customer flow Maneuvering the customers through the store with ease
D
Display base Raised platform used in-store to create display on
Diwali Indian festival of light
Dressing Styling a window, grouping, or mannequin
F
Face-outs Fixture components used to show the full front of fashion items
Fixture density How much stock a fixture will or should hold
Flagship The main store of a large retail company
Focal points Areas that stand out
Folding board Cut piece of wood or cardboard used as a template when folding clothing
Footfall Number of customers entering a store or department
G
Gobo Design burned out of metal through which light is beamed to create a logo or design that is projected onto a surface
Gondola A four-sided fixture used primarily for home or food products
Graphic Printed picture often used as a backdrop to a display
Gridwall Metal wire wall fixture system
Grouping Product displayed to create interest
H
Hang tag Price or informative ticket attached to the product, often with a kimble gun or string, ribbon, etc.
K
Kimble gun Tool used to fix price tags to a garment
L
Layout Placing and arranging products and product categories on the retail floor
Lightbox Backlit box that houses a transparency
Linear Retail wall space
Logo Name of brand used to enhance display
Luxury retailer Designer brand
M
Merchandise Product on sale
Mid-floor fixture Product fixture that is placed away from the wall, should be shopped from 360 degrees
Multiple sales Encouraging the customer to purchase more than one item
O
Open-back window Window without a back to it
Optical weight How products used in a display balance visually
P
Prepping Preparing products beforehand for a display
Props Items used to enhance a display as part of a theme or scheme
R
Reno Renovation of a mannequin
Rod Metal pole that supports a mannequin either through the foot, ankle, or backside
S
Scheme The overall idea and concept of the display
Shadow box Miniature enclosed window used for smaller displays
Shop fitting Design and construction of the interior of a store
Sight-lines Use of fixtures to draw the eyes’ attention
Signage All forms of tagging or text used in-store or in windows
Slatwall Slatted panels that attach to a linear wall that supports rails, shelves, and brackets to hold merchandise
Striking Use of wire to support a mannequin
T
Text Written words used on a sign
Theater Creating excitement within the retail environment
Theme The use of a creative window scheme running through the windows to create a story
Trend area Area used to display promotional or themed merchandise
V
VM Abbreviation of the term “visual merchandising”
W
Wall fixture System used on a retail wall to hold various fittings