From offering custom-shaped chocolates to easy-to-make paper projects with glitter—“two of our favorite things,” admitted Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, attentive retailers picked up a number of fun and inexpensive ideas from Miller’s LUXURY 2014 keynote address on Wednesday.

Entitled “Make the Seasons Sparkle: Clever Ideas to Help You Capture and Dazzle Customers Throughout the Year,” Miller offered merchants display tips and event ideas to boost creativity and customer interest. Among them: making paper cones to contain flowers or candy, making neon-tape signs and little cardboard boxes fashioned into books for graduate displays, as well as crafting little graduation-like caps made out of cardboard and tassels. Meanwhile, piñatas are appropriate for a variety of festive occasions (and are the props that keep on giving when filled with candy). Event-wise, consider bringing a fortune teller into stores for grads, hosting manicure days for moms, having a day of making holiday cards with kids, and setting up photo booths for engagement months or around the holidays. “A photo booth is a great way to bring people into the store to have holiday cards made, and then they might purchase something,” Miller explained.

Also important: Always remember to check crafty vendors on Etsy.com for a plethora of display handicrafts. Download instructions for some of Miller’s projects here.

JCK