1. CHAPTER 10 VISUAL MERCHANDISING

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand the contribution that visual merchandising (VM) makes to RPM process by presenting the product to its best advantage Explore the scope of VM within a variety of retail contexts Understand the supporting role VM plays within a positioning strategy Appreciate how VM and store design work together to create a stimulating environment Understand how creativity in VM and display can enhance product appeal

3. THE SCOPE OF VISUAL MERCHANDISING “makes the market place innovative, exciting and stimulating by creating product-led stories supported by merchandising solutions” (Corsie, 2003:1)  choice of fixtures  method of product presentation  construction of displays (including window)  choice of layout  use of point of sale/purchase material

4. VISUAL MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS Helping to forge stronger links between product range planning, space allocation and product presentation Store personnel can gain access to product range plans as they are being built by buyers and merchandisers Finalised plans of photographic quality can be communicated through retailer Help fashion retailers to inform store personnel of product linkages

5. RESPONSIBITY FOR VM Varies in retail organisation  Visual merchandising  Corporate communications  Promotions  Brand management / marketing Boundary between paid-for and unpaid- for in-store images is blurred ‘Ambient media’ and VM blend together in the retail environment

6. VM SUPPORTS A RETAIL POSITIOINING STRATEGY Visual Merchandising  communicates  differentiates  strengthens the retail brand A centralised approach  promotes a strong national / international identity  allows for integrated corporate communication themes and messages A localised approach  allows a retailer to adapt to local market preferences, competition and local themes

7. FIXTURES AND FITTINGS Gondolas Round fixtures Fourways Shelving Rails Bins, Baskets and Tables

8. FIXTURES AND FITTINGS Largely dependent on  store layout  merchandise  cost Fixturing  can be customised  should be co-ordinated in ‘families’  should complement not compete with product  often have integral lighting  needs flexibility

9. PRODUCT PRESENTATION Vertically stacked Horizontally stacked Hanging on hangers or hooks Hanging on card / bubble packed Presentation themes:  colour  price  product feature e.g. size, technical complexity Dedicated fixturing for brands or categories

10. LAYOUT Influenced by product assortment (depth and width) Constrained by size and structure of store Determined by fixturing Objective: to move customers to every area of store Trend towards more spacious and airy layouts

11. Shelving Checkouts Shelving (gondola) Shelving Aisles THE GRID LAYOUT

12. Four Way Four Way Four Way Four Way Shelving Rails Service Shelv -ing Round THE FREE-FORM LAYOUT

13. STORE LAYOUT, DISPLAYS AND SPACE ALLOCATION Concerns product adjacencies and flow Must provide customer logic VM can encourage  trading up  multiple complementary purchases  impulse purchases Manipulation of the customer or providing a retail service?

14. DISPLAY OBJECTIVES Present product attractively to customer Create visual impact using product, fittings, display props and lighting Reinforce retailer as a customer focused organisation Attract customer to quieter areas of store Promote merchandise to increase sales

15. TYPES OF DISPLAY On-shelf displays, open to customer Off-shelf / feature displays:  themed  classification dominance  lifestyle  promotional (tonnage)  colour co-ordinated  using body forms Window displays  backed  open  Interactive`