Transitioning Your Store for Spring & Summer
April 26, 2010 No Comments
I love the spring and summer season (especially after the winter we have had). As the seasons change we as retailers need to change with them. When it comes to transitioning your store for the season you must:
1. Think Display Merchandising
Spring provides you the opportunity to give your displays and merchandising and fresh look. From transitioning color schemes to adjusting displays and shelves around for a new look you have a a great opportunity to brighten up your store for the season. By the way, don’t forget your windows! Take full advantage of windows in your store think of them as an opportunity for your customers to peek inside and see whats new and fresh.
2. Think Fresh Product
There are a lot of great, new products out this spring and summer. Take a good look at what’s available and fits your core inventory mix. Remember, you don’t have to buy a large amount of product to make an impact. 3 to 5 copies on a well built display can be all that you need to spark some interest.
3. Think Overstock and Slow Moving Products
With the on-set of spring and summer comes the vacation season! What a great opportunity to introduce your customers to a few items that have been on the bottom shelf in the back that frankly few people have seen. On the other side there are those items you brought way to much of. Whichever the case, use your new displays, register areas and special buy opportunities (i.e. buy one get one half off, dollar discounts or bargain price points) to drive traffic and sales of items you would like to turn. You save by using items you have in stock and potentially trigger inventory turns on product that wasn’t moving or you had more than you needed.
Finally,
4. Think Clean
I know this is probably the least exciting of the tips but it is true. Take some time to get organized under and around your registers, dust your shelves, clean the glass and displays, replace the burned out light bulbs and check the condition of your bathrooms. Customers like clean, clear space in their retail environments. Give them what they want in your store.
Happy Hot Days!
David
