The success of a retail store relies heavily on how retailers display their products, aside from other crucial factors such as quality and store design. However, displaying products is not as easy as putting items on a shelf and calling it a day. In fact, there are several display mistakes that retail owners should know and avoid, such as:
1. Not choosing the right display systems
Retail display systems, such as Slatwall display panel units and freestanding shelves, vary in shape, size, and function. And for retail store owners, choosing the right display system for products is often the first challenge. Hence, one of the biggest mistakes you can make for store displays is choosing the wrong display systems in the first place.
For instance, if you’re selling shoes, you don’t want a display that’s meant for home goods (no matter how “cool” it looks), and vice versa. So before you select a display system, evaluate your products and choose a system that can be versatile and highly functional at the same time.
2. Overcrowding displays
It is the natural tendency of the human mind to seek order and patterns, which is the only way it can make sense of what it’s registering. When you apply this fact to retail, it makes sense to say that overcrowding displays and letting it go unorganized is a surefire way to turn someone away as they unconsciously get bombarded with too much information.
Thus, it’s just as important to keep a display simple as it is to make it attractive to the eye. Display just the right number of products and use just enough design elements to furnish the display. Even if you want to be more creative, maintain simplicity and cohesion so your customers aren’t overwhelmed by an overcrowded display.
3. Not organizing displays
Disorganized displays are just as bad as overcrowded displays, maybe even worse. Even if your displays aren’t overcrowded, they can still be disorganized. For example, if you keep the shoes next to the shirts and the socks next to the hats, there’s no pattern. Customers will be forced to go from one area to another while shopping, and there will be little correlation between products.
When displaying products in your retail store, keep everything organized in an easily conceivable pattern. Place similar items together and keep each category of products close to each other. Moreover, you can also use this strategy to your advantage by pushing products without actually pushing them to customers. For example, by placing the socks near the shoes, customers will be more inclined to buy a new pair of socks for their new shoes thanks to non-verbal suggestion.
4. Having a bad window display
Always treat your window display as a preview to your store. Don’t neglect it to avoid the risk of looking like an unkempt establishment. Use your window display to highlight the products that you want customers to see, including new releases, seasonal items, promotional products and many more. However, similar to the inside of the store, don’t overcrowd a window display; you want to highlight, not overwhelm.
These are just some of the most common display mistakes that you can make as a business owner. But with utmost care and precautions, you can keep your retail business organized and conducive to customer attraction and retention.
