Mannequins are artificial life-sized dolls often used to display clothing and accessories in stores. They help customers know how exactly an attire will look. While this is the traditional use, there are so many other ways you can use cheap mannequin displays to add some zing to your store or home. Here are some options to consider.
As a serving platter
Want to serve beverages, candies, or other snacks to your customers or guests at a house party? Here’s what you can do. Find a cheap mannequin with hands bent and facing forward. Then place a nice tray on the hands to serve food and drinks. Your customers will love this experience. You can also disassemble the doll and use only the lower half for this purpose by balancing the tray on the waist. But always ensure your mannequin is secured to the ground to prevent it from toppling and falling.
As planters and garden accessories
This is one of the most popular uses of cheap mannequin displays. Find the head of a mannequin and cut it open at the top. Then add some potting mix and an indoor plant into it. Plants that grow like shrubs look beautiful this way. You can also use the legs of a cheap mannequin as climbers to let vines grow all over them. Or, you can keep a sitting mannequin in your garden area and let climbers, shrubs, bushes, and vines grow around and over it. With time, your mannequin will turn into a part of nature and be an absolute fun addition to your garden space.
As Halloween decorations
If you tend to run out of ideas at Halloween, this one’s for you! Find a couple of cheap mannequin displays and convert them into scary Halloween decorations using some cool accessories and makeup tricks. These can be used at home or in your store during the festival season. Give this a try to make your next Halloween party a hit.
To display photographs
This is an exciting display option that you can try at your store. For this, you need to use only the bottom half of the mannequin as a display. For the top half, use life-sized photographs of models. The end effect should look like a photograph that has grown legs. Your cheap mannequin displays will look incredibly professional and expensive this way.
Give all your displays a new life by trying these tricks. Your customers and friends will love and praise your creativity.
Mannequins are commonly used to display the latest fashion in stores that sell clothes or other accessories. They give customers an idea of how a particular outfit would look on a person. To prevent damage due to mishaps and accidents and to prolong their longevity, here are a few tips on how you can take care of cheap mannequin displays at your store.
Limit marks and scratches
Wash your hands and ensure they are clean and dry before you handle the mannequin display. This will prevent any marks, stains, and handprints from spoiling the figure. It is also a good idea to wear latex gloves while touching the dummy to avoid scratches on the surface, especially if you wear rings on your fingers. Although you can remove these light pencil-like marks, you would save yourself time by either wearing gloves or removing your rings.
Handle the mannequin with care
To avoid damage, ensure you assemble the mannequin slowly. Using too much force can cause destruction or breakage. The placement of the model is also essential. If using the dummy in an area of heavy footfall, like a busy part of the store or the sidewalk outside, put it on a raised platform or put a barrier around it. This will prevent people from dropping or bumping into the figure. Such carelessness can cause the limbs to come loose or get damaged. When you remove a part when dressing or undressing your mannequin, place it on a soft surface, such as cloth. Doing so will avoid damage and prevent it from falling.
Proper storage when not in use
It is crucial to store cheap mannequin displays properly when not in use. You can wrap the model in sufficient packing material to cover the face and hands. To protect the fingers from damage, you can wrap them in foam. But ensure you weave the foam through the fingers to provide maximum protection.
Avoid using Scotch tape or velcro
Using Scotch or double-sided velcro tape to fit clothes securely on the mannequin should be avoided. This can cause damage to the paintwork of the figure or leave a sticky residue. Even though you can clean this residue, you would save yourself time and extra work if you use pins rather than velcro or tape.
If you follow these tips on how to take care of your mannequin displays, you should be able to use them for a long time.
Finding cheap mannequin displays is very easy provided you know the right shopping tips for the same. By following the suggestions mentioned below, you’ll find the best mannequins even when you’re on a tight budget. Here are a few things dressmakers, store owners, and others should consider when buying mannequins for their stores.
Mannequin material choices
The mannequin’s material can influence the cost significantly. Rigid ones are more expensive. However, they last for a long time. Plus, you won’t have to spend much on repairs and maintenance. But if you’re looking to display couture collections that require alterations, you might find the less-expensive soft shell mannequins a convenient pick, especially to hold the pins.
Headless vs. full-body models
Headless models are less expensive than full-body options. So, for building your collection with budget constraints, you might want to opt for the reasonably priced headless mannequins. They are also a perfect fit if your store has a lower ceiling. On the other hand, the full-body ones involve an additional cost for coordinating wigs and other accessories, something you want to avoid.
Invisible mannequin options
Invisible mannequins, also called ghost mannequins, are popular among photographers. With the fully customizable components, you can easily use the models for displaying clothes at the store and even for photoshoots. These are, in fact, great options for long-term investment and are excellent choices when you have to pick within a small budget. This is because you can display various outfit styles with just one mannequin.
Adjustable or non-adjustable
Some mannequins come with a lot of posture adjustments. The figure can be made to sit, stand, or pose however you want it to. However, such models are way more costly than those without removable and adjustable features. Besides, in most cases, non-adjustable postures work perfectly well. You can display the whole outfit on a one-piece standing mannequin without any worry. So why not consider this option when you’re on a budget?
Knowing the different types of mannequins available will help you make the right choice for your store. Once you have a rough picture of the essential features you need in your mannequins, take the time to finalize a budget. If you still run short of funds, don’t worry! Specific cheap mannequin displays can be purchased in bulk, especially when you have a large storefront display to set up. Remember that choosing the correct setup goes a long way in enhancing customer experience.