Thanks to Julie Kennedy for this great advice. Julie is a member of my advisory board and former owner of the Beehive Distinctive Gifts & Flowers (congrats Julie on your new life as a floral and retail consultant).
What do customers really want when they enter your retail
establishment?IDEAS, of course!
As retailers, we need to realize that although customers may
admire your inventory, this doesn’t mean they know what to do with it. They are
counting on you to clue them in.A great way to showcase your skills is through creative and
innovative merchandising. Good retailers understand that fabulous displays move
merchandise. Isn’t that the idea anyway? Even the most fabulous merchandise
cannot sell itself.The best displays offer texture, depth, light, color and
interest.Successful merchandisers know the importance of stock
rotation. Successful retailers realign their inventory on average two times per
month. Trust me, I know this takes time, but the payoffs are more than worth
it. Not only does stock rotation move your inventory, it also creates interest
in the happenings at your shop. The failure to rework displays makes the
consumer aware that your stock is not moving. The perception is that your
inventory is tired, dated, or just plain boring. Simply rearranging your shop
and displays gives the allusion that your inventory is constantly changing.
This equates interest that equates more traffic and more sales for you!If you aren’t naturally blessed with the merchandising gift,
it is imperative that you seek assistance. The success of your business depends
upon it. You may be the world’s greatest buyer or have better taste than the
Queen of England, but if you lack the ability to showcase your finds, they will
no doubt end up at your house instead of your customers.So remember, when it comes to inventory, change is good!
