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Before You Buy Hangers
Tips for Choosing Clothes Hangers

By Shari Waters, About.com

Tips for choosing hangers and types of hangers in retail stores.

Hangers

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Hangers are a critical part of any clothing display. Using the proper types of hangers will not only protect and preserver the merchandise, but it will also help your customers find what they are looking for much faster. Before buying commercial hangers for a retail store, consider the following factors.

Garment Type

The most important factor when choosing a hanger is to determine the type of garment to be displayed. Of the many types of hangers available to retailers, each has its own particular function. For example, the higher cost and thickness of wood would make it impractical to choose wooden hangers for displaying tee shirts.

Store Atmosphere

Hangers should match, or atleast blend, with a store's decor. Take into consideration the look and feel of the store when choosing hangers. Upscale boutiques may want to avoid lightweight plastic hangers, while teak wood hangers may look out of place in a discount store.

To Give or Not to Give

Some retailers write their marketing plans to include custom printed hangers. Occasionally, a retailer may even receive clothing from the manufacturer already on hangers. All of these hangers are generally passed on to the customer and are considered a standard cost of doing business. On the other hand, more expensive and higher quality hangers are generaly reused as long as they remain in good condition.

Storage Space

Retailers that give away hangers, whether imprinted or not, should consider storage space. Hangers can be purchased in bulk to reduce costs and to avoid running out. Keep in mind that hanger boxes are usually on the large side and may take up a lot of space in the stockroom. As sales clerks remove items from hangers, these recycled hangers should also have a neat and organized space at the checkout counter.

Confused about the many different hangers available? View our Hanger Gallery to see examples of the most popular types of hangers.

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