Optimizing Retail Space: Merchandising Strategies for Enhanced Sales

Posted on Jan 27, 2025 in Mathematics

Retail Space Optimization for Merchandisers

Key Stages for Merchandisers:

  1. Distribution of activity areas.
  2. Defining sections for sales and space distribution.
  3. Section placement.
  4. Defining soil occupation coefficients.
  5. Selecting furniture.
  6. Distributing linear space for each section among families.
  7. Placing product families in relation to each other.
  8. Selecting articles.
  9. Placing related articles together.
  10. Location within the sales room.

Implementation: General Area Listing

  • Access and Checkout Area: 5-10% of space.
  • Backroom/Storage and Service Areas: 10-15% of space.
  • Sales Room: 80% of space.

Traditional retail spaces often underutilize space, while modern spaces capitalize on self-service and attractive packaging. Modern retail generates higher sales costs, making space a valuable resource. Key findings include:

  • Traditional spaces are underutilized; modern spaces are capitalized.
  • Modern spaces leverage impulse buying.
  • Sales are superior in modern spaces.
  • Stock is renewed more rapidly in modern spaces, generating more profit.

Implementation factors:

  • Architecture influences layout.
  • Spacing affects the number of checkouts.
  • Warehouse stock volume, cold storage, bakeries, and cutting rooms determine storage area size.
  • Rectangular layouts are ideal.
  • Direct street access for storage is desirable.

Sales Room Layout and Customer Movement

The merchandiser aims to guide customers through profitable product sections. Customer satisfaction is enhanced by:

  • Quick purchases.
  • Immediate product location.
  • A pleasant shopping experience.

Merchandisers should focus on:

  • The track or trail.
  • Speed of movement.
  • Duration of travel.

Corridors

Corridors should facilitate movement and access to different sales areas. Types include:

  • Main Corridors: Long corridors that lead customers to the back of the sales room.
  • Penetration Corridors: Allow quick movement through the store.
  • Transverse Corridors: Connect different sections.

Aisles should encourage customers to pass through as many sections as possible. Avoid bottlenecks that hinder flow.

Product Placement

There are two types of purchases:

  • Task-Oriented Purchases: Quick and efficient, with minimal search time.
  • Pleasure Purchases: Enjoyable and entertaining.

Information

Clear information guides customers, making it easy to locate products. Music tempo can be adjusted based on customer volume.

Special Displays

  • Islands: Products displayed outside their usual sections.
  • Stacks: Product presentations within their sections.
  • Gondola Headers: Movable displays at the end of gondolas, highly impactful in cross aisles.