LOOKING GOOD!

How much time do you spend on securing the right mix of product that speaks of your shops image? Once the product has been secured there is another time element invested in processing the product and getting it ready for the sales floor/cooler and creating beautiful stylings for your customers to enjoy. But, the average retailer does not take the time to properly merchandise their displays to make the sale happen successfully.
There does not need to be a large investment of capitol to make visual merchandising happen successfully. With a few keys to visual merchandising, success can be made to happen more easily than you think.
First, get a yearly calender and make a plan of attack a year in advance. Sounds like you might need a crystal ball to predict what is going to be happening in your store 9 – 12 months ahead, but in reality when you plug in the major holiday that you want to promote, there is only a little more than half the year to plan for. Whether it be planning the show windows or for floor displays, having a ‘game plan’ allows you to prepare for what is coming up versus being reactionary to what was or should have been. It is really amazing how easy the plan starts to flow.
If the task is too overwhelming for one person to be responsible for, enlist the help of all your staff and assign them in teams to be responsible for the different areas in the store including the display windows and the cooler. By them working with different staff persons in different areas, new looks are created with each change of season. Make yourself available as a resource rather than a producer. Be ready to lend a helping hand to those who struggle. Having the calender allows you and the staff to prepare props in advance and take advantage of those unexpected ‘finds’ like old worn doors for displaying wall treatments on or worn to imperfection tables, shelves and chairs that are often found at garage sales and on occasion on neighborhood walks on trash night!
Areas that might be considered for displays are sidewalk displays( if it is allowed in your zoning or rental agreement), window displays, feature displays( key areas in your showroom), fresh flower displays ( in and out of the cooler) impulse displays ( usually close to the cash register), and close out or discontinued displays ( just because an collection or sku is no longer being carried, it should still be presented attractively).
A couple of tips to remember while setting displays.
– Clean the display area and merchandise before setting the next display.
– Create impact with one or two larger elements versus lots of ‘eye scatter’.
– Unite less important or smaller items together on a tray or shelf. No when to say when.
– Make a definitive color statement. Most shoppers react to color first and then explore.
– Signage should be simple and easy to read.
– Remember to price everything in the display. No playing the guessing game!
– The area between the shoulders and the knees is the ‘comfort zone’ no tip toes or stooping necessary to shop comfortably.
– Rotate the stock often. Move merchandise to different areas for a fresh new look.
– LIGHT IT UP!! Light enhances colors and textures and helps make sales happen faster.
Visual merchandising accomplishes many positive results including…
* Defines your image – Tells customers who you are
* Helps build or reinforce your Brand for your customers.
* Increases the perceived value of your floral stylings and gifts.
* Invites customers to interact with the merchandise and to make NOW purchases.
Remember once you have the area merchandised, shoot a picture and post them to your web site so everyone can see what a magnificent presentation has been created just for them!