Flourish Tip for Retailers: Merchandising Standards

 Sometimes in retail, we think we can do it all, but we often need to rely on our team members to help us out with all sorts of tasks, including tidying the store and basic visual merchandising.

By making a basic standards outline, each team member will be easily guided for the daily tidying up and maintaining of those standards. This basic guide will also help when new stock arrives and for restocking displays when they have sold down.

Use as a Training Tool

Including pictures in your standards guide allows you to also use it as a training tool. When the store’s appearance isn't up to your standards, you can refer to the document to get everyone back-on-track. As your business grows, this merchandising standards guide can also be used as a delegation tool, while maintaining the standards your customers have come to expect.

Stress-Relieving Tool

Sometimes, what’s obvious to us isn't obvious to others. A merchandising guide allows you to return from vacation without walking into a disaster. With a standards guide, team members won’t waste time undoing and redoing each other’s work.

Your merchandising standards guide can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Need help making one? Contact Flourish Today! Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!

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How to Boost Business in the Summer - Flourish Tip for Retailers

Summer can be a tough season in retail. Your customers are out enjoying the sun, enjoying some travelling, enjoying summer activities with their families and friends.

Don’t panic! All is not lost. 

Craftily using displays, events, community involvement, and extra customer care are a few things you can do to promote  your business and boost those summer sales.

Use Displays

Pull together merchandise you already carry in-store to create a new comprehensive summer display. Think summer fashions, summer entertaining, summer gifts, summer scents …  Feature these items in a prominent area inside your store as well as in your window(s) to attract passers-by.

Host Events

Invite your customers your hosted outdoor or summer-oriented events. Any excuse to create an event will do, really! Perhaps pair up with a complementary business to help create new customers for both businesses. Offer some refreshments, an activity, a draw, specials, or promotions to boost traffic. Hosting a weekday evening event will promote sales on days other than those already busy summer weekends.

Clearance Sales

Summer is a great time to start clearing out old merchandise; start clearing out winter & spring merchandise before fall arrivals, which usually begin arriving in August, to stimulate otherwise slow July revenues. Be sure to group similar items or items within the same promotion and sign them properly so customers feel compelled to buy!

Make Some Phone Calls

Make a quick call to keep your best (and most profitable) customers up-to-date on what’s happening in-store. Keeping the call friendly, invite your trusted customers to your events, tell them about your sale, or update them on future arrivals. Let your customers know they are important to you. Enjoy the chat!

Keep Customers (and pets) Refreshed

Who wouldn’t enjoy a cool, refreshing beverage on a hot summer shopping day? Offer your customers a glass of cold water – perhaps infused with lemon, lime, or cucumber. Don’t forget a bowl of water for visiting pets! Comfortable, happy shoppers are more likely to stick around longer and spend a few extra dollars.

Team up with others

There’s a good chance others in your area are also feeling a lull in business. Chat them up and see what you can accomplish together! You could all chip in to take out an ad or get together for a large community event. Together, you can come up with ideas to take advantage of what might already be happening in the community, too. Business is easier when you’re working as a team.

Get Involved in the Community

What events might be taking place nearby this summer? Sponsor charity or non-profit events happening in your community that might appeal to your target market. Attend these same events armed with business cards or brochures for some good old-fashioned networking!

Although, summer time can be tough for any entrepreneur, don’t forget the resources at your fingertips and to make use of the extra time that a lull in business can provide. Use the time for getting ahead on blog posts (scheduling them to post according to your editorial schedule), tweaking your website, doing guest article posts, or adding to your social media reach. The sky is the limit!

Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too! Not enough?  Get in touch with Flourish today to ensure your store is the most engaging it can be.

Spring Fever

Up here in Canada, we're going nuts waiting for spring weather to come...

Just to make sure you're in the mood and ready, here's a link to last year's spring inspiration as well as a few more photos. Let's get the creative juices flowing!

10 Days window display from the side at Thread Hill

SuperDry display for Revolution Boutique

Flourishing Retailers Tip

Through my travels and Pinterest scanning this past week, my eye has been drawn how retailers are using their vertical space. Chances are your walls are tall enough that customers can’t reach everything; making use of this extra space can have quite an impact on your store’s overall look and feel.

          Your Flourish Tip:

Use the vertical space to deliver a brand message, through graphics, props, or merchandise displays reflecting what can be found nearby.

Empty, unused space above your fixtures can give your retail space the unfortunate appearance of looking empty, low in stock, or simply unfinished.  Sadly, customers can’t reach this space or any merchandise stored within it, so what do we do?

Use graphics driving your brand or image – specifically lifestyle-oriented images showing customers how happy they will be while using the product.  Take a look the next time you’re shopping in a mall to see how corporate retailers have used their graphics.

 

The area above your fixtures can also be used for additional merchandise displays, such as bust forms dressed in garments found below or a vignette containing interesting combinations of merchandise stored nearby.

Probably one of the most interesting uses of the high-up space I’ve seen is to display props that relate to the merchandise: This way you have an interesting display but aren’t using sellable inventory.

What can you do to make your vertical space more interesting? (I would love to see your opinions or ideas in the comments section below.)

Want more?  Click here to sign up and have the convenience of receiving the tip in your inbox as well as even more to learn about each tip! 

Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!  Not enough?  Get in touch with Flourish today to ensure your store is the most engaging it can be.

Holiday Display Inspiration - Part One

Well retail friends...  Its that time again!  

In order to compete with our large corporate counterparts the displays should have or should be going up!  So, better late than never, here are a few Flourish photos to get those creative juices flowing!

Baskets in the Park

Baskets in the Park

Baskets in the Park

Baskets in the Park

All Decked Out

Cloud Nine Pajamas

Cloud Nine Pajamas

Cloud Nine Pajamas

Bellies 12 days of giveaways

Bellies 12 days of giveaways

A very sweet tree at Festival of Trees

A very sweet tree at Festival of Trees

A flourishing tree at Festival of Trees

Lexus giveaway at Kingsway Mall

Lite Zone fundraiser at Kingsway Mall

Wrap & Roll at Kingsway Mall

Wrap & Roll at Kingsway Mall

Ceiling hanging at Kingsway Toyota

Service center at Kingsway Toyota

Phew!  That's a lot of pictures!  Stay tuned for even more...

Want a professional holiday look?  Get in touch with Flourish today: website, facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Tip of the Week + Bonus

Visual merchandising isn't just about selling more.  It’s about inspiring the customer, giving them ideas, making them feel good, and making their lives easier.

Cloud Nine Pajamas

Proper visual merchandising really is done for the customer and with the customer in mind and that’s the only way it can be truly effective. 

We create displays in order to show customers a whole look, show them trends, and to give them a feeling around the merchandise.  We’re making their time shopping so much easier by pulling everything together for them, so be sure to layer the look right up to give them options and make sure the merchandise is nearby and easy to pick up.

We’re inspiring customers to make their home an oasis, wardrobe beautiful, and gifts incredible.  Placing ad-on items nearby helps them to round out their purchase and pull together the perfect package.

Keep the customer in mind when you’re merchandising your store.  Remember how you’re helping them every time you set up a new display and you will be successful.  After all, they’re why you’re doing what you’re doing, right?

Bonus Tip:

  

It’s time to start formulating a plan to execute your holiday visual merchandising!  Don’t forget to book your helpers to make sure they’ll all be there.

Fall Display Inspiration

Well, back to school is upon us...  Kids are grumbling, parents are happy, and everyone is looking for fresh fall merchandise and exciting fall displays! 

It's that time of year to evoke that crisp fall feeling with crunchy leaves and cozy knits in your store.  

If you haven't set your fall displays up yet and are looking for inspiration, here's some of mine.  Enjoy!

Fall by Flourish at Cloud Nine Pajamas

Fall decor balls at Elegant Expressions

Fall Dinnerware by Flourish at Elegant Expressions

Fall Dinnerware by Flourish at Elegant Expressions

Fall Dinnerware by Flourish at Elegant Expressions

Elegant Fall by Flourish for Elegant Expressions

Fall window by Flourish for mbellish

Mabon at Where Faeries Live

Mabon window decoration at Where Faeries Live

Mabon Mannequin at Where Faeries Live

Fall furniture and decor by Flourish

Fall furniture and decor by Flourish

Want a professional look for fall?  Get in touch with Flourish today: website, facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Tip of the Week

Take the plastic off.  Customers really need to get their hands on a product in order to make their buying decision, so get at least one of each item out of its package and into their hands.

Elegant Expressions Table by Flourish

Engaging the customer’s senses is really important to making a sale, so appealing to sight and touch by allowing them to see the item up close and feel its texture will more often than not increase sales.

While many retailers prefer to keep items packaged in order to avoid damage, it can hinder sales.  Selling one item at a discount (which isn’t always necessary) is better than hanging on to product because it just won’t sell. 

The most important thing overall, is to remove barriers, physical or perceived, between the product and your customers.

Want more?  Click here to sign up and have the convenience of receiving the tip in your inbox as well as even more to learn about each tip! 

Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!  Not enough?  Get in touch with Flourish today to ensure your store is the most engaging it can be.

Happy Selling!

Tip of the Week

When communicating to your customers through signage, try to ensure that the wording is positive rather than negative.  Focus on the behaviour you want.

For example; instead of “Do not touch” you could have a sign that says “Please ask for assistance” or an even more fun “For your safety, we are happy to help you investigate this item further.”

Nobody likes being told what they can and can’t do and I can’t think of anyone that likes hearing the word NO.  So, you really should avoid using it with your customers. 

Happy selling!

Want more?  Click here to sign up and have the convenience of receiving the tip in your inbox as well as even more to learn about each tip!  This week's email will include the "fun wording" version of this sign.

Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Tip of the Week

Use visual merchandising to tell your customers a story.  This could be a story centered around lifestyle, colour, trend, or anything else you can imagine!

Spring table display at Elegant Expressions, by Flourish

Any display should give a customer a feeling or a sense, hopefully a good one! This is what telling them a story with merchandise is all about.

Are you having trouble getting started or do you need some inspiration? First, check your marketing calendar... how can you tie in your displays? Second, look for ideas online. In fact, feel free to visit our Pinterest page linked below! Most important of all, have fun with it and so will your customers.

Happy selling!

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Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Tip of the Week

Plan your store window changes out on a calendar according to season, holidays, key marketing and promotions, and new shipments.  Be sure to include a change every four to six weeks.

Image: Free People Blog: Summer Store Displays!

Pre-planning all of your window changes allows you to keep an eye out for interesting prop ideas, fixtures, etc.  It gives you time to plan out exciting window displays that entice customers and ensures that you're not changing windows on the fly or in a panic.  That's no fun for anyone!

Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Happy Selling!

Fixtures Close Up Favorites

I first found Fixtures Close Up on Pinterest and now I look forward to my daily fixtures emails, so I asked Tony Kadysewski if I could share some of my favorites with you!  He generously agreed, so here they are in no particular order!

Also...  These are just the favorites I found, there are so many more gems all over the Fixtures Close Up blog.  You can find everything from big box retail solutions to high end boutique solutions, so set aside some time to go digging!

Industrial and Rural Chic Combine

Image Courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

This is a great DIY project for your store!  Be sure to merchandise any unique configurations neatly to really maximize impact.

Do-It-Yourself Store Fixtures

Photos Courtesy of Simplified Building Concepts and Fixtures Close Up

What a great industrial look for menswear!  If you're not handy, though, be sure to get help from someone who is.

Do-It-Yourself Wood Box Display

Image courtesy of Goncalo Pinho and Fixtures Close Up

What a fun fixture to put together yourself and it wouldn't even be overly expensive!

Haberdash Designer Peg'd Board

Image courtesy of Dezeen, Haberdash and Form Us With Love, as well as Fixtures Close Up

What a fun display!  This could be done anywhere in-store, just be sure it's a feature area!  It could also be a fun backdrop in a simple window with a mannequin.

Plaid on a Pegboard

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Okay, pegboard usually isn't the go-to material when we think of visual merchandising, but here it is looking good for menswear!  This is pegboard done right.

Lingerie in a Bell Jar

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Do you really want to make something feel special?  Put it in a bell jar!

Jack Daniel's Barrels as Decor

Image courtesy of Mark Steele Photography, Display and Design Ideas, and Fixtures Close Up

Ahhhh...  Doesn't it just make sense?

Wash Tub Bulk Bins

Image Courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

I've loved this fixture from the first time I saw it and it makes a great DIY project for items sold in bulk!

Store Self-Dispenses T-shirts

Image courtesy of Shop Design Gallery, Streetology, and Fixtures Close Up

Ahhhh...  A good colour flow just makes my heart happy...

Shoe and Sock Color Cross Sell

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Add on selling at its best!  They say visual merchandising is the silent sales person for a reason...

Have you got more favorites?  Link to them in the comments section below and don't forget to follow the links (headings) to the actual articles from Fixtures Close Up.  There, you'll find more info and additional photos!

Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter,Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Happy Selling!