Visual merchandising and Staff Training.

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Connor McCann Unit 30 P1 + P2        

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So what is visual merchandising?

The display of products which makes them appealing, attractive, accessible, engaging, and enticing to shoppers in a retail store. Visual merchandising utilizes displays, colour, lighting, smells, sounds, digital technology and interactive elements to catch customers' attention and persuade them to make purchases. Visual merchandising helps convey the image of the brand and reflects the personality of the target markets that the retail store wants to attract.

Store Layout

The type of store usually dictates the floor and shelf layout. For example, grocery stores should have enough aisle space for shoppers to move their carts and accompanying toddlers around when they are doing their shopping. Retailers may often move items to the front of the shelves to avoid giving the impression of not having enough items on stock. Retail managers may use the sales-per-square-foot metric, which is the ratio of sales to total shelf and floor display space, to assess the effectiveness of a merchandising strategy and make the necessary adjustments.

Free Flow Layout

1. Fixtures and Merchandise are grouped in Free-flowing patterns on the sales floor.

2. This layout is used in specialty stores like-: Reebok, Nike.

3.  Works best in small stores (under 5,000 square feet) in which customers wish to browse.

4. Advantage-: increased impulse buying.

5. Disadvantage-: possible confusion and waste of floor space.

Grid Layout

1. Counters and Fixtures are placed in long rows or “runs” usually at right angles, throughout the store.

2. This layout is used in grocery, discount store and drugs stores, like- Reliance fresh.

3. Advantages-: Easy to locate merchandise, cost efficient, easy accessible for customers.

4. Disadvantages-: limited browsing and limited creativity in décor.

Race Track

1. The major customer aisle begins at the entrance, loops through the store and returns customer to the front of the store

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2. Used in departmental stores such as-: Shopper’s Stop, Ritu Wear.

Elements of Design

Visual merchandising's main purpose is to attract and engage customers to sell products. Color, lighting, texture and order are design elements required for successful visual merchandising to display products and merchandise, set a scene and elicit emotional and physiological responses.

Merchandise is arranged neatly and attractively, in a clean environment, with large, clear signage that communicates product, brand and price, communicates successfully with the customer. Colors, lighting, textural elements and arrangement to tell a story or set a scene enhance ...

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