Purposefully vs. Pointlessly Pretty in Visual Merchandising
Teaching at Seneca Polytechnic and educating with up-and-coming merchandisers has been an inspiration! It reinforced the idea that visual merchandising (VM) attracts creative minds, yet too often, it’s misunderstood as purely aesthetic—a luxury rather than a necessity. The reality? VM is an operational must-have, directly impacting sales and customer experience.
(For more on the debate between luxury vs. essential, check out our article on Retail Insider: Visual Merchandising: Luxury or Essential?)
RETAIL DESIGN OF SUETABLES BY NOLA DESIGNS, VISUAL MERCHANDISING BY VM ID, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNICA HOOKSTRA
Purposefully, Pretty, Not Pointlessly Artistic
Retailers often ask: how much of VM is just about making things look nice versus driving measurable business outcomes? The answer lies in strategy. A poorly set-up space deters shoppers, reduces dwell time, and negatively impacts sales. But when we apply business acumen to visual merchandising, we transform stores into high-functioning, sales-driven environments. That’s why our approach starts with understanding business pain points. We gather quantitative and qualitative information to diagnose inefficiencies and maximize the retail space’s potential.
The Business Case for Strategic Visual Merchandising
A store should do more than just house products—it should actively sell them. That means designing a space where customers can shop independently, reducing reliance on staff while increasing sales efficiency.
Recommendations for Retailers:
Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) – Are there gaps in traffic, conversion rates, units per transaction, or average transaction values?
Analyzing audience attraction – Are you reaching the right customers for your brand?
Ensuring brand consistency – Is your store visually aligned with your overall identity and messaging?
Optimizing layout and flow – Does your space guide customers intuitively through their shopping journey?
Improvements aren’t just for struggling retailers. Even high-performing stores have untapped potential. The key is to plan before designing—assess where you are now, then map out a strategic direction based on real data.
🌟 NEW: Sales Analytics Add-On
Do you need help assessing your sales data? Want to refine your VM strategy using hard numbers? Our NEW sales analytics add-on provides detailed pre- and post-intervention sales tracking, helping you measure results, optimize displays, and maximize your return on investment.
🛍️ Serving Retailers in the GTA & Beyond
Our visual merchandising consulting services support retailers across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond, including key cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal. We specialize in making spaces more shoppable, professional, and performance-driven. If you’re hesitant to make his investment, we have also created DIY tools to lead your way.
✉️ Let’s make your store work smarter. Get in touch today to unlock deeper insights and elevate your retail space!