Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Easter visual merchandising ideas

We have just gone past the Valentine's day and Easter is just around the corner.
Easter is certainly a colourful and buoyant time of the year for most retailers as the shoppers will be out and about with the warmer Spring weather. This is an opportunity you can to your advantage. Even if your merchandise is not directly related to the usual Easter goods, you can still use your shop window to your advantage and draw in some Easter shoppers.  If you are planning to catch the attention of Easter shoppers, here are a few interesting ideas for  your shop window dressing.

Pastels colours rule
Everybody associated the pastel colours with Easter. Pinks, light blues, greens and yellows remind us of Easter and the new life of spring. You can easily create an Easter feel in your shop front by using plenty of these pastel colours in your window display. First of all, get some ribbon and tissue paper in a range of pastel colours and use them to line the floor and back wall of your window. Next, you can place some of your merchandise in the foreground in strategically.

Eggs, eggs, eggs
Eggs are probably the single biggest symbol of Easter, and they can be a fun decoration to incorporate into your shop window display. You can pick up a few colourful Easter eggs and place them among the goods you are showcasing on your display tables and wall racks in your front window. In addition to the eggs, you can reinforce the Easter theme by purchasing a few stuffed chicks or baby rabbits as these animals are also associated with the holiday.

A spring in your step
If you are looking for a window display that you can leave up long after Easter has gone, then you may want to consider going for a more toned-down spring theme. One of the most exciting things about Easter is that it is the messenger of the new, warm season. So you can capitalise on the Spring theme by making an outdoors scene in your front window. You can make use of fake grass or gift wrap on the floor of the display. You can incorporate flowers, kites, bouquets of flowers or anything else you sell that reminds you of what makes spring such a fabulous season.
Needless to say that if these windows are not implemented in a coordinated way, they can look very tacky and cheap. As a result, they could actually put people off coming into your shop. If you would like some professional advice in shop window dressing, or if you are looking for a visual merchandising company, please contact VM Design at http://www.vmdesign.me.uk.


Also check out the following resources:

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

4 Essential Point Of Purchase Marketing Ideas

Article by VM Design visual merchandising company

Point of purchase marketing, commonly abbreviated as POP, and also known as marketing retail utilizes in-store displays to convince customers to make purchase of a particular brand. How can you use your point of purchase marketing to attract customers’ attention, or convince customers to make impulse purchase at point of sale?

Several approaches can be used, but the most effective is to offer customers exhilaration and value. Just like any other marketing effort, POP must be directed towards conveying a clear message to customers to persuade them make purchases.

Rich attractive graphics
Customers are most attracted by visuals, therefore, when creating your materials for point of purchase marketing, consider using conspicuous colors, interactive graphics as well as modest messages. You may consider using rare shapes and quirky concepts. Make use of your creativity and create your material more appealing. This is for one sole purpose: for visitors and customers to see.

Proper positioning
The location of your POP material matters a lot as it is critical that the material be easily visible to customers and visitors, whether you put it on tables, marquee, checkout stands or shelves. The effectiveness of the material also accounts a lot other than just positioning. It must have messages that are easier to read and comprehend.  The POP material will particularly be helpful when customers are making their buying decisions, therefore, ensure that they are easily accessible, for that matter, they should be at eye level.

Complementary to product line
Point of purchase marketing primarily serves the purpose of convincing customers make impulse buy, therefore, use of opportunities that are in line with your primary product should be given a close thought. For instance, if running a restaurant, entice customers with daily specials on tabletop displays, post images of mouth-watering snacks to complement the beverage menus for taverns, and other sorts of tricks for relevant businesses. These POP efforts should be reinforced with proper training of staff with ideas to convince customers to make purchases.

Research
Conducting a personal research on the relevant things that can be added in POP marketing strategy is also a better approach. Prior to making a campaign launch, you need to know whether the product you’ve selected has a larger demand in the region that you intend to make sale. You may start with several products for analysis purposes to see which ones are in high demand and which ones are not. Once you’ve noted down items with great appeal, you can use the following POP strategies.

·    Offer discounts- to increase purchases, you can bundle up two related items and offer a discount for purchases on both. For instance, if you are into cosmetics, offer shampoo and a hair conditioner as a bundle on discount. A “Buy one get one free” promotion can likely do wonders as well.

·       Provide guidance for purchases- you may create adverts with themes to offer guidelines to customers on how they can make purchases.

·       You your impulse buys as a case study- consider the things that made you make an impulse buy when making a purchase. What attracted you most to making the purchase? Figure it out and try to implement the same.

·         Revolutionize your POP strategies- always consider new strategies of marketing your products. Give fresh approaches priority. If customers continually see the same advert or promotion through several weeks, the excitement that they first got will vanish.

Alluring clients to make impulse buys will not only increase your daily sales, but will attract more clients as word about you spread around. More clients will also come in searching for other products that you might be offering.

Also check out the VM Design visual merchandising portfolio.


Also check out the following resources:

Monday, 5 January 2015

Real Estate Agents Help you Find Best Rental Property Near Good Schools

If you are residing in a large city of England, you will definitely need to retain the services of an experienced and reliable real estate agent Surrey to help you find the best rental property near good schools. The real estate market of England is really very competitive and rental property owners have the upper hand because the pool of available residential properties is limited these days, thus it is becoming essential for everyone to seek assistance of real estate agents and their resources to find the best rental property near good schools in England.

You must ensure to hire only reliable and experienced real estate agents who specialize in rental properties. This can give you several benefits. The real estate agents investigate about the rental property aptly before they are made available to you. So, it is necessary to express all your needs and requirements about the rental property to your real estate agent so that they can find the best suitable rental property as per your need and budget. 

Instructions
Firstly, you must find the best and reliable real estate agent who specializes in rental properties. Moreover, you need to explain them what type of rental property you are looking for and ask the agent about the available rental properties near good schools, such as TASIS England. Moreover, you need to ask the real estate agent for references and contact them in person to find out if the location, structure and neighborhood suit your requirement. You also need to ask them about the costs of the rental property, including, security deposits, application fees and commission.

Secondly, you need to review the rental property listings. If you have any specific requirements about the location, neighborhood, or other amenities then tell the agent about it. If you are unsure where you want to live then your budget will help the real estate agent to target rental properties within your range. They will find the best rental property near good schools by considering your budget. The more specific you are about the property you want, the easier it will be for the agent to search the best rental property for you which is close to good schools.

Real estate agents not only help you to gain access to the best rental property near good schools, but also negotiate on your behalf if you like the location and amenities of the rental property. This might include getting favorable terms like less security deposits or credit to have floors redone and other changes made to the rental property before moving in.





Also check out the following resources:

Thursday, 21 August 2014

Ideas for Visual Merchandising

Basic Window Dressing Rules to Make More Sales

Are you aware of the latest trend in the retail industry? Why do you think that the retailers are focusing on developing effective visual merchandising? Why is there such a high demand for the visual merchandisers?
The visual merchandising is the latest market norm and its demand is increasing at an accelerating rate. The concept “Visual merchandising” can be best described as the art and strategy of displaying the merchandise in the manner that has an aesthetic appeal that draws the attention of the customers towards the retail store. It basically sets the merchandise of the store in a way that customers get attracted to the retail store and enhance their shopping experience by visiting the store.
In order to develop an effective visual merchandising in the store, the store owners are looking for skilled visual merchandisers who know the art of enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the retail store. The professional needs to be creative and talented so that he can place all the merchandise in proper way so that the customers get attracted to the aesthetic appeal of the store. Hence, the experts need to have passion for design, creativity and innovation so that they can make sure that they are talented and highly skilled visual merchandiser.
The main visual merchandising duties comprise of working on every aspect of the retail store from the placement of the merchandise to the promotion offers on the merchandise. Therefore, the professional will need to work on attractive window displays, creative signs, aesthetic interior displays and other types of sales promotions that should be offered to the customers. Hence, the professional will have to ensure that everything is properly coordinated which means that the color of the store should be complemented with the display of the products and the stage of the retail shop.
Hence, the professional will also be up-to-date with the fashion world and must be aware of the changes happening in the dynamic environment and market so that the changes can be incorporated effectively. Therefore, the visual merchandisers will have to make sure that they are aware of the latest market trends and they must ensure that everything is coordinated and strategy must be properly designed and implemented.

Also check out the following resources:

Wednesday, 20 August 2014

What is Visual Merchandising

Visual Merchandising is the art of presenting the store and the merchandise in the best possible way. The aim of any retail visual merchandising is to maximise profit while minimising the costs.
Visual Merchandising is a key instrument in showing off the uniqueness of the merchandise for maximising the marketing and sales.
Especially in the developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, visual merchandising has an important priority in commercial product and store planning.
Most big retail chains understand that ill presentation and bad display will have a negative impact on the sales. As a result they adopt the scientific visual merchandising techniques rather than the traditional practices of display of merchandise.
Visual merchandising spans a wide range of activities from educating the customers on the use of a new product or service to creating desire, which is all aimed at augmenting the sales process. Retail visual merchandising not only helps the shoppers’ make the right purchasing decision but will also help establish a long lasting impact by setting the company apart in an exclusive position. It combines the marketing, product design and most importantly marketing.

Duties of Visual Merchandiser

The visual merchandising experts possess a mixture of skills including, technical aspects, creativity as well as extensive business and product knowledge. Depending on the nature and the size of the retail shop typical work responsibilities may be slightly different but the typical work activities include (but not limited to):
  • Following local and national marketing trends
  • Tracking the competition’s point-of-sale and window display ideas
  • Producing new promotional activities, events and displays
  • Having an awareness of stock levels to restyle the activities accordingly and easily
  • Understanding of sales figures and data analysis for shaping future activities
Whatever you decide to do with your business, do make sure to pay extra attention to your visual merchandising.



Also check out the following resources:

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Why is Visual Merchandising So Important

Visual merchandising is not, by any means, a new field of art or sciences, and it has been following the growing popularity of window and floor displays. This article will discuss the importance and potential of visual merchandising for small and medium size businesses.

The visual merchandising consultant who undertake the visual merchandising activities are called visual merchandisers. And they play a very key role in the visual merchandising process from inception to implementation.
It would be unimaginable and incomplete to think of the sale of services or merchandise without a supporting image. For the longevity of the brand loyalty as well as stressing the quality of the product, projecting the merchandise the best possible way is essential. To achieve this, many companies fall into the trap of investing enormous amounts of money on the promotions. But many businessesare naive about the holistic presentation; including, the way the products are displayed in the shop. If the visual merchandising is not handled properly, it can damage the brand loyalty and image.

Visual merchandising is the art of presentation that places the products and the services on offer as well as the shoppers at the heart of selling process. It aims to educate the customers, to entice them into buying the merchandise. In most cases, this is an area where some small business owners lack adequate knowledge and expertise.

If implemented properly, visual merchandising can be invaluable for accentuating the unique usage points of the products; therefore ultimately optimising the marketing and sales efforts.

Please check the visual merchandising portfolio before choosing the right partner though in order to make sure that they are the right professional for your shop window dressing.


Also check out the following resources:

Monday, 10 February 2014

Visual Merchandising for Valentines

Provided by VM Design Visual Merchandisers who have a wide range of visual merchandising portfolio.

Valentine's Day is one of those annual events where people are thinking of shopping for special presents to give to their loved ones. As a result, it is always a good opportunity for retail businesses. If you own (or manage) a retail business and you would like to maximise your sales and revenue this Valentine's Day, then here are the most important things that you should watch out for.
All Products are on Display
Make sure that you display your products well. It should be in the areas that are easily visible to the naked eye. Remember, if your clients can not see your products, then they are not going to buy it.
The key here is to display your merchandise in a manner that all your customers will be able to see it and eventually purchase them.
Display Popular Items in Hot Spots
Unpopular items do not need to take up the best spots in your shop. Reserve those "hot spots" for profitable items or best seller products. Since it is Valentine's Day, the best sellers are usually chocolates and other gift items. But this does not mean that you just simply ditch those slow moving items. Just relocate them elsewhere in the store for the meantime.
For best seller items, place them in areas that are easily seen by the customers the moment they walk inside your store. These items are the highlight of your store so you should emphasize them.
Directed Towards the Customer
Display your merchandise at an angle that is directed to your consumers. They should be at an angle that lie within the customer's line of vision.
Avoid flat surfaces because they do not work well when it comes to attracting the customer's attention. Create some height as this is the best way to emphasize a product. If you are selling men's and women's apparel for Valentine's Day, and you need to display them on a mannequin, make sure to place the mannequin on an elevated area.
Make your Feature Items Stand Out
You should not just merely display items in your window display and wait for customers to come in and buy them. You must also add some decorations and ornamentations to it.
As it is Valentine's Day, it is probably a good idea to display some flowers along with the products, hearts, cherubs, or any items that are related to the occasion.
Of course, proper colour combination must also be observed so the products will look even more appealing.




Also check out the following resources:

Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Window Dressing for Valentine’s Day

Some tips from a window dresser with a wide range of visual merchandiser portfolio

Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, a lot of retailers are thinking of ways on how they can prep up their display windows to entice shoppers to check out some of their Valentine stuff. As you know, the display window helps to give a boost to the overall appearance of the store which also helps to entice shoppers to get inside. This Valentine’s Day, adding a burst of color to your display window, especially the shades of pink and red is definitely a great idea. Here are more ideas when it comes to decorating your display window this Valentine’s Day.

Crepe Paper Hearts
The crepe paper hearts are easy to make. Simply crumple some red crepe papers and attach it on a heart shape Styrofoam. Then tie the heart on a string and hang it on your display window. Create about a dozen of small hearts and scatter them on your store window.

Kisses on Window
Another great idea is to scatter kisses all over your display window. Just make sure it won’t appear too crowded and that there should still be some spaces that will be left on the window so your customers can still have a peek of what you are displaying there. You can cut out a red cardboard for the kissing lips or purchase kiss stickers at a craft store. These stickers easily come off so you won’t have a hard time removing them after Valentine’s Day. Also, set around some red clothing and accessories to match with the overall window theme.

Valentine Paper bags
Another simple design idea for Valentine’s Day is to make use of paper bags. You can simply make use of your own store’s paper bag. Stuff it with white, red or pink tissue paper. Scatter them all over the window floor or place them on the display rack inside your store.

Red Roses
Red roses are among the things that symbolize Valentine’s Day. Thus, include these flowers on your window dressing for Valentine’s Day. Arrange them beautifully so as to make your window look appealing to your customers. You can go for fresh flowers, plastic flowers or perhaps, create some red roses using crepe papers.

These window display ideas for Valentine’s Day are so easy to achieve. Just keep in mind that your merchandise should be the main focus on your display window and that the props and all other decors should not appear too cluttered.

Also check out the following resources:

Monday, 10 September 2012

Colours: Important Tool in Visual Merchandiser's Toolset

This article is courtesy of VM Design, which provides Retail Window Dressing services.

Visual merchandising is a process of promoting the sale of goods through their special presentation in different outlets. Many elements are used by a visual merchandiser for the creation of an effective display. These include balance, harmony, rhythm, space, color, lighting, product information, sensory inputs such as sound, touch, smell, and technologies such as interactive installations and digital displays.

Color and lighting is a huge contribution in creating a first impression on customers as it makes up a store's appearance more exciting and interesting. A color wheel is a handy tool to use in developing a color scheme for a store. Several color schemes are possible by choosing different combinations. Blue is a cool color and it calms and relaxes excited people whereas green is easy for the eyes and stimulates conversation. On the other hand, red excites an individual and induces aggression. There are no absolute rules for combining colors, only flexible guidelines.

Experimentation and imagination will find color schemes according to the atmosphere that attract customers. The type of merchandise features such as jewelry, hardware, and clothing will have an effect on the type of color scheme that can be used and the ratio of each color.

There are various color schemes, which can be used according to the type of merchandise and business. There is a monochromatic scheme in which a single color is used with three to five tints. For example, several pieces of blue merchandise can be arranged together with each range consisting of a different value ranging from baby blue to navy blue.

Under analogous scheme, three or four consecutive colors are combined to make up a combination. This can be used to create a soft and subtle décor and warm or cool effect. Examples of this scheme could be yellow, yellow-green, green and blue-green or blue, blue-green and green. This scheme should be handled with care so that it does not lead to over stimulating or too much depressing atmosphere. A complementary color scheme is represented by two colors that are exactly opposite one another such as green and red or yellow and purple. This can result in a very pleasing combination of warm and cool colors. One way to learn about color is to observe some new stores and see what color combinations have been used in different departments. In the last resort, you can take the help of a visual merchandiser.



Also check out the following resources:

Sunday, 2 September 2012

what is visual merchandising

Visual Merchandising

is the art of presenting the store and the merchandise in the best possible way. The aim of any retail visual merchandising is to maximise profit while minimising the costs.

Visual Merchandising is a key instrument in showing off the uniqueness of the merchandise for maximising the marketing and sales.

Especially in the developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, visual merchandising has an important priority in commercial product and store planning.

Most big retail chains understand that ill presentation and bad display will have a negative impact on the sales. As a result they adopt the scientific visual merchandising techniques rather than the traditional practices of display of merchandise.

Visual merchandising spans a wide range of activities from educating the customers on the use of a new product or service to creating desire, which is all aimed at augmenting the sales process. Retail visual merchandising not only helps the shoppers’ make the right purchasing decision but will also helpestablish a long lasting impact by setting the company apart in an exclusive position. It combines the marketing, product design and most importantly marketing.

Duties of Visual Merchandiser

The retail window dressing experts possess a mixture of skills including, technical aspects, creativity as well as extensive business and product knowledge. Depending on the nature and the size of the retail shop typical work responsibilities may be slightly different but the typical work activities include (but not limited to):
  • Following local and national marketing trends
  • Tracking the competition’s point-of-sale and window display ideas
  • Producing new promotional activities, events and displays
  • Having an awareness of stock levels to restyle the activities accordingly and easily
  • Understanding of sales figures and data analysis for shaping future activities
Whatever you decide to do with your business, do make sure to pay extra attention to your visual merchandising.

Retail Window Dressing

Visual Merchandising and Window Dressing Services



Also check out the following resources: