Visual merchandising is a retail necessity that is often absorbed into regular staff responsibilities in small businesses, who don’t have the budget nor the need to hire a merchandiser full-time. What this often means is that it is not quite given the full focus, or it is being handled by someone who is inexperienced and lacking the proper VM knowledge.
Read MoreWe are starting to see an end to the quiet period for some, and we all need to think about how we will need to adapt for new consumer behaviours and needs. What could this mean for Visual Merchandising? Well, considering VM is meant to be communicating a message, there are several messages that are imperative to communicate to customers as they start coming back into our spaces. Many of these messages are true for online marketing as well:
Read MoreToo many are ignoring the significance of "experiential retail" because it sounds overwhelming to them. It doesn't need to be what you think.
The three most common terms you’ve probably hearing in the retail world are:
Read MoreAs we (or you - as retail owners) are deeply in the busiest time of year, it's important to take full advantage to benefit the rest of the year! Don't forget to stop, observe, think, document and learn all that you can!
Read the list below for what to capture during this time.
What should the “Holiday Season” look like? How do we romance and charm without offending anyone? Sometimes trying too hard to cater to everyone results in catering to no one.
Read MoreWe’ve been advising everyone to plan the Visual Merchandising of a space for the LAZIEST customer, we should be strategizing for the BUSIEST customer. Because the busy customers are the ones who are actually open to purchasing, but truly put the impact of your retail presentations to the test. Here’s why and how:
Read MorePlanning month-to-month and even week-to-week in retail is certainly understandable. And that’s because we must be reactive to sales results and consumer shopping behaviours. However, it is important to also be proactive, which is where the ANNUAL FOCUS CALENDAR comes into play.
Read MoreHow do our clients go about their visual merchandising actions in between our touch points with them? Although this is a part of our 1-on-1 training sessions, here are the steps to ensure you are making maximum productivity of your own time spent merchandising:
Read MoreIn case you missed the webinars on these two VM topics presented for CanGift's audience, here they are, ready for your viewing convenience!
Read MoreTeaching Visual Merchandising & Display at Ryerson's School of Fashion is wrapped up for the semester, and this student quote was my very favourite on the last day of class. Although I'm not sure if I've changed the student's shopping experience for the better or worse, I know they've gained the perspective they need to succeed in Visual Merchandising. This reveals the impact of being equipped with Visual Merchandising principles: you constantly see opportunities to refresh, revamp, improve.
Read MoreThere is also a huge benefit to extending your Visual Merchandising (VM) insight to teaching at a university; learning these young students' reflections on VM means learning what retail trends are attracting them. The most common threads were: minimal product presentation, Instagram-worthy presentations and experiences, as well as options against non-gender binary shopping.
Read MoreVisual Merchandising is never done - it has only just begun. Refrain from letting your selling space become stale or irrelevant by keeping on top of this mandatory merchandising cycle:
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