What is visual merchandising?
In simple terms, the term visual merchandising refers to the art and science of creating appealing retail displays that attract customers and enhance the overall shopping experience. Ultimately, this process should drive further sales for brands and retailers integrating these techniques into their marketing campaigns.
Sometimes known as retail merchandising, this solution involves strategic product placement within your store interior and store exterior, using every element together to tell a story and capture the attention of your shoppers.
In this blog, we’ll go through the essentials of visual merchandising and show you how mastering your store layout can help you turn your retail space into a powerful sales tool for all discerning shoppers.
To see how our innovative merchandising team can help your business grow, please make an enquiry today.
At its core, visual merchandising is about creating an environment that draws shoppers through the entrance of your store, encouraging them to explore your interior displays. However, successful visual merchandising techniques aren’t just limited to drawing people into your store. Once inside, you still need to impress potential shoppers enough to make a purchase, so creating an eye-catching layout with a simple customer pathway is essential to your success.
These tactics blend together modern design principles with field marketing strategies, ensuring that retailers can make their stores more engaging and increase the likelihood of their items being purchased.
This approach doesn't just apply to physical stores though - ecommerce merchandising is also a popular strategy, using digital visuals and images to play a similar role.
Successful visual merchandising strategies usually rely on four key elements:
Other things to consider are the colour schemes used within your retail space (which sets the tone and reinforces your branding), and your signage, which should provide both attractive and clear information for your shoppers.
So, what exactly does a professional merchandiser do? Naturally, the answer to this question will differ depending on whether an employee is a junior or a visual merchandising director. However, it's fair to say that it's quite a varied role, regardless of the level an employee is currently working at.
Visual merchandisers use their design skills to promote the image of a retail business or brand, often using detailed planograms and image recognition technology to create suitable visual aids. Retail merchandising jobs will usually include changing things like the store layout and your product displays for the better, as well as planning out customer movement around your store in a way that makes sense. In turn, this process should lead to a sales increase, uniquely promoting your brand.
Of course, there's a lot of thought that goes into a merchandising strategy and it's something that requires some research before getting started, but that's the general gist of it!
The modern retail arena is becoming increasingly competitive, which is where visual merchandising can become a real game-changer. After all, a truly well-designed store can influence the purchasing decisions of individual shoppers by making particular products seem more appealing and easier to find. Retail merchandising also helps to build up your brand identity, ensuring that customers remember your company and leave with a positive impression that encourages repeat visits.
The goal is to target passers-by through your retail window displays, turning them not just into customers, but loyal brand ambassadors that return to your shop over and over again. Visual merchandising also allows you to draw in customers from outside your target audience, which can be difficult to do. Not only is the shopping experience improved for these consumers, but you should also make more sales, meaning that everyone is a winner!
Essentially, visual merchandising gives you a competitive advantage over your rivals, enabling you to incorporate a captivating field marketing strategy to boost customer loyalty and retention.
Brand identity is an important factor for modern retailers and brands - after all, if people aren't aware that you exist, how can you expect them to buy products from you? This is another area in which visual merchandising can really shine, as your design decisions have a direct impact on the in-store environment.
Not only do visual merchandising teams improve the overall appearance of your shop, but they also make potential shoppers more aware of your brand. If you decide to use a similar colour theme to your branding in your interactive displays and signage, you can make your brand identity a focal point in the hearts and minds of your customers. By creating powerful seasonal displays during specific times of the year (both within your store and in your window graphics and shopfront) you can use these themes to highlight your brand as the go-to place for seasonal shopping at certain times of the year.
One example of this is the Christmas holiday season. Retail brands such as John Lewis and Amazon have become respectively associated with Christmas and the Black Friday/Thanksgiving periods, with many people purchasing gifts from these companies at these times of the year.
Mastering the art of visual merchandising requires a sense of creativity, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of modern consumer behaviour. This means that to get ahead, retailers should regularly refresh their window displays to keep them dynamic and seasonal. They should also analyse foot traffic to optimise their store layouts, as well as experiment with different industry trends and techniques to see what resonates with their target audience.
It all comes down to one thing: Creating the perfect shopping experience for your customers, which in turn, encourages repeat purchases.
It's not as easy as it sounds though, as you'll likely need to conduct and analyse your own market research data, as well as the use of modern, innovative technology. It's imperative that you learn what today’s consumers want from modern brands and their products, so conducting this research is crucial.
If you're not completely certain about taking a certain path, you can instead test slight variations to your store layout, lighting, signage and colour schemes, comparing a range of metrics to show you which options are most successful.
At Dee Set, we have our own retail and visual merchandising solutions, able to create suitable floor plans and displays that are designed specifically for your retail space.
To find out more about the different visual merchandising services on offer through Dee Set, why not make an enquiry today?
Visual merchandising is about more than just arranging products. Instead, it’s a powerful way to communicate your brand’s identity, captivate customers, and drive sales - all in one handy package!
By mastering the exact art and science of retail display design, modern retailers and retail brands can create memorable shopping experiences that leave a lasting impression and boost their bottom line. This approach provides them with a wide range of benefits for those who choose to use this exciting form of field marketing, also making the customer experience much more enjoyable too!
It doesn't matter whether you're a small, independent boutique or a large supermarket chain either, as an effective visual merchandising strategy can set you apart in a vastly overcrowded market, sure to propel you to success in no time. At Dee Set, we’re an expert field marketing team, covering just about every retail discipline you can think of. However, visual merchandising is one of our key offerings, able to truly set your brand apart from the crowd!
To find out more about Dee Set's powerful visual merchandising techniques and our innovative trend analysis technology, all you need to do is get in touch with our expert team!
As industry leaders in the field marketing world, we are extremely grateful for our vast years of experience, providing us with a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise that sets us apart from the competition. Over the years, we’ve gained a thorough understanding of our sector, including our co-packing strategies. Through continuous research and development, we are pleased to be in a position where we feel confident about the services we provide to our clients.
Here at Dee Set, our end-to-end e-commerce services offer brands maximum support, from pick and pack, rework, clip strips and warehousing to merchandising, FSDU's and collecting data to provide actionable insights at the shelf edge, our clients trust us with their most critical retail operations. They know that we consistently deliver results that drive growth and enhance brand visibility.
Our dedicated team works closely with clients to tailor solutions that align with their unique needs, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish. We’re committed to helping brands thrive in an ever-evolving retail landscape, taking pride in our ability to innovate and adapt, enabling our clients to stay ahead of the competition and achieve their goals efficiently.
In our latest blog, we chat with Jess Westwood, our Co-Packing Account Manager, who provides us with exclusive insights into Dee Set’s comprehensive end-to-end services - from the design stage all the way up to retail merchandising and POS (Point of Sales) on the shop floor…
Hey Jess! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today! Okay, first question…
A: At Dee Set, we’ve partnered with Polly POS, a leader in Point of Sale solutions, to ensure seamless execution of all our projects. This partnership allows us to collaborate closely, providing expertise at every stage of the process, which guarantees a smooth delivery for our clients.
Here’s an example of how the process works: When we receive an inquiry that requires full-service support—whether it's for printing, product reworking, or merchandising—we begin by scheduling a call with the client. This conversation helps us understand their specific needs and any challenges they might face, so we can tailor our support accordingly.
Next, we develop a comprehensive quote that covers all the required services in one package. Once the pricing is agreed, we proceed with structural and transit testing to ensure the unit’s durability and functionality.
The major benefit for our clients is convenience: They receive all the services they need under one roof, with a single point of contact and one consolidated invoice, streamlining the entire process.
A: We begin with a thorough consultation to discuss the client’s brief, objectives, sales targets, retail environment, and location. With Polly POS, we ensure that every display is designed to meet optimal retailer guidelines while maximising the product's visibility and appeal.
Our team of experts are also available to help guide clients through the retailer approval process, offering advice on artwork, structural requirements, and distribution centre presentations. We are dedicated to ensuring your projects are seamless and successful from start to finish.
A: Effective communication is at the heart of every successful project. Once a project is confirmed, we provide a detailed timeline to ensure clear visibility of each phase, helping all parties stay aligned. We understand that challenges may arise, so we proactively prepare solutions to address any potential issues that could disrupt progress.
Additionally, before production begins, we complete a ‘gold seal’ process. This provides clients with full transparency by allowing them to review and approve a finished prototype, ensuring the final product meets their expectations and our high standards.
A: A great example of our co-packing services delivering outstanding results is our collaboration with Noisy Snacks, a vibrant, emerging snack brand. They had a last-minute opportunity to supply Tesco with 1,376 quarter-pallet free-standing display units (FSDUs) for a seasonal promotion, marking their largest retail project to date. The challenge was significant: Noisy Snacks had never produced an FSDU before and needed full guidance to meet a very tight deadline.
The main challenge was the time-sensitive nature of the project, as Noisy Snacks also had little prior experience with such large-scale visual merchandising displays. In addition to the timeline, ensuring flawless execution—from design and assembly to delivery—was crucial to meet Tesco’s high standards.
We overcame these challenges by leveraging our full suite of services, from structural design to printing, assembly, and logistics, to deliver an end-to-end solution. Our structural designer worked closely with Noisy Snacks to create and sign off the FSDU plans quickly. Once approved, we printed and assembled the units in-house to meet the rapid turnaround time. We also coordinated product filling and delivery, ensuring that all units reached the six Tesco distribution centres on schedule.
Thanks to our integrated approach, Noisy Snacks successfully launched their largest retail promotion to date. Our ability to manage every aspect of the project—from concept and design to assembly and delivery—enabled them to meet all deadlines and present a visually impactful in-store display that boosted brand visibility and sales. This case underscores our expertise in handling complex retail projects and delivering high-quality results, even under tight time constraints.
We also teamed up with Whole Earth, responsible for supporting them with the end-to-end assembly and fulfilment of FSDUs in Sainsbury's stores across the UK. The FSDUs themselves aimed to promote the brands' Drizzler collection - the latest addition to their range of squeezy peanut butter.
Through our group capabilities, our warehouse team were responsible for assembling 274 shippers, which were distributed into Sainsbury's distribution centres. Our Tactical Solutions team were then responsible for the in-store merchandising. In total, 1314 cases were merchandised – 265 onto fixtures and 1058 into displays to ensure stock availability.
Adding to this, we also teamed up with plant-based protein bar brand Trek to support them with the end-to-end assembly and fulfilment of new in-store FSDUs in Sainsbury's across the UK. Through our group capabilities, our warehouse fulfilment team were responsible for setting up 440 main store stands and 147 PFS stands, which were then distributed into Sainsbury's distribution centres.
Find out more on our dedicated Case Studies page.
A: When adapting our co-packing strategies to meet emerging trends, we focus on three key areas:
This way, we stay aligned with evolving market demands while maintaining efficiency, consumer satisfaction and the customer experience.
A: We prioritise clear communication with all stakeholders to guarantee a smooth project flow. We employ a dedicated quality control (QC) checker and provide regular training for all team members to maintain high standards.
Additionally, we produce gold seal samples that are easily accessible for reference by all colleagues. To ensure product integrity, pallets are thoroughly inspected before leaving Dee Set, and our operational supervisors and team leaders are always available to offer support whenever needed.
A: The future of co-packing is poised for continuous growth year after year. One of our key initiatives for the coming year will focus on implementing security tagging to help retailers reduce shrinkage. By addressing shrinkage, we can ensure that your in-store inventory counts remain accurate, allowing for correct stock replenishment based on sales data.
We are constantly evaluating our processes to enhance efficiency, ensuring we deliver the highest quality service to our clients. Additionally, we're exploring opportunities to automate wherever possible, which will not only streamline operations but also drive cost savings for our customers.
As we look towards the future, our focus remains on continuous improvement—whether that’s through adopting new technologies, optimising our co-packing processes, or embracing sustainability. Our commitment to adaptability and excellence ensures that we will continue to help brands thrive in the competitive retail landscape. By fostering close partnerships and staying ahead of industry trends, we aim to empower our clients to achieve long-term success in no time.
Tackling the complexities of order end-to-end fulfilment doesn’t always have to be a stressful process when you have the right partner by your side. Here at Dee Set, we excel at providing reliable, tailored fulfilment solutions that ensure orders are delivered accurately and efficiently, every time. With 99.8% picking accuracy, comprehensive support, and real-time data analytics for actionable insights, we make fulfilment smooth and hassle-free.
Ready to elevate your fulfilment process? Our collaborative approach and proven track record across the UK make us the trusted choice for brands seeking innovative strategies. Get in touch with us today and let’s find the right solution for your business and customers!
In-store merchandising provides much more value than just improving the aesthetics of products on the shop floor. It’s a targeted field marketing strategy that possesses the ability to boost awareness and sales for brands.
With thousands of brands silently battling in the aisles to try and catch the fleeting attention of shoppers, developing an effective merchandising plan is vital for brands that are focussed on longevity and sales success.
Over the years, we’ve worked with some incredible names in the industry and are proud to be seasoned players in the field marketing game! Having delivered merchandising solutions that transform the customer journey and also maximise a brand's return on investment (ROI).
We don’t just talk the talk. Don’t trust us? Keep reading.
Truthfully, field merchandisers don’t get enough credit for the work that they do.
From managing replenishment duties and stock tracking to setting up compelling displays, merchandisers carry a lot of responsibility on their shoulders and their work is a huge component of the retail sphere.
With 62% of shoppers purchasing items on impulse when attracted to an appealing display, it’s incredibly important to create a seamless strategy.
Supporting this, McKinsey recently shared insight into merchandising that revealed:
‘Many companies are seeking out new approaches to creating efficiencies, and many are adding cutting-edge digital tools to their armories’.
From more traditional concepts to a more technology-focused approach, it's clear that brands and retailers see the power that merchandising can possess. The question is, how much will they invest in it to see maximum returns?
But what about the merchandisers themselves? Have you ever wondered about those responsible for setting up these engaging displays or what it takes to be a good merchandiser?
Our Head of Retail Performance (North), Colin Thornton, shares exclusive insights into our own personal merchandising strategy.
According to Colin, at its core, field marketing is all about building connections.
We build a connection with brands and customers so that we can build a great partnership, aligning with their values and understanding what they want so we can deliver results.
We want our merchandisers to be the eyes and ears on the ground, providing our clients with an exceptional service that they can trust.
One key part of the merchandising role includes the management of inventory. Field merchandisers have a responsibility to maintain optimal stock levels in-store to avoid overstocking or stockouts.
During this, merchandisers have to keep an eye out on price points to ensure that they are accurate, keeping any promotions or sales in mind.
Additionally, by following an established planogram, merchandisers are responsible for maximising the visibility of products by optimising the placement.
This is to ensure that they are in a prime position to increase the likelihood of sales and that they are easily accessible.
A huge part of why merchandising is so important is because of the performance monitoring aspect of it. Within this, gaining sales data for a range of different products and categories is important.
Here at Dee Set, we infuse this process with technology by providing our teams with cutting-edge systems and image recognition software to help organise their tasks and improve their communication efforts.
Merchandisers deploy various strategic and operational activities to help boost the customer journey, says Colin.
Their contributions ensure that the in-store environment is:
An important responsibility for a merchandiser includes optimising the store layout.
This makes it easier for customers to find what they need and discover new products in a logical and intuitive manner.
Merchandisers should keep this in mind when it comes to product placement as they will need to ensure that products are placed in high-demand areas and that high-margin products are placed in prominent locations which are easily accessible.
Merchandisers will need to follow the pre-signed-off planograms that are provided by brands to help them build eye-catching displays and signage.
As mentioned before, stock management will also help to increase customer satisfaction as merchandisers will ensure that high-demand items are always in stock, reducing the likelihood of customer frustration due to unavailable products.
As new arrivals of stock come in, merchandisers will need to regularly update displays to keep the shopping experience fresh and exciting.
On a day-to-day basis, merchandisers will also strive to maintain a clean and well-stocked environment to create a pleasant shopping environment.
Contrary to belief, merchandising isn’t just about making things look nice, reveals Colin.
The merchandising process actually involves a lot of skills that are vital to the success of the overall strategy. I believe a great merchandiser has a combination of:
One important skill for merchandisers to possess is the ability to analyse data and be confident using technology.
This is essential for keeping an eye on inventory. Our dedicated merchandising software streamlines in-store offerings whilst also giving brands key insights when it comes to customer behaviour, compliance adherence, and planogram matching.
Additionally, it's so important for merchandisers to pay great attention to detail when it comes to product presentation.
It is essentially their responsibility to manage how a consumer perceives a brand which can be a make-or-break deal when it comes to whether they make a purchase.
Merchandisers will also ensure that the shop floor is in optimal condition alongside ensuring that prices are clearly displayed and promotional signage is accurate.
Another important skill for merchandisers to possess is great collaboration skills. It is essential that a merchandiser can work alongside other merchandisers and other shop floor staff.
In the nature of the role, merchandisers may work in close proximity to others in the business, so ensuring that great relationships are maintained is essential for a seamless working environment.
Our merchandisers thrive with our ‘one team approach’ which is something that truly unites us as a team. That’s why having collaboration skills is so important!
Everyone in our team is focussed on a shared goal and we’ll all chip in with support, knowledge, and advice and help each other out where we can.
Lastly, it is important for a customer to have a strong desire to meet the demands of consumers. It is essential for merchandisers to focus on creating a shopping environment that enhances the overall customer experience.
Here at Dee Set, we’re a people-centric business that truly cares about our colleagues, which is why we felt the need to revamp the traditional hiring process.
This is to ensure that we’re providing potential candidates with an engaging experience that they will benefit from, regardless of the outcome.
We first focus on getting to know the real personality of the candidates, which is why all candidates will take part in an automated chat-based interview that is both mobile-friendly and completely clear of any bias.
After candidates complete their application, they will receive a personalised feedback report highlighting their strengths. We then let them know if they’ve been successful in moving to the next stage of our interview process, either by phone or face-to-face.
We’re big on upskilling our colleagues and supporting them through developing themselves in their careers. That’s why we use a range of advanced HR tools and development resources to ensure new staff have everything they need to hit the shop floors running!
We utilise a platform called Thrive which is our innovative learning experience platform.
We ensure that we include modules tailored specifically to each candidate's:
Our colleagues can utilise Thrive at any time to help them develop new skills to be the best that they can be!
Additionally, we use Blink, a smart internal communication hub that allows our merchandisers to stay connected with their wider team.
This enables colleagues to get support from their team leaders, including one-on-ones, courses, and essential skill-building insights.
To ensure that our clients are getting maximum coverage for their brands, we ensure that our merchandisers are located within 10 miles of 97% of big-name stores in the UK, says Colin.
This means our team is always ready to support with 365-day promotion for the brands that we work with!
Our incredible merchandisers take a whopping 60,000 photos per week for client reporting and complete 40,000 merchandising hours per week!
With a host of technical innovations on the rise, I think we’re in the midst of big changes that will shake up our normal merchandising process.
Our close location and all-year support means brands shouldn’t be scared of innovation.
For example, I think we can expect to see a huge rise in the use of AI and machine learning which will help brands take in valuable data which can help them to:
In turn, this will help merchandisers complete the work that they do up to such a high standard, keeping the consumer in mind.
One retailer that has really upped their use of AI is Tesco which introduced ‘Clubcard Challenges’ for their shoppers which will really enhance the customer journey.
I also expect to see a significant increase in the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). These technologies help to enhance the consumer journey, consequently increasing customer satisfaction. In turn, merchandisers will be responsible for the set-up of these displays.
Something else I expect to see is the rise of ‘real-time’ analytics which will help merchandisers to make informed decisions on the shop floor.
More recently, I’ve seen more retailers, like Lidl, adopt smart shelves which can monitor inventory levels in real-time, automatically triggering restock orders and reducing the risk of stockouts.
This will save so much time and will enable our merchandisers to handle other pressing tasks.
With innovations and new approaches to merchandising increasing, now is the perfect time to transform your merchandising strategy.
We can help you understand your customer base - their needs, expectations, and shopping habits. With this knowledge, you can implement strategic retail merchandising that keeps your shoppers happy and their baskets full.
Still on the fence?
Our years of experience and professional expertise ensure that we devise effective merchandising plans tailored to maximise sales and boost your bottom line.
Get in touch today to find out more!
A straightforward yet useful tool, clipstrips are available in supermarkets all around the world. Products are hung from shelves using these plastic or metal strips with clips at the top, which increases their visibility and accessibility to customers.
Clipstrips have been around for years and are a firm favourite, but what makes them so popular in supermarkets?
Increased Visibility
Products can be suspended at eye level using clipstrips, which makes them more obvious to customers and is one of their key benefits. For smaller or lesser-known brands that might find it difficult to compete with bigger, more well-known names on crowded shelves, this can be very helpful. Retailers can raise the likelihood that customers will notice and buy these products by hanging them from clipstrips.
Easy to Stock
Clipstrips also make it simple for store members or our field team to reload shelves, which is another advantage. Employees can save time and effort by just hanging the goods from the clipstrip as opposed to painstakingly placing each item on a shelf. This can be particularly helpful during busy times, like the holiday season, when store personnel can be overworked and are in need of prompt restocking.
Flexibility
Flexibility when it comes to displays and layout is key. Clipstrips are simple to move or rearrange, enabling shops to reorganise their shelves and design eye-catching displays in no time. Retailers wishing to showcase specific products or designate themed displays may find this to be extremely helpful.
Space-Saving
Clipstrips can be a useful tool for maximising space in smaller businesses or when there is a shortage of shelf space. Retailers may showcase more products without using up valuable shelf space by making use of this vertical space. By making it simpler for customers to identify and buy things, this can help businesses generate more sales and profit.
Cost-Effective
Last but not least, clipstrips are a reasonably priced choice for retailers wishing to display products. They’re an economical option for smaller businesses or those on a tight budget because they are easy to use and require little setup.
Generally speaking, clipstrips are most effective with compact and light objects. They may not be able to withstand the weight, hence they are often not ideal for larger or heavier things.
Here is a list of just a few use situations we encounter:
So you’re pretty familiar now with why and what, but here are a few more things that solidify why we think clipstrips are king in maximising those sales in store:
Both shops and customers can benefit from clipstrips in a variety of ways. They’re a straightforward, but efficient instrument that can assist boost sales and revenue because of the improved visibility, simplicity of stocking, adaptability, and space-saving they provide.
At Dee Set we’re experts when it comes to managing clipstrips from end to end. We’ve got a dedicated team of experts that can manage the process from start to finish, all you need to do is tell us what, when …and leave the rest up to us!
To find out how we can help you and your products drop us a note today – Enquire now.
Here at the Dee Set Group, we help the UK’s biggest retailers and brands sell more. We do this by having the best people, the best tech and the best processes. All in all, it results in a great service to our customers, and a pretty sound return in terms of increased sales.
For those who enjoy dealing with people and marketing goods or services, beginning a career in field marketing can be fulfilling and interesting.
Here are some things you should be aware of if you're considering pursuing a career in field marketing:
By that we mean, a job at Dee Set is not your typical 9-5, and we like to think we offer our colleagues more than just a wage as part of their benefits package. Whether it’s getting paid when you want, having access to industry leading discounts at over 900 of the places you already shop in or need a bit of TLC with your health and well-being, we’re there for you every step of the way. To see what we offer our colleagues in more detail, check out this page - Employee Discounts Don’t Get Better Than This.
For those who enjoy dealing with people, marketing goods or services, and working on their own, a career in field marketing is gratifying and exciting. You can flourish in this dynamic sector if you have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, are able to manage your time wisely, and the capacity to think quickly.
Oh, and just to mention. Applying for a role with us is as uniquely unique as we are – as we’ve created a process that’s more engaging, gets to know you better and allows you to really have the chance to shine. So, forget your standard CV, we’re putting you straight through your first stage interview wherever you are, and as soon as you’re ready. Cool right? Others agree – which has allowed us to proudly recently take home awards for our efforts.
If you're interested in starting a new career this year in field marketing, now is the time to take action! Don't let your ambition and motivation go to waste. You could even be starting your new job as early as this week!
To see the full range of roles we currently have available – Click here
We look forward to onboarding you very soon! 😉
Having a strong merchandising strategy is key to ensuring that your customers are engaged with your retail store and inspired to purchase your products. Providing a smooth and, more importantly, enjoyable shopping experience for your customers will help to increase ROI and promote business growth.
Merchandising plays an important role in your overall retail strategy, and promoting the right products in the right place and in a visually appealing way can make all the difference.
To the untrained eye, a badly stocked or sparse shelf might be no big deal but, at Dee Set, we view an unorganised display as a cardinal sin and understand the thought, expertise and data that goes behind it.
Stocking shelves has never been more exciting!
In this article, we’ll take a look at some common retail merchandising challenges for brick-and-mortar stores in an increasingly digital world. We’ll loop you in with 6 key retail merchandising strategies to improve your overall merchandising efforts, maximise your sales and make your brand stand out.
Read on to learn more…
With online shopping becoming ever-popular and your weekly food shop now just a click away, keeping your customers walking through those glistening sliding doors has become even more challenging. In this increasingly competitive landscape, customers quite literally have the world at their feet and the more choices they have the higher their expectations are.
This transition to a virtual space has seen a move away from shopping as a leisurely activity or event and led to a more isolated experience and subsequent lack of human contact.
The good news?
Physical stores can offer that unique experience that online retailers are missing.
Despite these challenges, physical outlets have many advantages. They are able to guide customers, promote new products seamlessly as part of the browsing process and encourage more shopping by visibly displaying a wider range of items. While looks aren't everything, shopping in a physical store is all about the visual experience and nothing beats a casual Sunday morning stroll along the biscuit aisle.
Turning new customers into satisfied customers and, fingers crossed, repeat customers requires an innovative retail merchandising strategy, ensuring you understand their shopping behaviours and are meeting their needs by offering relevant products in a tempting way.
The battle between in-store and online retailers continues...
In a nutshell, your products are the beating heart of any retail store and the most important financial asset in your business.
Effective merchandising is all about understanding your customer's purchasing behaviour and getting the most out of your retail space. The trick is to provide a seamless customer experience and display your products in a way that convinces customers to make a purchase.
It's as simple as that!
Knowing how to capture a customer's attention and get them to interact with a product in-store is all well and good, but it's also useful to understand why customers might change their minds - and it's not always because they forgot their purse! Having a customer-centric retail merchandising strategy is key.
While you're not putting on a three-act performance, your product displays should strike the right balance between connecting with and drawing the customer in whilst not overwhelming them. A lacklustre environment is uninspiring and disengages customers - we want to stop shoppers in their tracks, not chase them away!
One of the most important retail merchandising tactics is understanding and mapping out the in-store customer journey. From the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave, you want to create a simple, efficient and rewarding shopping experience.
With online stores offering a relaxed and easy shopping experience from the comfort of your own home, slippers and a cup of tea at the ready, why do customers still set foot in their local supermarkets and other retailers?
The answer is product interaction.
Being able to physically see, touch and examine a product adds value to that customer's experience and encourages them to make a purchase. With that being said, successful retail merchandising is as much about appealing to the five senses as it is about having eye-catching promotional signs and strategically placed purchase displays.
For example, if you're selling electronic products, such as phones or hairdryers, take the retail merchandise out of the packaging and allow your customers to experience it.
The same goes for larger furniture items, such as chairs, or even home decor with tactile textures, like a rug or super soft throw. This is another advantage over the virtual world of digital stores - another point to the brick-and-mortar club!
An effective visual merchandising strategy will entice your customers to explore particular aisles through the use of aesthetically pleasing displays. It will keep the customer in the store longer, increasing the number of items they inevitably add to their basket and, ultimately, maximise sales.
Knowing your target customers, their needs and purchasing behaviour will help to inform which products to promote and where to display them - improving conversion rates.
Ranging from discounts by percentage through to set price discounts and multibuy savings, implementing clear in-store promotional activities is an important merchandising strategy and can lead to an uplift in conversion rates in retail settings.
It's a win-win - retailers can utilise purchase displays to advertise deals and sale items. Meanwhile, adding bold discount signs and product tags can help to make those displays, and your products, appear more attractive to the customer.
Cross-merchandising also comes into play here, with the likelihood of customers purchasing non-sale items increasing significantly when placed next to sale items. As a persuasive retail merchandising tactic, displaying related products beside promotional activity can influence a purchasing decision.
For example, when the festive season is around the corner, deals on drinks are usually accompanied by a variety of snacks, dips and dinnerware - a party fit for a satisfied customer!
There's nothing worse than an empty shelf or that dreaded 'out-of-stock' label. Failure to provide the right products at the right time and price will lead to customers feeling disappointed and, therefore, less likely to return, resulting in a decrease in sales. In other words, consistent product availability will keep shoppers in store for longer and exposed to more of your merchandise, leading to a positive experience, increased items per basket and improved retail sales.
As a retailer, the aim of the game is to have the correct amount of stock and ranges available in order to motivate customers to make regular purchases, thus winning their loyalty.
Similarly, stocking the wrong products on shelves will lead to a large amount of dead stock and a loss on ROI, so know your customers!
The simple solution is to align demand with stock availability - category management and forecasting will come in handy here. As well as keeping shelves healthy, using data-driven merchandising principles can help improve shelf layout and the visual appeal of stores.
Planograms are a great visual merchandising tool, decluttering shelves and allowing you to better control the replenishment rate of your products. Fast-moving lines can be used to create 'hot spots' in stores, driving sales and improving stock turnover.
According to Dr. Russel Lazarus, around 80% of the information we process comes through our eyes. The windows to our soul and, in a retail setting, the windows to our wallet, appealing to the visuals through vibrant displays is fundamental to converting customers. At Dee Set, we have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to creating show-stopping displays that help to boost sales and increase ROI.
One of the most important retail merchandising rules is to create immersive and uncluttered retail displays that are accessible and can be easily viewed - e.g. at the front of the store. Effective displays will showcase products in a clean-line form and ensure the features and benefits of those items are highlighted. A top visual merchandising tip is to keep products at eye-level, creating a focal point that helps to push specific items, such as new arrivals, seasonal features or a beloved brand.
The trick is to capture the customer's attention before they've even picked up a basket and entered the store. Captivating window displays that are simple and bold in appearance are a great way to both convince the customer to invest in your products and showcase product features.
Like the changing of the seasons, a store's setup should continuously evolve throughout the year. Using seasonal displays to build excitement around a particular holiday and promote special offers - alongside showcasing a variety of fresh, seasonal products - will enhance the overall customer experience.
Deck the halls with Christmas decor and a classic colour scheme or play on the heartstrings with gorgeous flowers and Valentine's Day goodies - the options are endless!
Connecting with customers on an emotional level through the use of retail signage is also key in motivating them to connect with your products in-store and make a purchase. For example, signs that remind shoppers of significant life events, such as birthdays, holidays and anniversaries, assign products a sense of necessity while also adding sentimental value.
The use of evocative imagery is another impactful merchandising strategy that enables customers to relate to the items on display. It's all about creating that tangible, real-life experience for shoppers - gifs and emotionless pop-ups can get annoying after a while, right?
Unsurprisingly, emerging data and industry insights have pointed to an increase in customers craving a more sensory shopping experience, with 70% of shoppers highlighting the value of being able to interact with physical products.
Further supporting this claim, Google has reported that more than 60% of people prefer to shop with brands in retail stores as opposed to online.
As of 2022, more than 30% of businesses are focused on cross-selling initiatives, with research pointing to a more streamlined customer journey and an all-important increase in revenue.
The retail space is constantly shifting and evolving to keep up with customer demands. Keeping an eye on these developing trends and improving your retail merchandising strategy in response to data-driven insights will allow you to stay competitive and position your business as a top player in the industry.
With a proven track record of implementing successful retail merchandising strategies across multiple stores, the Dee Set team is on hand to provide professional expertise and devise a plan to maximise sales and increase ROI - those products will be flying off the shelves!
Using our professional expertise and years of experience, we'll help you to understand who your customer base is, their needs and expectations, and how you can implement strategic retail merchandising to keep your shoppers happy and their baskets full.
If you’d like to learn more about Dee Set and the services that we can offer to your business as a full-service field marketing agency, you can check out some of our success stories here!
Alternatively, get started and release your potential today by giving us a call or filling out our online form!
