Zone merchandising helps every customer locate what he or she is looking for quickly, while simultaneously exposing them to products related to the product they want to buy. In zone merchandising, products are categorized into different,(for example, clothing or kitchenware). The bigger the range of the inventory and the higher stock levels, the larger the zone. When well executed, zone merchandising can be an excellent way to increase sales in your store. So, what should you know about zone merchandising? Be sure to keep the following in mind.
Put Your Best Selling Products at the Back of Your Store
Primary zones, or those zones that contain your highest selling products, should always be placed at the back of your store. Secondary zones should be placed toward the front. That way, these items get more exposure as customers venture toward the back of your store, and there is a higher chance that someone might pick one up and put it in his or her cart. This strategy is very often employed in grocery stores. Milk and eggs will be situated at the back of the store so that customers have to pass by all sorts of unnecessary items like cereals, candy, and coffee before they get to what they’ve really come into the store to purchase. With any bit of luck, a customer who came in for just a gallon of milk might leave the store with another two or three items.
Put Impulse Buys Near Your Register
From chewing gum to candy bars to lip gloss, small impulse buys are best placed in a zone near to your register. That way, when customers are waiting in line to make a purchase, they will hopefully pick up another item or two.
Don’t Forget to Use Speed Bumps and Merchandise Outposts
Speed bumps and merchandise outposts, essentially fixtures of varying sizes that put merchandise along your store’s main avenues of traffic flow, slow your customers down as they move about your store, drawing their attention to certain products. Larger merchandise outposts present an excellent opportunity to showcasing special price stock or specific product groups like brand or seasonal collections, while smaller speed bumps are an excellent way to feature best sellers or hot new items.
In conclusion, zone merchandising can be an excellent strategy to employ in your retail store, and, if done well, could help you to significantly boost sales.
