STORE DESIGN AND VISUAL MERCHANDISING BY TULIKA ANAND (Retail roll no 1) RADHIKA BIYANI (Retail roll no 4) 1. INTRODUCTION For many years, businesses have tried to sell their products to buyers with limited merchandise options. It did not matter how the merchandise was displayed, how the store looked, or whether the sellers were polite. Just having merchandise available very often guaranteed a sale. Not any more though. Nowadays with an increase in the number of manufacturers and retailers, a buyer has many options available in terms of style and functionality. Hence it has become an exercise for sellers to entice the audience via the art and science of Visual Merchandising (VM) and store designing. …show more content…
Consumer behaviour studies have confirmed that the lure of a beautifully done up show window and a tastefully decorated facade, more often than not, prove irresistible as they walk in to check out what is on offer. It also ensures exclusivity since no two stores should look alike. Besides, when the mood and theme of such displays change at regular intervals, it makes certain that the store remains top of mind. Loyal customers have often been known to anxiously wait for the next display. ‘Stickiness’ in retail formats is also ensured by the imaginative use of colours, lighting, space, furniture and visual elements with regard to in-store displays. Once customers walk in, it is but imperative to ensure that they enjoy their first encounter with the store. After all, repeat visits will only happen if a customer’s first visit is a memorable one. The logical arrangement of counters, with clear passageways allows for easy access to merchandise rather than getting lost in the maze that most large stores are, the customer feels more in control. Space is allocated to various product categories taking into account the number of SKUs stocked and shelves/counter space requirements are worked out accordingly. Clear passages are provided for
To encourage customers to purchase their products or items and spend more time shopping, retailers utilize numerous strategies. A couple of this technique may be promotions or sales. Another useful tactic to draw customers attention base on the retailers merchandising philosophy. Such strategies are recognizable the minute the customer or potential customer enters the store. Merchandising philosophy may include store design and atmosphere, product layout, price position, the line of trade, location, parking and customer service. It is fundamental for a store to have an eye-catching scheme to attract its customers. Nordstrom, as well as Neiman Marcus, are two gigantic departments stores
When customers walk into the store, they first try to adjust themselves according to the surroundings of the store. It is very important to get the customers attention.By viewing the setup and location of the store in relation to the shopping, Paco
Last of all, in Marion Nestle essay, “The Supermarket: Prime Real Estate” she states that supermarkets manipulate you on buying extra things you do not need. During her research, she realized there were a lot of different studies for designing the layout of the stores (Nestle 499-500). For instance; Stores do not use a lot of islands, they put certain things in the back of the store and put
When the Tatelman brothers took over the business, they changed their mode of advertising. They realized that by limiting their advertising to newspapers, they were potentially missing out on a whole demographic of people that needed furniture, which would be 18-34 year olds. This demographic was starting to move out on their own, starting families, and needed furniture. By moving from newspapers to funny radio ads and later funny TV ads, Barry and Eliot were able to draw in more customers, especially the demographic they were targeting (Iacobucci, 2013). Before they started to add in the extra shopping experiences, they had customers waiting to get into their third store. Once they added the entertainment portions of the store, they were able to draw in more customers. Even if the customer is only there to take part in the entertainment aspect of the store, which is in the back of every store, they do have to walk through the showroom first. By walking through the showroom a first time customer could see a room design or one piece of furniture that catches their eye. Each customer has a different shopping experience, whether it be at one store or multiple Jordan’s Furniture
Everyday thousands of retail stores throughout the United States open up their stores in the morning for the sole purpose of attracting customers and selling them merchandise. For this assignment I decided to do a store analysis of the retail giant Wal-Mart. To begin with I will evaluate the store layout and design. Next I will explain the visual merchandising techniques used that Wal-Mart uses. Finally I will discuss the problems and recommendations that I have for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has continually been a leader in the retail industry, and it all starts with the layout of the store.
Nordstrom’s is classified as one of the biggest U.S. department stores. Along with Sears, Macy’s, and JC Penny’s, Nordstrom manages each department in their stores as an individual buying center. Every group functions separately from one another, and is administered by a buyer who is in charge of all varieties and styles of merchandise sold. Promotions that can be used in the stores are included, as well. “The company has also benefited from a new computerized inventory system that gives buyers and salespeople the necessary data to make smarter decisions about what is needed in the stores—and what isn’t.” (Lamb, Hair, McDaniel 569). This new and improved system allows the department store to market a greater amount of full priced items, which ultimately increase sales. The buyer is also able to easily determine what items to obtain and exhibit in the store by using this system.
Retailers should spend a great deal of time and money on store environments to create images that offer them a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace (Joyce & Lambert, 1996 , pp.24-33). Thus, store needs to improve in this area so that it can give better environment and experience to the customers in order to differentiate from the competitors. As per Kerfoot et al (2003, pp.14352) as furniture being a part of visual merchandising, an attractive furniture has positive affect on customer’s psychology or behavior, which ultimately leads to purchase. By evaluating the
For this assignment, I decided to visit Target while I was in New Braunfels to examine how they use adjacencies within both their women’s and men’s clothing section. As well as, seeing the career wear section for both sexes and how it is merchandised for the shopper. The retail industry is the kind of business that has a very high level of competition. Knowing this, retailers realize the importance of these attributes and why they are needed in order to create an ambience that will attract the market they are targeting. Merchandisers have strategically placed items together in hopes that shoppers will choose to grab that cardigan because it would go perfectly with the lace top that is placed next to it or that pair of leggings because it
Michael’s overall layout and design encourage customers to purchase their products. As you walk into the store, the customer is given some space in order to slow down their walking pace. The cash registers are located to the left, while cheap impulse products are located to the right of the entrance. After customers passed those items, they tended to slow down about a quarter of the way into the store. It was apparent that Michael’s was aware of this trend, because they placed their big ticket merchandise products in the middle of the store. These items were visible to customers as they entered the store, and customers often stopped to examine them. After the big ticket merchandise, customers walked in different directions. Customers
For generations, Americans has been brainwashed by the media to believe that what is displayed on television is the ideal perception of what real beauty have manipulated American citizens of what style looks like. Furthermore, with their many brainwashing strategies, that means more and more consumers spending beyond their budget. Our perspectives have been heavily influenced by what they believe is nice, but can we afford it all? With unrealistic combination of goods in store, plazas, and mall, consuming has become a bad behavior of some. In support of my argument of the “Overspending”, author Gladwell’s article “The Science of Shopping” also argues that stores adjust to fit the needs and wants of the shopper are evidently presented. With that being said, we have no idea when we are being manipulated into unrealistic shopping behavior that is influenced by the way the advertisement is presented in visual sight. Author Gladwell gets a “retail anthropologist” and “urban geographer” named Paco Underhill to give breakdown points of how he helps brand name stores influence consumers into persuasion of buying more. However, most of us fall short of that discipline, while being persuaded to overspend during our store visits.
People don’t realize how much effort stores put into designing their store layout. They use different techniques like some having a small store so they can stock put more product on their shelves, to make the store look fuller. Another is making the signs look bigger because of the small space. Bigger stores group products for different occasions, so the customer buy what you want and leave faster. These styles may change, and some may stay the same depending on the costumer's needs. But one thing will stay the same, how can we get people in our store? And how can we make them buy our
I have one question regarding the retail merchandising minor. Am I not eligible to pick up a retail merchandising minor since I am a student in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences? If not, is there a possible reason for an exception since I know I can potentially see myself in a retail merchandising career after
Today’s customers are more aware and empowered, and have more bargaining power due to the exponential increase in competition – direct, indirect or substitute. In retailing, they want hassle-free shopping, have less time at their disposal to locate the shop and the merchandise and are reluctant to keep waiting. The modern format retail stores are doing their best to anticipate the customer’s demands and are going all out to redesign their store interiors, offer more choices in varieties and assortments, and are giving as many services as feasible.
Visual Merchandisers have many employment options available in many different sectors. I believe that displays are all encompassing. It is the little details that culminate a theme or feel that makes customers want to shop at a particular store and have a certain type of experience. It is about making an environment inviting, whether that environment is a store, a party, a home, etc. I strongly believe that there is so much inspiration in the world that can be used to create compelling store displays that provoke consumers to shop and help maximize a store’s profit. This is an interesting field where not only artistic skills are necessary, but also the ability to merchandise the sales floor and make every visual aspect of a store
The stores have restaurant, childcare facilities and plenty of parking. Customers can drop off their kids at the playroom and have delicious meal when they are tired. All of these not only provide customer with a comfortable shopping environment but also let them make an ‘IKEA trip’ and enjoy the fun of buying. Besides, IKEA’s distinctive show rooms help creating differentiation. Products are strategically placed in different small spaces like rooms which allow customers imaging this furniture in their own home. This makes everything looks more attractive.