When it comes to retail, no matter what the industry, visual merchandising plays an important role in selling products. Nothing gets customers to shelves faster than eye-catching, clear and vibrant displays that show off the best of what products have to offer.

However unlike clothing or technology, food has a finite shelf life. This means turning over products is ever the more important in a grocery environment, as it can significantly affect your profits for a given time period. Here are some best visual merchandising practices that improve store ambiance and help offer the best retail experience possible.

1. Shelf Placement
   Enticing, competitive, high-impulse purchase products should sit at eye level on the shelves in order to maximize consumer reach. Generic, staple products that are evergreen should sit at the bottom, as purchase can usually be guaranteed regardless of price or promotion. Expensive, or ‘top shelf’ splurges, should be (as the name suggests) on the higher shelves.
2. Fresh food
   Produce displays are extremely important as these products carry the shortest shelf life, so need to have a healthy turnover. Fresh food displays should utilize staggered shelves so as much of the produce is visible to consumers as possible. They should also take advantage of the brightly coloured produce – a good practice is to alternate green vegetables with reds, yellows and oranges such as carrots, bananas or red capsicums. Use draping and backing to give a visual pop to baked goods.
3. Create a joint ambiance
   Each food store carries its own brand and character, and this should be reflected throughout the store. Strive to integrate common design elements and visual connections that create a local ambiance. This promotes an engaging and friendly atmosphere that will make consumers feel at home and invites them to stay. If there’s something unique to a particular suburb or state, draw on that if possible. No one can go wrong with a bit of delight and surprise here and there- plus, it will do wonders for store loyalty.
4. Plan strategically
   Store layout is important as it determines the way consumers shop, and in turn, what they buy. Place essentials and destination purchases around the perimeters of the store, as it increases the chance of consumers walking through the aisles to purchase other goods.

Visual merchandising is of course, visual, and to see best practices in action, take a wander around the showgrounds at Fine Food Australia. Register online today for free entry.