MERCHANDISE DISPLAY AND SELECTION SYSTEM
A merchandise display and selection system for apparel is provided, comprising a merchandise display space holding color-coded transparent apparel display packages, and a sizing and selection grid positioned proximate the display space displaying combinations of sizes for the articles of apparel. A color-code is associated with each combination of sizes, and corresponds to the color-coding on the color-coded transparent apparel display packages. A consumer of apparel selects a color-code from the sizing and selection grid corresponding to one of the combinations of sizes and thereafter selects one of the transparent apparel display packages corresponding to the color-code and the desired color of the article of apparel.
The present invention relates to the field of retail merchandising of apparel, and, in particular, to a merchandise display and selection system for women's intimate apparel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRapid expansion of the world economy and international markets over the last few decades has resulted in an exponential growth in the number and availability of consumer goods, from automobiles, to household goods, to personal items including clothing and accessories. As a result, competition for retail floor, shelf, and rack space has been fierce, while at the same time pressuring retailers to maintain large inventories to accommodate the wide selection of products now available to consumers.
At the same time, the wide selection of products has led to confusion and bewilderment of the consuming public. For instance, the many women's intimate apparel styles, sizes, and colors on display in large retail stores, in combination with a multitude of different packaging types for each style and/or color, is frustrating to consumers who simply desire to quickly and easily select and purchase a particular style, in a particular color, and in an appropriate size.
Additionally, many consumers, who are not familiar with a particular brand or style of apparel may wish to inspect and touch/feel the item before purchasing it to determine if the article has the desired features and feel. This is often not possible unless the seal on the package is impermissibly broken.
What is needed is an apparel system where a consumer can quickly inspect an article, and then ascertain the correct size, color, and location of an article of apparel at the point-of-purchase in a display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a merchandise display and selection system for apparel, including a retail display, and a sizing and selection grid located on the display. The display includes an apparel display space with multiple transparent apparel display packages being displayed therein. Each transparent apparel display package is dimensioned for containing at least one article of apparel of at least one selected color, and is color-coded to identify the size of the article(s) of apparel contained therein.
The sizing and selection grid includes multiple combinations of sizes for the articles of apparel, and a color-code associated with each combination of sizes, the color-code corresponding to the color-coding on a display package.
A consumer of apparel selects a color-code from the sizing and selection grid corresponding to one of the combinations of sizes, and thereafter selects one of the transparent apparel display packages corresponding to the color-code from the sizing and selection grid in the desired color.
Various features and aspects of the invention will become apparent upon review of the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described as follows.
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, which, of course, is limited only by the claims below. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such alternate embodiments, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
Referring to the Figures in general, and to
In the system shown in
While the system 100 is exemplary of the display and selection of intimate apparel, in this case brassieres, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, other items of apparel, where the size is dependent upon two or more measurements/variables, are properly within the scope of the present system 100.
The embodiment of
An alternative embodiment of the system 100 of
Turning now to
The display stand 320 comprises a header 322, a base 323, a plurality of shelves, or bins 324, and in the embodiment shown, one or more garment hanging fixtures 328 upon which unpackaged brassieres 380 are displayed. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
To assist in the selection of the correct size, point-of-purchase sizing and selection grids 140, 340 are provided. In the embodiments of
The sizing and selection grid 140, 340 serves multiple purposes. First, in the case of brassieres, it reduces a large number of torso band length and cup sizes into a smaller number of overlapping, but suitable sizes. Further, it provides a color-coded system to assist a consumer in quickly and easily locating the proper size product.
By way of example, and as best shown in
-
- Bands 30 and 32, Cups A and B=Extra Small (XS)
- Band 34, Cups A and B, and Band 36, Cup A=Small (S)
- Band 34, Cup C, and Band 36, Cups B and C=Medium (M)
- Band 38, Cups B and C, and Band 40, Cup B=Large (L)
- Band 40, Cup C, and Band 42, Cups B and C=Extra Large
The brassieres included in this exemplary sizing and selection grid 140 are wireless, i.e., they do not include underwires for additional support. Wireless brassieres will fulfill up to what is referred to “full” cup; i.e., C cup, sizing needs. Market research shows that sizes up to a C cup represent about half of the consumer population for brassieres. As will be appreciated, for larger cup sizes with underwires, the point-of-purchase sizing and selection grid 140 would involve a larger number of combinations.
As illustrated schematically in
Further to providing a simplified sizing and selection system, by combining a large number of band length and cup sizes into a much smaller number of color-coded sizes in accordance with the present invention, a retailer is now required to maintain a much smaller inventory to support a relatively large range of sizes of brassieres. Here, for example, the retailer has to maintain an inventory in only five sizes versus sixteen. Accordingly, a smaller amount of retail floor, shelf, or rack space is required, and restocking of the display space 120, 320 is substantially less labor intensive.
Turning now to
Referring again to
As shown in
In use, a potential consumer would approach the display 120, 320, 620, 720 to inspect and/or touch/feel the hanging unpackaged samples 180, 380, 680, 780 if available. Otherwise, the consumer would inspect the article of apparel by viewing it through the transparent apparel display packages 160, 360, 660, 760. If the consumer desires to purchase one of the brassieres, the consumer will refer to the sizing and selection grid 140, 340, 640, 740 to ascertain which of the color-coded sizes satisfies the fit requirements. Having identified the appropriate color code, the consumer will then select a transparent apparel display package 160, 360, 660, 760 corresponding to the size from the bin 124, 324, 624, 724 of the desired color.
Although the present invention has been described with an exemplary embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A merchandise display and selection system for apparel, comprising:
- (a) a merchandise display, comprising: an apparel display space; a plurality of transparent apparel display packages in the apparel display space; each of the plurality of transparent apparel display packages dimensioned for containing at least one article of apparel of at least one selected color; each of the plurality of transparent apparel display packages being color-coded to identify the size of the at least one article of apparel to be contained therein;
- (b) a visual point-of purchase sizing and selection grid positioned proximate the display space and comprising: a plurality of combinations of size variables for the articles of apparel; a plurality of color-codes associated with the combinations of size variables, each one of the plurality of color-codes corresponding to the color-coding on at least some of the plurality of transparent apparel display packages; and
- a consumer of apparel selects a color-code from the visual sizing and selection grid corresponding to one of the combinations of size variables and thereafter selects one of the transparent apparel display packages corresponding to the color-code from the visual sizing and selection grid, and the desired color of the article of apparel contained in the transparent apparel display package.
2. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 1, wherein the display space is selected from the group consisting of racks, shelves, tables, bins, walls, encaps, and combinations thereof.
3. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 1, wherein the merchandise display further comprises a base and a header, with the display space therebetween.
4. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 1, wherein the transparent apparel display packages contain similar items of apparel.
5. The merchandise system and selection of claim 4, wherein the color-coded transparent packages are tubular.
6. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 5, wherein the display space comprises a plurality of gravity-fed trays.
7. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of gravity-fed trays holds transparent apparel display packages containing apparel of the same color, each transparent apparel display package containing a different size.
8. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 6 wherein the visual sizing and selection grid is affixed on at least one gravity-fed tray.
9. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 2, wherein the items of apparel are selected from the group consisting of brassieres, panties, and shapewear.
10. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 9, wherein the items of apparel are brassieres and the plurality of combinations of sizes comprise torso band lengths and cup sizes.
11. The merchandise display and selection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hanging unpackaged samples for inspection by customers, the plurality of hanging unpackaged samples being of similar colors and styles of articles of apparel contained in at least some of the plurality of color-coded transparent apparel display packages.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2011
Inventors: David Allen Abbruzzese (Clemmons, NC), Ashley Renee Hayzlip (Clemmons, NC), Tricia Bouras (Greensboro, NC)
Application Number: 12/749,892