Now that you’ve purchased store mannequins for your sales floor and windows, you may be wondering how to optimize your investment. There are some tips and tricks to making your mannequins look great to capture the consumer’s eye, entice them into the store and coax them into the fitting room. Dress your mannequins for success so shoppers stop and exclaim, “I want that!”

To boost sales, consider these five tips to dress a mannequin:   

1. Gather all of your items to dress the mannequin, including socks and shoes (determine if needed – if foot rods are used your mannequin will probably be barefoot), undergarments, and all items of clothing, including headgear. Steam the items if necessary so they’re wrinkle free.
2. Dismantle standing mannequins if the arms aren’t straight to the side and the legs aren’t close enough together to easily slide on garments. Remove the hands, arms, legs, hands and torso. It’s easier to manage in pieces rather than completely assembled. To protect your investment, be sure to place a soft cloth underneath to prevent dents and scratches.
3. If the legs are close enough together to easily slide on a pair of pants, place the waist on the ground with the feet in the air. Put the undergarments on first, followed with stockings, trousers or a skirt.
4. For sitting, leaning and lying down mannequins, choose clothing sizes that are bigger than the form to get them more easily on and off, especially if you’re dressing with multiple layers.
5. When dressing is complete, “finish” your mannequin. Pin the clothing to the mannequin so it looks sleek and stylish, but make sure the pins are not visible to the customer. Add accessories, pop the collar, roll up the sleeves, and put a stylish wig on your mannequin to add more sales impact.

Store mannequins can offer a great Return on Investment (ROI) for clothing retailers. Have fun and don’t be afraid to get creative. Enlist the help of a co-worker if you’re a beginner. Over time, it will get faster and easier to dress your mannequins like a pro. For large department stores and high-end displays, enlist the help of a professional window dresser/visual merchandiser to maximize your mannequins’ selling power.