Top 5 most exciting examples of merchandising and branding
Merchandising and branding are the most overlooked yet super impactful tools of a retailer. These days, most of the retailers (be it online or offline) use more or less the same tactics to sell their products or services. So what sets the top retailers apart from the rest? It is how they do their branding and merchandising. Here we have the top 5 most exciting examples of merchandising and branding for you.
- Use of Fragrances
Yes, fragrances. It is widely known that 75% of what humans feel emotionally, has a direct relation to what they are smelling. When you experience a pleasant smell, your body releases happy hormones and your mood can be elevated by more than 40%! Creative brands do this all the time. And mind you, this is not only limited to food retailers, like a delicious smelling bakery. High-end brands like to use things like essential oils to give their customers a calm and inviting atmosphere.
- Use of Music
It is a well-established fact of human psychology how music can be used to shape people’s moods. Hence, creative use of music has become an almost integral part of visual merchandising. The smart use of music can do wonders to your sales- both offline and online. Dictate the perception of your products by using the right volume and the apt tempo of the music.
- Use of Technology
When vending machines were still new, they were exciting and people bought snacks just for the experience of using a vending machine. Consumers love to experience unique technology, especially if it is interactive. Interactive technologies can include, for example, the grand displays that Ralph Lauren and Bloomingdale put up in partnership, of window displays that includes HD plasma touch screens that enable customers to pick customized clothing items.
- Use of Apt Places of Display
Make sure your Products for special occasions or products of seasonal nature (like Christmas, Valentine’s Day) should always be the first thing the customer sees when the customer walks in your store. You should ideally also keep updating your store window with a seasonal theme.
Also, don’t forget the cash register! Keep in mind that the cash register is a place where the customer makes last-minute impulse purchases while standing in line. Make sure you stock up low-cost products with high margin near the cash register to ensure that it is a win-win.
- Use of Decor
The potential of the decor of your store is limitless and should be exploited to maximum utility. Use unique artwork to create a memorable experience, since it creates an exclusive and distinctive feel to your store. Add various signposts around your store to increase customer convenience. You can also take a step further and purchase flowers (or plants) and make it a part of your decor, as they promote a sense of calm.
If your target audience is young, make sure you use social media language in your visual merchandising so as to create a sense of familiarity with your brand, or in other words, make it #relatable!
At the end of the day, it only boils down to how creatively you choose to take the basic elements of branding and merchandising (like colour coding, blank spaces, storytelling, focal points) and turn them into something innovative, non-intuitive, and most importantly, appealing yet subtle!