Last updated on Sep 18, 2024

Your store's merchandising needs a refresh. How can you align it with the latest consumer trends?

In the fast-paced world of retail, your store's merchandising can become outdated quicker than you might realize. Aligning your merchandising with the latest consumer trends is crucial to stay relevant and competitive. This means understanding what your customers want and how they want to experience it, then translating that into how products are displayed and promoted in your store. With a few strategic changes, you can ensure that your store not only meets but exceeds customer expectations.

1 Trend Analysis

To start, immerse yourself in current consumer trends by conducting thorough trend analysis. This involves researching market reports, following influencers within your industry, and observing what's hot on social media. Understanding these trends allows you to anticipate what your customers are looking for, making your store a destination for the latest must-haves. Remember, it's not just about what you sell, but how you sell it. Effective merchandising tells a story that resonates with your customers' values and aspirations.

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William Navarro

Key Account Manager | Cash & Carry | Regional Manager | Trade Marketing | Merchandising | Food Retail | Pharma| B2B |B2C
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Analisar tendências de mercado, concorrência, produtos, clientes é o primeiro passo. Segundo é porque compreende que precisa de atualização, que fatos e dados mostram que esse é o caminho a ser seguido. As mudanças hoje são rápidas e é necessário ações e tomadas de decisões na mesma velocidade, mas é preciso saber o caminho a ser seguido. Por vezes é tendência no mercado de público A, ou D, mas sua loja é do público inverso, logo a mudança não terá o efeito desejado. Por isso é importante compreender que tendência é essa, porque faremos, ganhos e perdas. Após a compreensão macro, entender o tempo das mudanças, os custos e buscar a execução.

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Cláudia ISFP

Creative MKT Director | Visual Merchandiser
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The most important thing to always be in line with trends is, without a doubt, always keeping up to date. Trends are cycles that are always renewed and professionals must always be up to date with global movements to be successful in their work.

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2 Visual Appeal

Next, focus on the visual appeal of your store, as this is often the first thing that draws customers in. Ensure that your window displays are eye-catching and that your store layout guides customers through a logical path, highlighting new arrivals and popular items. Use lighting, colors, and signage to create an atmosphere that reflects the current trends and encourages customers to explore. The goal is to create an environment that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also makes shopping an enjoyable experience.

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Cláudia ISFP

Creative MKT Director | Visual Merchandiser
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Visual appeal needs to be studied, it is necessary to plan the focus of your display window, which is the product, and around it always be in line with drawing the main attention to your sales objective and also the customer's purchasing experience, it is also important to align the ideas for the visual so that everyone is enchanted and that this transforms into a desire to purchase.

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3 Product Placement

Product placement is key to refreshing your merchandising. Place new and trending items at eye level and in high-traffic areas to grab attention. Consider cross-merchandising by pairing products that go well together, this can increase basket size by encouraging customers to purchase complementary items. Rotating products regularly keeps the store looking fresh and gives regular customers something new to discover with each visit.

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Cláudia ISFP

Creative MKT Director | Visual Merchandiser
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Arranging a product for display requires studying the techniques. It is not just about placing a product somewhere. It is necessary to understand furniture, height and depth, lighting and strategic points, among other techniques depending on the product to be displayed.

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4 Customer Engagement

Enhance customer engagement by creating interactive displays or using technology such as digital screens to showcase products in action. Encourage shoppers to touch, feel, and try out products; an engaged customer is more likely to make a purchase. Staff should be knowledgeable about the latest trends and ready to offer personalized recommendations, creating a memorable shopping experience that will keep customers coming back.

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5 Inventory Adaptation

Your inventory should adapt to reflect current consumer trends. This means being agile in your purchasing decisions and possibly reducing order quantities to allow for a more frequently rotating stock. Keep a close eye on sales data to understand what's working and what isn't, and be ready to pivot your strategy accordingly. This approach ensures that your store remains dynamic and aligned with the ever-changing preferences of your customers.

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Emilie Miquelestorena

I empower brands to create memorable and profitable retail experiences | Merchandising, VM and Customer experience Consultant - Trainer - Formerly Maisons du Monde |
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It can be challenging to react at the last minute when selling products that take several months to produce. From experience, it’s important to identify the product categories where you can achieve the best responsiveness, even if it means opting for closer production for these ranges and sacrificing a bit of profit margin. For these categories, don't purchase your entire assortment in advance like you used to: leave about 5 to 10% of the products to be launched at the last minute, allowing you to react if a trend emerges.

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6 Promotional Tactics

Finally, consider your promotional tactics. Limited-time offers and exclusive events can create urgency and draw in crowds looking for the latest trends. Social media can be a powerful tool to tease new arrivals and share visual content that aligns with consumer interests. By creating a buzz around your merchandise, you make your store the go-to place for the latest trends, driving both traffic and sales.

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Your store's merchandising needs a refresh. How can you align it with the latest consumer trends?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Trend Analysis

2 Visual Appeal

3 Product Placement

4 Customer Engagement

5 Inventory Adaptation

6 Promotional Tactics

Merchandising

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Your store's merchandising needs a refresh. How can you align it with the latest consumer trends?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Trend Analysis

2 Visual Appeal

3 Product Placement

4 Customer Engagement

5 Inventory Adaptation

6 Promotional Tactics

Merchandising

Rate this article

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