Visual marketing is a key component of modern merchandising and store display design. It’s a discipline that blends elements of psychology such as attention, memory and visual perception with products or designs. The goal is to connect with your customer and earn their undivided attention. Once the right balance of visual elements has been achieved, you will have a highly engaging design that invites your customer’s focus directly to the merchandise you wish to promote. We understand that this might be tricky for those whom are new to the subject, so we have compiled five visual marketing tips to help you get started with the design of your store’s next-level shopping experience.
Tip #1. Appeal to the senses of your customers when merchandising
Shopping is a sensory experience. That gives brick and mortar stores an advantage against their online opposition. Why not leverage this with a few merchandising strategies? By utilizing design elements that allow a customer to focus on their path to purchase you may attract, entice and delight your customers all the way to the point of purchase. For example, you may consider how your products look and feel. Then try to let your customers experience your merchandise in a way that cannot be replicated online. This also applies to products that you can smell or taste. If you can attract a shoppers attention with a delightful fragrance then you have them engaged. Capitalize on this moment by offering a free sample next to an attractive display. These sensory experiences will help build customer confidence and satisfaction; but beware, over stimulating your customers will have the opposite effect. Be sure to keep your visuals and your scents organized in a manner that allows one prominent item or theme per section.
Tip #2. Consider the customer path from home to shop, then back again
How much do you really know about your customer? Do they leave their houses with your shop in mind or do visits to your store tend to be more spontaneous? Having a clear concept of your shopper’s paths will allow you to better prepare your store displays and signage. Be sure to consider the seasonal elements that they might encounter. This includes natural changes in the weather as well as seasonal shifts in marketing efforts. You will want to offer seasonal items whenever possible. If there is a popular event or holiday that you can capitalize on with a little preparation then you should do so. It will help to promote these items by leveraging a strategic position that can set you apart from competitive marketing campaigns. People love deals. Fusing these with timely merchandise and clear messages will help maintain relevancy in the customers lives and earn their business.
Tip #3. Refresh your window display every few months
Remember to look at your store from your customers perspective. Then set the stage for them. How does your store look to potential buyers unaware of what waits inside. If they pass by your shop, will your window displays draw them in? Keeping your displays attractive and fresh will keep customers excited. Shops featuring inventory that changes with the seasons often choose to refresh their window displays and store signage as the new products come in. This is a great time to design new signs and offers to create excitement and stir up new business. For those of us rising to the challenge and creating our own displays: Think odd numbers, pyramids, patterns, clean lines and less is more.
Tip #4. Design a path through your store that attracts customers to all areas
As we have said before, keeping your store organized is key to an enjoyable shopping experience. Retail, grocery and department stores alike can utilize signage and merchandising products effectively to create intuitive paths that will direct their guests to their desired areas. You can prepare your shelf edges along the way with shelf talkers to promote complementary products along the way. Be sure to maximize impulse purchase opportunities with Gondola accessories as well. This allows merchandisers to capitalize on unused ‘dead space’ that has plenty of potential. Here at Clip Strip Corp. we pride ourselves on being the first to have realized this opportunity. As the original creators of the Clip Strip® Brand Merchandising Strips we invite you to explore our entire selection of products that have been designed to help take your store’s performance to the next level. Our large variety of hanging clips will also expand your store’s advertising space vertically by attaching products and signs to drop ceilings with ease.
Tip #5. Keep these display tips in mind when setting up merchandise
Create focus friendly areas to improve heuristic completion. Color coordination helps our brains hone in on areas. Remember that less is more and be sure to not overwhelm your customer’s senses. Remember that odd numbers and consistent color palettes are easier for our brains to group together. But again, less is more. As you can see in the image of fresh produce sorted out in the market above, grouping colors can create an attractive space. However, for this particular display, we would recommend substituting the chalkboard style slates with cleaner looking signs. Our rotating sign holders, which we call Roto-Clips, offer a modern style with a swiveling, clip-on attachment, that allows you to easily place a sign on or near your merchandise that will allow you to communicate with your customer, clearly and concisely.
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