Dynamic display

I need to come up with a completely new display & am intrigued by
dynamic display. I’m reluctant to part with over a thousand bucks
before either seeing the product in person or hearing from somebody
who has used it. I’ve seen the pedestal, which is indeed very sturdy,
folds down very compactly. I’m wondering about the sturdiness of the
jewelry cases, which are an integral part of the entire unit. Thanks
for any comments, and for all the incredible knowledge shared by
Orchid! Daphne

Daphne,

I just purchased 3 of the single case dynamic displays and used them
for my first show at the Chicago ACC show in April. In fact as I am
writing this I have set up my cases to figure out how I am going to
incorporate the new displays I bought for my jewelry to go on. It
takes about 45 minutes to set up my three cases, that doesn’t include
the time it takes to clean all the glass and plexi, but, that is a
continual job anyway. I am very happy with them though I wish they
were a little less top heavy. I bought the tallest bases they sell
in order to get them as close to eye level as possible without having
to bend over. This height to base ratio makes them less stable than
if they were short. The advantage is though that people tend to not
lean on them as much (emphasis on as much…customers still do it).

The first thing I would tell you is that if you get “the works”:
lights, fabric skirts, carrying cases, etc., and buy more than one
case, you’ll spend more than a thousand bucks. The three I bought
cost almost $2,000 ($1,980 something).

The cases are wonderful. They are quite sturdy when fully tightened
and allow a great deal of creative display. I have the black
interior which shows of my higher karat items beautifully. I have
one slanted case and two square cases. I will probably buy one or
two plain pedestals just to have a place for people to sign charge
receipts and such.

I think the best compliment I got was from other jewelers who came by
every day of the show to take a look at the cases. They all liked
them and wanted to know if I would mind if they got some too! As
long as they don’t copy my designs I couldn’t care less.

If you indeed buy the cases tell them that I recommended them to you.
They give a nice referral bonus, too!

Larry Seiger

Larry,

You mentioned putting the cases at “eye level”. How high is that? I
ask because I’m rather short. (5’ 2", or about 157.5 cm) Last week at
JCK, one of the nicer booths really annoyed me by having their
"window" displays set too high for me to look into without making
myself ridiculous by standing on tiptoe. (Lucky for them, I forgot
who they were!)

If they’re designed to be “eye level” for someone substantially
taller than me, I would suggest some way of putting in a riser step
for shorter customers.

Nothing turns me off a display faster than being made to feel like a
child/unworthy of seeing the product.

Kat Tanaka –

 You mentioned putting the cases at "eye level".  How high is that?
 I ask because I'm rather short. (5' 2", or about 157.5 cm) 

Kat,

One display case sits on a base that is 42" the other two sit on
bases that are 40" high. The case itself is around 10" high and I
try to put my items at different levels for interest and ease of
viewing. I realize that this is not really eye-level, but it is
closer to eye-level than what you get with the standard cases that
you rent at such shows and taller than the cases the other jewelers
who were there used. I had some ladies visit my booth that were
about your same size and they had no problem seeing the items. I am
such a show off though that If someone looked like they were having
trouble seeing anything I would immediately take an item out for them
to see. I think the tactility of jewelry is very important.

Larry

My new tables are 42 inches high, 60 inches long, and about 24
inches deep. We have flat trays towards the front of the tables, and
necklace stands and ear nests towards the back. The whole display
stands about 53 inches high.

I’m about average height, (5’6") and I planned this display to be a
comfortable height for someone about my height, but still accessible
for someone my mom’s height (5’0"). We might have to reach something
on the earnests for a shorter customer, and we would definitely have
to bring things down for someone who was wheelchair-bound, but since
most of my work is fine wire work, this brings the detail up to the
customer so they don’t have to bend. (This also helps cut down on
small child syndrome, since they can’t see over the table!)

I’m not sure anyone has mentioned this, but you might want to look
into Bruce Baker’s Booth design seminar. He goes into display heights
and display colors in depth. I’m afraid I don’t have a URL for him,
but he has a regular column in Crafts Report, which should have his

Elizabeth Schechter
Silverhorn Designs
6400 Baltimore National Pike
Suite #170-A, #445
Baltimore, MD 21228
410-719-8712

       You mentioned putting the cases at "eye level".  How high is
  that? I ask because I'm rather short. (5' 2", or about 157.5 cm) 

Thanks for your response. It sounds like the cases that both of you
mention would indeed manage to be close to “eye-level” for me. I’ll
definitely check out Bruce Baker’s suggestions.

It doesn’t bother me as much when I’m at the mall, or casually
shopping because I’m just as likely to be wearing heels, but at a
trade show, I refuse to torture myself like that!

Now if I can just get all the airlines to be as considerate as Air
New Zealand when it comes to thinking about short travellers… (their
seats, even in coach, come with a built-in footrest.) That, and
“headrests” that are supposed to support the neck and instead push my
chin into my chest…

(One of these days, I’m gonna find a whole bunch of spare time and
lobby for short peoples’ needs awareness.)

Kat Tanaka

Most things we have to deal with are made for the 50th percentile,
unfortunately. My husband and I have the opposite problem with
airline seats and must sit squashed in, legs firmly wedged into the
seat back ahead of us, circulation to our lower limbs being cut off. I
envy short people having room to spare. Every time we fly we swear
never to do so again.

Janet Kofoed