About the Company Behind The Charter
An independent publication on retail display, written for the people who dress shop floors
Our Story and Mission
The Charter started in 2017 as a notebook on how independent shops present their merchandise. It has grown into a publication on mannequins, fixtures, store layout and the suppliers behind them, read by boutique owners, visual merchandisers and store planners.
We do not sell display products, take orders or install anything. When we mention a supplier, it is because readers working through a particular problem should know about them, and we explain the reason.
From a single mannequin in a window to a full fixture plan for a new store, our aim is the same: lay out the choices in plain terms so readers can buy with confidence from whoever they choose.
What We Write About
The three subjects that fill most of our pages
Mannequins and Forms
Female and male mannequins, torso forms and dress forms: finishes, poses, sizing, and how many a shop really needs.
Fixtures and Specialty Displays
Slatwall, gridwall, racks, shoe displays and showcases, and how they work together on a floor plan.
Layout and Merchandising
Traffic flow, lighting, seasonal changes and the habits that keep a store looking cared for.
Sources We Rely On
Where our facts come from
We check our coverage against the published research and guidance of established retail organizations, and we link to them so readers can check it too.
- Research and reports from the National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, whose studies of shoppers and store operations inform our articles.
- The design awards and member work of the Retail Design Institute, promoting excellence in retail design since 1961. A respected professional organization advancing the field of retail design and visual merchandising through member expertise and industry collaboration.
Who Writes The Charter
Writers who have spent years around shop floors and suppliers
Editors and Contributors
Our writers have spent years around visual merchandising, store planning and the suppliers who serve them. We are not a supplier and we do not sell consulting; our job is to explain the choices clearly.
Whether you're refreshing a store layout, launching a new line or opening a second location, our articles walk through the decisions in the order you will face them.
Topics We Cover Most:
- Mannequin selection and positioning for maximum visual impact
- Display fixture design and store layout optimization
- Seasonal display strategies and trend integration
- Comparing suppliers and prices
- Planning delivery and installation
How We Choose the Businesses We Mention
What a supplier has to show before it appears in our pages
A Real Track Record
The business has traded long enough to show how it treats customers, and its address and contact details check out.
Reachable People
Readers can reach a person by phone or email before they buy, and questions get answered.
Useful Product Information
The supplier's own site describes its products well enough for a reader to compare them.
Fit With the Article
A business appears only where it answers the question the article is about.
Clear Delivery Terms
Shipping, pickup and return terms are published, so a reader knows what happens after the order.
Published Prices
Prices are listed or quoted plainly, so readers can compare before they commit.
Where Our Readers Are
Many of our readers run shops in Massachusetts and the rest of New England, from Boston and Worcester to Springfield, so local suppliers and events come up often in our coverage.
We hold no inventory and take no orders. Questions about a product belong with its supplier; questions about an article, story tips and corrections come to us.
Contact Information
Phone: We work by email
Email: [email protected]
Replies: Within a few working days
Have a Question or a Story Tip?
Write to the editors about an article, a correction or a shop that deserves coverage.
Get in Touch