Management of display fixtures

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing display fixtures, especially display fixtures for use in marketing and promotions. Multiple software modules allow a user to design/configure a tangible display fixture by selecting components used to assemble and populate the display fixture. Once designed, the various components of the display fixture can be tagged with suitable metadata to allow for easy generation of lists of components associated with that specifically designed or configured display fixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing tangible display fixtures for physical stores, the system comprising:
 a database module embodied in a server, said database module managing a database containing records relating to individual components, said individual components including components for use in assembling at least a portion of said tangible display fixtures and including components for display on said tangible display fixtures;   an inventory module embodied in said server, said inventory module retrieving records from said database using said database module and said inventory module displaying listings of said individual components to a user of said system by way of at least one panel on a user interface; and   a tagging module embodied in said server, said tagging module configured to add tags to records of said individual components regardless of types or classes of said components,   wherein a specific one of said listings displayed to said user corresponds to a specific configured tangible display fixture,   wherein said specific one of said listings is generated responsive to said user's selection of said specific configured tangible display fixture at said user interface,   wherein said specific configured tangible display fixture is associated with at least one specific tag,   and wherein a record in said database for each of said individual components in said specific one of said listings is tagged with said at least one specific tag and said inventory module retrieves records of said individual components based on a presence of said at least one specific tag.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said individual components include at least one of:
 promotional materials;   marketing materials;   mock ups of products;   products to be displayed;   physical parts for use in display unit assembly;   signs for promoting products;   signs for promoting services;   marketing handouts;   marketing flyers;   marketing leaflets;   marketing giveaways;   shelves;   nuts;   bolts;   screws; or   display unit frame.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said tags comprise metadata added to said records of selected components. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interface enables said user to select at least one additional component for said specific configured tangible display fixture and wherein said tagging module automatically adds said at least one specific tag to a record for said at least one additional component after said at least one additional component is selected. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said component includes predesigned display units. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interface enables said user to designate at least one other specific tag for association with said specific configured tangible display fixture. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one other specific tag comprises at least one of: a geographical location; a geographical region; a type of said tangible display fixture; a seasonal display indicator; a brand indicator; and a desired content of said tangible display fixture. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said inventory module displays a listing of all components associated with a particular tag to said user. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said inventory module displays said listings to said user by way of two panels on said user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said two panels comprises:
 a first panel for listing components for use in assembling said tangible display fixture; and   a second panel for listing components for display on said tangible display fixture.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one record in said database is tagged with multiple tags and said multiple tags correspond to different configured tangible display fixtures, such that, when generated, listings for each of said different configured tangible display fixtures include a component associated with said at least one record.