3 Quick Merchandising Tips That Are (Almost) Cost Free

April 6, 2015 by Nicole Reyhle

 

Let’s face it… retailers don’t always have time on their side… or extra money to spare. Between long work days and managing (or at least trying to) your personal lives in the midst of working retail hours, it isn’t always easy to keep up with everything on your retail to-do-list. But don’t let this shy you away from keeping up with the always important merchandising in your store.

There are easy changes and updates you can make to help create a store environment that is designed to move products from your store to customers’ homes. To top it off, there is little to no cost involved in implementing these changes… other than your time, of course!

From obvious tips to not so obvious ideas, consider the below points to help you give your store a merchandising face lift… while only taking a little bit of time.

1. Use signage. Signage is a classic – and obvious – way to help capture customer attention. But the catch is how you create and use your signs. When preparing signage for your store, use consistency so that all your signage blends together. A great way to do this is to pick a signature color, such as Tiffany stores have with their baby blue boxes, and repeat that color through all your signs. Imagine the difference a lime green sign with bold, black lettering makes versus a white sign with Times New Roman letters. Using sign holders is a must, as well. Fun frames from a local home store are a great way to add character to your shop signage and overall environment. Simple plastic frames do the trick, as well. Tape holding your sign to a shelf? No. Please, no… no… no. This screams cheap and lazy to a customer, and unless your store can be defined as cheap and appealing to lazy folks, pass on the taped signage to your shelves, doors or walls. To sum it up, think clean, crisp and professional in appearance. The signs will individually stand out in their designated spots while cohesively blending in from an overall perspective.
2. Use light. Overhead lighting can be so “blah”. Rarely does it do much for merchandise, not to mention your own appearance. Instead, consider other lighting options that can enhance your product and add a whole new ambiance to your store. Accent lighting can highlight high-ticket items or be used to showcase products on sale. Case and shelve lighting helps customers see often challenging spots in the store more clearly – therefore not missing any merchandise during their store visit. Adding a dimmer to bright lights is sometimes all you need. There is no single formula for lighting that you should follow, but instead incorporate what details you believe can help your unique store stand out. Just keep in mind that like products, even lights can clutter a store. Too bright is no good and too dim never works. Find a happy medium that will let your merchandise shine.
3. Use space. No one wants to feel jammed between one display and another. Give your customers some breathing room by creating an easy-to-walk, easy-to-shop environment. Optimal spaces that customers will naturally be drawn to include the space immediately to the right of your front door, anything within 4 1/2 and 6 feet high from the floor and island style fixtures. Research tells us that these retail points are among the most shopped, making them the most favorable opportunities for merchandising inventory. Evaluate your existing floor plan and rearrange necessary fixtures to accommodate this strategy. Remember to allow breathing room for your customers to comfortably enjoy your store. Comfort translates to sales, so there’s no time to spare here – get started in your store re-vamp in an effort to increase your register dollars.

Merchandising is a never ending cycle that should be viewed as just that – never ending. Accept this reality and embrace the constant change merchandising can offer your store. A few simple changes to a strong merchandising plan can make a big impact… and while you still may be short on time, these quick tips can at least help you save some merchandising dollars while helping to bring more consumer dollars to your store.

To view the original article please visit: http://retailminded.com/3-quick-merchandising-tips-that-are-almost-cost-free/

Impulse Shopping Never Gets Old

Posted By Bradley Daves

 

Those dang Millennials, with their selfies and their Instagrams and their Vines.  Completely self-involved.  My generation was never like that – too “smart” to work a boring job or be taken in by advertising.    

That argument is getting tired; it has a definite “you kids stay off my lawn” vibe.  More importantly, it’s not true.  Sure, Millennials are narcissistic and self-absorbed.  So was everyone at that age.  (Heck, the Boomers celebrated “The Me Decade.”)  It’s called being young, feeling full of yourself and thinking you know more than everyone else.

That same Millennial is probably also tech-savvy, globally aware, socially conscious, collaborative and altruistic.  Clearly a better person than I am.

Except when it comes to that candy display at the cash register.  It’s true, Millennials, you’re just as impulsive as anyone else.

Impulse buying knows no generation boundaries.  She is an equal opportunity temptress.  A 2014 Gallup study showed that 42% of US millennials had made an impulse purchase in the past four weeks. Forty percent of GenX respondents and 39% of the Baby Boomers reported the same.   
Because impulse buying is not a generational thing.  It’s a human behavior thing, tapping into two primal human motivations: avoiding pain and experiencing pleasure.

It is also a profitable thing, especially with brick-and-mortar retailers.  Research by A.T. Kearney indicates that 40% of consumers spend more money than they had planned in stores, while only 25% reported online impulse shopping.

So how can a retail marketer entice the shopper (of any generation) into an impulse purchase?

Choose the right products.

Shoppers love to be surprised.  Delight them with something cunning or cute.  Provide solutions to little problems; anticipate what they might need.  Display items in logical usage or occasion groups.  Be thematic and dramatic; curate items in a lifestyle context.

Think seasonal.  Think special occasion.  Think gift (maybe for herself).  And price it right so as not to exceed the shopper’s comfort threshold.

Put them in the right place.

The classic spot for impulse items is at the front of the store, leading to or at the register.  It makes sense.  When the shopper moves to the registers to pay, she has already made some selections.  She’s primed and in the buying mood.  So rather than a dreary, shuffling line, give her a mini gallery of “hey, I didn’t think of that” items.  (Sephora and Old Navy do a particularly great job with this.)

But what if there isn’t a cash register?  What if sales associates use handheld devices to complete shopper transactions?  Entirely possible, and becoming more likely each day.  Shopper marketers must move impulse items from the front of the store and into the aisles.  They should break up symmetrical, orderly departments with unexpected collections of “I didn’t know I needed this until I saw it” merchandise.  Strategically placed sales tables, POP units, custom shelving, displays and more will add excitement to the aisle and help the shopper give in to her impulses.

Promote them well.

It is critical to quickly and clearly help the shopper see (and feel) the monetary and emotional value of an impulse item.  Smart signage does that by anticipating and answering her questions.  Signs will tell the shopper what she’s buying, why she must have it, and why she should give in and get it now.  It is important that she gets the answers she needs in the moment; the stakes aren’t quite high enough for her to seek out an associate.

Clear, attention-grabbing signage will also communicate the urgency or exclusivity of promotions.  Special deals, limited time offers, VIP discounts and bundled items will engage the shopper and help her justify her impulse purchase.


To view the original article please visit: http://www.medallionretail.com/blog-post/impulse-shopping-never-gets-old

Top Tips for Updating Your Store On a Budget

By: Kym Ben-Ivgi

With the holidays & New Year sales behind we are sure you like many retailers are making plans for your business in 2015. As they say it’s out with the old and in with the new. Now is the perfect time for taking stock. Take a fresh look at your store and invite friends and family to do the same and give you honest feedback. You might be surprised what ideas come up!

We’ve put together some quick tips for refreshing your store that won’t break the bank:

1.  Deep Clean

Hire an industrial cleaning crew or pay your most meticulous staff members to give your store a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. Dusting, vacuuming and getting into those hard to reach places. Don’t forget the windows as these are your introduction to the world.

2. Clear the Clutter

Yes you’ve heard this before but we’re repeating it again as we all know this works better than anything else to change the appearance, energy and ambience of your store. This doesn’t mean changing over to ultra minimalism it just means reassessing and getting rid of stuff on the floor, behind your cash/wrap desk, in the corners and halls. Start with one area a week until your store is done. It will feel fresh and new.

3. Apply Make-Up

Freshen up with a coat of paint. If you’ve always painted your store in a neutral color then try changing it up. You don’t have to redo the whole store in a bright bold new color. This might be too much of a shock to the system. Instead consider creating a focal wall with a great eye-catching color and see the area pop! Don’t forget to apply a fresh coat to the other walls.

4. Update Signage

Signs get old fast. You can update your store immediately by updating your signs. Whether you decide to add new sign holders or create new visuals this is a great way to change up your store and attract customer’s attention. Use signs not only for information and pricing but more importantly to reinforce your store brand and the ambience you want to create.

5. Reconfigure Your Fixtures

A new season almost always means a new range of products for retailers whatever type of store you have. Being able to quickly and easily accommodate the new range by reconfiguring fixtures is incredibly important so start planning now to optimize your store potential. Your fixtures should be flexible to allow for this. If not checkout the fixtures at www.udizinestore.com All our fixtures are designed to be easily reconfigured. You might not want to invest in a total renovation but adding some additional fixtures could greatly improve your store’s function.

Does My Store Need Remodeling?

While a freshen up can work wonders, if you haven’t renovated your store for several years then it may need more as even a well designed store can start to look dated. A full store remodel can breathe new life and energy into your store and of course increase sales.

If you’re considering a full or partial remodel instead of just quick fixes then checkout our site Customer Projects for inspiring retail display ideas. All our display fixtures are available from stock and designed to be modular so you can create the perfect display solution for your store. The fixtures are all designed to work individually or can be combined for a full store solution. Select a variety of displays to differentiate areas of your store.

Feel free to contact our Customer Service to discuss your project.

To view the original article visit: http://blog.udizinestore.com/top-tips-for-updating-your-store-on-a-budget