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Short answer
Organise samples by what customers are choosing, such as sheer, dimout, blackout and upholstery, not by brand. Show large hangers for the final choice, light the display with daylight-balanced lamps plus one warm-light corner, and hang demo curtains in the main headings. Label every sample with its collection, colour, width and use, and remove discontinued ranges promptly.
How should you organise sample books?
- By use first: sheer, dimout, blackout, upholstery, outdoor. Customers think in rooms and light, not brands.
- Then by look: plains, textures, patterns.
- A starter shelf: the most popular plains and sheers, so most customers can choose quickly.
- Keep books current: remove discontinued collections, so you never sell something you cannot supply.
Which displays help customers choose?
| Display | Best for |
|---|---|
| Sample books | Browsing a whole collection's colourways |
| Large hangers or waterfall displays | Seeing drape and colour over a bigger area |
| A sheer test window | Holding sheers and dimouts against daylight |
| Demo curtains | Comparing S-fold, French pleat and eyelet in real life |
| A sofa arm or seat sample | Feeling upholstery fabric as it will be used |
How should you light a fabric display?
Colour changes with light. Use daylight-balanced lamps over the main display so colours read true, and set up one corner with warm lamps like a living room at night, so customers see both. Let them take a cutting to the window too. See Curtain Colours for how light changes colour.
What should every sample label show?
- Collection and colour name or code
- Use: curtain, upholstery or multi-purpose
- Type: sheer, dimout, blackout, velvet…
- Usable width and composition
- Martindale rubs for upholstery fabrics
These are the same fields as on each collection's Technical Detail tab on jotexfabrics.com. See How to Read a Fabric Specification Sheet.
How do you help customers decide at home?
- Lend sample books or cut larger samples, with a simple sign-out record.
- Send customers to the collection's page on jotexfabrics.com to see every colourway; signed-in dealers can check live stock there.
- Remind customers that colour can vary slightly between dye lots, and order the whole job at once. See What Is a Dye Lot?.
- Point them to the guides, such as Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer, for common questions.
Frequently asked questions
How should a curtain shop organise fabric samples?
By use first (sheer, dimout, blackout, upholstery, outdoor), then by look, with a starter shelf of popular plains and sheers.
What lighting is best for showing fabric?
Daylight-balanced lamps over the main display, plus a warm-light corner so customers see how colours look at night.
Should a curtain shop show made-up curtains?
Yes. Demo curtains in S-fold, French pleat and eyelet help customers compare headings in real life.
What should a fabric sample label include?
Collection and colour, use, type, usable width, composition and, for upholstery, the Martindale rub count.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.