Merchandising for Sales and Profits: Promoting Impulse Sales

The presentation of your store's merchandise will either serve to reinforce the customer's confidence in the product choice or cause them to second-guess their need to buy. In a split second, a sale is either realized or lost.

Generally, there are three ways to present product. You can:

Shelve it on a table, platform, riser, fixture or wall shelf.

Hang it on a wall bracket, peg hook, hangar, panel or floor fixture.

Combine shelving and hanging in a multiple presentation.

Given these simple choices, the decision might appear to be a no-brainer. An unexpected reversal in the presentation method, however, can often make the product not only more appealing, but also more saleable.

Read the whole article by Donna Geary on The Sideroad

Top 10 Ways to Turn Off Customers

Came across this article recently by Shari Waters on About.com and thought it might be relevant:

As individuals, we all have our own little pet peeves. What may turn off one customer may not bother another. As retailers, we can't afford to turn off a single customer and image is everything. Keeping our stores neat and clean is not only easy to do; it is generally an inexpensive way to attract customers and create a pleasant store atmosphere.

Take a look around your retail store. Do any of the following situations exist? If not, look harder. Your store may be exhibiting some other offenses you haven't noticed until now. Here are ten ways your store may be turning off customers:

1. Dirty Bathrooms

This customer pet peeve clearly deserves the number one spot on this list. Retail store restrooms should always be sparkling clean, whether they are open for public use or not. Make sure to stock the bathrooms with plenty of paper products, soap, trash receptacles and clean it daily.

2. Messy Dressing Rooms

Keeping the dressing room area free of discarded hangers, tags and empty packaging goes beyond creating a neat store appearance, it is also a good step towards loss prevention. Take a quick look for out of place items after each customer uses the dressing room.

3. Loud Music

Playing music in a retail store can help create a certain atmosphere for our shoppers. Music that is too loud, inappropriate or of poor quality can run a positive shopping experience.

4. Handwritten Signs

In this era of technology, there is no excuse for displaying handwritten signage. It is too simple to print a sign from our computers or use pre-printed signs. Printed signs simply look more professional and signs with hard-to-read handwriting can be a customer turn-off.

5. Stained Floor or Ceiling Tiles

It is true, accidents happen. However, our customers don't have to see them. Dirty carpet, stained flooring and ugly ceiling tiles can turn off many shoppers. Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping should be done on a regular basis. Consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to polish tile floors. Replace stained portions of carpet and ceiling tiles where possible.

6. Burned-out or Poor Lighting

Replace any burned out light bulbs as soon as possible. Make sure all customer areas of the store have ample lighting and take into consideration shoppers with aging or less than perfect eyesight. Your store should be well illuminated for all customers.



Read on. . .