Enhancing Shopper Experience with Contemporary Merchandising Strategies
In the face of operational challenges such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and rising costs, the food retail industry is seeking innovative solutions to stay competitive. One such solution lies in effective merchandising strategies, which can boost shopper loyalty, encourage impulse buying, and offer convenience.
Hillphoenix, a company with over 138 years of experience in providing full-store refrigeration solutions, is a valuable source of merchandising insight and inspiration. Their one-stop resource hub, Merchandising Matters, offers a wealth of information including inspiration, actionable takeaways, informative reports, real-world photos, trend reports, video tips, and blog posts.
Effective merchandising involves guiding shoppers through a purposeful layout, using targeted impulse buy placements and messaging, adapting to seasonal preferences, ensuring product convenience, and employing shopper data to personalize experiences. For instance, designing the store or online shopping path to lead customers past impulse buy displays and popular items can increase visibility and the chance of unplanned purchases. Placing lower-cost impulse items near checkouts or alongside popular products can trigger spontaneous buying behavior.
Impulse buy promotions can also be effective. Keeping affordable products (under $20) near checkout areas, rotating these items frequently, and using urgent, compelling language like "limited time" or "while supplies last" can create a sense of urgency and drive impulse buying.
Adapting merchandising to seasonal shopper behavior is another key approach. Spotlighting staples relevant to the season (e.g., grillables and condiments in summer) at eye-level and high-traffic zones can attract shoppers. Encouraging cross-category purchases by grouping complementary products together, such as salad kits near deli items, can also boost sales.
Convenience-focused merchandising is essential. Ensuring product availability and easy access to frequently purchased or seasonal items with well-stocked, organized displays can reduce shopper effort and increase satisfaction.
Technology can also play a role in effective merchandising. Apps or pantry inventory tracking tools can personalize shopping lists or suggest relevant products, enhancing convenience and encouraging repeat visits.
In today's competitive market, a flexible and agile merchandising strategy is crucial. About 75% of grocery store shoppers make purchasing decisions on the spot in-store, so it's important to offer a wide variety of options and to keep displays fresh and appealing.
Hillphoenix offers a range of products designed to help food retailers implement these strategies. The GMD-R Multi-Deck Service Refrigerated Display Case, for example, offers full-view panoramic service glass and illuminating LED lighting, while the PF Self-Service Multi-Deck comes in 4-foot and 6-foot lengths and uses natural R-290 refrigerant. The PTD-R-H Combination Service Hot Dome and Self-Service Refrigerated Display pairs hot-and-ready options with easy refrigerated sides in one spot.
Shoppers are more likely to shop around for the best deals, so it's important to offer competitive pricing and to highlight any special offers or promotions. Shoppers are also concerned about inflation and are looking for ways to save money, so offering value-added services such as loyalty programs that reward frequent shoppers, personalized recommendations, and easy checkout options can help to build shopper loyalty.
For food retailers looking to explore all that Hillphoenix has to offer, visit Hillphoenix.com. With a long history of success in the industry, Hillphoenix is a trusted partner for food retailers seeking to build in-store experiences that inspire and delight shoppers since 1887.
- To stay competitive in the face of operational challenges, food retailers can look to solutions like effective merchandising strategies, which can be found in resources like Hillphoenix's Merchandising Matters hub.
- To drive impulse buying and create a sense of urgency, food retailers can utilize impulse buy promotions, placing affordable products near checkout areas, rotating these items frequently, and using urgent language such as "limited time" or "while supplies last".
- For food retailers looking to implement convenience-focused merchandising strategies, Hillphoenix offers a range of products, such as display cases and hot-and-ready combinations, ensuring product availability and easy access to frequently purchased items, thus increasing shopper satisfaction.
