Can you improve this window display?

What makes a window display effective? 1. It has to attract attention 2. Get customers into the shop 3. Sell the merchandise being promoted How does this window display fare? Well…. 1. A beautiful woman in a bikini sure does attract attention. 2. If one is in the market for a bikini, yes, one would go into the shop. But … Read More

What is Your Pricing Strategy?

Which is better? A flat price such as $10 or $9.99? or $9.98? or…$9.97? In general, value items are better when ‘CHARM’ priced. This means having less digits on the left such as $9.99 rather than $10.00, For prestige items, the reverse is true. A designer shirt is better off being $500 than $499.99. This way, there is faster emotional connection … Read More

Could Ineffective Displays Be Partly Due to Poor Fixture Design?

Over my many years in retail, I realized that poor fixture design may result in ineffective displays that make it challenging for shop associates to work with. However, once stuck with this, what can we do? In this particular instance, these are some of the things we can do to make this display more appealing. 1. Keep the distance between … Read More

Time to Talk About Product Intensity

Product Intensity refers to the amount of merchandise placed in a given space. The higher the intensity, the fuller the shelves. The lower the intensity, well, you get the picture. Most high end boutiques have a lower intensity. The space that surround a products is as important as the product itself in conveying the brand’s prestige, its exclusive appeal and … Read More

Low to High Front to Back

Are Shop Sightlines Compromised? A client I worked with asked why their signature fixtures, in this case, a chuck wagon is not often shopped despite it being located in the prime centre of the store. I often get similar questions from retailers and I can somewhat guess the reason for majority of the cases. Just like Horse Creek Candy’s issue with … Read More

RED Stops Traffic

How about I let you in on a simple strategy I use to attract the customer’s EYE. Works everytime we do this. One of the things I do to get the eye to view an otherwise ‘dead’ area is to use the colour RED. We all know red is a colour that signals STOP when driving. As humans, we are … Read More

MIRROR POWER

Numerous data have shown that when customers stay longer, the higher the probability of a sale. Therefore, I admit, I am not above trying a trick or two to get shoppers to browse an area longer. Oh, I apologize, I meant applying retail strategies to invite shoppers to linger longer in an area. 🙂 That is why I sooo love … Read More

What’s In A Sign

I view signs as the best investment retailers can make. It costs the least, thus allowing for a great ROI. The next few in this vlog series will show how to effectively implement a sign program in your shop. Let us begin with sign design. I often work with retailers who already have their logo made up. Leaving my job … Read More

The Right Fixture Supports Product Values

Today I would like to talk about the importance of having the right platform to present your products. While most think of shop fixtures simply as a place to display product, I think of fixtures as an opportunity retailers can use to not only enhance perceived product values but also establish credibility. Would you believe the products housed in the … Read More

Product Intensity and Price Point Perceptions

I often see displays with much too low inventory levels. What is wrong with this? Well, while it offers little or no product credibility, it also fails to create an impact. In the BEFORE photo, this shows a very nice tight grouping of a product category. However, because product intensity and the larger space this occupies, it fails to attract … Read More