Today’s blog gives hints and tips for our bridal stockists. If you are a bride, follow these links for blogs on veils, tiaras, jewellery and wedding belts.

Today we continue our blogs on getting ready for 2013. See our tips on preparing your shop window and the inside of your store.

Your tiara and jewellery display can really stand out in your shop as the glitz and crystals shine against the rows of gowns. There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your tiaras and headdresses do your shop justice.

NIEVE Couture display at the BBEH

Are your samples out of shape?

Not all of your customers will handle your samples with the same care that you do, so after a few brides have tried tiaras on, they may be out of shape and slightly squashed. As our tiaras and headdresses are all made on flexible wire, it’s really easy to put them back into shape. Working from the centre of the decoration, tweak each piece until it is right. If you are unsure on the finished look you are aiming for, just call or email us and we will send you a picture over for you to work from.

Once you have rearranged your tiaras, you can spruce them up by polishing the stones, removing any stray hairs that may have got caught in them, and checking the white tips are clean and fresh. Replace any out of date tickets with our new golden tickets to add value to your product.

If your sample tiara is beyond a bit of TLC, we will be happy to refresh it for you and return it as good as new. Just contact us and we can arrange this with you.

Are your designs up to date?

Tiara trends change quickly and it is important to keep your stock fresh and up to date. It may be difficult to clear out old stock, but it will pay you back several times over. One outdated or tired piece creates a bad impression of your whole collection, even if it does include some beautiful pieces.

Keen brides will be aware of current fashions, not only from bridal magazines and websites, but also from high-street trends. Our industry benefits from a short quiet period during November and December, giving you time to make sure your tiaras are up to date. This means throwing out anything with AB crystal, tarnished wire, or out of date components. Remember, your tiaras need to work with the look of your gowns – if they look out of place to you a bride will also notice, and that could ruin your chances of a sale and referrals.

Keep jewellery simple, and only hold a few pieces in stock. Choose each piece carefully, making sure they will work with the neckline of your gowns, and the components and colours work with your tiaras. A few carefully chosen, elegant pieces will attract much more attention than a cabinet full of mismatched styles.

It’s easy to keep up with trends, have a flick through some magazines every so often, or look around online at wedding blogs and sites such as pinterest. We can also advise you over the phone or by email on our current collection themes, and on bestselling styles.

Does your display give the right impression?

A good display can really help you to keep the attention of brides once they have entered your store and secure a sale. Tiaras shouldn’t be hidden away, their sparkle and detail captures the interest of brides. Place them where the bride’s mother and friends can see them while the bride tries on dresses, they can then make suggestions to her as she comes out of the fitting room.

Make up a nice display with glass shelves and spotlights to really play off the sparkling crystals and luxurious pearls. Don’t overcrowd the display as you want brides to be able to see each piece individually. You can use inexpensive props such as mirrors, jewellery boxes, jewellery stands and tiara boxes to add height and interest.

Keep everything fresh and tidy, you may need to dust your shelves every day, but this is easy if you just build it into your routine. You must remember that for brides this will most likely be the first time they go into your store, so everything must look sparkling and new every day. Take a step back every morning and look around the shop as if you are a customer seeing it for the first time.

Look out for our next blog on refreshing your veils and veil displays!