Easy Merchandising Ideas

Merchandising isn’t for everyone. But for those that enjoy it, it can be a rewarding and satisfying responsibility on their to-do list. For those who don’t love it, though, it can be a neglected chore that falls to the bottom of their to-do list time and time again. Luckily, there are some quick, easy to do ideas to help enhance your store appearance, your product and your approach towards merchandising.

1. Keep it simple. You don’t have to be extravagant in your merchandising techniques for your product to stand out. The key is to merchandise your product without cluttering your space, therefore allowing your product to be visible and easy to shop. In addition, your merchandising strategies should stimulate the eye so that customers are enticed by what you are offering.

2. Avoid tight spaces.Whether you have shelves, cabinet space, racks or hang-bars, make sure your product is not so crammed that customers hesitate to touch and ultimately pick up / try on something. Giving them comfortable access to the product allows for them to be more comfortable shopping in your store. If they think a frame will fall over while trying to reach for a different product displayed behind it, they may not reach for it and therefore may not buy it.

3. Encourage touch. Customers respond to many reasons that ultimately make them want to buy something. Touching something and then enjoying that something is among the top reasons impulse buys are made. Selling items that aren’t a need? This is especially important since your customers may not need anything in your store – they have to want it. Make them want it more with signage that encourages to try something on, test a product out or offer a way in which they can experience the item for sale. Making it accessible for them to touch – eye level – also helps. If your clothes or accessories, make sure to have many accessible mirrors, as well.

4. Move it around. Merchandising may not be your thing, but don’t let that keep you from re-merchandising your store often. Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly rotations are common practices for stores to follow. Depending on the product, your store and your customer should determine what your merchandising rotation should be, however in general you should re-merchandise display windows and displays areas weekly or bi-weekly, prime real estate (front of store, great visible and accessible areas, etc.) weekly and everything else every two weeks or so.

5. Staples are okay. Have something that your customers come to you for often and you want to make a permanent home for these items? That’s okay. Use the space around it to introduce new / other items to these customers.

Remember, you are not a big box retailer. The strategies you see in these types of stores may not work for you, such as leaving a main window display the same for one month. You are a smaller store with different responsibilities as a result. Lean on neighborhood chambers, local support and store friends to see what works for them and how their merchandising ideas may help your store. Finally, don’t be afraid to try news ways to merchandise your store that you may not be familiar with or have used in the past. You may find these changes help enhance not only your store, but your sales.