How does visual merchandising impact a store?
The aim of visual merchandising is to make your store and your stock as appealing as possible to your customers in order to maximise sales, so it’s crucial to get it right!
So how does visual merchandising impact sales and attract customers exactly? And how can you implement these techniques in-store? We’ve created a guide with tips to keep in mind.
How does visual merchandising impact a store?
Done successfully, there are many ways in which visual merchandising can boost your business. Great visual merchandising can:
- Improve sales on specific products
- Promote sales and offers
- Improve customer experience in-store
- Help you stand out from competitors
- Attract new customers
The result of all these factors is ultimately an increase in revenue for your business, which is why visual merchandising is so essential.
Window displays
Window displays are a prime example of how visual merchandising attracts customers. They offer an opportunity to grab your customers’ attention and tell them about your products and your brand.
Whether it’s seasonal displays or a new product line, using backdrops, props and lighting to tell a story about your products is a great way to promote them to your customers. A good window display is one that captures attention and entices customers inside. Check out our retail window display tips for ideas.
Product placement
Where you place your products in-store can have a massive impact on sales. There are lots of tricks you can implement to boost a particular product line or influence your customers to spend more. For example, placing your higher-priced items in more prominent positions and at eye level will encourage purchases. Placing items at the front of your store is a great way to attract new customers, while placing them near the till is also a frequently used technique to upsell products at the point of sale.
Signage
In-store signage is another crucial element of visual merchandising. This can be everything from pricing to promotional messages. Customers can get frustrated if the information isn’t readily available, so signs and snap frames that show clear pricing and helpful details are important for reducing pain points.
Signs that promote things like offers, new product lines, or encourage calls to action are also imperative for boosting store sales. This is your opportunity to highlight your deals, advertise your USPs and garner new interest in your products.
Colours
Colour psychology is also a clever means of visual merchandising. Did you know that colours can play a significant role in how visual marketing attracts customers and influences action? If you’re looking to prompt a call to action or promote sales, use vibrant reds and oranges. To create a serene atmosphere, use blues and greens.
Colours are proven to have an emotional effect on consumers, which you can use to your advantage to meet your business goals.
Attracting your target market
Awareness of your target market is vital when planning the visual merchandising in your store. Many demographics have different likes and dislikes, so before choosing the aesthetics of your signage and displays, you need to clarify who your target audience is. You should think about their:
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Ethnicity
- Estimated incomes
How to monitor the success of your visual merchandising
To check the success of your visual merchandising, you should ask for customer feedback. Take note of what works for your target audience and adapt this accordingly into your strategy.
Understanding how visual merchandising impacts a store is crucial for all retail sectors. When visual merchandising is done well, it will attract new customers, influence purchases in-store and, subsequently, increase sales for your business.
