Greeting Card and Merchandise Retail Store System and Related Fixtures and Displays

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the sale of greeting cards and related merchandise. More specifically to a novel retail store concept designed to create a personal, experience-based shopping experience for consumers. This concept is effectuated by physical aspects such as a moveable wall system, unique storefront, and specially designed fixtures and furniture. The concept is also effectuated by having several themed zones and intermingling cards and gift merchandise throughout the store. Every aspect of the store, from the store layout and design to the merchandise assortment is carefully chosen to create an experience-based shopping environment.

1 . A retail store for selling greeting cards and other retail merchandise, comprising:
 a retail space defined by outer perimeter walls arranged in a generally rectangular pattern;   a series of sections of retail merchandise display walls arranged within the outer perimeter walls, the sections of retail merchandise display walls arranged at multiple angles relative to the outer perimeter walls including at least one section of retail merchandise display wall which is not parallel to an outer perimeter wall;   the retail merchandise display walls configured to support and display multiple different kinds of retail merchandise, at least one of the multiple different kinds of retail merchandise including greeting cards displayed by greeting card display fixtures attached to the retail merchandise display walls and non-greeting card merchandise displayed by non-greeting card merchandise display fixtures;   the sections of retail merchandise display walls arranged in a circuitous path throughout the retail space proximate to and spaced from the outer perimeter walls, at least some of the sections of retail merchandise display walls being arranged generally parallel to the outer perimeter walls, and at least some of the sections of retail merchandise display walls being arranged non-parallel to the outer perimeter walls;   multiple retail zones in the retail store defined by adjoining sections of retail merchandise display walls, and boundaries of retail zones located at junctures of the sections of retail merchandise display walls, each retail zone having at least one section of retail merchandise display wall with the greeting card display fixtures, each retail zone having a unique theme and greeting cards in the greeting card display fixtures within each retail zone which corresponds to the theme of each retail zone;   one or more freestanding fixtures with non-greeting card merchandise located within one or more of the retail zones.   
     
     
         2 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the store is located in a shopping center or mall. 
     
     
         3 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the store is located in a freestanding structure. 
     
     
         4 . The retail store of claim I wherein one or more of the sections of retail merchandise display walls are moveable with respect to other sections of the retail merchandise display wall. 
     
     
         5 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein one or more retail merchandise display walls are static and are fixed in place within the outer perimeter walls. 
     
     
         6 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the retail merchandise display walls have a display side which comprises fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The retail store of  claim 6  wherein the retail merchandise display walls are comprised of overlapping parallel fabric pieces covering the length of each wall section. 
     
     
         8 . The retail store of  claim 6  wherein the greeting card display fixtures and merchandise display fixtures are attached to the retail display walls by a bracket, the bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall. 
     
     
         9 . The retail store of  claim 1  further comprising a storefront having one or more glass panels and one or more glass transoms. 
     
     
         10 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein one or more sections of retail merchandise display wall extend through the storefront. 
     
     
         11 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the sections of retail merchandise display walls begin proximate to a front entrance of the store and continue proximate to a perimeter of the retail store. 
     
     
         12 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the unique themes of the multiple retail zones are selected from the group of: wedding and anniversary; baby; memory keeping; friendship; female humor; feminine birthday; blank cards; thank you; care and concern; sympathy; congratulations; general birthday; and seasonal. 
     
     
         13 . The retail store of  claim 1  comprising a ceiling with different heights. 
     
     
         14 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the greeting card wall display fixtures are selected from the group of: 1-tray card shelves; 2-tray card shelves; 3-tray card shelves; deep dive shelves; card wall fixtures; deep dive fixtures. 
     
     
         15 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the merchandise wall display fixtures are selected from the group of: roll display; wrap display; shelf display; jewelry wall fixture; roll fixture; and wall box shelf. 
     
     
         16 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein each retail zone contains at least one greeting card fixture and at least one merchandise fixture. 
     
     
         17 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the retail merchandise display walls proximate to the perimeter of the retail store further comprise pop-down shelf displays. 
     
     
         18 . The retail store of  claim 17  wherein the pop-down shelf walls comprise multiple rows of shelves with a wallpaper finish, a small downward facing lip, a finger pull, and a folding shelf bracket that is configured to be used as a shelf in a first position and wall space in a second position. 
     
     
         19 . The retail store of claim I wherein freestanding greeting card and non-greeting card fixtures are selected from the group of: armoire; counter; seasonal table; round table; card table; tasting station; cashwrap; glass display case; bookcase; hangbar; and backwrap. 
     
     
         20 . The retail store of  claim 1  comprising a product mix of 35% greeting cards and 65% non-greeting card merchandise displayed on the greeting card display fixtures and freestanding fixtures. 
     
     
         21 . The retail store of  claim 1  comprising approximately 50 to 200 linear feet of greeting card display fixtures arranged generally horizontally on the retail merchandise display walls. 
     
     
         21 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the retail zones arranged in a retail zone series corresponds to the series of sections of the retail merchandise display walls; 
     
     
         23 . The retail store of  claim 1  wherein the greeting card display fixtures are located on the retail merchandise display walls at elevations which vary within a retail zone and which vary from one retail zone to another retail zone; 
     
     
         24 . A retail merchandise display wall structure comprising:
 a plurality of display wall sections configured to support and display multiple different kinds of retail merchandise:   a slat wall panel vertically supported by a support structure, the slat wall panel having one or more horizontal grooves having an interior that is larger than its opening;   a display surface having a plurality of fabric pieces attached to the slat wall in an overlapping manner wherein a bottom edge of superior felt piece overlaps a top edge inferior felt piece;   at least one of the multiple different kinds of retail merchandise including greeting cards displayed by a greeting card display fixture attached to a retail merchandise display wall and merchandise displayed by a merchandise display fixture attached to a retail merchandise display wall, the greeting card and merchandise display fixtures being attached to the slat wall by an L-shaped mounting bracket engaged with a groove of the slat wall, the L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall, that extends between two felt pieces and into the groove located in the slat wall.   
     
     
         25 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein the greeting card wall display fixtures attached to the retail merchandise display wall are selected from the group of: 1-tray card shelves; 2-tray card shelves; 3-tray card shelves; deep dive shelves; card wall fixtures; deep dive fixtures. 
     
     
         26 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein the merchandise wall display fixtures attached to the retail merchandise display wall are selected from the group of: roll display, wrap display; shelf display; jewelry wall fixture; roll fixture; and wall box shelf. 
     
     
         27 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein one or more retail merchandise display wall sections is moveable with respect to the other retail merchandise display wall sections. 
     
     
         28 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 27  wherein the moveable retail merchandise wall section is two-sided with fabric on both sides. 
     
     
         29 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein the felt pieces are attached to the slat wall by a detachable fastening system. 
     
     
         30 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein a card display fixture is attached to the retail merchandise display wall by a mounting bracket consisting of a first vertical leg connected at a 90-degree angle to a first horizontal leg that is connected at a 90-degree angle to second vertical leg that is attached to an L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall that extends between two felt pieces and into a groove located in a slat wall. 
     
     
         31 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 30  comprising a two-tiered card display that includes a second tier channel that connects to the first-tier channel by an L-shaped extension leg extending from the second vertical leg of the first-tier channel. 
     
     
         32 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 30  comprising a three-tiered card display that is comprised of a third tier channel that is connected to the second tier channel by an L-shaped extension leg extending from the second vertical leg of the second-tier channel, the third tier channel also having a U-shaped spacer that extends the third tier channel out in front of the first and second tier channels and sits flush with an inferior felt piece. 
     
     
         33 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein a deep dive shelf is attached to a retail merchandise display wall by a mounting bracket consisting of a first horizontal leg placed along a base member that is connected to a first vertical leg at a 90-degree angle, the first vertical leg. being flush with the inferior felt piece and connected to an L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall that extends between two felt pieces and into a groove located in a slat wall. 
     
     
         34 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein a shelf display is attached to the retail merchandise display wall by a mounting bracket consisting of a first horizontal leg attached to a first vertical leg at a 90 degree angle, the first vertical leg being flush with the inferior felt piece and attached to an L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall that extends between two felt pieces and into a groove located in a slat wall. 
     
     
         35 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein a wrap display is attached to a retail merchandise display wall by a mounting bracket consisting of a first horizontal leg which is positioned at a slight downward sloping angle and connected to a first vertical leg which sits flush with an inferior felt piece and is attached at a 90-degree angle to a an L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of the retail merchandise display wall that extends between two felt pieces and into a groove located in a slat wall. 
     
     
         36 . The retail merchandise display wall of  claim 24  wherein a roll display is attached to the retail merchandise display wall by a Y-shaped frame that sits flush inside a U-shaped metal channel that is connected at the front end to a cutting edge and at the back end to an L-shaped mounting bracket having a channel dimensioned to receive an edge of a felt piece of fie retail merchandise display wall that extends between two felt pieces and into a groove located in a slat wall. 
     
     
         37 . A system for display and sales of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise, comprising:
 a storefront and perimeter walls which extend from the storefront to define a retail space within the storefront and perimeter walls;   a series of sections of merchandise display walls arranged in a continuous path within the perimeter walls, the continuous path of the sections of merchandise display walls extending from a first point proximate to the storefront and continuing substantially throughout the retail space and terminating at a second point proximate to the storefront, wherein at least some of the sections of the merchandise display walls are oriented generally parallel to the perimeter walls and at least some of the sections of the merchandise display walls are oriented non-parallel to the perimeter walls,   each of the sections of merchandise display walls configured to support different types of merchandise wall display fixtures for different types of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise;   contiguous sections of merchandise display walls generally defining different zones within the retail space wherein each different zone is designated for display of greeting cards and merchandise which corresponds to the designation of a zone, and greeting cards and merchandise which corresponds to the designation of a zone displayed on the sections of merchandise display walls which define the zone; the different zones arranged in a series which follows the continuous path of the sections of merchandise display walls, whereby the continuous path of the sections of merchandise display walls goes through each of the different zones in the retail space and displays all of the greeting card and non-greeting card merchandise in each of the zones throughout the retail space.   
     
     
         38 . The system for display and sales of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise of  claim 37  wherein some of the sections of the merchandise display walls are mounted to be movable with respect to other sections of the merchandise display walls and with respect to the perimeter walls. 
     
     
         39 . The system for display and sales of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise of  claim 37  further comprising additional merchandise display fixtures located within zones and not attached to the merchandise display walls. 
     
     
         40 . The system for display and sales of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise of  claim 37  wherein at least one of the merchandise display walls extends through the storefront. 
     
     
         41 . The system for display and sales of merchandise including greeting cards and non-greeting card merchandise of  claim 37  wherein the merchandise display walls further comprise a fabric structure which fits with the merchandise wall display fixtures, wherein designations for the different zones are selected from the group of: birthday, baby, wedding, anniversary, congratulations, graduation, sympathy, friendship, women, men, boys, girls, grandparents, holiday, faith and miscellaneous.