Abstract:
Provided is a method of co-marketing and co-selling a garment and related items. The method includes providing a corrugated sheet having opposing inner and outer surfaces. The corrugated sheet is printed and cut to define a custom shape including a first half and a second half collectively defining a display tool. An apparel display portion is formed on the display tool for displaying the wearing apparel and a merchandise display portion is formed on the display tool for displaying the merchandise item. The inner surface of the first half is connected to the inner surface of the second half to define the display tool. This product may be used as a sales and marketing tool in order to enhance the sales performance for apparel and hard goods. The display tool supports a gift with purchase, and also may be used for advertising, promotion and an in-store display.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/275,589, filed Sep. 1, 2009. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for marketing and selling all forms of wearing apparel combined with hard goods and other related items, and more specifically, to a hanger configured to display the wearing apparel and the related items, as well as a method for making and using the hanger. 
         [0004]    Individuals oftentimes memorialize special events by purchasing a souvenir or keepsake. Souvenirs are typically offered for sale at a gift store and may include a wide range of products. For instance, an amusement park may have a gift store for its guests and offer wearing apparel, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats, as well as other items including post cards, videos, magnets and the like. Souvenirs may also be offered for sale at a golf course clubhouse to memorialize a round of golf at a prestigious golf club. The clubhouse may sell golf shirts, golf balls, tees, divot repair tools, ball spotters, etc. Souvenirs may additionally be sold at sporting events, school campuses, conventions, malls, airports, and other locations known in the art. 
         [0005]    Wearing apparel is a top seller in many gift stores. Consumers oftentimes enter the gift store with a particular garment in mind that they would like to purchase. Once they find the garment, the consumer tends to pay for the garment and then quickly exit the store without further browsing. In this regard, the consumers frequently overlook or miss items which they would otherwise purchase had the consumer noticed the items. In the case of the country club mentioned above, golfers are typically inclined to purchase a golf shirt as a souvenir. Once the golfer finds the golf shirt, he tends to quickly pay for the shirt without browsing for other items, such as golf balls, divot repair tools, etc. Alternatively, another concern is that consumers may spend too much time in the store trying to find all the items they are looking for, which may be undesirable when the gift store is busy, such as during a holiday weekend at an amusement park. It would be desirable to organize the store to mitigate the aforementioned concerns. 
         [0006]    The operator of the gift store aims at maximizing the revenues generated by the gift store by selling the wearing apparel, as well as the related items. When consumers overlook the related items, the operator of the gift store loses out on additional revenues. Furthermore, when the consumer spends additional time browsing through the store to find related items, the efficiency of the store may be diminished, especially at busy times, as mentioned above. 
         [0007]    Therefore, in view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus of marketing and selling wearing apparel as well as other related items. The present invention addresses these particular needs, as will be discussed in more detail below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    There is provided a method of co-marketing and co-selling a garment and related items on a single display device, such as a hanger. The hanger may be configured to display a variety of garments (i.e., t-shirts, pajama sets, lingerie, dresses, blouses, pants, shorts, sporting/fitness apparel, swimwear, collared shirts, sweatshirts, beach sandals, etc.) coupled with a promotional item(s) such as a toy figurine, action figure, or any number of complementing product lines. The hanger may provide several opportunities to mix and match complimentary products and place them on a single hanger. 
         [0009]    The method includes providing a corrugated sheet having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The corrugated sheet is first printed, then cut by a display tool to define a custom shape including a first half and a second half collectively defining the display tool. The first half may be separate from the second half, or hingedly connected to the second half. An apparel display portion is then formed on the display tool for displaying the wearing apparel, and a merchandise display portion is formed on the display tool for displaying the merchandise item. The inner surface of the first half is connected to the inner surface of the second half to define the display tool. 
         [0010]    The method may additionally include forming a first aperture in the first half, wherein the first aperture extends from the inner surface to the outer surface and is sized to receive the merchandise item. The method may further include forming a second aperture within the second half, wherein the second aperture extends from the inner surface to the outer surface. A first package half may be disposed within the first aperture and a second package half may be disposed within the second aperture, wherein the first package half and second package half collectively define a package enclosure. 
         [0011]    The corrugated sheet may include a plurality of corrugations extending along a corrugation axis. The corrugated sheet may be cut such that the first half defines a first bottom edge and the second half defines a second bottom edge, the first bottom edge and the second bottom edge are angularly offset from the corrugation axis. According to one implementation, the first bottom edge and second bottom edge are offset from the corrugation axis by approximately 45 degrees. 
         [0012]    In addition to the foregoing, there is also provided a hanger for marketing a merchandise item along with wearing apparel. The hanger includes a first half having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first aperture formed within the first half and extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, wherein the first aperture is sized to receive the merchandise item. The hanger additionally includes a second half having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the first half is connected to the inner surface of the second half to collectively define the hanger. The hanger includes a body portion, a hook portion connected to the body portion, and a pair of opposed apparel arms extending from the body portion for supporting the wearing apparel. A packing element is disposed within the first aperture and is configured to receive the merchandise item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hanger displaying a garment for sale, in addition to marketing and displaying related items for sale; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the hanger depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the hanger depicted in  FIGS. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the hanger depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an upper perspective view of a corrugated sheet with the hanger being cut out of the corrugated sheet; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the hanger, a plurality of packing elements and related golf accessories for sale; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front view of another embodiment of a hanger depicting an aquatic image and including related aquatic memorabilia for display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities. 
         [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, there is depicted a method and apparatus for co-marketing and co-selling wearing apparel and related merchandise items on a single device  10 , such as a hanger. The hanger  10  may be used to sell t-shirts, pajama sets, lingerie, dresses, blouses, pants, shorts, sporting/fitness apparel, swimwear, collared shirts, sweatshirts, beach sandals, etc, along with promotional items such as sporting accessories, memorabilia, toy figurines, action figures, or any number of complementing goods. The hanger  10  may offer unlimited possibilities to mix and match complimentary products and place them into a one-piece hanger  10 , which may increase the price point and profit margins while moving greater amounts of inventory. The hanger  10  may be employed by club stores, retail stores, advertising agencies, movie promotions, charity promotions, military support, travel and tourism promotions, sports and sporting goods, special events (i.e., concerts), TV show promotions, holiday promotions (i.e., Christmas, Hanukah, Valentine&#39;s Day, Mother&#39;s Day, Father&#39;s Day, Easter, 4 th  of July, Back to School, Halloween, Birthday&#39;s, etc), or any interested party to be used as a gift with purchase. 
         [0023]    Turning now specifically to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is depicted a hanger  10  for co-marketing and co-selling a shirt  12  and associated items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c.  In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the shirt  12  is a golf shirt and the associated items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  include a golf ball, divot repair tool, and a ball marker. It is contemplated that the hanger  10  may be used in the gift shop of a country club with the name and logo of the country club embroidered on the shirt  12  and emblazoned on the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c.  Alternatively, the hanger  10  may be used in a sporting goods store with the name and logo of a golf manufacturer depicted on the shirt  12  and items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c.  Of course, the hanger  10  may be used to sell other apparel items and related merchandise packaged therein (i.e., amusement park souvenirs, athletic souvenirs, collegiate merchandise, etc). By packaging the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  with the shirt  12 , the consumer is more likely to purchase the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  than if they were sold separately, thereby creating additional revenues for the seller. Furthermore, the integrated packaging creates an appearance which immediately captures the attention of the consumer. In this manner, the hanger  10  advantageously markets the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  at the point of sale of the shirt  12 . 
         [0024]    According to one embodiment, the hanger  10  is formed out of a corrugated material and includes a first half  16  (see  FIG. 4 ) and a second half  18  (see  FIG. 4 ). The first half  16  and second half  18  are complimentary and are configured to be connected to each other to collectively define the hanger  10 .  FIG. 2  is a front view of the hanger  10  showing the first half  16 , while  FIG. 3  is a rear view of the hanger  10 , primarily depicting the second half  18 .  FIG. 4  is a side view depicting the first half  16  connected to the second half  18 . 
         [0025]    The hanger  10  may define a traditional hanger shape and includes a body portion  20  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), a hook portion  22  extending from the body portion  20 , and a pair of opposed arms  24  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) extending from the body portion  20 . The hook portion  22  is configured to enable the hanger  10  to be hung from a conventional display rack, while the arms  24  are configured to support the wearing apparel  12  for display. As shown, each arm  24  is generally elongate and includes a curved end portion  26  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) for “hanging” the shirt  12 , and notches  28  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) for maintaining the shirt  12  on the hanger  10 . The hanger  10  may be available in different sizes for use with various types and sizes of wearing apparel  12 . 
         [0026]    The hanger  10  additionally includes a plurality of apertures formed within the first half  16  and the second half  18  for receiving and displaying the items  14 . The apertures may be sized to accommodate the various items  14  which may be marketed and sold with the garment  12 . Packing elements, such as plastic blister packs, may be disposed within the apertures for securing the items to the hanger  10  and to protect the items when on display. 
         [0027]    According to one implementation, the hanger  10  includes graphics  29 , logos, or other indicia printed or laminated on the front and/or back of the hanger  10 . The graphics  29  may be printed with hi-resolution  4  color graphics to promote brand awareness and to gain the visual attention of consumers in an area of a retail store which may not include such advertising. The graphics  29  may be associated with the apparel  12  and items  14  displayed and offered for sale. For instance, the graphic  29  depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  includes a golfer on the front ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the hanger  10 , as well as on the back ( FIG. 3 ) of the hanger  10 . The image of the golfer is complimentary to the golf shirt  12  and golf items  14  displayed on the hanger  10 . The graphics  29  may additionally include the logo of the garment and/or item manufacturer, which tends to enhance the brand awareness of the manufacturer. It is further contemplated that the graphics  29  may include special offers or promotional descriptions of the items  14  offered for sale. 
         [0028]    With the basic structure of the hanger  10  being described above, the following discussion primarily pertains to methods of forming the hanger  10  and using the hanger  10 . Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , and according to one embodiment, the hanger  10  is formed out of a corrugated sheet  30  including an inner surface  32  and an outer surface  34 . The hanger  10  is cut out of the corrugated sheet  30 , with the first half  16  and second half  18  preferably being cut from the sheet  30  in one piece (as is depicted in  FIG. 5 ). In other words, the first half  16  and second half  18  are integrally attached to each other with a butterfly fold in the middle when the hanger  10  is cut from the corrugated sheet  30 . However, it is contemplated that the first half  16  and second half  18  may be cut out separately and subsequently attached. The hanger  10  may be cut from the corrugated sheet  30  with a die cutting tool or by other cutting methods known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0029]    The corrugated sheet  30  includes a plurality of corrugations  36  or flutes that extend along a corrugation axis  38  (see  FIG. 5 ). The hanger  10  may be cut from the corrugated sheet  30  such that the corrugations  36  extend diagonally across the first half  16  and the second half  18  (see  FIG. 5 ) to enhance the strength and durability of the hanger  10 . In particular, the first half  16  may define a first bottom edge  40  and the second half  18  may define a second bottom edge  42 . The corrugations  36  may extend angularly from the bottom edges to define an angle θ of approximately 45 degrees, although other angles may be defined without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Once the first half  16  and second half  18  are cut from the corrugated sheet  30 , the apertures are formed therein. The size and configuration of the apertures correspond to and are complimentary to the items  14  intended to be disposed therein. For instance, the hanger  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-6  is configured to display a golf ball  14   a,  a divot repair tool  14   b  and a golf ball marker  14   c.  Therefore, the apertures formed within the hanger  10  are sized to receive the respective items and are complimentary to their shape. 
         [0031]    Apertures  44   a,    44   b  are complimentary in shape to the golf ball  14   a  and extend through the first half  16  and the second half  18 , respectively. In particular, aperture  44   a  extends from the inner surface  32  to the outer surface  34  on the first half  16 , while aperture  44   b  extends from the inner surface  32  to the outer surface  34  on the second half  18 . Furthermore, given the spherical shape of the golf ball  14   a,  the size and shape of the aperture  44   a  is substantially identical to the size and shape of aperture  44   b.  The apertures  44   a,    44   b  are formed such that when the first half  16  and second half  18  are attached, the apertures  44   a,    44   b  are aligned and overlap to receive and display the golf ball  14   a.    
         [0032]    Apertures  46   a,    46   b  are complimentary in shape to the divot repair tool  14   b.  Aperture  46   a  extends through the first half  16  from the inner surface  32  to the outer surface  34 , and aperture  46   b  extends through the second half  18  from the inner surface  32  to the outer surface  34 . Given the unique shape of the divot repair tool  14   b,  aperture  46   a  may define a different size and configuration than aperture  46   b.  The apertures  46   a,    46   b  are sized and positioned such that when the first half  16  and second half  18  are attached, the apertures  46   a,    46   b  are aligned and overlap to accommodate the divot repair tool  14   b.    
         [0033]    Aperture  48  is formed within the first half  16  for displaying the ball marker  14   c.  Aperture  48  extends through the first half  16  from the inner surface  32  to the outer surface  34 . It is important to note that aperture  48  does not extend through the second half  16 . The ball marker  14   c  is relatively thin and therefore may only require a single aperture within the hanger  10  for display. 
         [0034]    Packing elements, such as conventional plastic blister packs, may be used to secure the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  within the respective apertures. The packing elements may be transparent to allow a consumer to see the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c.  The packing elements may also be complimentary in shape to the respective items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c,  as well as the apertures within which the packing elements are disposed. 
         [0035]    Packing element  50  is used to secure the golf ball  14   a  within apertures  44   a,    44   b.  Packing element  50  includes a first half  52   a  and a second half  52   b  which collectively define an enclosure sized to store the golf ball  14   a.  The first half  52   a  of the packing element  50  is disposed within aperture  44   a,  while the second half  52   b  of the packing element  50  is disposed within aperture  44   b.  Given the spherical shape of the golf ball  14   a,  the first half  52   a  and second half  52   b  of the packing element  50  may be substantially identical. The first half  52   a  and second half  52   b  of the packing element  50  may be secured to each other by an adhesive or by welding to enclosure the golf ball  14   a  therein. 
         [0036]    Packing element  54  is used to secure the divot repair tool  14   b  to the hanger  10 , and includes a first half  56   a  and a second half  56   b.  The size and shape of the first half  56   a  differs from the size and shape of the second half  56   b  in order to accommodate the unique size and shape of the divot repair tool  14   b.  The first half  56   a  is disposable within aperture  46   a,  while the second half  56   b  is disposable within aperture  46   b.  The first half  56   a  and second half  56   b  may be joined by an adhesive, by welding or by other means known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    Packing element  58  is configured to secure the ball marker  14   c  to the hanger  10 . The packing element  58  is disposable within aperture  58  and engages with the inner surface  32  of the second half  18  of the hanger  10 . In this manner, packing element  58  and the inner surface  18  of the second half  18  of the hanger  10  collectively define an enclosure for displaying the ball marker  14   c.  Packing element  58  may be secured to the hanger  10  by an adhesive or by other attaching techniques known in the art. 
         [0038]    Once the apertures are formed and the various packing elements are disposed within their respective apertures, the first half  16  and second half  18  of the hanger  10  may be folded toward each other about a fold axis  60  to connect the inner surface  32  of the first half  16  to the inner surface  32  of the second half  18 . Prior to the folding step, the packing elements may also be prepared for attachment to the corresponding packing element half, or to the hanger  10 , as described in more detail above, such that when the first and second halves  16 ,  18  of the hanger  10  are folded, the packing elements engage with their respective mate to secure the respective item therein. 
         [0039]    A heat activated adhesive may be disposed along or laminated to the inner surface  16  of the hanger  10  for attaching the first half  16  to the second half  18 . The inner surface  32  may be heated immediately before folding the first half  16  and second half  18  together. Alternatively, the first and second halves  16 ,  18  may be laminated together once they are folded to define the hanger  10 . It is also contemplated that other adhesives or joining means may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0040]    By integrating the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  into the hanger  10 , the consumer is more likely to purchase the additional items with the garment  12 . The seller may give the consumer the option of purchasing the garment  12  by itself, or the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  by themselves, although it is likely that consumers will be enticed by the innovative display and convenience of the integrated design so as to purchase the garment  12  and the items  14   a,    14   b,    14   c.    
         [0041]    Although  FIGS. 1-6  depict a hanger  10  for displaying and selling a golf shirt  12  and golf items  14 , it is understood that the hanger  10  may be used in other industries. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is depicted another embodiment of the hanger  10  configured for use to sell memorabilia at an amusement park. The hanger  10  includes a graphic  62  of an aquatic animal, which may be featured at the amusement park. The items displayed within the hanger  10  include a USB drive  64  and a magnet  66 . The USB drive  64  may include a video file of the aquatic animal stored thereon for replay by the consumer. Furthermore, the magnet  66  depicts an image of the aquatic animal shown in the graphic  62 . 
         [0042]    Other exemplary uses of the hanger  10  include using the hanger  10  to market and sell the following children&#39;s items: a costume with costume jewelry; a dinosaur/animal shirt with matching toy figurines; a movie shirt with a movie figurine; camping apparel with a flashlight; a car racing shirt with a toy car; a shirt with lip gloss or chap stick; a bathing suit with sunscreen, goggles or pool toys; a science shirt with play dough or ooze; and a sports shirt with a ball, a mouth guard or sweatbands. The hanger  10  may be used to market and sell the following teen-related items: shirts with a mini digital camera; shirts with a USB drive; shirts with school supplies; music related apparel with CD&#39;s or digital music; surf trunks with surfboard wax or wax comb; and work-out gear with a club accessory. The following items may be marketed toward women using the hanger  10 : a cooking apron with cooking utensils; dresses with jewelry and other accessories; blouses with body lotions or perfumes; and sandals with sunscreen, nail clippers, bottle openers or playing cards. The hanger  10  may be used to market and sell the following items to men: golf apparel with golf balls or accessories; baseball shirts with a baseball; a Father&#39;s Day shirt with tools; and a sports team jersey with a key chain. The hanger  10  also provides the following corporate promotional opportunities: a branded beer shirt with a bottle opener; branded car shirts with key chains; a Swiss army shirt with a Swiss army knife, a branded camping shirt with a mini flashlight; and branded candy company shirt with a candy dispenser. The foregoing examples are exemplary in nature only and are not intended to limit the scope of usage of the hanger  10 . Furthermore, it is understood that the hanger  10  may be used to display items other than apparel, such as curtains, fabrics, or other items commonly displayed on a hanger. 
         [0043]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.