What Is Visual Merchandising? – Importance, Elements, & Examples

visual merchandising

Visual merchandising is what one sees when walking into a retail space. It is the presentation and organisation of products in both the store and on display to arouse customer interest and convince them to buy and return to the store.

It is a well-defined strategy that aims to influence customer decisions inside a store; thus, it is crucial for retail marketing.

But what exactly is visual merchanding, why is it important, and how it works? Here’s a guide explaining everything.

What Is Visual Merchandising?

Visual merchandising is a practice of optimising retail store presentation and displaying goods to highlight their features and benefits better and encourage customer interest.

To make this visual merchandising definition simpler, divide it into three parts –

  • It’s a practice of optimising retail store presentation: Visual merchandising is an intentional practice to optimise the space and layout of the store to present the inventory in the best possible way. 
  • It focuses on highlighting product’s features and benefits: Marketers plan, design, and display products with an aim to highlight their features and benefits.
  • It aims to encourage customer interest: Visual merchandising aims to influence customers and encourage them to purchase goods and return to the store in the future.

Visual merchandising is an important aspect of retail marketing. It does not only include displays for merchandise on display but also includes store layout, greeter design, floor plan, signage, fixtures, and lighting.

It includes shaping customer experience inside a retail space through presentation and advertising. Therefore, it is an important tool that retail marketers use to influence consumer behaviour and thus fulfil their marketing goals – sales and repeat visits.

Importance Of Visual Merchandising

A good looking and well strategised retail space is essential to meeting a business’s sales and marketing goals. Visual merchandising helps retailers –

  • Improve customer experience : Customer experience is vital to running a successful business and visual merchandising is a very important part of it. It helps to organise the retail space and help customers find what they’re looking for easily – thus improving their experience while shopping in your store. Moreover, it helps to attract, engage, and inform customers better with carefully designed displays.
  • Sell targeted items: Some items bring in more profits than others, and sellers want to sell more of these. Visual merchandising helps highlight these targeted items and thus help sell them more.
  • Influence Buyer decisions: Visual merchandising also involves using neuromarketing techniques to influence buyers’ decisions by appealing to their unconscious minds. This involves strategic product placement (profitable items are kept at the eye level), store paint (to set the mood), fragrance (to make you want more), and music (to influence you subconsciously).
  • Meet sales goals: Visual merchandising is the salesperson that persuades the customer to purchase intended products subconsciously. Marketers do this by strategically placing profitable items, making them noticeable and tempting people to buy them.
  • Market retail stores: A memorable store is what stands out in the crowd of boring retail stores. Visual merchandising aims to make the store stand out and find a place in the customers’ minds. This is done by using visual cues, positioning, and aesthetics, making them stop and look and, sometimes, even take photos or spread the word organically.

Objectives Of Visual Merchandising

Customers enter a store by seeing two things – the brand and the store design. Visual merchandising aims to influence customers by directing their attention towards the store and then to certain areas inside the store, creating a positive first impression.

Besides bringing in more customers, the process of visual merchandising aims to –

  • Creating a good customer experience,
  • Make the retail space visitor engage with space with all the senses (hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste)
  • Increase sales
  • Develop store design to target the right audience
  • Use store resources to get the most out of marketing ROI
  • Give a reason to customers to come back
  • Make the most out of promotional space.

Elements Of Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising involves six distinct elements that work in conjunction to help retailers create a unique experience for shoppers. They are –

Store Layout

It is the organised arrangement of retail space that helps customers find what they’re looking for quickly. It includes store greeter, entry point, focal point, shopping flow, signage, and display fixtures.

  • Store design: It is the physical look of the store that can be seen by anybody walking into it. It includes vinyl graphics, store fixtures, paint colour themes, lighting sources, and display fixtures.
  • Interior design: The interior layout of the retail store that customers cannot see from the outside – it involves showroom floor covers, countertops colours, merchandising fixtures.
  • Merchandise presentation: Product categories that are displayed together (by size or type), linear vs non-linear displays (merchandise arranged in a way that they have a path). It also includes decisions about which type of merchandise is suitable for the location and how to use the space effectively.
  • Focal Point: A display is incomplete without a focal point where the attention is directed. This can be displays like mannequins, art pieces, themed decorations (like Christmas), lighting fixtures, etc.
  • Empty Space: There is always a certain amount of empty space in the store to improve the visual appearance, the flow of foot traffic , and breathing room. It is used as an additional display area for merchandise.
  • Display fixtures: A store fixture is anything installed within the retail space to display items, such as rotating racks, shelves, or tables.
  • Signage: Store signage helps customers navigate to the right area, locate a product, special offers, and wayfinding. It can be in-store signs at entrances and exits, backroom information boards, shelf edge panels, window decals/signage.
  • Marketing collaterals /POP displays: Store brochures, price tags, product cards, table-top visuals, floor decals and aisle signs are used to spread the store’s message.
  • Promotional space: It includes backdrops for events and samples, popcorn machines etc. They can be used to entice customers into the store or encourage them to try something new.
  • Mannequins: Mannequins are full-scale, detailed figures that are used as life-sized models to display clothing. Besides clothing, they can also be used to display props like jewellery and scarves.
  • Brand elements: It includes any unique aspect that customers identify with a brand. This can be packaging, logos, or mascot figure that promote the brand and its visual identity .

Store Ambience

Store ambience creates a sensory experience by using lighting, music, colours or scents, which are all designed to enhance the overall customer experience. The store ambience directly affects other items in visual merchandising – it can change the perception of merchandise based on how customers perceive it. It includes:

  • Colour: It is used to draw attention to certain items, create a mood or theme. Colour is also an important element in retail marketing because it will increase sales if marketers choose a colour that matches their target audience’s colour preferences.
  • Lighting: The right lighting setting changes the ambience of any space. It creates shadows with no visible distractions, gives the merchandise a spotlight, and makes all colours brighter.
  • Music: It can be used to create a positive atmosphere that increases sales because of the moods it arouses. Music also affects shoppers’ emotions – happy music will make shoppers cheerful, so they spend more freely. Sad music makes people feel less energetic, so they don’t spend as much.
  • Scent: It can be used to create a certain mood – it increases the perceived value of products and makes customers more comfortable, relaxed, and willing to make purchases.

Store Narrative

The narrative is the story that the retail space tells. It can be based on the brand’s history and personality, the brand’s theme, the products sold there, or any other popular story that communicates an interesting message. The narrative creates a memorable experience for customers based on how it is presented – every element of visual merchandising has to be reflected in it. It includes:

  • Store Theme: The store’s theme aims to create the mood marketers want their customers to associate with their products. The theme may be displayed through interior design, brand elements, or product selection. For example, a chocolate store may use warm colours, creamy pastel hues, and soft music to promote the ‘chocolate experience’. The store theme may be based on a certain season, event, holiday or trend. The theme will change with the seasons to match the latest fashion trends.
  • Store Atmosphere: It combines store ambience with visual merchandising elements that are used to convey a certain message about the brand or product. For example, lighting can be used to create a calm atmosphere for relaxation, while colours and music can help customers feel energised. Buyers will associate these feelings with the brand or product and come back for more in future purchases.
  • Storytelling: The retail space can be designed to tell a story about the brand’s history, products, theme, or any other idea that matches its business objectives. The narrative is displayed through all visual elements in the store – interior design, product selection, and merchandising methods have to complement it.

Benefits Of A Good Visual Merchandising Strategy

A good visual merchandising strategy may prove to be a game-changer for your business. Here are a few benefits you can get from implementing it –

  • Increases store traffic: Through strategic placement of products and displays, retail marketers attract potential buyers. Once the customer is inside the store, retailers make them wander around and lose themselves in a maze of merchandising displays, all intended to direct their attention towards certain areas. Ikea is a perfect example of a store that makes people travel around the space to find products, creating an exciting and memorable shopping experience.
  • Increases sales: Right placements with complementary visual elements draw buyers’ attention to a certain area. Retailers make sure that the attention is not only drawn to a single product, but also to related products or complementary items. The process of making people wander around in a store also encourages them to discover new things and be open for impulse buying – whether it is an extra item they had not planned on purchasing or bought because it was on sale. All this leads to more sales.
  • Leads to more repeat customers: A good store narrative is a great way to retain customers because the experience they get from it will be memorable and unique. They will associate that experience with your brand or product and become more likely to choose them again in future purchases.
  • Aids retail store marketing: Sometimes, good visual merchandising leads to word of mouth marketing – customers will recommend your store to their friends because of the shopping experience they had. The narrative you’ve created for them has become unforgettable, making it easier to market to past and future customers. The store can also get organic Instagram and Pinterest exposure for free , which is essential in the age of social media.

Visual Merchandising Examples

Visual merchandising can be seen at every retail store. The idea is to grab the attention of potential customers through strategic placement of products and visual elements, so they are drawn to certain areas in the store. Here are a few examples of visually merchandised stores –

IKEA is a great example of a company that uses visual merchandising to create a memorable shopping experience. The products are displayed in a way that makes people wander around the store, discover new things and be open to buying an extra product or two – all this leads to more impulse purchases. Ikea also does storytelling through its interior design, choosing colours and furniture styles that reflect the brand’s theme or idea.

IKEA visual merchandising

The company also has a well-established online presence that attracts buyers with attractive merchandising displays. The icons in the main categories are presented in a neat grid.

IKEA visual merchandising

Zara is a perfect example of a company that does storytelling with its visual merchandising. The clothing and accessories displayed in the store tell stories about certain themes or characters, like this one:

Zara visual merchandising

The brand also employs a full-time team of architects and visual-merchandising experts to make sure Zara stores not only have the perfect narrative, ambience, and layout but that they have almost identical scenes all over the world.

The store plan is placed in the middle of the store. The products are displayed at the end of long aisles that make you walk around in them, increasing your chances to discover other items that might interest you.

Zara store plan

The brand uses a wall-mounted display rack in all its stores, showcasing a complete outfit. This interactive feature has become popular among shoppers, who share photos of themselves in Zara outfits on social media.

Zara store display

Zara also uses complementary colours and lighting effects to direct attention towards certain areas in the store.

Bottom-Line?

Visual merchandising is a key marketing tool that can make or break a retail store. It helps marketers connect with customers, create a memorable experience for them, market to past and future customers, and increase sales. It should be an integral part of every retail marketing plan.

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Aashish Pahwa

A startup consultant, digital marketer, traveller, and philomath. Aashish has worked with over 20 startups and successfully helped them ideate, raise money, and succeed. When not working, he can be found hiking, camping, and stargazing.

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visual presentation of merchandise is called

Visual Merchandising: Definition and Tips for Effective Product Displays

Quality products matter, but how you showcase them matters more. Enter visual merchandising: the key to captivating your customers with enticing product displays. It’s the new frontier in retail, where attention to detail and presentation excellence can set you apart from competitors.

Unfamiliar with visual merchandising? Don’t sweat it. This guide will break down what it is, highlight its various forms, and give you tips for setting things in motion.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

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visual presentation of merchandise is called

What is visual merchandising?

Visual merchandising refers to the strategic arrangement and presentation of products. This process shines a spotlight on their key features and benefits, drawing customers in and compelling them to make a purchase.

Step into any successful retail store. The sleek product displays that greet you aren’t just thrown together. Each item is thoughtfully positioned, a testament to the merchant’s commitment to visual merchandising. It’s this dedication that ensures products practically sell themselves.

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Your retail space? It’s more than just an area filled with items. It’s an active participant in your sales process . Visual merchandising turns this space into a powerhouse, optimizing every corner and display for optimal revenue. 

It’s easy to think this approach is solely about making things look good. But visual merchandising goes beyond aesthetics. It’s a proven strategy, combining art with science, bringing measurable results to retailers big and small.

Venturing beyond mere product placement, the scope of visual merchandising is broad. It includes captivating window displays, strategic signage, and efficient store layouts—all contributing to an immersive retail experience. 

Types of visual merchandising

Understanding visual merchandising means knowing the various forms it can take. Some methods are quick and straightforward, while others may require a bit more planning and budgeting. Here’s a list of the popular picks for small retailers: 

Window displays

visual presentation of merchandise is called

A window display is like an invitation. It captures attention and welcomes potential customers into the store. Retailers often use these spaces to showcase new arrivals, special offers, or a taste of their brand’s essence. 

The goal with window displays? Clarity and appeal. It’s essential for onlookers to easily identify what’s on offer. And if they can visualize those products enriching their own lives, even better. 

Checkout display

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Don’t underestimate the power of the checkout area. It’s not merely a transaction point. It’s an opportunity. The right setup can attract newcomers and trigger last-minute purchases.

Visualize a self-service checkout. Is it reflective of your brand? Does it offer irresistible, affordable add-ons? By optimizing this space, you can boost both customer satisfaction and retail sales.

Interactive displays 

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Retailers constantly seek new ways to engage customers, especially as the line between physical or digital environment blurs. One emerging trend is blending physical products with digital interactions. These setups invite customers to interact, offering a more immersive experience in both the tangible and virtual realms.

Options range from interactive mirrors like those found at Sephora to simpler solutions like in-store tablets showcasing product details. You can also have chatbot-assisted product recommendations or customer-curated in-store playlists for a memorable shopping experience.

Mannequins 

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Mannequins remain a favorite. They resemble real-life models, showcasing products in real-world scenarios. Retailers tailor their mannequin choices to resonate with their target audience.

If you’re considering adding mannequins, they come in various styles and prices—typically between $50 to $500. With diverse sizes and materials available, finding the ideal fit should be a breeze.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Signs in stores are silent guides. They direct and inform customers every step of the way.

Think about a grocery store. Clear signs might show where the apples come from or the origins of your morning coffee.

Stores use various types of signs, from outdoor ones that showcase promotions to inside ones that provide directions. Safety signs, too, play a crucial role, ensuring that everyone remains safe.

A good tip for retailers? Make signs clear and easy to read. Dark words on a light background usually work well. Also, ensure the design matches your store’s style.

Benefits of visual merchandising

Now that you know what visual merchandising is, let’s look at the benefits of implementing this retail business strategy in a brick-and-mortar setting.

Imagine walking into a store. What catches your eye often determines what you buy. Visual merchandising plays to this very instinct. By showcasing products in an enticing manner, it triggers those spontaneous buys. The result? Higher sales. Each strategically placed product or eye-catching display nudges shoppers to spend a bit more.

Longer customer visits

Effective visual merchandising strategy does more than just attract customers—it keeps them engaged longer. Think of it as setting up a space where customers naturally want to explore. These crafted in-store experiences lead to what can be called “engagement points.” It’s at these points that customers might pick up a product, test it out, or even imagine it in their own space.

Amplified reach

Today’s shoppers love to share. A striking store layout or a novel product presentation often ends up on social media. As customers click and share, the brand gains visibility without spending a dime on advertising. When a store becomes a backdrop for a social media post, it’s doing something right. It’s not just about the store’s appeal. It’s free marketing that reaches a wide audience.

Key components of visual merchandising

To maximize virtual merchandising’s potential, it’s crucial to grasp its foundational elements. Let’s look at the visual components essential for creating standout displays.

1. Color scheme 

Color speaks to your customers. It pulls them in, evokes emotions, and influences purchases. Every store paints its own story with colors. Maybe yours leans on the stark contrast of black against white, or perhaps it’s a soft palette of pinks and reds.

Picking the right shades involves:

  • Defining your store’s mood. Earthy tones could work for a boho-chic boutique.
  • Understanding your audience. Different groups resonate with different colors.
  • Differentiating from competitors. If everyone’s doing blue, consider another hue.

2. Lighting

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Light can do wonders. It creates ambiance, guides customers, and even sets the mood. Are you aiming for a cozy, homely feel? A vibrant runway-like atmosphere? Or something in between? Lighting can help you achieve it. Spotlights on specific products can direct attention, ensuring your top items don’t go unnoticed.

3. White space 

Having areas in your store without design elements is intentional. These spaces, often termed “white space,” provide visual rest. They amplify the importance of products and cut down on visual clutter. Think Apple: its retail stores are a testament to the power of minimalist design. 

4. Grouping 

Placing similar products together is smart. Not only does it encourage customers to buy more, but it also simplifies their shopping. They don’t need to traverse your entire store searching for related items. It’s efficient and effective. Think about how grocery stores place dips next to chips or how peanut butter often sits beside jams. Group by color, price, size, or type—and watch your sales soar.

5. Rule of three 

visual presentation of merchandise is called

When creating displays, think in threes. Place three products side by side. Maybe you group them by height—short, medium, tall. Asymmetrical arrangements catch the eye and hold attention. It’s different, intriguing, and it makes customers look longer. 

How to improve your visual merchandising 

Here are five ways you can improve visual merchandising in your retail store: 

1. Align every element with your brand’s image

As customers enter, let your brand envelop them. Choose major displays that resonate with your brand’s message, then refine the ambiance with smaller details. For example, in a store dedicated to sustainable living, features like reclaimed wood shelves, upcycled decorations, and a green plant motif can drive the brand’s mission home. 

2. Master product placement 

Place premium products at eye level. In a clothing store, for example, hang those designer jeans where they catch the eye first. Bundling works wonders too. Pair that summer dress with matching accessories, offering a complete look. Such strategic placements not only enhance the shopping experience but also encourage multiple purchases.

3. Optimize space usage

Maximize every inch of your retail space. Convert unused areas into engaging displays or interactive zones. For instance, transform an overlooked corner with a themed product display. Thoughtful space utilization can surprise and delight shoppers, boosting their interest and engagement. 

4. Embrace seasonal displays 

Let décor echo the seasons. For instance, in winter, a décor store might showcase festive arrangements. Such thematic setups can ignite shoppers’ festive spirit, prompting seasonal buys. A tip: Rotate your seasonal displays regularly to keep the shopping experience fresh and exciting. 

5. Ensure staff knowledge and presentation 

Your staff are part of the visual appeal. Ensure they’re well-presented, knowledgeable, and in line with the store’s vibe. For instance, in a high-end boutique, staff dressed in chic attire and offering personalized assistance complement the upscale ambiance. 

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Win big with visual merchandising

Visual merchandising is more than just making your store look good. It’s about turning every corner of your shop into a conversation with your customers. Use the tips above to create effective store displays, and watch your foot traffic and sales soar to new heights.

Visual merchandising FAQ

What is the goal of visual merchandising .

The primary goal of visual merchandising is to catch a shopper’s eye. This makes them more likely to buy as they are drawn into an attractive and engaging product presentation.

What does a visual merchandiser do?

Visual merchandisers arrange product displays and set up the store layout to draw in customers and increase sales. Their expertise ensures that stores not only look appealing but also function effectively for both shoppers and retailers.

What are the 4 elements of visual merchandising?

  • Interior display
  • Store interior
  • Store exterior
  • Store layout

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Retail | Tip List

12 Visual Merchandising Strategies to Improve Your Store

Published February 13, 2023

Published Feb 13, 2023

Meaghan Brophy

REVIEWED BY: Meaghan Brophy

Brigitte Korte

WRITTEN BY: Brigitte Korte

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This article is part of a larger series on Retail Management .

Make the most of your space

Storefront A2 icon.

  • 1 Create Cohesion with Color
  • 2 Draw Attention With Lighting
  • 3 Direct & Inform Customers With Signs
  • 4 Use POP Displays
  • 5 Guide Customers With Focal Points
  • 6 Direct Traffic With Your Layout
  • 7 Tell a Story With Visual Merchandising
  • 8 Use Product Placement
  • 9 Avoid Empty Space
  • 10 Organize Your Space
  • 11 Use Seasonal Displays
  • 12 Entice Shoppers With Window Displays
  • 13 Bottom Line

Visual merchandising is the practice of displaying your product and organizing your store to drive sales, enhance your brand, and provide a stimulating and enjoyable shopping experience for customers. This article and our corresponding video outline a dozen of the most important visual merchandising techniques and how you can implement them in your business.

1. Create a Cohesive Visual Experience Using Color

A uniform color palette will help create a cohesive visual experience in your shop and draw attention to certain elements of your space. You will want to limit the number of colors you work with to create a harmonious visual experience for your customers. Typically, you will want to work with three to four hues at a time, with variation within each color.

The palette you choose should match your brand and your sales objectives. For example, let’s say you are a pet supply store, and you want your brand to be family-friendly and evoke images of animals and nature. You might want to stick with earth tones and greens, as these hues elicit associations with nature and comfort.

Bright, light colors draw the eye more than darker ones. Use bright colors to catch shoppers’ attention and highlight specific products, and darker ones to keep the eye moving.

Showing a yogurt bar.

​​Menchies uses bright colors to draw people’s eyes to their soft serve dispenser.

Blue walls and carpet in a high-end retail store.

The blue color palette in this luxury store creates a serene and soft environment for shopping. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Modern grocery store with a neutral color palette.

A neutral color palette creates a modern and minimalistic feel in this grocery store. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Want to use color strategically in your space? Learn more about how specific color palettes impact customer responses .

2. Draw Attention to Merchandise & Set Ambiance With Lighting

The lighting scheme is a crucial element for making your space complete. Your lighting choices will create an atmosphere and help define the mood your store and brand will inspire. Not only that, but good lighting design will also draw attention to the products you want your customers to see and can even make a statement that sets you apart from the competition.

Showing a spa lighting.

A spa wants to create a mellow and calm mood, so it chooses sparse warm ambient lighting for its space. (Source: DesignspiritsCo)

Showing a medical store.

A medical supply store, on the other hand, selects brighter and cooler ambient lighting to maximize visibility and contribute to a more energized and sterile atmosphere. (Source: retaildesignblog)

Showing shoes store.

A smart lighting design can be used to highlight or draw attention from certain products, as you can see in this boutique. Here, accent lighting is used to highlight certain products and draw the eye. (Source: Shopify)

Showing a Nike store.

You can also use lighting to create bright visual displays that will catch your customers’ eyes. Decorative lighting is a great way to entice customers. (Source: Environmental Lights)

When creating your lighting scheme, be sure to include the four primary types of lighting:

  • Ambient Lighting
  • Accent Lighting
  • Task Lighting
  • Decorative Lighting

Ambient lighting is the main lighting source for your store. It is the backdrop on which you will layer other lighting and creates a comfortable environment for customers to explore your space. Ambient lighting should reach every corner of your store.

Accent lighting highlights specific products or key areas, indicating their importance and drawing the eye. This type of lighting helps guide customers to key products or areas by increasing their visibility or accentuating them.

Task lighting is used to provide light for a specific task or purpose. This includes lighting up the register, where transactions will happen; the fitting rooms, where people will be trying on and evaluating clothes; and your office space, where you fill out paperwork and work each day. Task lighting is used as a supplemental light source anywhere tasks are being done.

Decorative lighting includes lighting features that serve an aesthetic rather than a functional purpose. It can be used to embellish your space or add to the ambiance of your storefront.

Want to learn more about the best retail lighting practices? Check out our retail lighting guide .

3. Use Signage to Direct & Inform Customers

Effective signage can enhance your brand image, highlight products or features, guide your customers to specific items, and share information with your shoppers.

There are a few major dos and don’ts when it comes to designing and placing your signs.

Exterior displays are all about capturing people’s attention and intrigue; they will often be the boldest visual display in your entire storefront. Think of your exterior signage as the greeting your business gives out into the world. Is it inviting enough to beckon the passerby inside?

Showing a Converse store sign.

A well-lit sign outside a Converse store draws customers’ interest. (Source: Starfish Signs)

Showing a sidewalk sign.

Folding sidewalk and lit window signs are great examples of eye-catching signage that work well for exterior displays. (Source: Aosom.com)

Store aisle signs in a hardware store.

You can also use signs to help customers find their way through your store. (Source: Dreamstime)

Want to learn more about exterior displays? Read our guide to designing storefront signs .

4. Highlight Products With Point-of-Purchase (POP) Displays

POP displays are temporary digital or physical displays located around products you want to draw attention to or advertise. They can promote product features, showcase deals, break up clutter, or draw attention to an exciting item. Think of your POP displays as one-dimensional employees—while they are confined to one product area, they are the expert and key salesperson for that product and can help you sell it faster and easier.

Did You Know? It is said that 65% of people learn visually , and showing visuals can significantly increase message retention. POP displays are a great way to create a visual stimulus around a product and make customers engage and remember your store.

When choosing the best POP displays for your business, you will first want to identify what products you want to target. These might be your personal favorites, best sellers, or even slow sellers that you want to push through. This is up to you and what products you think will get the most benefit from POP displays.

The POP design you choose should be eye-catching, draw customers in, speak to your brand voice, and fit in with the rest of your store. Take a look below at some great examples of POP displays:

Showing a POP display.

This POP display in a home goods store advertises cooking supplies. (Source: Grand Image Inc.)

Showing a holiday themed display.

This holiday-themed display for tape shows customers right where one of their wrapping essentials is located. (Source: Assemblies United)

Showing a candle brand, Oldman and Magpie display.

This display for the candle brand Oldman & Magpie showcases the wares in one eye-catching spot. (Source: Pinterest)

With your POP displays designed, the last thing you will want to do is figure out how to incorporate them into your store layout. POP displays are great for breaking up clutter in high-volume product areas, filling open space, and guiding customers through your store. Think about what areas of your store have monotonous shelving or little diversity in product. These might be great places to feature POP displays to help create visual interest and break up repetitive visual areas.

5. Guide Customers Through the Store With Focal Points

One of the best ways to break up your store and guide customers through your space is by creating focal points. These are specific points of visual interest that will draw your customers’ attention and move them toward the things you want them to see.

While POP displays are a type of focal point, focal points do not necessarily have to be overt ads. They can also be design features that brand your store and create a narrative for your customer. A group of mannequins, a piece of wall art, or a table display all act as focal points and will work to create visual interest and promote customer involvement—without actually creating a new shoppable space.

When considering how you want to place your focal points—and what you want them to be—you will need to think about three main things:

  • Traffic flow
  • Functionality

Focal points will draw customers in and make them engage with the area of your store in which they are located. You will want to consider what areas of your store you want customers to engage with, avoiding spaces that can’t accommodate high traffic or direct customers out of your store.

When considering your focal points, figure out the kind you want. Will they be ads or exclusively aesthetic? Will they be shoppable displays or simply visual? This will largely come down to how much space you have to give to unshoppable or aesthetic areas and whether you want to create a more overt ad or a display geared toward just visual appeal.

You will also need to consider how your focal points fit into the rest of your store and your brand. Does this display improve the shopping experience or impede on your space? All in all, you want to determine your display’s utility and how it works with the rest of your merchandising and branding.

Showing Ikea store.

A focal point display in a home goods store draws attention to new products. (Source: Juliequidiagan)

Mannequin and table display in clothing store.

This arrangement of the mannequin and tables helps draw people in and guide them to key products. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Cosmetic store with product displays.

This cosmetics store is full of small table focal points to highlight brands and new products. (Source: Adobe Stock)

6. Direct Customer Traffic With Your Store Layout

A store layout refers to how shelving and furniture pieces are arranged in your store and how this impacts traffic flow, customer movement, and shopping experience. Store layout can affect what customers are drawn to, how long they choose to stay in your store, and how they move in your space. Ultimately, it can influence the story your store is telling, and the sales you can generate.

In general, there are six types of store layouts you can choose from, each providing different opportunities for your merchandising. When deciding what layout is best for your store, you will want to consider the volume of product, the space you have, how you want to showcase your merchandise, and the traffic flow in your store.

6 Types of Store Layouts

For more detailed information and guidance on how to plan your store layout, check out our article on planning your store layout . Alternatively, you can download our free store layout checklist for a comprehensive guide to setting up your store.

7. Use Visual Merchandising to Tell a Story

At the end of the day, you want your business to tell a story about who you are, what you stand for, and what people can expect from you. Customers crave this narrative—they want to understand and assign meaning to the places they shop. This is where storytelling comes in.

Think of your business’s story as the way you would want your customers to describe your store if they were recounting it to a friend. For example, if you were starting a gardening store, you might want customers to walk away feeling like they just left a quaint English country garden or maybe a luxurious chateau estate. Both of these stories would require different merchandising strategies to make them clear, but, if merchandised effectively, would leave customers with a clear picture of who you are and the story you are telling.

To best tell your story, ensure that each element of your merchandising makes sense as part of a complete visual narrative. Cohesion plays a major role in creating a discernible story.

You can find a great example of effective storytelling via merchandising with the brand Free People. When customers walk away from a Free People storefront, they are left feeling like they just experienced a girly, bohemian escape. Pale colors, soft lighting, whimsical decor—everything fits into Free People’s girly-boho narrative.

Not only that, but Free People’s visual merchandising story is perfect for the brand. Its customer demographic is primarily young girls and its clothing leans toward bohemian style. Thus, Free People’s story is in line with both its customer base and product.

Take a look at the examples below:

Showing a fashion store for ladies.

Free People uses pale colors and whimsical, girly decor to create a narrative in their stores. (Source: Fashion Network)

Front of a dimly lit outdoor gear and apparel store.

The dark and high-tech feel of this store helps to tell a story of innovation and toughness for this outdoor store. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Modern home goods store with lots of furniture and plants of display.

Serene colors and product arrangements tell the story of a home in this furniture and decor store. (Source: Adobe Stock)

8. Use Product Placement to Drive Sales

Product placement is a visual merchandising technique in which products are placed thoughtfully throughout a store in an effort to draw attention to them so that, ultimately, customers will be more likely to purchase them.

Candy store aisle with candy dispencers.

This store placed its most expensive, weighted candies at eye level and its less expensive items near the ground. (Source: Surveillance Security)

Women's clothing store checkout counter and greeting card display.

This store added greeting cards to its checkout counter to inspire impulse buys and keep people shopping as their things get rung up. (Source: Magento Blog)

Mannequin and table display in the entry of a modern clothing store.

Adding top sellers or new products to the front of this store helped draw shoppers in and get them exploring. (Source: iStock)

In some instances, larger companies using the same merchandising plan for multiple locations will use a planogram to plan their product placement. A planogram is a 2D drawing of your store layout that details all the products on display and where they should go.

Product placement can be as elaborate as a focal point display or as simple as placing key items on eye-level shelves as opposed to knee-level ones. A couple of key product placement strategies include:

  • Cross merchandise complementary items: Putting commonly used items in the same area increases the likelihood that shoppers will purchase multiple products.
  • Place more expensive items at eye level: Encourage more expensive purchases by having more expensive items on eye-level shelves and less expensive options below or above people’s line of sight.
  • Put impulse-buy products around your cash wrap : Add small, inexpensive items that customers are likely to grab without much thought around your cash wrap. This will keep people shopping and promote more units per transaction.
  • Highlight slow sellers with best sellers: Use best sellers to draw customers in and then place slower sellers in their vicinity to boost visibility.
  • Put top sellers in the back and front of your store: Entice customers to enter your store by placing key products near your entrance, and then force them to move through your entire space and see all that you have to offer by putting additional best-selling items toward the rear.

Learn more about how you can use product placement to boost sales with our guide to retail store design .

Bundle Products to Increase Your Units Per Ticket (UPT)

Grouping or bundling products is the practice of merchandising related products in a group to be purchased together with the goal of incentivizing customers to purchase multiple items in a single purchase. This is a great way to increase your units per ticket (UPT) and create a more convenient and pleasurable experience for customers.

UPT (units per ticket): A common retail metric that measures the average number of items per transaction.

At my boutique, for example, we would display items together in our racks that could make an outfit. So, say we had a sweater hanging. On either side of that piece, we would hang shirts or dresses that could match it and create a full outfit. As customers were browsing, they would see complete outfits rather than disparate pieces and were more likely to buy multiple items and create a full look.

Bundling strategies will naturally incentivize customers to increase their purchase volume, as it will direct them from items they are already purchasing to items that would enhance that purchase. When using bundling strategies in your own store, you will want to consider what products logically go together and how you can display them to make customers see their connection.

Showing grocery bundles.

A grocer bundles all the ingredients for strawberry shortcake together in one display to show customers how the ingredients can work together and encourage a multi-item purchase. (Source: Pinterest)

Mens clothing store wall display with jeans and t-shirts.

A men’s store bundles together complete outfits on their wall display so it is easy for customers to see how products can work together. (Source: Pinterest)

Homegoods endcap display with yellow, green, and beige spring merchandise.

Spring decor is displayed together to show customers how multiple items could work together in their homes. (Source: Pinterest)

9. Avoid Empty Space to Increase Product Exposure

One of the keys to effective visual merchandising is utilizing your space. While you want to break up how you display inventory and avoid clutter, there should seldom be unused space. The more you can maximize your customer’s exposure to your products, the more likely they are to find something they want and, ultimately, make a purchase.

Avoiding unused space will also help keep your customers visually interested. This, in turn, will promote more engagement with your store and interaction with your products, ultimately helping drive sales.

While unused space decreases customer engagement, you want to avoid overfilling your space and creating a cluttered and distracting experience for shoppers.

Showing how an unused space can make your store feel bleak and unengaging

Unused space can make your store feel bleak and unengaging.

Menswear store with with table display, wall racks, and mannequins.

This store has struck a great balance between having adequate products to fill the space but not too many that there is clutter. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Messy antique store display of old plates, furniture, and other small goods.

This antique store is displaying too much product, creating a messy and overwhelming shopping environment. (Source: iStock)

10. Organize Your Space to Make Shopping Easy

Keeping your store organized is essential to visual merchandising. Having a tidy and organized store will allow your customers to find the items they are looking for with ease and will limit shopping frustration. Additionally, it will contribute to a positive shopping experience and favorable customer sentiment and make running your store easier on your end.

Organizing your storefront starts with creating a system for categorizing and displaying your products. This will largely depend on the type and volume of your products and the space you have to display them. For example, where a grocery store with lots of space and merchandise might want to use a categorical organization system, a clothing boutique with fewer items and less space might want to use color categories.

Avoid shopper and staff frustrations by using a consistent organization strategy throughout your space.

Whatever you think will make shopping and store maintenance the easiest and most logical is the route you should take. And, don’t be afraid to play around with different organization methods. It might take a few tries to determine what is best for your space and customers. At my store, for example, we found that shoppers reacted best to a color-coded organization as opposed to a categorical one, but coming to this organizational method took a couple of tries and customer reaction studies.

Showing a woman buying groceries.

A grocery store organizes its fresh produce in the same zone to make shopping easy and logical. (Source: Southern Living)

Target back to school bins and displays.

For short, seasonal items, Target stays organized by installing temporary bin displays that can be taken down easily when the time comes. (Source: Adobe Stock)

View of grocery store aisles in a health store.

For stores with lots of different merchandise, categorical aisles are a great organization system for both shoppers and your staff. (Source: Adobe Stock)

11. Connect With Customers Using Seasonal Displays

When considering your visual merchandising, seasonal factors should play a role. Ensuring that your store merchandising correlates with what customers are experiencing, whether that be a holiday or the time of year, will help your business feel relevant to your audience.

Seasonal displays can take many forms—from POP displays and focal points to window displays and seasonal decor. The main thing is you want to incorporate timely merchandising into your store to capitalize on seasonal sentiments and buying habits. Many businesses will make this easier by letting one seasonal display replace another during its window of relevance rather than redoing an entire section of their store.

There are a few things, however, to consider when using seasonal displays:

  • Timing: While you want to maximize the time that seasonal displays are effective, you do not want to put them out too early. This can annoy customers and even drive them not to make a purchase with you. Get a feel for when the community and other businesses bring out their seasonal displays, so you don’t pull yours out too far in advance.
  • Consistency: Don’t let your seasonal display exist in a vacuum. Adding more than one display or small decor pieces throughout your store will make the seasonal displays feel less gimmicky and more celebratory. Take a look at our article with tips and tricks to make your seasonal displays shine .
  • Relevancy: Your brand or market specifically might benefit from highlighting a time of year. For example, for a health and wellness business, advertising cold and flu season or New Year’s resolutions through seasonal merchandising might help make its products more relevant to customers and help people understand the importance of its business at that moment.

Showing a Halloween themed display.

A festive Halloween display advertises candy to shoppers. (Source: Jersey 101.5)

Spring time display in a retail store with lots of flowers and a garden theme.

A springtime display draws attention to new spring products and reminds customers of seasonally relevant goods. (Source: Pinterest)

Christmas arch display in a home decor and improvements store.

Christmas displays are great for inspiring holiday shoppers and getting them in the gift-giving mood. (Source: KDM Pop Solutions Group)

12. Entice Shoppers Inside With Window Displays

Your store windows present another opportunity to flex your visual merchandising and draw passing traffic into your store. Here, you have the opportunity to display products in a visually appealing way, advertise deals, or even put in an art installation that draws customer attention.

For your window displays, you will want to be sure you are focusing on creating something that will catch your customers’ eyes and give them a glimpse into what they can expect once they are inside. Your window displays should not be misleading for the sake of creating a statement. Think of your window display as the cover of your business’s book. It should be attractive and make customers want to know more and also help them understand what is going on inside.

Window displays are one of the few places in visual merchandising where your display doesn’t have to be shoppable and can entirely focus on visual appeal. Many businesses use this as an opportunity to create something super special for their business, so have fun with it.

Showing a fun and colorful window display.

A fun and colorful window display (Source: TDF Asia)

Andrews store window display with a 70% sticker.

In addition to design, you can display your promotions in your window displays to catch people’s attention. (Source: Adobe Stock)

Window display with mannequins and a life-size unicorn

There are no limits on window displays, as they are the one area of your store that does not have to be shoppable. (Source: Adobe Stock)

The possibilities for what you can do with your window space are endless, but, at the end of the day, what you want is for your display to be eye-catching, speak to your brand voice, and create interest among your customers.

Want to learn more about creating window displays that will make customers have to stop and shop? Read our full guide to creating stunning window displays .

Bottom Line

Visual merchandising affects every customer-facing aspect of your business. From your brand voice to customer experience to sales, visual merchandising is much more than just arranging products in an aesthetically appealing way. Keeping all the techniques and tricks that this article reviewed in mind will allow you to create a storefront that is not just beautiful but also in line with what your business stands for and the experience you want to create for your customers.

About the Author

Brigitte Korte

Find Brigitte On LinkedIn

Brigitte Korte

Brigitte is a retail specialist and staff writer with brick-and-mortar management experience. Before joining FSB, she managed a storefront for several years, working in everything from merchandising, to buying, to sales analysis. Brigitte also has a background in writing, research, and publishing, with an undergraduate degree in writing.

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What Is Visual Merchandising? The Basics You Need To Know

Fashion Shop with Great Visual Merchandising

In eCommerce, visual merchandising is one of the most critical aspects of driving sales and building brand image. But what is visual merchandising, exactly? Simply put, it's the art and science of presenting products in a way that entices customers to buy. From product displays to store layout and design, visual merchandising encompasses a wide range of techniques that can make or break your online business.

Visual styling is significant in eCommerce because customers cannot physically touch or see products before purchasing them. Effective visual merchandising can help bridge this gap by creating an immersive online shopping experience that encourages customers to purchase confidently.

At its core, visual merchandising is all about creating a positive brand image. By presenting your products in an attractive and engaging way, you can build customer trust and establish your brand as a leader in your industry.

That's where Strikingly comes in. As a platform designed specifically for eCommerce businesses, Strikingly offers a range of tools and features to help merchants optimize their visual merchandising strategies for maximum impact.

What is Visual Merchandising?

Visual merchandising uses design, display, and presentation techniques to create an appealing shopping environment for customers. This can include everything from store layout and product placement to lighting and signage.

Kathy Rose Template with Great Visual Merchandising

Image taken from Strikingly

Importance of Visual Merchandising in eCommerce

In online retail, effective visual merchandising is absolutely essential for driving sales and building customer loyalty. Creating an immersive shopping experience that engages customers on multiple levels can increase conversions and build lasting relationships with your audience.

How Visual Merchandising Affects Brand Image

Visual merchandising shapes customers' perceptions of your brand. By presenting your products attractively and engagingly, you can establish yourself as a leader in your industry while building trust and credibility with your audience.

Strikingly's Role in Visual Merchandising

Strikingly offers a range of tools and features to help merchants optimize their visual merchandising strategies for maximum impact. From customizable product displays to intuitive store design tools, Strikingly makes it easy to create an immersive shopping experience that drives sales and builds brand loyalty.

In the following sections, we'll explore some key components of effective visual merchandising and share tips and techniques for optimizing your strategy. Whether you're a seasoned visual merchandiser or just getting started, these insights will help you take your eCommerce business to the next level.

Understanding Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is the art of presenting products attractively and engagingly to entice customers to purchase. When you are learning what is visual merchandising, you have to know that It involves creating a visually appealing environment that showcases products in their best light.

The psychology behind visual merchandising is based on the idea that people are drawn to visually pleasing things. Using color , lighting, and layout, visual merchandisers can create an environment that appeals to customers' emotions and encourages them to buy.

Glow Template with Great Visual Merchandising

Different visual merchandising techniques can be used depending on the product being sold and the target audience. Some examples include window displays, product displays, signage, and graphics.

The main types of visual merchandising include:

  • Window displays - Displays in storefront windows to attract customers and showcase products. They convey the store's image and branding.
  • Floor merchandising - Strategic product placement and displays on the sales floor. This includes feature areas, end caps, free-standing displays, and product groupings.
  • Focal points - Prominent displays at the center or back of a store that draw the customer's attention. They highlight important products or sales.
  • Signage - Includes banners, posters, pricing signs, and digital screens. Used to advertise products, sales, and events. Helps with wayfinding in the store.
  • Mannequins - Life-size models used to display outfits or show how products can be used. They help to bring clothing and products to life.
  • Props - Decorative elements used in displays like plants, books, decorative jars, baskets, etc. They help tie the display together and create visual interest.
  • Fixtures - Permanent display units like racks, shelves, cabinets, and wall units used to contain and highlight products. They provide anchor points for the overall visual merchandising layout.
  • Branding elements - Logos, shopping bags, gift cards, and packaging help create a cohesive brand experience for customers. Strengthens brand recognition and loyalty.
  • Seasonal decor - Festive and themed decor used to highlight holidays and seasonal events. Helps to create an engaging ambiance that puts customers in the mood to shop.

Incorporating effective visual merchandising techniques can significantly benefit eCommerce businesses looking to learn ​​what is visual merchandising, and improve sales and customer satisfaction. Strikingly's eCommerce platform allows businesses to easily create and manage their online store with visually appealing design options.

Key Components of Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is an art form that involves the presentation of products in an aesthetically pleasing manner to encourage sales. When you are learning what is visual merchandising, you have to understand that this is a vital aspect of eCommerce and can significantly impact your brand image. Here are the elements of visual merchandising:

1. Store layout and design

The store layout and design are crucial to visual merchandising. How your store is laid out can influence how customers navigate it and perceive your brand. A well-designed store can make it easier for customers to find what they're looking for, while a poorly designed one can lead to confusion and frustration.

2. Product displays

Product displays are a critical aspect of visual merchandising. They should be arranged in such a way that they catch the eye of customers and encourage them to make a purchase. How you display your products can also reflect your brand's personality and values.

3. Lighting and color

Lighting and color are essential in visual merchandising because they create mood and atmosphere in your store or website. The right lighting can highlight specific products or areas of your store, while the wrong lighting can make everything look unappealing.

4. Signage and graphics

Signage and graphics are essential visual merchandising elements because they communicate important information about your products, sales, promotions, etc., to customers. They should be eye-catching, easy to read, and consistent with your brand's style.

As a visual merchandiser, you must consider all these key components when creating displays for eCommerce websites or physical stores.

Visual Merchandising Tips

To ensure that you're using these components effectively, here are some visual merchandising tips:

1) Keep it simple: Don't clutter up displays with too many products or decorations.

2) Use props: Props can add interest to displays without overwhelming them.

3) Use color: Color can create a mood and help highlight specific products.

4) Use lighting: Lighting can draw attention to specific products and add atmosphere.

5) Keep it clean: Make sure your displays are neat and tidy.

By following these tips, you can create visually appealing displays that will attract customers and encourage sales.

Techniques for Effective Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is not just about making your store look pretty; it's about creating an experience that will entice your target audience to buy your products . Here are some techniques to help you achieve effective visual merchandising:

1. Understanding your target audience

Before you start styling your store, it's essential to understand who your target audience is. This will help you create displays that will appeal to their interests and preferences. For example, if you're targeting millennials, you might want to use bright colors and trendy props.

2. Creating a focal point

A focal point is a display or area in your store that immediately catches the customer's attention. It should be eye-catching, well-lit, and prominently placed in the store. This could be a mannequin dressed in the latest fashion or a display of new products.

3. Promoting cross-selling and up-selling

Cross-selling and up-selling are techniques used to encourage customers to buy more products than they initially intended. You can do this by placing related products next to each other or suggesting complementary items at the checkout.

4. Regularly updating displays

Visual merchandising is not a one-time task; it requires regular updates to keep customers interested and engaged with your brand. You can change displays every few weeks or update them seasonally.

By incorporating these techniques into your visual merchandising strategy, you'll create an environment encouraging customers to buy more of what they love.

Measuring the Success of Visual Merchandising

As a beginner learning what is visual merchandising, you must know that it is a crucial aspect of eCommerce that can make or break your business. It is, therefore, essential to measure its success to ensure it achieves the desired results. There are several ways to measure the effectiveness of visual merchandising, including sales increase, customer feedback , and satisfaction, comparison with competitors, and analytics and data tracking.

1. Sales increase

One of the most obvious ways to measure the success of visual merchandising is through an increase in sales. Effective visual styling can attract customers and encourage them to make purchases. By tracking sales before and after implementing visual merchandising techniques, businesses can determine whether their efforts result in increased revenue.

2. Customer feedback and satisfaction

Another way to measure the success of visual merchandising is through customer feedback and satisfaction. By gathering customer feedback about their experience with your eCommerce website, you can determine whether your visual merchandising efforts resonate with your target audience. Positive feedback indicates that your visuals are effective in attracting and retaining customers.

Mystery Box Template with Great Visual Merchandising

3. Comparison with competitors

Comparing your eCommerce website's visual merchandising strategies with those of your competitors can also be an effective way to measure success. By analyzing what works for other businesses in your industry, you can identify areas where you may need improvement or find inspiration for new ideas to implement on your own website.

4. Analytics and data tracking

Finally, analytics and data tracking tools can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your visual merchandising efforts. By monitoring metrics such as bounce rates, time spent on site, click-through rates, and conversion rates, you can better understand how customers interact with your eCommerce website's visuals.

Measuring the success of visual merchandising is essential when you are teaching yourself what is visual merchandising. Of course, visual merchandising is still the way to go if you want to improve your online presence.

By combining these methods, businesses can determine whether their visual merchandising efforts are achieving the desired results and make informed decisions about improving their strategies moving forward. As a visual merchandiser, staying up-to-date on the latest trends and tips is important to ensure that your eCommerce website stays ahead of the competition.

Challenges in Visual Merchandising

When learning what is visual merchandising, know that it is a powerful tool that can help your eCommerce business increase sales and improve brand image. However, like any other marketing strategy, it comes with its challenges. In this section, we'll discuss some of the most common challenges visual merchandisers face and how to overcome them.

1. Limited physical space

One of the biggest challenges in visual merchandising is limited physical space. eCommerce businesses often have to work with smaller spaces than traditional brick-and-mortar stores, making it difficult to create impactful displays.

To overcome this challenge, visual merchandisers need to be creative with their use of space. They should focus on creating visually appealing displays while also being functional and practical. This can be achieved by using modular displays or incorporating vertical elements such as shelves or hanging racks.

2. Adapting to seasonal changes

Another challenge in visual merchandising is adapting to seasonal changes. As the seasons change, so do customer preferences and buying habits . Visual merchandisers must stay up-to-date with these changes and adjust their displays accordingly.

Small Business Saturday Tempalte Featuring Great Visual Merchandising

To overcome this challenge, visual merchandisers should plan ahead and create a calendar that outlines key dates and events throughout the year. They should also keep an eye on industry trends and consumer behavior to ensure their displays are relevant and timely.

3. Budget constraints

Budget constraints are another common challenge faced by visual merchandisers. Creating impactful displays can be expensive, especially for small eCommerce businesses with limited resources.

Visual merchandisers should prioritize their spending based on what will have the biggest impact on sales. They should also look for cost-effective solutions such as DIY displays or repurposing existing materials.

4. Ensuring consistency across different channels

Finally, ensuring consistency across different channels can be a challenge for visual merchandisers. With the rise of omnichannel retailing, eCommerce businesses must ensure that their visual styling is consistent across all channels, including their website, social media, and physical stores.

When you are teaching yourself what is visual merchandising, you have to understand how to overcome this challenge. Visual merchandisers should create a style guide that outlines the critical elements of their visual merchandising strategy. This guide should be shared with all stakeholders and updated regularly to ensure consistency across all channels.

While visual merchandising can be a powerful tool for eCommerce businesses, it comes with its own challenges. Visual merchandisers can overcome these challenges and create impactful displays that drive sales and improve brand image by being creative with space, adapting to seasonal changes, prioritizing spending based on impact, and ensuring consistency across different channels.

Visual merchandising is a crucial aspect of eCommerce that involves using visual styling to attract and engage customers. Learning what is visual merchandising means understanding that it encompasses various elements, including store layout and design, product displays, lighting and color, signage and graphics. Effective visual merchandising can significantly impact a brand's image, increase sales, and improve customer satisfaction.

One of the benefits of effective visual merchandising is that it creates an immersive shopping experience for customers. Understanding your target audience and creating a focal point can capture their attention and promote cross-selling and up-selling. Regularly updating displays can also keep your store fresh and exciting.

Using Strikingly for eCommerce comes with several advantages for visual merchandisers. The platform offers customizable templates to create visually appealing websites without coding skills. You can also track analytics and data to measure the success of your visual merchandising efforts.

Visual merchandising is an essential aspect of eCommerce that requires careful planning and execution. By incorporating the right elements and techniques, you can create an immersive shopping experience for your customers that drives sales and improves brand image. With Strikingly's user-friendly platform, achieving effective visual merchandising has never been easier.

It only makes sense to sign up with us today and build your own eComerce website, correct?

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The Difference Between Merchandising Presentation and Visual Merchandising

Product placement and displays play a vital role in retail design. These strategic techniques can ultimately be the difference between making a sale or not. Both merchandising placement and visual merchandising are crucial aspects of designing a retail space. However, although some people use these two words interchangeably, they are in fact two very different design components.

It’s important, as a visual merchandising expert, to realize the distinct difference between these two terms in order to maximize their potential.

What Is Merchandising Presentation?

In basic terms, merchandising presentation is a design strategy that involves placing merchandise in a neat and organized manner to make it easy for the customer to shop. While merchandising presentation is not meant to be boring, it is also not designed to be the main attraction in the store. Its main purpose is to enhance the shopping experience by making wanted products easy to locate.

What Is Visual Merchandising?

Visual merchandising, on the other hand, is more about grabbing attention. The goal of visual merchandising is to show consumers why they need a certain product, how to use a product, or how multiple pieces of merchandise can be used together. Examples include window displays, mannequin displays and feature end displays. The end result is to draw the attention to specific merchandise a customer may have otherwise overlooked, and entice them to make one or multiple purchases.

While visual merchandising is, by design, the exciting and creative component of product placement marketing, it is not a stand-alone feature. You cannot have visual merchandising without first having merchandising presentation in place. The two retail design techniques should complement each other in a manner that maximizes the customer’s shopping experience.

When using merchandising presentation and visual merchandising, the most important thing is to have a plan. Make sure both displays clearly support the company brand. It’s important to always perform a walk-through of your store to make sure everything flows seamlessly together in a way that benefits the customer.

If you’re ready to blend the power of merchandising presentation and visual merchandising to reach your full product placement marketing potential, SPC Retail ® can help. We offer high-quality, 100-percent post-consumer recycled plastic fixtures for affordable display solutions.

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Visual Merchandising: The Complete Guide For Modern Retail

Visual merchandising techniques seem straightforward, but you must find the precise combination that matches your brand and shoppers to drive revenue..

March 15, 2021

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This article offers a complete guide to modern visual merchandising, from color choice to storefront layout. It will also link to Resonai guides with additional best practices and advanced guidelines.

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Visual merchandising 101

Display windows, interior displays, point-of-purchase displays, seasonal displays, category displays, interactive displays, e-commerce and in-app storefronts, the best practices of visual merchandising, make effective use of light and color, communicate details with signs, always avoid clutter, store layout as visual merchandising, herringbone.

How to visualize your visual merchandising

Visual merchandising is the strategy of displaying products and services in an optimal manner, engaging potential customers and encouraging them to complete a purchase. For retailers, the goal is to present items in such a way that shoppers will understand their appeal in a single glance. Whatever the channel, visual merchandising increases the likelihood of attracting new customers, driving additional sales, and distinguishing your business from the competition.

Visual merchandising is a common practice in brick-and-mortar retail, but it can take place anywhere. Even direct-to-consumer brands can apply these techniques to e-commerce websites, in-app storefronts, or digital marketing campaigns. Here are a few types of visual merchandising that shoppers will be familiar with:

Display windows catch the attention of potential customers at the street level to draw them into the store. They often help retailers highlight new stock and promotions while communicating the kinds of products shoppers can expect upon entering.

Interior displays are smaller, in-store presentations that showcase specific products or shopper needs. They can take many forms, from glass cases containing jewelry to mannequins displaying clothing items.

Point-of-purchase displays present impulse offers to customers as they approach the checkout counter. For example, supermarkets have specialized shelving for magazines, candy, or soda. Some retailers also feature a “deal of the day” display that a cashier can retrieve upon request.

Seasonal products often require specialized promotions and signage. Seasonal displays meet these needs by showcasing promotions and products that shoppers need within a specific timeframe. Some common examples include summer swimwear, back-to-school promotions, or elaborate Christmas decorations.

Many retailers arrange products by category in ways that highlight distinct features. In a grocery store, openly displaying fruit and vegetables emphasizes their freshness compared to other packaged goods.

Many displays can engage shopper attention directly. In-store demonstrations and free samples accomplish this by encouraging customers to interact with them in passing.

In the 2020s, the cutting edge of visual merchandising uses technology to enhance the shopping experience. For example, retailers can use display screens that give directions or showcase promotional items. Many others leverage AR apps so that shoppers can visualize what a product looks like in their immediate surroundings.

Many of your customers may not enter brick-and-mortar stores at all, but visual merchandising still applies to online shopping. E-commerce product listings typically include screenshots of products, link to similar items, or notify customers about promotional coupons. Retailers cannot afford to overlook visual merchandising techniques that will make their shopping apps and websites more appealing to visitors.

Take a look at Resonai’s “ What is Visual Merchandising? ” for more introductory strategies.

Given the visual nature of visual merchandising, it’s no surprise that light and color are significant ingredients to draw from. According to one retailer, simply updating the lighting fixtures increased their sales by 12%. Color, on the other hand, is effective at communicating subtle details . Do you want your promotion to evoke passion? Red will help. Want to emphasize sustainability? Go with green. Looking to calm things down a notch? Use blue.

That all being said, sometimes a lack of light or color can have a surprising impact. Spotlights can help customers focus on certain products. Meanwhile, framing products with specific colors can help contextual details pop out. Always experiment to find the best approach for your brand and product.

Color is great for creating a mood, but it can’t present shoppers with facts. Signage is immensely helpful when communicating specific details that might help shoppers choose between different products. The key is placing signs in ways that supplement the product without disrupting the overall presentation. The following are some excellent examples:

  • Banners: Hanging banners is an excellent technique for grouping related products together. Consider using them to promote seasonal sales or direct attention to each in-store category.
  • Stickers: With a well-placed sticker, you can communicate item specifics that aren’t featured on the packaging. Discounts and two-for-one deals are common, but don’t feel restricted to them. For example, bookstores also use stickers to promote staff favorites.
  • Digital screens: As discussed above, technology can add a layer of interactivity and practicality to visual merchandising. Digital signs can be beneficial navigation tools or a way to look up frequently asked questions.

Making effective use of floor space is a vital technique — there’s a big difference between subtly communicating that items are in stock and packing a shelf until it’s overflowing! Unless you’re a warehouse-style retailer like Costco, give your visual merchandising displays a little extra room to breathe. Retailers can use the space around a product display for signs instead of additional items.

Outside of visual aesthetics, minimal displays have other benefits. In the wake of COVID-19, many retailers are reducing shelf space and cutting back on the number of display areas. By making the best use of limited space, it’s easier to implement social distancing practices. To make up the difference, consider digital signs or AR technology that present all items from a local screen.

For advanced visual merchandising techniques, read “ 4 Visual Merchandising Strategies for 2021 .”

Retail Store Layout Design

While there is no one correct way to handle store layout, you’ll want to be mindful of shopper expectations for your industry. Here are some common examples:

Perhaps the most recognizable store layout is the grid, where products fit into densely-packed aisles. This technique is common in supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, and many more. Grids benefit retail locations that need to maximize merchandise on display while supporting optimal foot traffic.

While grids are useful in large retail stores, they tend to feel overcrowded in smaller locations. The herringbone grid variant opens up the floor with a central pathway to the checkout that branches into grids on each size. It even creates opportunities for interior displays at aisle entrances, although they can limit the visibility of products within each aisle.

Loops guide customers along a fixed path to see all products and categories before reaching the checkout counters. This layout maximizes product visibility and streamlines customer traffic but can disrupt a casual browsing experience. Loops are often found in museums and gift shops, although some retailers like IKEA were able to implement them successfully.

Free-flow layouts arrange products and displays in any pattern that leaves room for customers to browse comfortably. This style avoids structured aisles to focus on category clusters that remain visible from the store entrance. While free-form layouts are the most flexible approach, they do require an overarching structure to be successful. These patterns are often dictated by human behavior — for example, since 90% of shoppers turn right upon entering a store, retailers can place high-value promotions within this area.

To learn more about store layouts and design, take a look at “ Retail Store Layout: Designing for Maximum Revenue .”

How to level up your visual merchandising

Each element of a visual merchandising strategy may appear straightforward, but combining them in ways that appeal to shoppers is a challenge. One solution is to adopt AR tools that help retailers visualize, analyze, and experiment with different layouts. And that’s where Vera can help.

Vera is Resonai’s augmented reality platform for enterprises. Using Vera, retailers can create 1:1 digital representations of their stores, right down to individual products on the shelf. From there, it’s possible to run scenarios, analyze traffic, and make audiovisual adjustments to lighting or color on the fly. A Vera-powered supplemental app will also let retailers review data and real-time feedback when making updates to layouts.

Back to top

With Resonai, it’s easier than ever to generate visual merchandising strategies that will thrill and engage your shoppers. If you want to know more about Vera, get in touch to set up a free demonstration.

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The Ultimate Guide to Visual Merchandising [Examples]

The Ultimate Guide to Visual Merchandising [Examples]

Melissa Sonntag

90% of information sent to the brain is visual . This means that when it comes to selling at retail, the way you present your product will notably influence buyer decision making. So how do you make sure that every time a shopper passes through your aisle, they reach for your product instead of your competitor’s? The answer is visual merchandising.

Visual merchandising is the retail practice of designing in-store displays that will catch the shopper’s eye and increase sales. A good visual merchandising strategy involves multiple different components. In this blog post, we will go through everything you need to know about visual merchandising: what it is, who does it, tips, techniques, and examples. To jump to any part of the guide, use the table of contents!

What is Visual Merchandising?

Who does visual merchandising, collecting and analyzing merchandising data, visual merchandising techniques of 2019.

  • Visual Merchandising Dos and Don'ts

Visual Merchandising Examples

Visual merchandising is the retail practice of designing and executing in-store displays in order to engage shoppers and increase sales.

Visual merchandising takes into account how your products come across to consumers as they interact with them in a retail setting, and applies certain techniques to make those interactions as impactful as possible. When it comes to in-store merchandising, organizing products, analyzing merchandising data, and executing promotional displays are just a few tasks merchandisers carry out.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Lush Cosmetics North America (@lushcosmetics) on Nov 15, 2018 at 7:06am PST

Example of Lush Cosmetics' unique in-store merchandising  

Any brand selling a product at retail carries out visual merchandising campaigns. In addition to brands that carry out their own merchandising activities, many retailers also engage in merchandising, as they have the insight into the inner workings of their own store and are well-versed on what works and what doesn’t for their customers. Brands use visual merchandising across many retail categories, such as apparel merchandising, grocery merchandising, and beer or wine merchandising.

Visual Merchandiser Job Description

Visual merchandising jobs are plentiful as a visual merchandiser has an extremely important role to play. The in-store decisions they make have a direct effect on sales, so visual merchandisers should be well organized, creative, and have an eye for detail. They monitor product appearance on the shelf in various stores throughout their designated territory. By working closely with suppliers, retailers, and manufacturers, they make certain that the placement and promotion of specific products will have a measurable impact on sales.

Some responsibilities included in a typical   visual merchandiser job description   include:

  • Collaborating with suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers to ensure proper execution of merchandising plans
  • Ensuring retailer compliance with merchandising strategies
  • Creating and organizing in-store promotions and advertising campaigns
  • Maintaining inventory of products
  • Gathering information on market trends and customers’ reactions to products
  • Analyzing sales data — reporting growth, expansion, and change in markets

As mentioned, a visual merchandiser has the responsibility of collecting and analyzing retail data. While merchandisers should have a good understanding of all   three types of retail execution data   (Activity Data, Sales Data, and Observational Data), merchandising data most often falls under Observational Data: Store-level data that merchandising teams observe and record about their product in retail locations, such as the condition of displays or position on the shelf.

The point of collecting this data is so that you can plug it into a   cycle of continuous improvement   that takes into account a wide range of factors. You can then derive insights from this data to inform future merchandising strategies.

An example of this would be observing a difference in sales between a retailer where you occupy a bottom shelf vs. a retailer where you occupy an eye-level shelf. While common sense tells us that eye-level shelves equal more sales, you may find after analyzing the data that the increase in sales is pretty small compared to investing in POP displays within the store. Thus, paying close attention to merchandising data helps you make better-informed decisions in the future.

  

      View this post on Instagram     Our static shelving in natural pine so suits wine retail. Liking the blackboard pricing strip👍 #lundia_nz #retailshelving #retailers #wine #spirits #retaildisplay #enjoygoodwine A post shared by LUNDIA (@lundia_nz) on Jul 2, 2017 at 4:22pm PDT

Now that we have a grasp on the basics of visual merchandising, we can get into some of the tips and tricks of the trade. There are several   visual merchandising tactics   that brands can use to drive shoppers to purchase. Below, we’ve gathered some of the top visual merchandising trends for 2019 to give you some ideas of what consumers are looking for from a brand.

Interactive Displays

Utilizing interactive displays is a fantastic way to engage customers who otherwise may just pass by your product. Interactive displays can incorporate high or low tech experiences; Some brands may have the budget to include a screen with a standalone display that shoppers can play brand-based games on or explore a company’s story.

If this isn’t feasible for your business, fret not -- there are plenty of interactive experiences you can design that won’t break the bank. Consider creating a 3D display with a pair of glasses tethered to the shelf to be reused. Or, set up a “Wheel of Fortune” game with your display that customers can win discounts with.

Incorporating Art

There is no shortage of amazing artists out there ready to collaborate with businesses on creative advertising campaigns. By incorporating art into your visual displays, you’ll draw in customers by standing out in the crowd. Different ways of doing this include integrating art into your product packaging, organizing products in a unique way, or designing exclusive posters and signage. Not only will shoppers be impressed by the creativity of your brand — the visuals will also stick with them far beyond the conclusion of their shopping trip.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Paul James (@plittle88) on Feb 5, 2019 at 12:18pm PST

This Coca-Cola display is sure to draw attention  

Window Displays

Scoring a window display is a real advantage for brands. The window display is the first impression shoppers have — both of the retailer and of your product — when walking into or past the store. They also provide an opportunity to promote any special sales or offers on your product. Get creative with window displays and attract the customers' attention with more than just a presentation of your product. Important aspects of a window display encompass creating a pleasant ambience through lighting and color schemes, including signage, and a design that supports your product narrative.

Cross Merchandising

Cross merchandising   is a strategy that boosts sales by placing complementary items alongside one another in stores. There are many classic cross merchandising examples, such as putting ketchup and mustard next to hamburger buns, placing dog food next to food dishes, and setting Halloween candy next to trick-or-treating buckets. For some brands, there is an opportunity for cross merchandising within their own product portfolio. For companies without this advantage, working with other brands can be a great option. Talk to other brands and store managers and introduce the idea of collaborating on a cross merchandising display.

POP Displays

POP displays — which stands for “point of purchase” — capitalize on the impulses of shoppers to maximize sales. Point of purchase is defined as “the location or medium at which a product is purchased by an end-user.” A common misconception is that point of purchase refers only to space within the store where the transfer of money for the goods occurs, such as the register. Point of purchase can be broader than this and actually accounts for the entire store. Some common POP displays include shelf talkers, dump bins, and free standing displays. These 30 different   POP display examples   are sure to provide some inspiration when planning your next merchandising display investment.

Rule of Three

Three is the magic number when grouping products in a display. Not only does it catch the customer’s attention, but it also helps cement the product display in the customer’s mind. This is why many visual merchandising experts follow and preach the “Rule of Three.” If grouping by height, have short, medium, and tall. If by width, narrow, medium, and wide. If you truly want to capture the attention of price-conscious customers, arrange items in order from good, better, and best value to the customer.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Coolio International (@coolio_international) on Sep 4, 2018 at 12:11am PDT

An example of multiple visual merchandising techniques  

Visual Merchandising Dos and Don’ts

While memorable visual merchandising is the goal of your merchandising strategy, you want customers to remember your brand for all of the   right   reasons. Keeping in mind the techniques listed out above, it is important during execution that your team isn’t going overboard or putting too much emphasis on the wrong components of a retail display. Here are a few dos and don’ts for balanced merchandising:

  • Do   make constant check-ins to your displays after they are established. A merchandiser’s job does not end at simply putting the products where they need to be; it extends far beyond the initial set up. Periodic check-ins will help ensure retailer compliance.
  • Don’t   go overboard on visuals. While you certainly want to captivate the attention of your audience, you don’t want them to be overwhelmed by your displays. Tying in too many colors or elements to a visual display can distract customers from the actual product and miss the point of your merchandising efforts.
  • Do   test before you invest. When it comes to creating novel merchandising, there is a lot of time and money that goes into any campaign. Before making the jump into something that may not provide the ROI you expect, start small by testing a display in one or two locations before deciding to spread it into all of your stores.
  • Don’t   give shoppers information overload. If you include words on your displays or signage, try to use minimalist messaging by only addressing the most important things you want to get across to the consumer. Chances are, you’ll have a lot of shoppers that only momentarily glance at the text as they walk by, so having too much of it can create missed opportunities for engagement.

When devising your next visual merchandising campaign, it can be difficult to come up with a winning retail display idea off the top of your head. We’ve collected some of the most inventive and well-executed visual merchandising examples for you to get some inspiration.

Creative Window Display

This creative Valentine’s Day window display showcases various apparel items in a way that subliminally markets to passersby.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by VitrineVM Visual Merchandising (@vitrinevm) on Feb 14, 2019 at 11:33am PST

Here we see a fantastic cross merchandising display. Pairing the cookbooks with ingredients on the shelf is a power move, and the shelf as a whole boasts products any home chef would be tempted to purchase together.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Unique Gifts 🌙 Delicious Food (@crowsnestbeachmarket) on Feb 15, 2019 at 9:51am PST

Minimalist Design

This simple yet sleek display by Absolut Vodka is a great example of minimalism. While the display is certainly eye-catching, its limited color scheme and symmetrical design don’t overwhelm the customer.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by PortaDecor (@portadecor) on Feb 15, 2019 at 9:09am PST

Essential Information

Here we see a POP display that gets the point across about the product without giving the shopper information overload. Soya focused on a couple of their products' benefits that they know customers appreciate and simplified their messaging to get that point across.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Retail Display POP Watch (@retaildisplaypopwatch) on Feb 21, 2019 at 11:34pm PST

The tried and true merchandising technique of the “Rule of Three.” Grouping these three products together is aesthetically pleasing and provides the potential for making multiple sales on products a shopper would consider buying together.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Replenish Refill (@replenishrefill) on Feb 14, 2019 at 3:53am PST

High-Tech Merchandising

For brands with a high enough budget, interactive tech displays can provide a major sales lift. This 7” Shelf Edge Video Blade is a great example and definitely draws the shoppers’ attention to this section of the shelf.

     

With all of the information provided above, it might be a little difficult to extract the key points that will benefit your business. To help you organize your thoughts, here are some key takeaways from this visual merchandising guide:

  •  Your visual merchandising strategy has a significant influence on consumer decisions.
  • Visual merchandisers have a responsibility to ensure retailer compliance and successful retail execution.
  • There are many different visual merchandising display techniques to choose from, so the decision of which ones your brand will use needs to be informed by market research.
  • Simply setting up a display and expecting it to be a success isn’t sufficient; Visual merchandisers need to continuously monitor and maintain their displays in-store.
  • Collecting and analyzing visual merchandising data allows your team to discover insights that will refine your visual merchandising strategy. 

Now it's time to learn how to incorporate this knowledge into a higher level retail execution strategy. This retail execution webinar provides a detailed explanation of retail execution best practices , the three types of retail execution data , and how all of this fits into a cycle of continuous improvement when strategizing with your team.

Download the 2024 Outlook Report

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of the latest trends and challenges. Download our report today to see how more than 160+ CG executives and field leaders are strategizing for 2024.

Melissa is a recent graduate of Northeastern University and a content marketing specialist at Repsly, Inc. She is committed to applying her skills in order to bring value to Repsly readers and customers. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys practicing yoga, making music, and anything dog-related.

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Visual Merchandising: Definition, Elements & Importance

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The latest website statistics show that people have a very short attention span. Your first impression determines if a potential customer will move on or slow down to check out a product.

Smart business owners and marketers use visual merchandise to present products in a way that catches attention and entices potential customers.

If you want to improve sales and grow revenue, invest in visual merchandising, which features attractive window displays, captivating store signage, or other attractive displays.

In this article, we will look into the world of visual merchandising. We will explore its principles, impact, and the recent trends that keep it relevant in retail strategy.

What is Visual Merchandising?

Visual Merchandising is the strategic use of design elements and aesthetics to enhance the visual appeal of a retail space. It includes window displays, visual displays, and arrangements that make the retail environment attractive to the customers.

Planning is crucial to make the space within the retail stores visually appealing and functional.

History of Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising traces its origins to the 1800s. ( BigCommerce ) This period was when retailers began to showcase their products beyond the confines of their shops.

In the late 1800s, department stores became famous because of the inclusion of stunning visual elements. Stores like Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Marshall Fields contributed to the global evolution of merchandising.

A French retailer named Aristide Boucicaut in 1852 was the person to create the world's first department store called Le Bon Marché. ( Napoleon.org )

The idea was to create a town within a town for goods. The department store became a place to buy goods and enjoy an immersive experience.

Importance of Visual Styling & Merchandising

1. boosts sales and increases traffic.

The goal of visual merchandising is to make as many sales as possible. Using merchandising techniques can increase traffic and create a thriving retail environment. For example, visual merchandising display windows are the fastest way to boost sales by displaying products.

Visual styling and merchandising help capture attention, shape brand identity, influence purchase decisions, and create a memorable and profitable shopping experience.

If you are bent on maximizing sales and encouraging more customers to become loyal to your brand, your best bet is to use interactive displays stylishly.

With visual styling and merchandising, retailers can transform their stores' positive and negative spaces to design an attractive display. This transformation will leave a lasting and memorable impression on customers and increase sales.

2. Captures Attention

When trying to sell to a customer, the first thing to do is to capture shoppers' imagination via stunning product displays. In a retail setting, the visual appeal of the store's ambiance serves as the initial handshake. The easiest way to maximize sales is to pique a customer's interest first.

An example of attracting customer interest is having a store with attractive window displays and creative in-store layouts to encourage purchase.

You can use dark and light tones, allowing creative freedom that results in pleasing and conducive environments that attract and retain the gaze of customers. In addition, marquees, banners, and awnings give off a warm and colorful touch to your in-store visual display.

3. Effective Communication

Visual styling serves as a powerful communication tool. Retailers can effectively convey the brand's identity, values, and critical messages to customers through carefully curated displays and merchandising techniques.

Tools like point-of-sale screens and a light control system help display and communicate with customers compellingly and captivatingly. Displayed merchandise helps create a deeper connection between the brand and its audience.

Ensure you avoid creating overwhelming displays to keep potential on track and communicate the right message, affecting the customer's perception.

Visual merchandising displays help communicate the message that potential customers will understand without hassle.

4. Encourage Brand Loyalty

Retailers use visual styling and merchandising to present their unique brand message to their target audience . Let’s take the global brand Nike as an example. Nike is popular for its unique tagline, “Just Do It,” and its trademark logo.

Shoppers who enjoy their in-store experience in any Nike shopping outlet will easily remain loyal to the brand because of its unique brand messaging.

Encourage Brand Loyalty

Elements of Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is a tool retailers use to make their stores more attractive and better. Using visual merchandising helps give customers a memorable experience.

By strategically integrating the interior and exterior elements, businesses can effectively capture the imagination of shoppers and drive customer loyalty.

We will explore the elements of visual merchandising and delve into how each element contributes to the overall success of a store.

Interior Elements of Visual Merchandising

1. store layout & planogram.

The layout and planogram of a store dictate the arrangement of products and displays. Careful consideration is given to strategically placing high-impact displays and merchandise to optimize visibility and accessibility.

By curating a well-executed planogram, retailers ensure that the store tells a compelling story, guiding customers through a curated journey.

2. Store Design

The foundation of a captivating shopping environment lies in store design. Your store designing process involves creating a layout that maximizes space, facilitates a seamless customer journey, and optimizes traffic flow.

Considering factors like product placement, traffic flow, and ambiance, a well-designed store entices customers to explore every corner.

In most cases, your customer journey begins at the visual merchandising display windows where all they can have a sneak peek of the various products. The quality of your store design will increase your chances of closing sales.

3. Display Space

Display space serves as the canvas on which the visual story unfolds. Effective use of display space involves showcasing products in a way that captures attention and highlights their unique features.

Varying heights, groupings, and focal points, retailers create visually appealing displays that invite customers to engage with the merchandise.

The area between where you display your products and the ceiling is usually an empty space in most stores. You can use this area to display visual merchandising and signage to boost your product’s appeal.

4. Lighting

Lighting is vital in influencing the mood and atmosphere of a store. Specific colors and light shades are mood-altering and influence purchase decisions.

Attracting customer interest is one of the advantages of using flashy lights for in-store displays. Strategic lighting draws attention to product attributes and details and influences customers' perception of the store's display.

With bright and warm lighting, you can create an inviting, cozy atmosphere that encourages purchase decisions.

Colors serve as influencers of customer perception and a key brand element for a cohesive identity . A deliberately chosen color palette evokes emotions and reinforces brand identity.

According to branding statistics , color increases brand recognition by 80%. The strategic use of colors in visual merchandising creates a harmonious and visually appealing environment, making the shopping experience more enjoyable.

The Psychology of Colour

6. Materials

The choice of materials in visual merchandising contributes to the overall aesthetic and brand image. From fixtures and shelving to the materials used in displays, each element should align with the store's theme and convey a cohesive message to customers.

Signage is a visual communication tool that guides customers and reinforces the store's brand identity. Using concise and aesthetically pleasing signage enhances the overall shopping experience.

Exterior Elements of Visual Merchandising

The window display is the initial contact point between a store and its potential customers. A well-curated display in real-life window settings can capture the imagination of passersby, enticing them to step inside. It acts as a preview of the unique offerings within the store.

2. Store Front

Attention to detail, such as promotional displays and pop-up stores in the front of the stores, can create a dynamic and inviting entrance.

An attractive, well-maintained exterior encourages customers to explore the store's offerings while leaving a lasting impression.

3. Circular Store Layout

Implementing a circular store layout is a fundamental exterior element of visual merchandising that aims to direct customers seamlessly through the retail space. This layout enhances the overall customer experience and encourages exploration and discovery.

4. Installing Digital Screens

Incorporating digital screens on the exterior of the retail space is a strategic move in visual merchandising.

These digital signage elements serve as dynamic tools to illuminate critical attributes of products. With a well put-together-screen, you can communicate promotions and reinforce the unique brand message, contributing to a memorable customer experience.

5. Point of Purchase Displays

Well-designed point-of-purchase displays strategically placed at the entrance and in specific areas capture customers' attention.

These displays, featuring as many visually striking elements as possible, showcase merchandise highlights and contribute significantly to the visual merchandising elements, ultimately enhancing the customer experience.

6. Window Displays

Window displays are crucial for creating a visually appealing first impression. These displays, aligned with the visual merchandising strategy, effectively communicate the brand's identity , engaging potential or current customers and setting the tone for the overall retail experience.

7. Unique Brand Message

Conveying a unique brand message through exterior elements is integral to visual merchandising.

Whether through window displays, digital screens, or point-of-purchase displays, establishing a distinct brand identity contributes to a memorable customer experience and reinforces the brand's image.

8. Optimized Visual Merchandising Elements

Incorporating various visual merchandising elements, such as color schemes, lighting, and spatial design, ensures a cohesive and visually appealing exterior for the retail space. This optimization further enhances the overall impact on potential or current customers.

9. Engaging Digital Signage

Digital signage helps to illuminate specific product attributes and engages customers with dynamic content. This interactive element contributes to a more immersive retail space, aligning with the visual merchandising strategy to leave a lasting impression on customers.

Digital Signage Market size

Visual Merchandising Examples

1. hackett london.

Hackett London is a fancy shop that sells nice suits for men. They set up a fantastic window display with tiny figures working on a suit to show off their hard work. It's like a little scene that says, “Hey, we put a lot of effort into making awesome suits!”

This suit brand strategically utilized the space within the storefront windows to create eye-catching scenes that attract customers passing by. So, if you get a suit from Hackett London, you can be sure it's stylish and well-made.

Hackett London - Visual Merchandising Example

Adidas is famous for its designs, and the London shop is no exception. They have cool cabinets that can move around, and you can find them on every floor.

But the best part is the high-tech displays that show how they make their stuff. It is like a mini-movie about their products and sticks in your head when you see it.

Adidas - Visual Merchandising Example

These displays showcase the Merchandise and invite customers to interact, capturing their interest more profoundly. This shop is not just about selling shoes and clothes. It is about telling a story!

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This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

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The Basic Principles Of Visual Merchandising

May 17, 2017

Couple Shopping In Mall Over Black Friday Weekend

In the competitive world of retail, attracting and retaining customers is an art that successful brands have mastered through effective visual merchandising . Visual merchandising goes beyond simply displaying products on shelves; it's about creating an immersive and enticing shopping experience that captures the attention of potential customers.

In this blog post, we will explore the fundamental principles of visual merchandising, including store layout, window displays, organization, and catering to customers' preferences. We will also provide real-life examples from leading brands.

READ MORE: What Lies Ahead For Retail Media Networks In 2024

Design To Audience Tastes

Understanding and catering to customers' tastes is a cornerstone of successful visual merchandising. Nike, for instance, has mastered the art of connecting with its diverse customer base. By personalizing in-store experiences through customizable products, interactive displays, and athlete endorsements, Nike ensures customers feel a personal connection to the brand.

Invite customer feedback in stores and online to better understand what they prefer and why. This extends beyond display windows and into store layout. Ask customers what works and what doesn't. Try to understand what makes your brand memorable and what you can do better; then, you're well on your way to crafting the ultimate shopping experience.

👉 Tip: Use data analytics to understand customer demographics and tailor your merchandise and displays accordingly.

Mastering Store Layout

The layout of a store plays a pivotal role in guiding customers through their shopping journey. Major brands understand the importance of an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing store layout . Take Apple, for example. Apple stores are designed with an open layout, encouraging customers to interact with products and fostering a sense of exploration. The strategic placement of product tables and demo stations allows for easy navigation and a hands-on experience.

👉 Tip: Consider the flow of foot traffic , highlight key products strategically, and create designated zones for specific categories.

Window Display 101

A compelling window display can differentiate between a potential customer walking by and entering the store. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton are known for their elaborate window displays that tell a story and showcase the brand's essence. These displays pique interest and set the tone for the overall shopping experience.

Luxury retail is generally regarded as the leader on this front. Designer brands treat window displays like art exhibitions curated to thrill and delight shoppers. While this is costly, there are lessons to be learned no matter the size of your retail business: embrace your brand's unique voice, be bold, and focus on the entertainment factor.

Christian Dior store window display

👉 Tip: Change window displays regularly to keep things fresh and align them with seasons, holidays, or promotional events. Refreshing the window look and feel will keep passersby intrigued and may compel them to come inside the store to learn more about the latest products or campaigns.

READ MORE: Understanding 'Hyperphysical' Luxury Retail

The Power Of Organization

An organized store not only enhances the shopping experience but also makes it easier for customers to find what they're looking for. The Japanese retail giant, Muji, excels in minimalistic organization. Their products are displayed in a clean and simple manner, promoting a sense of order and tranquility. Muji's approach proves that simplicity can be a powerful tool in attracting customers.

👉 Tip: Prioritize clear signage , intuitive product placement, and consistent shelving to create an organized and visually appealing space. Moreover, consider how customers will move through the store, then use this to map a logical flow when designing shelf, promotion, and product placement.

Retail is an ever-changing industry where visual merchandising plays a vital role in helping brands stand out and create lasting impressions on their customers. Brands can achieve this by focusing on store layout, window displays, organization, and customer preferences. By adopting these practices, major brands set high standards of excellence in the field, which can help retailers increase customer footfall, boost their sales, and build a loyal customer base. Ultimately, these factors contribute to long-term success in the dynamic world of retail.

READ MORE: 2024 Retail Trends Worth Having On Your Radar

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16 May 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Visual Merchandising: A Checklist for The Best Product Presentation

Aina Lino

by Aina Lino

visual-merchandising

Are you eager to elevate your online sales and create an immersive shopping experience that leaves a lasting impact on your customers? Look no further! We have developed a comprehensive checklist specifically focused on visual merchandising to help you master the art of presenting your products online.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

By incorporating stunning visuals, compelling descriptions, intuitive navigation, and data-driven optimization, this checklist will empower you to captivate your audience and drive conversions. Read on to discover the essential elements that will revolutionize your product presentation.

Clear and Engaging Product Images

Visual merchandising starts with high-quality images that tell a compelling story. Use high-resolution, well-lit images that accurately represent your products and remove any visual distractions or background clutter. By showcasing products from multiple angles and perspectives, you provide customers with a comprehensive understanding of your offerings.

Consistent Image Size and Formatting

Create a professional and visually harmonious online presence by maintaining a uniform image size and formatting across your website or product listings. Consistency in image presentation enhances brand credibility and makes it easier for customers to compare products.

Zoom and 360-Degree View Options

Implement interactive features like zoom functionality and 360-degree view options. This allows customers to explore product details more closely, fostering a deeper engagement with your offerings. By enabling customers to virtually rotate the product and view it from different angles, you enhance their confidence in their purchasing decision.

Contextualize Products

Bring your products to life by showcasing them in relevant contexts. Utilize lifestyle or situational images that demonstrate how your products can be used or worn. Additionally, consider including images that showcase the product’s scale or size in relation to common objects or people, further helping customers visualize its real-life impact.

Consistent Branding and Styling

Visual merchandising extends to maintaining consistent branding elements throughout your product images. Incorporate logos or watermarks and ensure that your styling and props align with your brand’s aesthetic. This cohesive approach reflects your brand’s identity and helps customers form a strong connection with your offerings.

Optimize Image File Sizes

Optimize your product images to strike the perfect balance between quality and file size. Compressing images improves website loading speed and overall user experience. By presenting visually appealing imagery that loads quickly, you create a seamless and enjoyable shopping journey for your customers.

Compelling Product Descriptions

Craft detailed and accurate descriptions that speak to the hearts and minds of your customers. Provide comprehensive information about your product’s specifications, dimensions, materials, and functionalities. Emphasize key features and benefits using persuasive language, evoking emotions and creating a desire to own the product.

Incorporate Relevant Keywords for SEO

Enhance your product visibility by incorporating relevant keywords in your descriptions. Through thorough research, identify the terms and phrases your customers are likely to use when searching for products like yours. Strategic placement of keywords in headings, subheadings, and bullet points will boost your search engine rankings and attract organic traffic.

Format for Readability

Ensure that your product descriptions are easily scannable and digestible for customers. Break up the text into sections using bullet points, subheadings, or short paragraphs. Utilize bold or italicized text to highlight important details or key phrases. Keep the language concise, straightforward, and reader-friendly.

Address Potential Concerns or FAQs

Anticipate and address potential customer concerns or questions within your product descriptions. Provide information about warranties, returns, or specific product care instructions. Incorporate frequently asked questions (FAQs) to proactively address common queries, instilling confidence in your customers.

Incorporate Social Proof

Harness the power of social proof by including testimonials or customer reviews that highlight positive experiences with your products. Showcase any awards, certifications, or accolades your offerings have received. Social proof enhances trust and credibility, encouraging customers to make confident purchasing decisions.

Visual merchandising is an essential aspect of creating a compelling online shopping experience. By implementing the practices outlined in our checklist, you can transform your product presentation and drive increased engagement and conversions. Download our comprehensive checklist today and unlock the secrets to captivating visuals, persuasive descriptions, intuitive navigation, and data-driven optimization. Embrace the power of visual merchandising and watch your online business thrive!

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What Is Visual Merchandising? Useful Tips For Retailers

As a common rule, people get their initial impressions based on what they come across and see. Because of this, visual merchandising practices can significantly improve the appeal, ambiance, and customer experience inside a brick-and-mortar store. 

Visual merchandising is essential for retail marketing as it is a well-defined approach that tries to affect customers’ decisions when they visit a shop. So what is visual merchandising ?

In this article, we’ll discuss its definition and various styles. We’ll also go over some helpful techniques for improving the displays of stores and products. 

Definition, Goals, And Examples of Visual Merchandising  

What does visual merchandising mean.

Visual merchandising is the art of designing retail space layouts.  It also includes how products are exhibited to make them more appealing to buyers. Product displays must visually emphasize merchandise aesthetics, features, advantages, and purposes.

The point here is that visual merchandising is about more than just making items seem nice. It’s important to showcase them in a way that generates measurable income growth. Then, what does a visual merchandiser do ?

As a visual merchandiser , you will arrange, display, and present products in stores and places where buyers can see, pick up and purchase products. 

what is visual merchandising

A visual merchandiser’s job is to optimize retail space 

Visual merchandising first appeared at physical retail locations. Yet businesses are now adopting similar strategies to the online marketplace, called online visual merchandising.

This product marketing strategy qualifies as science and art since it consists of visual components such as lines, settings, dimensions, and layout to produce attractive and harmonious presentations. It also combines factors to serve psychological ideas to affect customers’ emotions and shopping decisions.

Visual merchandising’s primary purpose is to attract customers and increase revenue. A successful store’s visual merchandise plan must entice customers inside and keep them there long enough for them to purchase.

Through demonstration and promotion, visual merchandising influences the customer experience in a retail setting. As a result, it is an efficient role used by retail marketers to influence consumer behavior and achieve their marketing objectives - revenue and return visitors.

According to research, most shoppers make their shopping decisions inside a store. Thanks to this, it makes visual merchandising is an effective marketing tactic to persuade impressionable and impulsive consumers . 

So, how do retail stores achieve this? They must use specific shapes, colors, lighting, graphics, and other design aspects in product displays. These factors generate pleasant or positive emotional experiences that inspire a buyer to spend more. 

Each retail outlet has its own visual merchandising to capture potential buyers’ attention to specific parts of the store by strategically placing merchandise and aesthetic features. Some brands in retail industry , like IKEA and Zara, are two of the most typical examples of visually appealing stores. 

It’s nearly impossible to leave one of their IKEA stores without spending significant time. Each store features a variety of exciting and creative showrooms, making it difficult to leave when you feel like you’re visiting a modern home. 

The fact that IKEA makes individuals think of their ideal home, though, slowly passes the time there. It’s because each store is furnished with reasonably priced IKEA furnishings. It also persuades many homeowners to purchase IKEA furniture since it makes the idea of designing your home to look like a showroom a realistic prospect.

what is visual merchandising

An attractive visual display from IKEA

Zara is a great illustration of a business that tells a good story through its product displays. The items on display in the store space tell stories about specific subjects or people. In addition, the company recruits a team of experts, including architects and visualmerchandisers, to ensure that Zara stores have the appropriate narrative, ambiance, layout, and nearly comparable scenes worldwide.

Zara also employs lighting effects and contrasting colors. It aims at directing attention to particular areas of the store.

Types Of Visual Merchandising

Several approaches are utilized in visual merchandising depending on the specific products and stores available. Some visual merchandising techniques are more useful than others. Some are simple displays you can make yourself within several days, while others require a bigger investment and more resources to complete.

  • Interior displays: displays inside a shop that could include merchandise and decorations.
  • Exterior displays: fixtures such as neon signs, posters, and canopies. Additionally, outdoor signage communicates your company’s branding and gives customers an initial impression of your store.
  • Store layout: visual merchandising covers how a store is planned and organized. It includes how specific products are put and the distribution of products from the front to the rear of the store. Store layout also determines the positions of points of sale, staff rooms, and other rooms, if any.
  • Mannequins: style, layout, and arrangement of mannequins can convey messages to your customers.
  • Window displays : shopfronts are an interesting factor in visual marketing since they can attract the attention of passers-by, resulting in more customers.

what is visual merchandising

A clothing store design of window display

  • Seasonal displays: This merchandise display can highlight new items, boost add-on purchases, and generate attention.
  • Product information: The location and manner in which you communicate product information, including the size of signs and labels, the typeface used, and the tone of the material, can affect how customers perceive your business.
  • Design decisions: flooring, textiles, and other materials, for example, can provide a physical image of your brand’s identity.

Why Is Visual Merchandising Important?

Visual merchandising is an effective approach to breaking through the clutter. Consumers are exposed to visual and text-based advertising in physical stores and online retailers. Thus, a well-designed and well-planned retail space is critical to achieving a company’s sales and marketing objectives. Here are some benefits that retailers often get from visual merchandising:

Better Consumer Experience 

A good customer experience is essential for running a successful business, and visual merchandising is a big part of it. It helps to organize the retail area and makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for, thereby increasing their shopping experience in your store. Furthermore, professionally designed displays assist in engaging, attracting, and educating consumers.

Meet Sales Goals

Visual merchandising is the sales assistant who subconsciously persuades customers to acquire desired things. Marketers accomplish this by strategically positioning profitable items, making them visible, and enticing people to acquire them. On average, shoppers who visit several out of every ten stores tend to make multiple impulsive purchases. 

They will enter your store and check for sensory information. Higher sales will result if you can capture their interest and guide them around your store.

Stronger Social Influence

Great visual merchandising encourages customers to share images of your store on social media. Customers can share photographs or post stories of your products on their feeds. This visual merchandising strategy  exposes your brand to a larger, more likely-to-purchase audience.

What Are The Most Important Elements Of Visual Merchandising?

1. color is king.

Color is an essential component of visual design. It draws attention, conveys meaning, unifies the surroundings, and influences purchasing behavior.

Different colors represent various themes and moods. Use contrasting colors such as black and white, or try monochromatic tones, which are all shades of the same color. This factor also greatly contributes to retail marketing since it increases sales if marketers choose a color that fits the preferences of their target audience.

what is visual merchandising

Stunning color tones attract young and active customers

2. Maximum Display Visibility: What May Be Seen Sells

Retailers today must compete for customers’ attention to sell what they are displaying. Keep in mind that shoppers are often distracted by retail outlet fixtures.  It would be best to pique their curiosity by improving your in-store merchandise visibility approach to emphasizing inspiration per square foot rather than the old retail sales metric per square foot. As the curator of your customer’s shopping experience, you must seek ideas to enhance your displays more visibly and interestingly by considering the experience you want to deliver.

3. Storytelling

Buyers make split-second decisions about whether to look attentively at something or keep on walking. That is why it is vital to begin a story with a hook. Once they’ve expressed an interest, show them what they’ll get if they buy something.

Retailers can design store space to tell a story about the brand’s culture, goods, concept, or any other idea that corresponds to its commercial goals. The narrative is expressed through all the visual elements of the store, including interiors, product offerings, and retail tactics.

Consider how you might appeal to your clients’ senses other than sight. Ask yourself: Is it possible to create a multidimensional experience by combining sound, touch, taste, and smell?

what is visual merchandising

Retail space with a Christmas concept 

4. Point of Concentration/ Focal Point

A focal point is essential in constructing an appealing retail display. A focal point is a location on the display where people’s eyes will immediately focus when they first glance at it. It is significantly more crucial to employ common sense to assist you in finding an excellent focal point.

This rule also refers to the pyramid principle, which states that if one thing is at the top and all other items are “one step below,”. That way, it forces eyes to stare at the main focus and then work its way down.

By positioning the most alluring items there, such as a special deal or a themed display, you may entice them to the main point. Place flat, 360-degree focal areas that are well-lit, visible from all directions, and easily shoppable.

5. Landscaping

Using landscapes to show merchandise displays is one of the most effective strategies to catch customers’ attention. Landscaping is the process of uplifting items to make them more accessible. 

Remember to carefully consider the shape and size of the displayed goods when landscaping. Because of the lighting, these details influence which portion of the visual goods is accentuated.

6. Lighting

Lighting is a factor that can create a certain atmosphere and kick-start a mood in your store.

It helps attract customers to the specific products or sections you want them to look.

Adding spotlights to emphasize branded items is another effective approach to direct attention and ensure that your best products are seen.

The best way to define balance is a sense of symmetry in the focus, weight, or emotional attachment of the many parts within the composition to achieve wholeness. A design’s stability and structure are provided through balance. It is the amount of stuff allocated in the design due to the positioning of your pieces.

Visual balance can be classified into two types. Asymmetrical balance, also known as informal balance, and symmetrical balance, sometimes known as proper balance. 

Balance is established by visual information on the part of the observer rather than physical weighing. To balance a composition, distribute its pieces so that the viewer is persuaded that the work is not about to collapse.

If you want to highlight a new product line, home goods, fashion products, or a particular promotion, think about using themes across your space. Themes might be as simple as matching colors or as complex as a fictional plot or customer testimonial. The use of themes might assist in distinguishing various products or characteristics that you wish to showcase.

what is visual merchandising

Clothes that are arranged in theme

Tips to Improve Product Displays for Your Retail Business

Merchants must stay informed about fads and popular styles. Changing the displays regularly will keep customers engaged in the brand. Shoppers looking for anything new will choose to visit the store if brand new things are expected to be presented. While altering displays is important, keeping some features of the business in good correlation, such as the layout, is also beneficial. Maintaining some continuity promotes familiarity for returning clients.

Your exact visual merchandising strategies are critical but don’t lose track of your overarching merchandising approach. Here are some ways to use visual merchandising efficiently:

Internal Design

The way in which you set up and arrange your shop space is what we call internal retail design. There are endless ways to design the interior of your retail store to greet your customers, direct them throughout the store, stimulate them to interact with your products, and eventually persuade them to purchase. Use color smartly to create first impressions and close connections with your shoppers. 

Also, it would help if you kept updating product displays. Make a clear path for your consumers to travel around your store using chairs, tables, displays, shelves, and other items. The exact route will vary substantially based on the size and structure of your store.

Exterior Design

Exterior decorations attract people’s attention and excitement and are often the most eye-catching visual exhibit in your storefront.

Signage is also necessary for the exterior of your store. Outside signage is a great way to announce specials, tell folks about your company, or even share an artwork, set the stage before anyone enters.

A planogram is a graphic representation of the store. It displays the aisles and product positions the store wishes to arrange and show to maximize sales. Planograms assist retailers in planning space usage and collecting data to make better decisions. Simultaneously, it provides administrators with a comprehensive view of the storage space.

Adjust the planogram to reflect the bestseller product’s location. You should also update consumer and market needs on a regular basis to adapt the planogram. 

Seasonal Display

Seasonal factors should be considered while planning your visual merchandising. Making sure your store merchandising corresponds with what customers are experiencing, whether it’s a celebration or a holiday season of the year, will help your business feel more relevant to your target demographic.

You do not want to put out seasonal displays too early, even though you want to extend their use as much as possible. Learn when the town and other businesses set up their holiday decor, so you don’t put yours up too early.

Placing multiple displays or modest decorative items throughout your store will make your seasonal displays less formulaic and festive.

what is visual merchandising

Summer clothing items

Signage is a tried-and-true method of presenting much information in a digestible, eye-catching style. It can be as basic as a poster displaying a fantastic deal or as complicated as a provided in the form that both entertains and inspires. Signage, like window displays and mannequins, is a simple tool that may be used for any messaging.

Signage that is effective can emphasize products or features, direct customers to specific things, and share information with your customers. It has a tremendous impact on what your consumers view and interact with, as well as how they perceive your business and merchandise.

McDonalds' outdoor signage

McDonalds' outdoor signage

Mannequins are the most traditional type of visual merchandising. They are common and useful because they closely resemble the human body and can be highly stylized. Mannequins can be chosen by retailers based on their client base, such as gender, size, form, and so on.

Mannequins, which model clothing for retail garment stores, are frequently seen in window displays. Mannequins are also employed throughout the store to demonstrate to customers how the garments fit, giving them a better picture of how the clothes will look. Mannequins can be used to display a whole outfit or individual clothing items such as pants, dresses, hats, and other accessories.

what is visual merchandising

Fashion retail outlets often use mannequins to promote products

Use bright or pleasant colors that have been associated with your store to immediately draw the visitor in.Remember to use an adequate combination of accessories—don’t overuse them, but don’t allow too much void space on your mannequin’s head. Display mannequin heads as the focal point of displays—either put mannequin heads on platforms or at eye level within the store, so they do not hinder the display.

What is visual merchandising ? You may now know and have all the useful information to best adopt this strategy in your retail business. Have good luck!

visual presentation of merchandise is called

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visual presentation of merchandise is called

7 Types of Visual Merchandising Strategies to Increase Sales

Are you looking for ways to increase sales and improve the success of your business? Visual merchandising plays an important role in consumer decision-making, making it essential to find the right strategies that will attract and engage customers.

This article outlines seven types of visual merchandising strategies to maximize customer appeal and drive sales. From designing color-coordinated displays to strategizing cross-sells, this guide provides valuable insight into how to create effective and impactful visual merchandising solutions.

The article also offers tips on how to use technology to support these practices. With the right strategies and solutions, businesses can leverage their retail display campaigns to capture new customers and generate increased profits.

Window Displays

Visual merchandising is an artful way of enticing customers into retail stores, creating a positive brand image, and giving businesses an edge over their competitors. Window displays are the most popular form of visual merchandising – they’re the first thing shoppers see when entering a store, so it’s important to make them eye-catching and inviting. To do this, you can use elements such as lighting, signage, and color psychology to draw people in; interactive displays can also be used for an immersive experience. The layout of the store should also be taken into consideration – a circular design allows for more window displays which creates an aesthetically pleasing effect. Ultimately though, using as many window displays as possible is key to increasing sales and attracting more customers – it helps create brand recall too!

Seasonal Displays

Seasonal displays are a great way for manufacturers to boost their bottom line by taking advantage of the current season. They can be used to create a sense of urgency and entice customers to purchase products before the season ends. For instance, a clothing store could craft a winter window display with coats and scarves that would captivate shoppers with their eye-catching visuals.

Seasonal displays can also be employed to emphasize certain items and help customers discover things they wouldn’t have otherwise seen. A store might construct a seasonal display featuring its most popular items during the summer months, helping them stand out from the crowd, draw attention, and ultimately increase sales.

Holiday Displays

Holiday displays are like a sparkly beacon of festivity, used to create an inviting atmosphere and boost sales during special occasions. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter displays are some of the most popular types – think twinkling trees, glowing lights, and stockings hung with care. For example, stores can use these decorations to craft a magical window display that encourages customers to purchase holiday-specific items.

Themed Displays

Themed displays are a great way to make shopping special and boost sales. To create an effective themed display, retailers should think about props, clothing combinations, and placement. For instance, a store could set up a beach scene with sand, beach chairs, and swimsuits – creating an atmosphere customers can enjoy while also highlighting the clothes on show. Design elements like music, lighting, and graphics can add to the overall effect of the display too.

Themed displays are also perfect for introducing customers to new products and making their experience memorable. By crafting a unique atmosphere in-store, shoppers will be more likely to explore merchandise they wouldn’t have noticed otherwise – plus, it creates a positive brand image that customers won’t forget!

Window displays are key when it comes to visual merchandising; using lighting, signage, and color schemes, retailers can draw attention from shoppers, which leads to increased sales. Seasonal or holiday displays create urgency, so people buy items they may not have considered before; whilst themed displays give them something special that’ll stay with them long after leaving the store!

Storefronts

Storefronts are a crucial part of visual merchandising – a way for retailers to attract customers, increase sales and create a positive brand image. Window displays are the most visible form of this strategy, and should be used to make an eye-catching focal point that grabs the attention of passersby. By taking advantage of seasonal trends or holidays, retailers can craft compelling visual stories that reflect their store’s ambiance and drive sales even further with digital signage.

Signage, lighting, and color scheme also play an important role in creating an inviting atmosphere at storefronts – drawing attention to the displayed merchandise like moths to a flame. But how do you ensure your visual merchandising display is effective? By carefully considering every element!

Signage is an essential element of visual merchandising, used to communicate key messages and guide customers to products. Retailers can use signage to create a captivating display that reflects the store’s brand, featuring customer testimonials and highlighting special promotions. This eye-catching display draws attention to products and conveys the store’s message. Additionally, signage should be employed for a unified look so customers can recognize the store’s identity with ease.

Lighting plays an integral role in visual merchandising, acting as a beacon to draw customers in and create an inviting atmosphere. When using light for this purpose, retailers must consider the size and shape of their retail space, the types of products being displayed, and the desired atmosphere. Accent lighting, task lighting, and general lighting are all effective tools that can be used to craft a visually appealing display. By carefully considering these elements, retailers can transform their stores into an engaging environment that boosts sales and increases customer engagement.

Color Scheme

Color is an essential ingredient in visual merchandising, like a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor. Retailers can use it to craft a unified look and draw customers’ eyes to products. To create this cohesive atmosphere, retailers should consider using colors that match their store’s brand identity.

For extra sparkle, contrasting colors can be used to make a display stand out – whether through complementary hues or monochromatic schemes. Bright colors also help create an inviting space and engage shoppers with the store’s story.

By carefully selecting shades for their displays, retailers can not only increase sales but also build a powerful brand image.

Mannequins play an important role in visual merchandising, like a powerful engine driving the success of retailers. They are able to create a unique shopping experience and communicate a brand’s message, making them an invaluable tool for increasing sales and customer interest. By using mannequins in their visual displays, retailers have the creative freedom to craft eye-catching displays that draw customers in and create an engaging shopping experience.

Mannequins can be used to effectively communicate a unique brand message through contrast in texture and color. They also provide the perfect negative space that describes store displays while communicating the brand message. With mannequins, retailers can create an engaging shopping experience tailored to specific audiences – one that drives sales and communicates the brand’s identity.

What is it about mannequins that make them so important for visual merchandising?

Props are an essential ingredient in visual merchandising displays, like the cherry on top of a sundae. They can be used to draw attention to products, like a beacon in the night, and communicate a brand’s message with captivating clarity. By using props, retailers can create an eye-catching display that will entice customers and drive sales – an attractive invitation for shoppers to explore the store and interact with merchandise. Props are powerful tools that help create an engaging shopping experience that encourages customers to stay longer and purchase more.

Clothing Combinations

Clothing combinations are like a work of art, carefully crafted to create an eye-catching display and draw attention to products. They speak volumes about the brand’s message and can be used to craft an engaging shopping experience. By blending different colors, textures, and styles together, retailers can create a captivating display that will entice customers and boost sales.

Placement is an integral ingredient in visual merchandising, acting as a powerful tool to create an attractive display that will draw customers in and boost sales. It can be used to craft captivating displays that communicate a brand’s message and spotlight certain products for maximum impact. Endcaps are also great for introducing new or seasonal items and drawing attention to them.

By utilizing effective placement, retailers can construct an alluring display that captures customer attention and encourages exploration of the store. Placement is paramount in visual merchandising, playing a pivotal role in creating an effective display that drives sales while communicating a brand’s message.

Point-of-Purchase Displays

Point-of-purchase (POP) displays are like a beacon of hope for retailers, helping to drive sales and enhance the customer experience. These displays can be used to draw attention to new or seasonal items, create a competitive advantage, and build brand awareness. Digital signage software is an effective tool that can be used to communicate with customers as they walk through the store – showcasing featured items, promoting sales, and creating a unique shopping experience.

Visual merchandising is essential in retail stores; it helps create an inviting atmosphere that encourages customers to explore and make impulse purchases. It’s like painting a picture with products – telling stories that engage customers and boost sales. Investing in creative visual merchandising elements can help create a good first impression – making shoppers more likely to enter the store and buy something!

Endcap displays are an eye-catching way to introduce new products and draw attention. Placed at the end of aisles, they are designed to be inviting and feature an array of items for customers to browse. Endcap displays can be used to spotlight specific products, create a visual impact, and drive sales – all while creating a sense of urgency that encourages customers to act quickly on deals or promotions.

Sidekick displays are a popular type of visual merchandising used to draw attention to products and increase sales. Placed near cash registers or checkout counters, they can showcase promotional items, highlight seasonal products, or provide customers with more information about a product. But how do sidekick displays create an inviting atmosphere for shoppers? They allow them to interact with products and make informed purchasing decisions.

Floor Displays

Floor displays are like beacons of light, beckoning customers to explore the store. They are designed to draw attention and engage shoppers, creating a unique shopping experience. Visual merchandising displays can help retailers tell stories and capture imaginations, encouraging customers to linger longer and spend more. Floor displays are powerful tools that can maximize sales, like a magnet that attracts metal filings.

Product Packaging

Product packaging is a powerful tool for visual merchandising, capable of crafting a memorable brand experience and luring customers into retail spaces. By designing unique displays, signage, and digital signs, retailers can share their message with the world and evoke positive emotions in shoppers. Product packaging is an effective way to grab attention and give people a glimpse of what they can expect from the company. It can also capture imaginations by telling stories about the business and its products – from customer reviews to creating visuals.

The right product packaging can help set a retailer apart from its competitors too. With bold colors, visuals, and messaging, it’s possible to draw eyes toward your brand while delivering a consistent identity across all channels – both physical stores as well as online. This helps spread awareness of your company so that customers remember you when they need something you offer!

Visual Appeal

Visuals play an important role in product packaging – but can they capture customers? By incorporating visuals into packaging, retailers can create an attractive and persuasive design that entices people to purchase. They can evoke positive emotions in customers and create a memorable brand experience.

Color is also key when designing packaging – like a painter’s brush, different colors can evoke different reactions. So it’s important to choose the right colors to influence customer perception – but how do you know which ones will work best?

Branding is an art, a masterpiece crafted with care. By using consistent messaging and visuals, retailers can paint a unified brand image that will help spread awareness and make it easier for customers to remember the company and its offerings.

The brushstrokes of creative visuals, customer testimonials, and other elements evoke an emotional response in viewers – creating a memorable brand experience that lingers long after they’ve left. Crafting this kind of experience is essential for any business looking to stand out from the crowd.

Functionality

Product packaging can be a powerful tool, providing customers with functional benefits. By using visuals to craft an attractive display of merchandise, retailers can draw in more sales. Packaging also makes it easier for customers to use the product and learn about it – protecting them while informing them at the same time.

Giving customers extra information helps them make better decisions when purchasing products. Plus, visuals can be used to create a lasting impression of a brand and its offerings – making sure people remember it long after they’ve left the store.

In-Store Displays

In-store displays are essential for creating an inviting shopping experience. Retailers use creative visual elements such as color, lighting, and design to draw attention to products and influence consumer behavior. Proportionality is key in crafting a balanced display – using negative space to describe the displayed merchandise while displaying complementary items together for a cohesive aesthetic. Visual displays also help customers remember and recall products, increasing the chances of future purchases.

Shelving is one of the most essential in-store displays, and retailers must use it to create an orderly and visually appealing shopping experience. There are a variety of shelving options available – wall-mounted, floor-standing, and free-standing shelves. Wall-mounted shelves can be used to display products neatly, while floor-standing shelves provide more space for product display. Free-standing shelves can also be moved around easily to create different layouts that look attractive.

Using shelving is key for optimizing the customer experience as it helps make stores neat and organized which encourages customers to explore further. So why not take advantage of this powerful tool?

Wall Displays

Wall displays are a great way for retailers to craft a neat and attractive shopping experience. They can be used to showcase products, build a unified brand identity, and draw attention to items. Plus, wall displays can also tell stories or themes by displaying complementary items together.

Retailers have the opportunity to create an eye-catching display with colors, graphics, and textures that come together in harmony. Digital signage is another tool that can be utilized to make an interactive and engaging display that captivates shoppers’ eyes!

Counter Displays

Counter displays are like well-oiled machines, helping retailers create an organized and visually appealing shopping experience. They can be used to draw attention to products and influence consumer behavior, as well as maximize sales by displaying merchandise in an attractive way.

Product towers tower over shoppers, showcasing multiple products in one display. Rotating displays revolve around the season, creating a dynamic display that changes with time. Sample displays are also effective at capturing customers’ attention – they let shoppers interact with products before buying them.

Digital Merchandising

Digital merchandising is a vital part of any visual merchandising strategy. It involves using digital displays to create an exciting and interactive shopping experience. Retailers use digital signage to showcase merchandise, provide information, engage customers, and tell captivating stories. Digital displays can be used to craft a unique retail environment and boost sales. Many retailers have included digital displays in their visual merchandising strategies for an effective visual merchandising experience and increased impulse buying.

Digital signage is a powerful tool for drawing in customers, engaging them with the shopping journey, and telling tales about products or services. Digital signage can be utilized to build an immersive atmosphere while giving customers pertinent details about the brands and items being displayed. Moreover, digital displays can be employed to make interactive presentations that involve shoppers in the retail space. Retailers may also utilize digital screens to optimize customer satisfaction and generate a memorable brand experience – but how? How does this help you stand out from your competitors?

Websites are an essential part of any visual merchandising strategy, allowing retailers to craft an interactive and engaging shopping experience. Retailers can use websites to create a captivating atmosphere by adding visuals, videos, and interactive elements. Furthermore, they can provide customers with relevant information about the brands and products being displayed.

But how else can retailers use websites to boost sales and engage customers? By providing product reviews and ratings, utilizing email marketing campaigns, or creating an online marketplace – there are plenty of ways!

Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for retailers to connect with customers and create an interactive shopping experience. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter can be used to tell stories about products and services, as well as promote sales and special offers. Retailers can also use social media to build relationships with customers and increase brand awareness.

But how important is it really? Well, there are several ways retailers can leverage the power of social media – creating content that resonates with customers, utilizing influencers to promote products, or using user-generated content. It’s like a ripple effect – one post from a customer has the potential to reach thousands of people!

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are all the rage for retailers looking to create an engaging and interactive shopping experience. But how can they use them to increase sales and engage customers? Well, product reviews and ratings, push notifications, personalized recommendations – you name it! Mobile apps are like a magical toolbox that helps retailers make their customers’ dreams come true. So why not give it a try? Who knows – maybe your next sale will be thanks to mobile apps!

Overall, effective visual merchandising is an important tool for retailers to draw customers in, influence consumer behavior, boost sales and create a memorable brand experience. Window displays, fstore fronts, mannequins, point-of-purchase displays, product packaging, and in-store displays are among the most important visual merchandising strategies that should be implemented to increase sales.

Through carefully designed window displays, signage, lighting, color schemes, seasonal and holiday displays, themed displays, props, clothing combinations, endcaps, sidekicks, floor displays, visuals, colors, branding, and functionality, retailers can make their stores welcoming, visually appealing, and engaging.

Additionally, digital merchandising, such as websites, social media, and mobile apps, offers retailers a unique opportunity to create immersive and interactive shopping experiences, allowing them to build relationships, increase brand awareness and promote sales. Visual merchandising should be implemented strategically to maximize its impact, reach customers and effectively drive sales.

We also blog about some related topics like “ Product Marketing Plan ,” “ What is Market Penetrating ,” and much more. You should check it out!

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Beth R. Martin

Why Visual Merchandising is So Important to Retail Success

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Last Updated on June 13, 2023 by bethrmartin

If you’ve seen a product in a shop window and been drawn in by its visual appeal, you’ve experienced the power of visual merchandising first-hand. Visual merchandising is the delicate balance of science and art of creating attractive product displays in retail stores and other commercial settings that tempt customers into making purchases.

This subtle form of marketing involves creative styling, lighting, colors, display props, and even technology to create the best possible visual presentation for retail products. Visual merchandising includes in-store displays and display windows, and it’s an essential part of retail design.

This blog post will explain exactly what visual merchandising is and how to create displays that generate the maximum effect. We will also discuss nine critical aspects of visual merchandising, and how you can implement them in your own retail store.

So let’s get started!

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

What is Visual Merchandising?

Standing out in the retail world is tough, and the best way to do this is with visual merchandising. This is the science of optimizing product placement and displays to create the most appealing visual presentation possible.

By using color theory, lighting, and other design techniques, visual merchandisers can make products more attractive, encouraging customers to buy.

Effective visual merchandising will not only increase sales but will also cohesively represent a brand’s image. Visual elements should create a space that speaks to the customers.

Every part of the store where products are displayed counts as visual merchandising, so you want to make sure an impact is being made on your customer even before they walk through your front door.

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

Why Is Visual Merchandising Important?

Using the practice of visual merchandising to your advantage is essential for three main reasons:

  • To let your customers understand your brand’s identity, and attract the appropriate customers for your shop. For example, luxury goods are typically displayed more subtly with soft lighting and lots of visual space between products. A store with a younger audience might use bright colors and bold visuals to draw in its target customer.
  • A great in-store experience will make your customers want to return to see your space in person. This is extra important in the days of online shopping when customers need a reason to not just make purchases from the comfort of their homes.
  • If you create an atmosphere in your retail store that feels more like a special event, you are more likely to engage new customers and keep them coming back.
  • And most importantly, fantastic visual merchandising will create business and drive sales, which is the whole point. I’ve worked on many displays where customers purchased the products in the windows as soon as I placed the merchandise.

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

9 Critical Aspects of Visual Merchandising

Every aspect of a store’s design can play a part in visual merchandising. Here are the main aspects that you should take into consideration when determining the merchandising in your retail stores:

  • Window Displays
  • Store Layout
  • Color Theory
  • Seasonal Displays

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

1. Window Displays

Windows are one of the most invaluable aspects of visual merchandising and they aren’t only important in big cities like New York. They are usually the first thing potential customers see when they walk by a retail store, and if your windows are captivating enough, you might draw in new customers from across the street or even driving by.

Creating a great window display is about thinking outside the box and using your imagination. You only have a couple of seconds to capture the attention of a passing shopper, so don’t be afraid to be bold.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

2. Store Layout

The overall store layout can make or break whether or not a purchase will be made, so you want to ensure customers can see products in a straightforward and eye catching way. Shoppers should be able to easily maneuver your displays and create zones related to your brand’s merchandise.

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

Signs are what will direct your customers through your store, and this starts from your main entry sign down to your price tags and everything in between.

Cohesive signage is a simple visual merchandising tool that can help your customers find what they need, which will help to increase sales. Clear signage will make a retail space easier to navigate and look more professional.

Hang tags on clothing, price tags, sale signs, and seasonal signage are all types of signage you might consider in your store. If you want your visual merchandising to look refined, all of these should look consistent.

4. Color Theory

Creating a cohesive color scheme is necessary for visual merchandising. Colors can be used to subconsciously influence the way customers feel about your store and products. Choosing the right colors will help you to set the tone for your customer’s experience and make a lasting impression.

Diament Jewelry store design by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

5. Mannequins

If you sell fashion, jewelry, or other items worn by a person, you might want to use mannequins in your store displays. Mannequins are a great way to highlight products and create seasonal displays.

There are many types of mannequin forms, so choose the ones that will look the best in your retail store and display your products the best.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

6. Cash Wrap

The cash wrap is the point of sale where your customers make their purchases, so make sure it is visually appealing. Design your cash wrap to seamlessly fit in with the rest of your store, while still standing out.

Consider using the counter and sides of the cash wrap for small items that customers might purchase at the last moment.

It’s also necessary to remember that this is where money will be exchanged and stored, so safety features, such as a locked drawer for the cash, are critical.

7. Lighting

Store lighting is critical to setting the right design tone, but it also functions to highlight products in a specific way. The type of products you sell will help to dictate what kind of store lighting you need. For example, jewelry stores typically use accent lighting to highlight their products in the best way possible.

8. Seasonal Displays

Updating displays throughout the year will encourage your customers to drop in and see how your store has changed. This could be as simple as adding some greenery for spring or could include elaborate pop-up displays.

Visual Merchandising display by Beth R Martin (bethrmartin.com)

9. Technology

In recent years, technology has become an impactful part of visual merchandising. Using large TVs or screens as part of your store displays can help to showcase products in a new and innovative way and add new dimensions to your customer’s shopping experience.

You can also use tablets to show customers additional product information or help them make a purchase that will deliver directly to their homes.

Photo via www.twoseven.net

What is a Visual Merchandiser?

A visual merchandiser (or VM for short) is a person who is responsible for maintaining the visual displays for a brand. Some companies have in-house visual merchandising teams, and some use freelance merchandisers.

The typical role of a visual merchandiser will be to help change out the windows, change out the seasonal merchandise on the floor, dress mannequins, and highlight products that the brand wants to promote. A VM needs to understand the target customer and create ideal displays to attract shoppers, which converts sales.

visual presentation of merchandise is called

Visual merchandising is a critical aspect of retail business and one that should not be overlooked.

It’s all about creating an inviting and memorable space that makes customers want to purchase your products and come back again and again. Today, you can buy anything online, but if you offer customers a unique shopping experience they will still want to be repeat customers in person.

By following these tips, you can start to create visual displays that will help increase sales and represent your brand in the best light possible. Please reach out if you have any questions or need help getting started!

visual presentation of merchandise is called

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174 RETAIL MERCHANDISING TERMS

November 17th, 2020 by Christina Riley

Have you ever walked through a store and wondered what to call that small merchandiser?

It’s on the tip of your tongue but can’t quite remember.

___________

So, we’re sharing some of 174 retail merchandising termsthat

Whether you’re new to retail or a veteran, you might find a term or 2 that can up your retail game.

1. Action alley 

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - ACTION ALLEY

Typically one of the main aisles in the store with heavy traffic. Often times, these are located in front of the main entrances in front of the store, making a path to the back of the store.

You’ll often find bulk bins and free standing displays scattered along  Action Alley

Ideal display location for impulse purchases; also known as the racetrack.

2. Ad-to-Sales Percentage

The amount of advertising dollars that you spend expressed as a percentage of your sales.

The calculated percentage of sales to the amount of advertising dollars spent on the campaign.

3. Advance Shipping Notice (ASN)

A notice of pending deliveries, similar to a pack list.

The ASN can be used to list the contents of a shipment of goods as well as additional information relating to the shipment, such as order information, product description, physical characteristics, type of packaging, markings, carrier information, and configuration of goods within the transportation equipment. The ASN enables the sender to describe the contents and configuration of a shipment in various levels of detail and provides an ordered flexibility to convey information

4. Anchor Store

An anchor store is one of the largest—if not the largest—store in a shopping area. Typically a well-known department store or retail chain. These stores bring in a ton of foot traffic into your vicinity, which opens up more opportunities for your business to get discovered. also known as “draw tenant”, “anchor tenant”, or “key tenant”

The illustration for print ads. Could be photography if the store uses photos. Smaller stores use manufacturer’s mats or photos or artwork. Larger stores create their own art.  Also known as artwork.

Average Selling Price.

The average price a retailer sells a product for over a period of time.

7. ATS or ATV

Average Transaction Size

The average amount spent by a customer in a single transaction or purchase.

Calculated by dividing the total dollar value of sales during a given time by the number of transactions during that time. This metric is a valuable way to determine whether the size of your sales is growing.

8. (Store) Audit

The formal process of examining a retail store, evaluating the layout, key areas for product placement, category competition, foot traffic and more. 

9. Augmented Reality (AR)

AR brings computer-generated objects into the real world.

Blurring the lines between the consideration stage and point-of-sale decision making, retailers can use augmented reality to educate customers about their products or take another step back, helping shoppers decide if they should explore specific products at all

10. Average Inventory Cost

Average inventory cost is found by adding the beginning cost of inventory for each month plus the ending cost inventory of the last month in the period.

If calculating for a season, divide by seven. If calculating for a year, divide by thirteen.

11. Backstock

Stock remaining that has not yet been sold, kept palletized in boxes in the back room until it is needed to replenish displays on the sales floor

12.Banner Stands

Banner stands are standalone signage that brands can place throughout the store to feature their product or announce a promotion. Banner stands are inexpensive, mobile, and effectively catch shoppers’ attention.

13. Bar Code

The bar code is a machine readable code made up of alternating dark and light bars. The spacing between these bars signals the reader what the numerical code is. 

14. Beacons

Powered by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology, Beacons are devices that can transmit messages to other Bluetooth-enabled gizmos, such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. More important, beacons have the capabilities to “recognize” devices based on their location or previous interactions. This enables retailers to send tailored notifications to shoppers depending on where they are in the store or what type of customer they are. Beacons can also be used for in-store analytics purposes. Most solutions come with tools for measuring foot traffic, dwell time, and more, enabling retailers to gather data and further get to know their customers and their store. Read more here.

15. Big Box Store

A big box store is a large establishment (often in a square or rectangular-shaped building), typically a major retail chain. For example Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy.

16. Block Placement

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - BLOCK PLACEMENT

When related products from different categories are stocked together, e.g. snacks with reusable plastic containers or chips with salsa and dip. Also known as cross merchandising.

17. Brick and Click

Term for integrating brick and mortar stores with their e-commerce site. Offering seamless web-to-store services such as in-store pick ups and returns.

Detailed outline of a store’s plan of spending for merchandise, operation, expenses, and sales promotion.

19. Campaign

Planned advertising schedule of specific length – usually up to 13 weeks in length.

20. Card Reader

A magnetic code reading device that is usually built into a register keyboard. 

21. Carrying cost

The cost associated with the inventory investment and storage cost.  Also known as holding cost

22. Case Cards

A piece of signage that slips between or into a case of a product to help promote it. Also know as header cards, case backers or case signage.

23. Cashwrap

The main checkout area of a retail store. Most cashwraps have shelves containing merchandise that shoppers can pick up on their way out, ideal for impulse purchases.

24. Charge Back

Deductions on an invoice taken by the retailer for shortages, damages, freight allowances, or other costs.

25. Classification or Category Dominance

When retailers offer a range of merchandise (brands, models, SKUs) that is superior/ greater/broader than competitors. 

26. Click and Collect

This is a service in which retailers enable shoppers to buy items online and pick them up in their physical stores.   Also known as brick and click.

27. Cliente – ling

28. clip strip.

A retail product display, so named because it is a length of either plastic or metal with clips or hooks at regular intervals, upon which merchandise is hung. These can be found in the aisle, on an endcap or at the registers and is often an impulse purchase. It depends on the retailer for the rules

29. CM (Category Management)

Category Manager. A CM oversees and has expertise in the visual merchandising, price and sale of a specific category.

30. CMA (Calendar Agreement Agreement)

Calendar Marketing Agreement. A schedule that a retailer agrees to follow to promote a manufacturer’s product.

31. CO – OP

An advertising allowance offered by a vendor, payable upon proof of an ad having been run.

32. Color Break

A visual merchandising tactic when products with contrasting packaging colors are put next to each other to make them stand out more.

33. Comp Sales

Comparable-store sales are a measurement of productivity in revenue used to compare sales of retail stores that have been open for a year or more. Historical sales data allows retailers to compare this year’s sales in their store to the same period last year.

34. Consignment Merchandise

This is merchandise that isn’t owned or paid for by the retailer until it’s sold.

Consignment is a business deal whereby the retailer agrees to pay a seller for goods after they have sold. Businesses that operate on consignment are usually retail stores that specialize in a specific type of consumer product. The business takes items from the seller and agrees to pay a percentage of the funds generated if the goods are sold.

35. Contactless Payments

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - CONTACTLESS PAYMENT

Payment processed by near field communication (NFC), including NFC-enabled credit and debit cards, smart cards, and smartphones enabling customers to complete transactions without physically touching a payment.

Check out our blog post on: What is Contactless Shopping

36. Convenience Products

These are consumer products that are routinely purchased by customers, who usually give little thought or planning to them. They often appeal to a large target market.

The base component of a particular aspect of your business, e.g., ‘core customers’ are the 20% who shop regularly and account for 80% of sales. Can also define merchandise that is central to a retailers success, core is product that is never out of stock.

38. Cost of Goods Sold

The price paid for the product, plus any additional costs necessary to get the merchandise into inventory and ready for sale, including shipping and handling.

39. CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods)

Merchandise that customers use and need to replace on a frequent basis. CPG examples include food, beverages, cosmetics and cleaning products

40. Cross Merchandising

This refers to the practice of displaying or putting together products from different categories to drive add-on sales. Picture this: You’re at the grocery store browsing the liquor section when you see a pack of lemons tacked to the tequila shelf. This is cross merchandising in action. Groceries know that people often take lemons with their tequila shots, so they strategically placed the two items together.

41. Cut Case Display

Utilizing the original shipping packaging to display the product with the top and/or sides removed.

Making space on a shelf for new or promotional items by shifting or removing other merchandise.

43. DC (Distribution Center)

Where products are stored prior to arriving at a retail store. The velocity of products moving through a distribution center is based on the sales volume occurring in the retail store. The more products people buy, the faster the store will need to replenish with additional inventory from the DC. Premium’s National Logistics and Distribution Center (NLDC) is 130K+ square feet. Last year, we shipped 470K packages to stores such as Best Buy and Walmart.

44. Dead Stock

Stock that has spent too much time on the shelf and has either expired or become obsolete.

45. Display

A presentation of a store’s products used to attract and entice customers

46. Display Cases

Retail display cases are a type of standalone display that is closed in on all sides by glass or clear plastic. To access the products, shoppers may have to speak to a store associate to retrieve the item from the case for them. Other times, if the case is serving an ornamental purpose, shoppers can find the product on its home shelf. Because of their security, higher-end products will often find their way into these displays.

47. Display Tables

Display tables can host a myriad of products, from apparel to accessories to jewelry. One benefit of display tables is the amount of room they provide for merchandisers to get creative. Create themes around your brand, the season, or holidays by incorporating signage and decorative elements.

This is retail slang for products that aren’t selling. See Dead stock.

Days of supply. The product amount needed to sustain customer demand between restockings.

50. Drop Shipping

This refers to an arrangement between a retailer and a manufacturer/distributor in which the former transfers customer orders to the latter, who then ships the merchandise directly to the consumer. In other words, the retailer doesn’t keep products in stock. Instead, it sends orders and shipment information to the manufacturer/distributor and they will be the ones who will ship to the consumer.

51. Dump Bins

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - BLOCK PLACEMENT

Oversized bins, commonly stocked with individually packaged products. Ideal for impulse and seasonal products. Typically located in heavily trafficked areas around the store.

A display at the end of an aisle. Endcaps provide a competitive advantage for brands to call special attention to new or seasonal products, or to capitalize on impulse purchases from customers who would otherwise walk by. Premium builds endcaps in stores such as Walgreens and Walmart.

53. Endless Aisle

An endless aisle is a feature of brick-and-mortar stores that enables customers to browse and shop the retailer’s entire catalog of products. So rather than stocking up on every item and SKU, you can implement an endless aisle by giving shoppers access to devices like touch screens and iPads.

54. Entryway Displays

Displaying your products near entryways can put your brand at the top of shoppers’ lists before they even see your competitors. Entryway displays are effective at encouraging impulse buys, as customers at the beginning of their shopping trip are entering the store ready to spend money.

55. Environment/Décor

The surrounding objects and space with which a shopper comes in contact. It involves all the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Electronic Point of Sale.

Basically, any computerized system used to record sales and control inventory. Learn more about EPOS for retail.

Electronic Shelf Labeling.

58. E – tailing

Short for “Electronic Retailing”, this is the practice of selling goods over the Internet. Etailers come in all shapes and sizes, from big name giants such as Amazon and Zappos to neighborhood mom & pop stores selling items on their website.

59. Everyday Low Pricing (EDLP)

This is a pricing strategy that promises consumers a consistently low price without comparison shopping or a sale.

The number of identical products (or same SKU) facing out toward the customer. Facings are used in plan-o-grams and when zoning a retail store.

61. Fast Fashion

This is clothing that moves from the catwalk or fashion shows to stores quickly. The clothes represent the most recent trends. Stores like H&M and Zara have built their businesses on fast fashion.

62. Fixture

Any piece of furniture or equipment that is fixed in position and displays or presents products. Fixtures are strategically arranged within the store to streamline the shopping experience and entice customers to buy.

63. Flash Sales

Closely related to daily deals, this term refers to sale events that take place for a limited time. Flash sales can last anywhere from several hours to a couple of days and entice consumers with huge bargains (usually 50% and up). The catch is, shoppers have to complete the purchase ASAP. Otherwise, they risk losing the items to other shoppers or they run out of time and miss their chance to grab the deals they want.

64. Forecast

An estimation of the future demand for goods or services. Demand in the past is used to calculate future demand, with adjustments for trends and seasonal trends.

65. Freestanding Display

A display that stands on its own in an aisle.

66. Frontage

The section of the store directly facing the street.

67. Garment Racks

Garment racks are one of the most common types of clothing displays. Still, not all garment racks are the same — some are circular, some have multiple levels to hang items on, and some include shelves with them as well.

68. Gift with Purchase

A promotional technique that includes giving a gift with the purchase of a specific item. Used extensively in the cosmetics area

69. Gondolas

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - GONDOLA

A freestanding fixture that consists of a flat base and a vertical component featuring notches or peg boards. Stores customize gondolas with shelves, hooks, or other display accessories.

Check out past blog post on Stock Retail Gondolas: Everything you need to know to make the right decision.

70. Green Retailing

This refers to the environmentally-friendly practices that retailers get into. These can include switching a product’s packaging to a recyclable one or giving customers reusable shopping bags instead of plastic. Other practices, such adding solar panels or replacing store lighting with energy-saving alternatives can also be considered as green retailing.

71. Header Cards

These signs usually appear on the shelf tag, next to a product’s price. Header cards can help differentiate your brand from similar items nearby on the shelf. Similar to shelf talkers, brands can use these cards to educate the buyer, point out promotions, or even suggest a way to use the product

72. High Speed Retail

Born out of people’s need for faster services and less wait time, high speed retail is all about making the customer’s shopping experience go by much quicker. Examples of High Speed Retail can include drive-thru grocery stores, pop-up stores, mobile businesses such as food trucks, or any retailer that implements urgent promotions or limited-time sales.

73. Integrated Supply Chain

This is a network of businesses and contractors that work and coordinate closely together to manufacture, transport, distribute, and sell retail goods. Unlike a regular supply chain which is more of a linear process that follows a product from one phase to the next, an Integrated Supply Chain is more collaborative and can entail joint product development, shared information, and common systems.

74. IoT (Internet of Thing)

IoT is the concept of getting objects such as cars or household appliances to “talk” to each other. More and more things can now connect to the web, and this enables them to communicate with one another. Smartphones can connect to speakers, clocks, lamps, and more.

75. Inventory

Inventory is the merchandise a retail store has on hand. The term also refers to the act of counting, itemizing and recording in-stock merchandise or supplies

76. Inventory Carrying Cost

The total cost of carrying inventory, including rent, utilities, salaries, opportunity cost, and inventory costs related to perishability, shrinkage and insurance.

77. Inventory Turnover

measure of the number of times inventory is sold or used in a time period such as a year. It is calculated to see if a business has an excessive inventory in comparison to its sales level. The equation for inventory turnover equals the cost of goods sold divided by the average inventory. Inventory turnover is also known as  inventory turns ,  merchandise turnover ,  stockturn ,  stock turns ,  turns , and  stock turnover .

78. IPQ (Initial Purchase Quantity)

Also known as IPO (initial purchase order).

79. Islander

An independent display positioned on the floor in a store’s main aisleway or racetrack. It generally has merchandise on all sides and features a distinct category of products. Premium ensures battery islanders near the registers are merchandised with multiple battery brands. Also known as a quad.

80. Keystone

Keystone pricing is a method of marking merchandise for resale to a price that is double the wholesale price.Layout – The design or plan of a print ad, done in pencil, ink or by computer print-out. The layout indicates the position and sizes of the various elements of the ad – the headline, art, copy, signature, and floor line. Layouts are distributed to copywriters, artist typesetters, buyers and merchandise managers.

81. Keystone Pricing

This is the practice of selling merchandise at a rate that’s double its wholesale price. Retailers use the keystone pricing formula because it’s simple and it usually covers costs while providing a sound profit margin.

82. Keystone Product

A product that is sold for double the wholesale price.

83. Lead Time

The time between order and delivery.

Last expired, first out. A stock rotation method of placing incoming product directly onto the shelf, pushing older product towards the back

85. Loss Leader

Merchandise sold below cost by a retailer in an effort to attract new customers or stimulate other profitable sales.

86. Loss Prevention

Loss prevention is the act of reducing the amount of theft and shrinkage within a business.

87. Lot size

Also called order quantity, this is the quantity of an item you order for delivery on a specific date.

A third-party worker hired to load or unload shipments.

89. Main-Line

The main display area in a store.

90. Mannequins

Mannequins are the embodiment of visual merchandising. They display products in a context that gives the shopper a clear visual of the product in use. promote impulse buys as they showcase to the shopper multiple items that they may not have been shopping for in the first place. Thus, be sure to have your products nearby,

91. Markdown

A planned reduction in the selling price of an item, usually to take effect either within a certain number of days after seasonal merchandise is received or on a specific date.

92. Marketing Calendar

A marketing calendar is a tool used by retailers to show where and when marketing events, media campaigns and merchandising efforts are happening, as well as the results.Marketing – The art and science of gathering facts on consumers; determining which of their needs and wants offer you opportunity; deciding which segment can be best served within the scope of your resources; and then formulating a strategy to capture profitably a reasonable share of market through highly focused merchandising, ser Merchandise Mix: A merchandise mix is the breadth and depth of the products carried by retailers. Also known as product.

93. Merchandise Mix

A merchandise mix is the breadth and depth of the products carried by retailers. Also known as product.

94. Merchandise Presentation

A design strategy that involves placing merchandise  in a neat and organized manner to make it easy for the customer to shop. While  merchandising presentation is not meant to be boring, it is also not designed to be the main attraction in the store.

95. Merchandising

The embellishments which a retailer adds to a basic product, such as price, packaging, special offers, ticketing/labeling, couponing, product-with-purchase, etc.

96. Minimum Advertised Price

A vendor’s pricing policy that does not permit its resellers to advertise prices below some specified amount. It can include the resellers’ retail price as well.Minute – 60-second commercial; 140-160 word script.

97. Mis-Pick

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - MISPICK

A product that is incorrectly slotted.

98. MOD (Modular)

Different retailers utilize the term MOD in a variety of ways. MOD is yet another word for planogram (POG) and is sometimes used to refer to one 4-foot section of an aisle where a category of goods, like laundry detergent, is on display. For example, the laundry detergent is on MOD 4 in aisle 12

99. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price)

The price that the manufacturer of the product believes the item should sell for in stores.

100. Multichannel Retailing

Selling merchandise through more than one independently managed channel, such as brick-and-mortar stores, catalogs, and online. This is the precursor to omnichannel retail, which aims to tie those channels together.

101. Mystery shopping

When a decoy shopper is sent into a retail store to evaluate the product merchandising or the customer experience. The mystery shopper behaves like a regular customer but then provides feedback to the store, the brand or the employee to help improve its performance

102. Net/Gross Advertising

Gross advertising includes your co-op dollars. Net is your own dollars only.

103. Niche Retailing

This term refers to the practice of selling only to a specific market segment. In other words, if you’re a niche retailer, you specialize in a particular type of product (or sometimes a few closely related ones). Niche retailers can be more nimble with their strategies, compared to broader businesses because they cater to specific audiences. This enables them to identify market segments easily and deploy unique and more targeted strategies to address their market’s needs.

104. Off-Shelf

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - OFF SHELF

Any display or promotion that is not part of the regular store, e.g. cardboard POP displays or beverage towers.

105. Omni-Channel Retailing

Consider this as the next generation of cross-channel and multi-channel retail. Omni-channel means establishing a presence on several channels and platforms (i.e. brick-and-mortar, mobile, online, catalog etc) and enabling customers to transact, interact, and engage across these channels simultaneously or even interchangeably.

106. OOS (Out of Stock)

When a product sells out, it leaves an empty slot on the shelf. Premium’s Shared Services merchandising team ensures our clients’ products are not OOS by visiting more than 8,000 retail locations each week

107. Operating Expenses

The sum of all expenses associated with the normal course of running a business.Outpost Display – A secondary display – placed outside the department. e.g., at doorways or high traffic areas.

108. OSA (On-Shelf Availability)

Walmart uses the acronym OSCA, meaning On-Shelf Customer Availability.

Overs, shorts and damages. Any discrepancy in the product ordered and those received by the retailer.

110. Pack out

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - PACK OUT

The total number of packages of an item for the shelf to be at capacity or fully stocked. Packing out refers to the process of filling the store shelves with replenishment products from the store’s backroom supply. Premium packed out 1MM+ unique products in 2018.

111. Pallet

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - PALLET

A wooden structure used to support goods while they’re being moved

Predetermined display quantity. A pre-made display unit that requires little to no assembly. Also called a sidekick, shipper, or pre-pack.

113. Plan-O-Gram

A detailed plan of floor, wall and fixture layout. It requires a mapping of what items go where for each square foot or product frontage of shelf pace, wall, or hanging rack. Particular emphasis is put on placing the most profitable products in an advantageous purchasing position.

114. Planogram

A visual representation of how all the facings in an aisle should look and be organized. Also called a POG or schematic

115. PLU – Price Look Up

A system with the PLU feature will display the description and price of an item when the item number is entered or scanned at point of sale. It is also printed on the customer’s receipt and this is helpful for the customer to remember what he/she bought. It is also a good deterrent to price ticket switching in some cases.

116. POG (Planogram)

Visual diagrams that show exactly where to place specific products on shelves within an aisle in order to maximize sales. Think of a POG as a blueprint to follow as you build a section of facings for several products. Also known as plan-o-grams or schematics.

117. Point-of-purchase Display

Point-of-purchase displays, or POP displays, are marketing materials or advertising placed next to the merchandise it is promoting. These items are generally located at the checkout area or other location where the purchase decision is made. For example, the checkout counters of many convenience stores are cluttered with cigarette and candy POP displays. 

118. POS (Point-of-Sale) System

At its most basic level, a POS system functions as a cash register or till system that lets retailers ring up sales and keep a record of those transactions in their stores. But thanks to advancements in technology, POS systems – or ePOS systems – can now extend beyond the point of sale. These days, many POS solutions serve as retail management systems that handle everything from sales and inventory, to customer management and ecommerce.

119. POP (Point of Purchase)

Promotional collateral or signage that is not part of the regular store but is placed next to the product it’s promoting. POP may call customer attention to a discounted price, new packaging, coupons or special offers. Also known as shelf talkers or IRCs (Instant Redeemable Coupons)

120. Pop-Up Store

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - POP UP STORE

Pop-Up-Stores are short-term shops or sales spaces that come and go within a given period. These stores can be set up in empty retail spaces, mall booths, or even in the middle of a park.

Point of sale. Where purchases are made in the store. Also called a cash wrap or checkout counter.

122. Prestige Pricing

Usually implemented by high-end retailers and lifestyle brands, prestige pricing is a strategy in which an item is priced at a high level in order to denote exclusivity, high quality, or luxury. When an item is prestigiously priced, it is meant to attract status-conscious individuals or consumers who want to buy premium products.

123. Private Label

These are brands owned not by a manufacturer, but by a retailer or supplier. Retailers and suppliers purchase the goods, then label and market them under their name.

124. Product Life Cycle

This term is used to describe the series of stages that each commercial product goes through when it hits the market. These stages include introduction, growth in sales revenue, maturity, and decline. You must pay attention to the life cycle of each of your products. Take note of their performance at each stage, and gather info that you can use to improve future products or offerings.

A display with four sides of merchandise.

126. Quantity Discount

This is an incentive that’s offered to the buyer whereby purchasing an item in bulk will result in a reduced price per unit. Sometimes it’s only a minuscule difference, but a difference nonetheless. Seeking out quantity discounts can make a world of difference to small and up-and-coming businesses.

127. Quantity on hand

This describes the physical inventory that a retailer has in possession at the store. Also known as on hand or OH for short

128. Quick Response

Quick response is the name given to the system that immediately replenishes goods based on consumer demand.

It is also sometimes referred to as JIT II (Just in Time level two) or in retailing as ECR (Efficient Consumer Response). The use of current technology links the manufacturer, supplier, retailer and retail outlet together to speed up communications, reduce paperwork, reduce inventory carrying costs, and have what the customer wants when they want it.

Primarily involves Electronic Data Interchange – EDI and Universal Product Code – UPC.

129.  RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

Method for embedded tag to communicate SKU and other information from a product to a receiver. Currently being used at the pallet level for receiving, slow adoption at the Point of Sale due to both cost and some technical issues.

130. Receipt Printer

A specially built narrow carriage printer that used to print customer receipts.

131. Relationship Retailing

This is a strategy that businesses implement to build loyalty and forge long-term relationships with customers. Relationship Retailing can come in the form of loyalty programs, personalized experiences, or superb customer service.

132. Reverse Pick

Scanning items in bins to see if they will fit out on the shelf, rather than scanning items on the shelf to see if there is stock in the bin.

133. RSA (Retail Sales Associate) or RSP (Retail Salesperson)

An employee who works directly for the retailer, restocking, loading, answering customer questions and helping maintain the store. 

134. Sales Promotion

A short-term incentive to initiate trial or purchase. Sales promotion is one of the elements of the promotional mix. The primary elements in the promotional mix are advertising, personal selling, direct marketing and publicity/public relations.

135. Scratch

A product removed from an order because it was out of stock at the manufacturer or warehouse.

136. Segment (Consumer or Market)

A single part of the market, separable from the rest of the market. It can be clearly identified as being different by a set of distinct and common characteristics such as demographics, lifestyle, geographic location, or buying habits.

137. Self-Facing Tray

A shelf management solution that pushes new product forward each time a product is removed, e.g. cans of soup roll forward to fill the empty space each time a can is taken out.

138. Self-Serve

In retail, this means letting customers select and pay for goods themselves, without requiring the assistance of a live staff member. Vending machines, kiosks, as well as self-serve checkout lanes in grocery stores all fall under this category.

139. Services

Extras offered by stores to make shopping more pleasant. Includes free parking credit, snack and restaurant facilities, gift wrap, post office, night openings, delivery, and other ‘fringe’ benefits that discount retailers do not always offer.

140. Shelf Tag 

A product’s price tag, affixed to the shelf it sits on.

141. Shelf Talker

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - SHELF TALKER

A sign attached to a shelf to attract a customer’s attention to a certain product or promotion. Also called a dangler.

142. Showrooming

Showrooming is the consumer practice of examining products in a store, only to buy them for a lower price online. Shopping and price check apps perpetuate showrooming because they allow shoppers to compare prices and products using their phone as they browse the store.

143. Shrinkage

The difference between the stock you actually have and what you have on paper. This occurs due to employee theft, shoplifting, human error or poor inventory management.

144. Sidekick

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - SIDE KICK

Stock-keeping unit. The finest identification of a specific item either by itself or in a range.i.e., one basic shoe style requires approximately 30 different SKUs which are the combination of the range of sizes multiplied by the range of widths stocked. This is increased by 100% each time a color is added in the full size and width range.

145. Signage

Visual aids that guide customers throughout their shopping experience. From directing them to different departments to providing more product specific information as well as creating an instagrammable shot.

Check out our past post on 4 Types of Illuminated Signage

146. Slat Wall

Slat wall is a building material used in shop fitting for wall coverings or display fixtures. It consists of panels, usually 4 ft. by 8 ft., made with horizontal grooves that are configured to accept a variety of merchandising accessories. Also known as slot wall

Check out our past post on 3 TWall Types: The Good and the Bad

Place for one product to be stocked on a shelf.

148. Slotting Fee

A fee that some retailers charge for each slot on a shelf a product occupies

149. Social Commerce

The ability to make a purchase from a third-party company within the social media experience. An example of this would be browsing and comparing products on a business’ Facebook page and then making the purchase directly through Facebook, as opposed to being redirected to the company’s website to complete the transaction. Similarly, a potential customer may see a Tweet about a product and then be able to purchase it directly via Twitter instead of being redirected to the retailer’s own website.

150. Stock Rotation

Organizing products based on freshness and expiration date. 

151. Store Loyalty

When a customer likes and trusts a store, and continually makes purchases there without being swayed by advertising or special offers, this is known as store loyalty. Retailers can encourage this by offering rewards programs or special discounts for regular customers. A good example of this would be the Starbucks loyalty card, where customers are offered free drinks.

152. Store Positioning

The position a store takes in respect to price, trendiness, service, assortments vs. competition.

153. Suggestive Selling

Suggesting the purchase of related items in addition to the original purchases, like a tie with a shirt, blouse with skirt, hats with jackets and so on.

154. T- Stand

This is a typical merchandising fixture used to display clothing. It can have straight or waterfall arms.

155. Target Market

The group of consumers to whom you are directing your business concept.

156. Tearsheet

An ad torn from the publication in which it ran. This is considered proof that the ad ran on the day it was supposed to and represents proof of performance for collecting co-op money.

157. Top stock

Additional inventory that is stored on top of store shelves for quick re-stocking to the products’ home location.

158. Top stock cart

Merchandisers often use utility carts to move products from the backroom and onto the store’s shelves. Also known as rocket cart.

159. Temporary price reduction.

A promotional strategy to generate high demand to sell through excess inventory.

160. Trading Area

The area from which your store draws the majority of its customers.

161. Trading Up

In a “good, better, best” offering of merchandise or services the action of selling the customer the better or best solution for their needs. Leads to better solutions as the customer gets more utility and benefits from the better or best item or service.

162. Tribetailing

This term refers to the retail practice of tailoring everything you do–from your store design, to your ads, to your employees–for a specific tribe or group of people. With Tribetailing, you’re not trying to please the public or the masses. Instead, you’re zeroing in on a particular niche and are catering to them and only them.

163. Unified Brand Experience

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - UNIFIED BRAND EXPERIENCE

In retail, this concept is all about establishing a consistent brand or identity throughout multiple channels or platforms, including brick-and-mortar, ecommerce, or mobile. So whether you’re marketing and selling to customers face-to-face, on your mobile app, or doing it online, you’ll be able to deliver the same messages and give them the same great experience. Successfully implementing this involves properly training your staff, investing in the right tools, and more importantly, having one clear strategy and message.

164. Unit Load

Items arranged or packaged as a single unit on a pallet for easy storage and transportation

165. UPC (Universal Product Code)

Universal Product Code. A number with 12 digits that is assigned to each item and is the same across all retailers. Also usually associated with a unique EAN barcode. 

SKUs and UPCs are commonly confused. The difference is that SKUs are unique to a single retailer whereas a UPC is placed on the product by the manufacturer and applies to that product no matter what store is selling it. If two stores are selling the same product, that item will have different SKUs, but the same UPC.

166. UPT (Units Per Transaction)

Units Per Transaction. UPT is the metric that measures how many items a customer purchases in any given transaction. It can be calculated daily or over a longer period. This is an important metric that helps measure the growth of a business, as well as employee effectiveness in certain retail environments.

167. Value Offer

A strategic option or alternative to emphasize value (value = price x quality x shopping environment or service, rather than just ‘price’ or ‘discount price’).

168. Visual Aid

An item of illustrative matter, such as a film, slide, or model, designed to supplement written or spoken information so that it can be understood more easily.

169. Visual Merchandising:

The practice in the retail industry of optimizing the presentation of products and services to better highlight their features and benefits. The purpose of such visual merchandising is to attract, engage, and motivate the customer towards making a purchase.

170. Volume

The gross amount of business a store does in a period of time. The difference between volume and the cost of doing business is profit.

A handheld electronic device used to scan barcodes and record quantities.

172. Webrooming

BENCHMARC - GLOSSARY - WEBROOMING

This is the practice of looking at products online before buying them in actual brick-and-mortar stores. It’s the opposite of showrooming, where customers look at products in physical stores only to buy them online. Image-based websites and social networks such as Pinterest or Instagram help perpetuate webrooming. Users see items that they like while browsing these sites and then go out in the real world to test or try them on.

173. Wholesale 

Wholesale is the sale of goods, generally in large quantity, to a retailer for resale purposes.

174. Window Displays

Window displays, also known as window dressings, are exactly what they sound like — product displays that are set up in the window of a retailer. These displays are extremely lucrative as they represent the retailer and can be the deciding factor on whether a shopper enters the store in the first place

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New merchandising terms are emerging as retail transforms to meet the demands of todays’ and tomorrow’s shoppers.

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Table of Contents

Every industry has a different way of selling its products. The key is to get consumers excited about the product and purchase it before your competitors do.

14 Visual Merchandising Techniques

Visual merchandising is the art of exhibiting products and structuring a business to increase sales and provide a dynamic and delightful shopping experience. It’s an important part of creating a positive customer experience, increasing revenue, and identifying your brand. We’ll go through the 14 most significant visual merchandising methods in this post, as well as how using them might help your company.

1. Use Color to Create a Consistent Visual Experience

Color contributes to a unified visual experience in your store. A color scheme may be used to communicate a narrative to your consumers and draw them into your area, providing life to your shop. Color is an important aspect of your visual merchandising process, and it should correspond to your brand, sales, and business objectives.

The first step in deciding what colors you want to utilize for your shop is to choose a palette. You’ll want to keep the amount of colors you use to a minimum in order to provide your consumers a pleasing visual experience.

The color scheme you chose should complement your brand as well as your sales goals. Let’s assume you own a pet supply business and want your brand to be family-friendly while still conjuring up images of animals and environment. Stick to earth tones and greens, since these colors evoke feelings of relaxation and warmth.

For its little yogurt stores, Menchies, a frozen yogurt business, adopts a bright and joyful color scheme.

Menchies, a little yogurt business, is another illustration of color’s influence. It chose a bold and colorful color scheme that invigorated the whole room. It also made use of hues from the red and green families. Green tones because they are connected with relaxation, serenity, and nature; and red tones because they are associated with food and may even promote appetite. Menchies’ color merchandising decisions not only create a unified and physically pleasing shop, but they also help to support its brand image and sales objectives. Find out how different color palettes affect consumer reaction.

2. Use lighting to draw attention to merchandise and create an atmosphere.

A lighting design is an important part of completing any area. Your lighting selections will help establish the vibe you want to create in your business, and by extension, your brand.

Keep the following guidelines in mind while designing your lighting scheme:

  • Make sure your lighting illuminates the whole room. Anything with limited visibility may inhibit purchasers, thus no corner should be lighted.
  • Make sure the lighting you choose sets the tone for your location and corresponds to the sort of company you operate.

A spa, for example, would attempt to create a quiet and relaxing atmosphere by using minimal warm lighting.

The guest will have a peaceful session in a dimly lit spa. (Image courtesy of DesignspiritsCo)

A medical supply shop, on the other hand, could choose brighter and cooler lighting to increase visibility and contribute to a more energetic and hygienic environment.

A well-lit pharmacy offers an atmosphere in which clients can readily see and locate merchandise. (Image courtesy of retaildesignblog)

Smart lighting design may be used to emphasize or draw attention away from certain objects, in addition to keeping everything illuminated and creating an environment for your place. By shining a light on a product you want your clients to notice, you may attract them to it and increase sales. Lower lighting, on the other hand, may be used to deflect consumers’ attention away from older products that you don’t want to pay special attention to.

Lighting is used in a boutique to emphasize certain merchandise. (Image courtesy of Shopify)

You may also employ lighting to create eye-catching visual displays for your consumers. A lighting show is extremely effective as a company façade because it packs a visual punch and allows you to create an entirely visual presentation rather than a shoppable one.

Lighting was employed to produce a visually appealing show. (Photo courtesy of Environmental Lights)

Create a lighting strategy that not only keeps your business lighted and visible, but also establishes the tone, draws attention to the things you want consumers to view, and makes a statement.

3. Direct and inform customers through signage

Signage may be used to emphasize goods or features, direct consumers to particular things, or provide information to customers. It has a big impact on what your consumers see, how they engage with it, and how they perceive your shop.

Choosing signage boils down to figuring out what you want your signs to accomplish. Do you use them to promote special offers? To draw attention to particular aspects of a product? To offer your shop a distinct personality? Before you start printing, figure out what you want your signs to achieve and how you want them to appear. This will save you both time and money.

There are a few important do’s and don’ts when it comes to creating and putting signs, in addition to selecting your signage objectives and style.

Outside of your shop, signage is also necessary. Outside signs are a terrific way to promote specials, inform people about your company, or even share a piece of art, all before anybody enters the building.

Exterior displays are all about grabbing people’s attention and piqueing their interest, and they’ll typically be the most striking visual exhibit in your business. Consider your business’s external signage to be the welcome it sends out into the world. Is it attractive enough to entice passers-by inside?

Customers are drawn to a well-lit sign outside a Converse shop. (Image courtesy of Starfish Signs)

Folding sidewalk signs and illuminated window signs are two examples of eye-catching external signage. They’re particularly useful if your business is near to rivals or off the usual route, since they’ll draw attention to it from consumers who may otherwise overlook it. During off-hours or holidays, both foldable sidewalk signs and illuminated window signs signal that you are open for business and entice visitors toward your door.

A coffee shop’s foldable sidewalk sign attracts prospective customers and urges them to stop in for a cup of coffee. (Image courtesy of Aosom.com)

4. Use Point of Purchase Displays to Draw Attention to Products (POP)

Temporary digital or physical displays placed around items that you wish to attract attention to or market are known as point of purchase displays. They might highlight product characteristics, highlight special offers, or bring attention to a particularly interesting item. Consider your POP displays to be one-dimensional employees: although they are limited to a single product category, they are the expert and primary salesman for that product, and they will assist you in selling that product more quickly and easily.

What If I Told You…

The majority of spontaneous purchases are made within a retail store by eight out of ten buyers. POP displays are an excellent approach to get customers to buy something they would not have considered before entering the business.

When deciding on the ideal POP displays for your company, consider what your top goods are, as well as what things have intriguing qualities that you believe your clients would like. Merchandising science–or the use of analysis to guide your merchandising decisions–is the key to figuring out exactly what those parts are. Using sales data, keeping track of what’s selling, and determining which things need to be pushed are all aspects of merchandising science. This sort of data may help you make data-driven choices about how to apply the most successful merchandising methods in your shop. This essay delves further into merchandising science and how you may use it to your company.

You’ll want to consider not just what items you want to promote in your POP displays, but also how you want them to appear. The options are unlimited, but the POP style you choose should be eye-catching and bring people in, as well as speak to your brand voice and blend in with the rest of your business.

The average person’s attention span is eight seconds. Visual learning is used by 65 percent of consumers, and providing visuals may help a client recall knowledge by 42 percent. (Image courtesy of Intelligence Node)

In a home goods shop, a point of purchase display displaying culinary equipment. (Image courtesy of Grand Image Inc.)

POP displays should also be a part of your store’s design. They’re ideal for clearing clutter in high-traffic areas, filling empty space, and directing people around your business. Consider whether portions of your shop have repetitive shelving or little product variety. These might be excellent locations for POP displays to help generate visual interest and break up visually monotonous regions.

POP displays are excellent merchandising tools for practically any company since they break up boring images, encourage client interaction, and generate visual intrigue.

5. Use focal points to guide customers around the store.

Creating focus points is one of the most effective methods to split up your business and direct people through it. These are special points of interest that will capture the attention of your clients and lead them to the items you want them to view.

You’ll need to consider a few factors when deciding where your emphasis points should be placed and what they should be. First and foremost, focus points will pull people in and encourage them to interact with that particular section of your shop. Consider which sections of your shop you want people to interact with, avoiding regions that can accept less traffic or directing them out. Furthermore, emphasis points help to sell your items by making them aesthetically attractive and engaging. You should think about the things you want to bring attention to and how you want to present them. Keep in mind that your displays should be intriguing but not distracting—they should blend in with the rest of your environment without becoming obtrusive.

While POP displays are a form of focus point, they do not have to be overt advertisements. They may also be design elements that help to brand your shop and tell a story to your customers. A cluster of mannequins, a piece of wall art, or a table display may all serve as focal points, generating visual appeal and encouraging consumer interaction without requiring the creation of a new shoppable area.

In a home goods business, a focal point display (Source: Juliequidiagan)

When thinking about your own focus points, you’ll need to decide what sort you want to make. Will it be a commercial or just aesthetic? Will it be a shoppable exhibit or one that you can simply look at? This will mostly depend on how much room you have to devote to non-shoppable or aesthetic regions, as well as whether you want to make an overt advertisement or a display focused only on aesthetics.

You’ll also have to consider how your focus spots relate to the rest of your shop and your overall brand. Is this exhibit beneficial to your shopping experience, or does it obstruct your space? Overall, you’ll want to consider the usability of your display as well as how it fits into your overall merchandising and branding strategy.

6. Play Music to Set the Mood in the Store

In addition to visually engaging your clients, merchandising is incomplete without also engaging their audio sense. Music, like lighting, increases the mood of your location and influences how people view your business.

When choosing music for your shop, there are two important factors to consider. First, consider the emotion you want to evoke with your music selection and how it relates to your entire brand. Second, consider how your music choices match with your product, since good alignment has been shown to promote sales in several retail surveys.

Elevator music vs. pop will elicit extremely diverse atmospheres and feelings in your clients. Your music selections may have an influence on how long consumers remain in your shop and how happy your employees are while working there.

When your music choice is in sync with your product, it may also be a sales driver. According to a research published in The Journal of Retailing, music that is related to your product enhances sales. They cited the example of playing French music in a wine shop, which resulted in more French wine sales and less Italian and American wine sales. Choosing music that is relevant to your brand and product, in other words, can help you create a more enjoyable shopping experience and may even increase sales.

7. Use your store layout to direct customer traffic.

A store layout relates to how your business’s shelves and furnishings are organized, as well as how that organization affects traffic flow, customer mobility, and the shopping experience. The shop layout you pick will have a big impact on how consumers navigate around your area. The layout of your business may influence what people are attracted to, how long they remain in your store, how many sales you can make, and the narrative your store tells.

You may pick from a variety of shop layouts, each of which will give unique merchandising options. Consider the number of goods, the space you have, how you want to display your items, and the traffic flow in your business when deciding on the optimal layout for your store.

Your visual merchandising approach will be defined by selecting the ideal shop layout for you. There are a variety of plans to pick from, each with its own set of flows and possibilities for your area.

8. Use storytelling to define customer impressions.

After all, you want your company to convey a narrative about who you are, what you believe in, and what people can expect from you. Customers are drawn to this story because they desire to comprehend and ascribe significance to the areas where they purchase. This is where the art of storytelling comes into play. Consider your company’s narrative as the way you’d like your consumers to describe it if they were telling a buddy about it. For example, if you were opening a gardening business, you may want consumers to leave feeling as if they had just walked out of a charming English rural garden, or as if they had just walked out of a rich chateau estate. Both of these tales would need distinct merchandising to make them obvious, but if merchandised well, buyers will have a clear image of who you are and the narrative you’re presenting.

  • Choose a tale that is relevant to your goods and appealing to your target market.
  • Consider how we might use color, music, and displays to create that narrative using our visual merchandising tools.
  • Your setting should be appropriate for your tale.

For instance, if you wanted to make an English garden tale, you’d want to make sure that everything—from the music to the lighting to the decor—fits into the plot. Would you know what to make of this garden shop if they were playing heavy metal music, utilizing a cold gray color scheme, and selling English roses? No. Instead, the business owner would probably go for soft natural hues that represent lovely flowers and classical music.

You’ll want to make sure that each piece of your merchandising makes sense as part of a larger visual narrative in order to communicate your story. Customers will be able to recognize your brand and business as a result of this, and they will remember it.

The brand Free People is an excellent example of clever marketing storytelling. Customers leave a Free People shop feeling as though they’ve just had a feminine, bohemian retreat. This would be ideal for a shop such as Free People. Its target market is mostly young girls, and the apparel is bohemian in style. As a result, its narrative is consistent with its consumer base and product.

Furthermore, every visual merchandising move made by Free People portrays this feminine, bohemian tale. Everything fits with the story’s intended narrative: pale hues, gentle lighting, and quirky design. Customers grasp the Free People story and keep this image beyond the shop doors due to the intentionality of Free People’s marketing selections.

Customers will be able to observe and absorb your narrative if you make consistent merchandising selections that speak to your company’s story, enabling them to ascribe meaning to their shopping experience.

9. Make Product Placement a Sales Driver

While lighting and displays are excellent for attracting consumers’ attention to certain things, product placement can also be used to influence client attention and direct them to specific items. Product placement is a marketing method in which items are deliberately positioned around the shop in order to attract attention to them and, as a result, increase the likelihood of people purchasing them.

Product placement may be done in a variety of ways. It may be as complex as a focal point display or as simple as putting important goods on eye-level shelves rather than knee-level shelving. When evaluating how you want to apply product placement, the first important thing to ask yourself is what items you want to showcase. Will it be your best-selling item or a lesser-known one that may need some more attention? In your product placement efforts, you should prioritize goods that you believe would gain the most from increased interaction.

You may utilize product placement to boost your sales margins by putting high-margin goods in strategic locations, in addition to picking products that will benefit from increased attention. To encourage the purchase of high-margin products, display them in areas where they will be seen by your clients. Customers will be more inclined to pick up and take home your most costly things if you place them in their line of sight. Any manner you can highlight your high-margin goods, whether via displays, strategic positioning, or clever grouping, will help you move them quicker and, in turn, increase sales.

Bath & Body Works strategically positions goods in high-traffic areas to increase sales and entice customers to essential products.

Consider putting things that aren’t as appealing or have a smaller profit margin on lower shelves or away from showcase pieces. Because these items aren’t a top priority for you, they shouldn’t take up valuable shelf space.

It’s also a good idea to put your most popular things at the rear of the shop. Customers will be forced to wander the length of your store before accessing the item they want. This will extend their shopping experience and enhance the chances of them seeing something else they want to buy.

Planogram: To plan out their shop and work out product placement, many merchants use a tool called a planogram. A planogram is a comprehensive depiction of the shop layout that can assist you in planning and deciding where to best display items.

10. Increase Product Exposure by Avoiding Empty Space

Utilizing your area is one of the keys to good visual merchandising. While you want to reduce clutter by breaking up how you present merchandise, there should seldom be any empty space. The more product exposure you can provide your customers, the more likely they are to locate something they like and, as a result, make a buy.

Keeping your consumers aesthetically attracted means avoiding useless space. This, in turn, will encourage greater contact with your shop and with your items, resulting in more sales. While unoccupied space reduces consumer engagement, keep in mind that you want your shop to be full and intriguing, not busy and distracting, while filling it. Going too far in the other way, or overstocking your business, will not benefit you and will turn off clients who are hesitant to enter what will be viewed as clutter.

A business that isn’t making the most of its area for the consumer experience.

11. Make Shopping Easier by Organizing Your Space

Visual merchandising requires that you keep your shop organized. Having a well-organized business can make it easier for your consumers to locate what they’re searching for and reduce shopping aggravation. Furthermore, keeping your storefront clean and organized will add to a great shopping experience, positive consumer sentiment, and make operating your business simpler.

The first step in organizing your storefront is to assess your goods and the area available to exhibit it. A supermarket shop with a lot of room and products could choose a categorized organizing system, but a clothes boutique with fewer things and less space might prefer color organization.

Your merchandise and space will define your organizing method, but it should be consistent across the business. Additionally, regardless matter the organizational style you adopt, implementing signs, labeling, and wrapping tactics will make your business more structured.

A grocery shop manages the flow of fresh food in a systematic manner.

12. Combine products to increase the number of units sold per ticket (UPT)

The technique of grouping or combining things that may be bought together in the same place with the purpose of encouraging consumers to buy numerous items is known as bundling.

Units per ticket (UPT) is a statistic that estimates the average number of things purchased in each transaction.

Displaying a garment with a matching necklace, for example, may encourage your consumer to buy the necklace even if they just meant to buy the dress. Customers will be naturally enticed to expand their buy volume as a result of bundling techniques, as they will be directed from things they are presently purchasing to items that will improve that purchase.

When considering bundling techniques for your own shop, think about what goods logically belong together and how you may present them so buyers can notice the link. If you ran a boutique, you could show shoes and bags next to each other, or hats and scarves next to each other.

13. Use seasonal displays to connect with customers.

Seasonal considerations should be considered while planning your visual merchandising. Making sure your shop merchandising reflects what your consumers are going through, whether it’s a holiday or the time of year, can make your company seem more relevant to them and more integrated into their life.

POP displays, focal points, window displays, and seasonal décor are all examples of seasonal displays. The most important thing is to add timely merchandising into your shop to leverage on seasonal moods and purchasing patterns. Many companies will even make their life easier by allowing seasonal displays to take the place of another display item during its window of relevance, rather than re-doing a complete part of their shop.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind while employing seasonal decorations. First, although you want seasonal decorations to be effective for as long as possible, you don’t want to put them out too early. Customers may get irritated as a result, and they may decide not to buy from you.

Get a sense of when the rest of the town and other businesses put up their seasonal decorations so you don’t have to take yours out too early. Additionally, your seasonal display should not exist in a vacuum. The season displays will seem less gimmicky and more joyous if you use many displays or tiny décor items around your business. Many more suggestions and strategies to make your seasonal displays glow may be found in our other post.

Highlighting a certain time of year might also assist your brand or market. For example, promoting cold and flu season for a health and wellness company might help make their goods more relevant to their clients and assist people appreciate the relevance of their company at that time.

Candy is advertised to consumers in a colourful Halloween display. (Image courtesy of Jersey 101.5)

Seasonal displays link your company to your consumers’ lives and provide opportunities for relevant marketing storylines.

14. Use Window Displays to Draw Customers Inside

Windows are another way to show off your visual merchandising skills and entice passers-by inside your business. You may use this space to showcase items in a visually attractive manner, announce specials, or even create an eye-catching art project.

When it comes to window displays, you’ll want to make sure you’re focused on designing something that will attract your clients’ attention and offer them a taste of what they can anticipate once they inside. Your window displays should not be deceptive just to make a statement. Consider your window display to be the front cover of your company’s book. It should be appealing and entice them to learn more, while also assisting them in understanding what is going on within.

Window displays are one of the few locations in visual merchandising where you don’t have to worry about making your display shoppable and can instead concentrate only on aesthetics. Many companies take advantage of this chance to design something really unique for their company, so have fun with it.

A bright and cheerful window show.

The options for what you can do with your window space are numerous, but at the end of the day, you want your display to be eye-catching, speak to your brand language, and pique your clients’ curiosity.

Factors Affecting Your Visual Merchandising Plan

In the retail industry, some client habits are unavoidable. They aren’t always beautiful, but if you keep them in mind throughout the merchandising process, you can take efforts to lessen them.

Preventing Theft

One of the biggest dangers in the retail sector is theft. It’s unavoidable. You may, however, utilize a variety of merchandising tactics to address this problem. Products towards the front of the shop or near the register, for example, are more likely to be stolen, therefore keep your most valuable items near the rear. Keeping your environment orderly can also assist you avoid stealing. Thieves may also be deterred by strategically placed mirrors and placards.

While merchandising methods might help prevent theft, we recommend employing a security system like SimpliSafe to keep your company safe.

Customer Attitudes

Try as you might, there are certain Customer Attitudess that you cannot control—no matter how effective your visual merchandising. These are considerations you should work around, not work to undo when merchandising your store.

  • When entering a shop, customers always turn right and proceed counterclockwise till exiting on the left. Customers may feel uncomfortable at a shop that is designed to propel them clockwise around the area.
  • Shoppers avoid the higher and lower levels, preferring to remain on the one they arrived on. Your main level will be the busiest, therefore it should showcase your greatest items.
  • Narrow aisles are avoided by shoppers, who will not glance around if they feel hemmed in. Customers are more likely to browse your complete area if your aisles are broad enough for at least two persons to pass comfortably.
  • Shoppers want to get a sense of the place before going, therefore providing free space at the entry will enable them to do so before beginning their shopping.

Every customer-facing part of your organization is affected by visual merchandising. Visual merchandising is much more than simply arranging things in a visually pleasing manner. It includes everything from your brand voice to customer experience to sales. With all of the strategies and tactics discussed in this article in mind, you’ll be able to design a storefront that is not only attractive, but also reflects your company’s values and the experience you want to provide your clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the techniques of visual merchandising.

There are four fundamental methods of visual merchandising. They are promotion, design placement, layout and space utilization.

What are the 4 principles of visual merchandising?

A: There are many different definitions that can be applied to the principles of visual merchandising. Here is a list of 4 common ones. 1) Form follows Function – at least in theory, form should always follow function; Designers need to consider what their products or services actually do and how they will perform those functions before designing them from scratch (e.g., things with handles are designed around being held). 2) Simplicity – there’s usually an aesthetic answer for everything, so if it doesnt look like anything else, then it must be better? Thats not necessarily true- simply because something looks different does not mean it is necessarily superior in some way (e.g., simplistic design can often lack character/visual interest). 3) Hierarchy – this principle states that good design makes clear distinctions between important items and less significant ones by using simpler forms on top while more complicated elements come below these simplified parts; Visual hierarchy also includes arranging objects into larger groups within a frame without compromising any individual items prominence relative to others present in the same area (i.e., hierarchically arranged frames create tension by making certain areas feel more crowded than others when all other factors remain constant ). 4) Contrast & Clarity – contrast refers generally speaking to difference among objects or features having contrasting colors but sometimes implies degrees of lightness as well; clarity highlights differences between similar shapes through value contrasts rather than color contrasts alone; both contrast and clarity emphasize lines over masses.

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  1. What is Visual Merchandising? (2022)

    Visual merchandising is the process of planning, designing, and displaying products to highlight their features and benefits. Its goal is to attract and motivate customers to buy something. When walking into a typical retail store, you'll likely notice tidy, curated product displays that visually highlight items for sale.

  2. What Is Visual Merchandising?

    Visual merchandising is a practice of optimising retail store presentation and displaying goods to highlight their features and benefits better and encourage customer interest. To make this visual merchandising definition simpler, divide it into three parts -

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    1. Color scheme 2. Lighting 3. White space 4. Grouping 5. Rule of three 5 How to improve your visual merchandising 1. Align every element with your brand's image 2. Master product placement 3. Optimize space usage 4. Embrace seasonal displays

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  5. What Is Visual Merchandising? The Basics You Need To Kn

    Visual merchandising is an art form that involves the presentation of products in an aesthetically pleasing manner to encourage sales. When you are learning what is visual merchandising, you have to understand that this is a vital aspect of eCommerce and can significantly impact your brand image. Here are the elements of visual merchandising:

  6. Visual merchandising

    Marketing Marketing Marketing management Key concepts Promotional content Promotional media Research v t e Visual merchandising is the practice in the retail industry of optimizing the presentation of products and services to better highlight their features and benefits.

  7. The Difference Between Merchandising Presentation and Visual

    In basic terms, merchandising presentation is a design strategy that involves placing merchandise in a neat and organized manner to make it easy for the customer to shop. While merchandising presentation is not meant to be boring, it is also not designed to be the main attraction in the store.

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    Visual merchandising is the practice of organizing and displaying products in a retail space. It is used to highlight products and their features, gain customers' attention, make customers feel comfortable and promote sales.

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    Visual Merchandising is the strategic use of design elements and aesthetics to enhance the visual appeal of a retail space. It includes window displays, visual displays, and arrangements that make the retail environment attractive to the customers. Planning is crucial to make the space within the retail stores visually appealing and functional.

  12. The Basic Principles Of Visual Merchandising

    Retail is an ever-changing industry where visual merchandising plays a vital role in helping brands stand out and create lasting impressions on their customers. Brands can achieve this by focusing on store layout, window displays, organization, and customer preferences. By adopting these practices, major brands set high standards of excellence ...

  13. The Ultimate Guide to Visual Merchandising: A Checklist for The ...

    Read on to discover the essential elements that will revolutionize your product presentation. Clear and Engaging Product Images. Visual merchandising starts with high-quality images that tell a compelling story. Use high-resolution, well-lit images that accurately represent your products and remove any visual distractions or background clutter.

  14. What Is Visual Merchandising? Useful Tips For Retailers

    Visual merchandising is the art of designing retail space layouts. It also includes how products are exhibited to make them more appealing to buyers. Product displays must visually emphasize merchandise aesthetics, features, advantages, and purposes. The point here is that visual merchandising is about more than just making items seem nice.

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    Visual Merchandising is as much of an art as it is a science in finding the most captivating and efficient ways to create a great customer experience - and drive in-store sales. Just like any field that requires some scientific thinking, it contains a great deal of specific terminology used in store merchandising directives and general retail ...

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    174 RETAIL MERCHANDISING TERMS 1. Action alley Typically one of the main aisles in the store with heavy traffic. Often times, these are located in front of the main entrances in front of the store, making a path to the back of the store. You'll often find bulk bins and free standing displays scattered along Action Alley

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  20. What is Visual Merchandising?

    This can also carry over to the content you display online and how it appears on people's devices. The aim of visual merchandising is to create an effective visual display long before any shoppers set foot in your store and is an important element of your overall marketing strategy. You want to build displays so enticing your target audience ...

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