Why Mannequins Are Not for Dummies    

     Alright, so this topic might sound like something out of a Science Fiction book at first glance, but if you think about it closely, it is all about professionalism.   In the world of clothing retail, there are salesman think the most important thing about selling is presentation--if you put something the right way on a dummy, any dummy will buy it--but such is not true. For the most part, people are smart(at least when it comes to spending their money. The author doesn't necessarily vouch for anything else) and will only buy a clothing product if it is worth buying.  However, the opposite of that idea, the idea that ''presentation is nothing'' is certainly false. Presentation is extremely important, especially when selling on eBay.  People cannot see or feel merchandise up close on ebay but only have a picture to go on to get an idea of fit, size, manufacture, etc.  That is why many successful clothing sellers on eBay use mannequins. (See the following  thread to read what others have to say about using a mannequin:Mannequins in clothing sales)

    If you are in a ''brick and mortar'' store, as a store in a physical locality is called, it is probably wisest to purchase a professional plastic mannequin for display. If selling on eBay  from your own home however, you may not want to spend ten to one hundred dollars on a mannequin..  Nor may you have the space to store one. Besides that, what will the guests think when they see a plastic headless torso sitting in the guest closet?  So here are a few simple steps to help you build your own mannequin, using things from around the house or easily saught to help you better display your clothes.(Note, the author has chosen to use female form. Though mannequins for men and children can be just as easily made with a few obvious adjustments to the steps)  

Time Required:

20-30 minutes

  Materials Needed:  

                     1. 1 corsette, bustier or other figure shaping device
                     2. 1 black, white or skin-colored leotard, body suite or tight-fitting top
                     3. 1 pair of  lycra or spandex lady's exercise shorts or girdle
                     4. 20-20 sheets of newspaper(one newspaper will do) 
                     5. 6 medium/large safety pins
                     6.1 swivel necked hanger(the kind where the head turns)

Directions:

         1. Crinkle each sheet of                 2. Stuff corsette and shorts        3. Align both halves of the dummy
          newspaper into a ball.                   with newspaper until                  as shown.   
                                                              both halves are full.    

         

       4. Pin the upper half to lower        5. Hang the corsette       6. Place body suite, leotard, or
       half using safety pins, twice in       or bustier by the             tight-fitting top over the hanger,
       back and front, and once on         straps or hanging            corsette and shorts. Finish  
       each side.                                    strings on the swivel        stuffing if needed.    
                                                          neck hanger.                     
        

Now your mannequin is finished!

Just notice the difference in appearance of the same piece of apparel in these two pictures, one without the mannequin, the other with it.
Which one looks more professional and appealing to you?

                                                      without the mannequin             with the mannequin

For more examples please see my auctions using a mannequin to display the clothes.   my  auctions  
Or if you'd like to try on a plastic dummy for size...see ''mannequins''