Visual merchandising lures shoppers to a brick-and-mortar store or a retailer’s website. While most people think of visual merchandising in terms of graphics, signage, and displays, the reality is that it’s driven by one objective – conversion. Visual merchandising is all about moving merchandise off the shelf and into the cart. And as technology infiltrates every aspect of shopping, from product discovery to payment, only those retailers with intuitively designed space can keep customers engaged and encourage them to complete every sale.
The framework for retail sales
When you’re at a retail store or online shopping, you want to feel welcome. The visual experience of the store should make you feel comfortable so you can be excited about shopping. Buyers in a physical store are drawn to the colors of the décor, the range of mannequins, and shelf displays. In addition, the floor layout draws people to specific areas, focusing on shoes for ladies nearby a display of handbags. All these visual details create an environment that’s enjoyable to search through.
The store becomes the story
Retail merchandising is used to create a memorable experience that separates your brand from the competition, influences customers’ perceptions and creates an impulse to buy. A well designed store layout has the power to influence customers’ emotions. Your visual merchandising must attract, intrigue and excite shoppers by creating relevant in-store experiences with a creative attitude that excites the imagination.
Visibility
Visibility is a feature of Omni-channel retail. This technology allows for the direct and instant linking of products on-shelf to an online inventory across multiple storefronts. A product can sync from an online database listing within seconds of being scanned at the POS. This allows you to showcase your high-margin items and sell out exclusive products instantly. Visibility can also allow you to instantly sync your off-shelf inventory to your online inventory. If a product is sold out on-shelf or in the backroom, the item may be made available for sale on your website with a few clicks of a button.
Give shoppers room to breathe
The more space between products, the greater their perceived value will be, so use white space to highlight certain products. If used in stores, the modern minimalist principle of white space can guide shoppers down aisles by creating visual interest, without actually using graphic elements. By giving shoppers room to breathe and providing adequate space between products, the visual merchandisers practicing clean design at Modern Fashion Initiative were able to create an uncluttered experience even on a shelf stylishly packed with merchandise.
Balance
Achieving the right balance of product selection, store environment and customer service is critical to achieving profitability. The Balance visual merchandising program helps you make smart decisions about how to display your product and merchandise your store. It is based on the best practices of some of the most successful retailers in the world.
Making good merchandising decisions ensures success in the marketplace, while missteps can be expensive and disruptive. To achieve this balance, merchandisers draw on their knowledge of merchandise, retailing skills, and other elements of selling
