For years I worked at the red and white bullseye and one of the untold secrets was that the super cool seasonal signing went up in the air, stayed for a bit and then was retired to the trash can. Employees would always take it home to deck out their kid's rooms and stash it for holidays to come, but now you don't have to be an insider — you just have to buy it.
Although the larger pieces you see when you walk in the main doors aren't for sale, many of the supplemental pieces throughout the Target stores this season are in fact for sale in their seasonal section. They seem rather unassuming, in fact, they'd never really be something that would catch our eye, but knowing what to look for, they can be a large amount of sparkle for a super small price.
Since these decorations are folded up small, they don't take up much real estate on the shelf and might be something you'd walk right past (I would have too), but we wanted to bring your attention to them. They look pretty neat in the store and think they could be a great addition to your home for very little work.
Have you ever asked for in store signing to use in your own home? Let us know your favorite place to look for decor finds like this in the comments below!
Image: Sarah Rae Trover
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As a librarian, I have on occasion obtained some store decorations for the library. This isn't easy, though -- timing is everything. Another librarian I know got a bunch of the author portraits from Barnes & Noble for the Biography section of his library, which was cool.
I REALLY wanted the Tord Boontje cutouts Target had a few years ago for (I think it was) Christmas... no luck that time. (I'd have framed chunks with a contrasting background in poster frames, that time. Oh Well...)
I once asked the employees at a Gap store if I could buy or have, at the end of their sign display period, a giant photo poster of Jon Krasinski for my sister. She loves him and would have gone insane over it. They said they 'don't do that', though I know from a friend who used to work for Gap that they do let their employees take the posters later for themselves.
When I was in elementary school, I hounded the local Blockbuster for their signage on a regular basis. I had a life size Casper cut out for years and got a Maverick-era Mel Gibson cutout for my mom. Don't judge, it was the 90s.
not really the same but cool regardless, Staples lets you print things HUGE in black and white for pretty cheap when you choose "engineering blueprints" rather than photo printing. off of their website its really easy too.
I printed a photo that was 3 feet by 2 feet for $2.99! If I had known about this in college I wouldve made a giant photo of a fireplace to hang our stockings in the living room.
choose a high res photo or it would probably turn out grainy, mine didnt but I can imagine that would happen with a smaller photo.
I was in 4th grade when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 came out (the one with Vanilla Ice), and I liked it so much that my parents got the life-sized cardboard display of them for me from Blockbuster. I had it in my room for about a year. Heh.
Store Display! That's my job!
I have asked Target for Halloween decorations in the past but was told they're donated schools.
I do regret not asking my video store for life size Edward Scissorhands cut outs when it was released back in the day. I did score a Sid and Nancy poster that I still have.
@sara.b, that is genius!
I have an Abercrombie poster on heavy vinyl canvas-like material, but it's rolled up in the corner. When Suncoast was going under I got a huge heavy black and white poster of Molly Ringwald circa Sixteen Candles that was up in my dorm and past apartments and now resides in the basement.
Just an aside - I'm not allowed to say that I do or do not do the signing for a certain red and white retailer - so I won't. BUT just so everyone is aware - they are NOT allowed to give the hanging signing away that is in the store. There have been SO many messages saying that this is a no-no. It used to just be things couldn't have a brand or logo on them - for licensing issues, so plain things could be given away. However, currently nothing is allowed to be given away. This may vary of course according to managers adhering or not adhering to official memos, but as a person who may or may not put it up - I certainly cannot. So - just wanted to throw that out there that they're not trying to be jerks - its all regulated from above if they say no! (and no, employees are not allowed to take stuff home either)
i work for another retail company that may or may not specialize in home decor... & i thought i was the only one who saw that our graphic banners were almost ALWAYS perfect for decorating my son's room!
I have a wonderful family member who works for a museum. She's buddies with the guys who put up the giant vinyl advertisements for exhibitions and gets to take them home! They're pretty awesome for framing/upholstering outside furniture, but also awesome for making messenger bages and totes!
I have some Starbucks holiday decorations from their store set a few years ago that I still use. Very cute!
I work in the visual department for a large retailer as well, and we always get asked for posters, decor, etc. A lot of the time we don't technically own the items (i.e. they're provided by Nike, Columbia, etc.) so we can't give them away. BUT, we're usually instructed to throw everything away at the end of the campaigns so if you don't mind a little recycling bin-diving, you can still get those items.
And make sure the person you're asking is one of the visual/display team members - since we're the ones physically tearing everything down, we control where it goes once it's "garbage". ;)
I work for a very popular clothing company that you can find in any nicer mall in the United States. While we typically use posters of good looking, young models, we occasionally get to use (and then take home after we're done with them!) great props or posters that could serve a glamorous second life at home.
For example, over my five years with this "patriotic bird" company, I have accumulated some awesome cloth bins (for storage), a vintage bench, a rustic fence (perfect for Halloween), and some great specialty lights.
Like anywhere else, they key to getting these goods are asking the right person at the right time. While there's no company policy against their distribution to the public, you just have to ask the day they're coming down. (We'd never "hold" it for you.)
Bottom line: Always ask when they're coming down, and then follow up.
I was just in the red and whit bulls-eye and was marveling at the huge versions of ornaments similar to the paper ornaments I made a few years ago. I sorta want them, but they are ridiculously huge, of course. One ornament would fill my apartment.
I am glad that Target has started displaying and selling items as well - it's always bugged me when you see something you like in a store, and can't find it anywhere!
Display models are the best. I decorated a whole living room wall with destashed posters from the Guthrie Theater, and managed to score the last robot from the Sharper Image because they had run out, and it was the display model.
Has anyone admired and got/bought the fabric banners from Crate & Barrel? They change so often.
I'm pretty sure those "fabric banners" at Crate & Barrel are sold at the Crate & Barrel Outlet as fabric sold by the yard. I've seen lots of Marimekko at discounted prices.
I was dissappointed to learn that Target recently changed their policies regarding expired decorations. It all goes into the bailer for recycling.
@SherryBinNH - I REALLY wanted those Tord Boontje cutouts at Target too!! I wish they had sold them somewhere.
A few years ago Cole Haan had the most beautiful shearling area rugs to put their great shoes on. It was almost the end of the holidays so I simply asked if I could purchase one. An 8x8 rug was $40. I looked online and it was easily $800 for one at a competitor's. I use it all the time and am thrilled for my find.
Just ask. What's the worst thing they can say.."no"?