In the world of online- shopping and door-step delivery, you need all the tools to get the customers to visit your store physically and pick a product. Your competition is not limited to the stores around your neighborhood like businesses of the last decade but online stores delivering products from all around the world. In-store merchandising is now much more important because you want your customer to not simply enter your store but pause and consider taking home your product.
People are stepping out less to shop physically, so stores all around the world are stepping up a notch at their merchandising and design game. Its time that you do too.
But how does in-store merchandising affect your sales?
In Driving Traffic:
Active and attractive is the golden ticket that will drive customers to your store. Apart from advertising, attractive signage and display fixtures are often the keys that will differentiate you from your competitor. This is your first impression on your customers. An attractive window display will bring in customers who do not visit the market with a plan on buying your product but find themselves drawn towards your store. Your exteriors and window display will allow your customers to identify with your brand, and all of this will combine to pull them inside your store.
In Increasing Sales:
Merchandising is the science which triggers buying behaviour in your customers. Your store creates a want in the customers' minds for your product through merchandising. If you have some knowledge of merchandising, you must have heard of the planogram. The planogram is the holy grail of in store merchandising. It is a detailed drawing or a blueprint which shows which product should be placed where in your store, and this is determined through deep research on the customers' buying behaviour. The whole point of a planogram is to induce a want in the customer. Your planogram must keep in mind the following points:
Easy Shopping: If your customer buys a pair of shoes, the next thing he might look for is a pair of socks. So, your display of socks shouldn't be with your other accessories, but it should be placed around the shoe section of your store. It works as a double-edged sword as it might induce your customer to make some impulse buys too.
Engagement: Your shoppers must be engaged at all times. You must always aim to create a store where they want to keep coming back for more. Your customers come to your store to know what's new and trending in the market. So, find interesting ways to intimate them with the new arrivals.
Space Management: Your shoppers mustn't feel that they've walked into clutter when they step into your store. Your store shouldn't look like a store-room. Plan your spaces, de-clutter, make a clear path for your customers. Allow them space to explore and wander in your store to make them feel comfortable.
There's much more to in-store merchandising than these steps. Also, you can always take the help of professional merchandising companies to turn your store into a customer magnet!
