Do and Don't: Directing the Eye through Lighting

I love it when stores use lighting to create drama and attract the eye. Not only does it say that the products highlighted are special, they also lead the eye to the area the store wishes to promote. What a simple way to influence shopping behavior!

DO: Using different levels of lighting, this shop uses the brightest lights to bring the eye to a feature display.

 

CAN BE IMPROVED: Although the idea of a back lit is good as it attracts the eye to a specific location, it also darkens the very merchandise the shop wishes to promote.

 

 

Do: Testers are Always Welcome

Ever been to stores that sell perfume wherein all the bottles are locked up in a glass cabinet? How do they expect customers to be attracted to the products when the displays are uninviting? 

 

The photo in this week’s blog shows one that caught my attention. All the products displayed below have a corresponding tester on the top shelf. The shelf height is a little below chest level and thus easily invites one to try the products. The absence of a sales associate in this case made the displays more welcoming as I knew I could play to my heart’s content without any interruption— and PLAY I did!

 

Do and Don't: Cubes? Who Knew?!

I mentioned in a previous blog that mannequin displays are appealing when they eye hits near the chest area. But what about kids mannequins? How can they be boosted higher closer to the eye so it hits the right spot?

DO: A great kids mannequin display! They are stacked atop cubes of varying heights giving the display an appealing and inviting look.

DON'T: Placing the kids bodyform on the floor is just too low. The customer has to probably bend down on their hands and knees to see the detail of the clothing being promoted.

Do and Don't: Cosmetics is STILL a Mini Luxury, Isn't It?

I subscribe to the belief that merchandise should be supported by the platform it is displayed on to ensure product values are uphelf and most of all, to make them appealing. Isn't that what retailing is all about? Making things begging to be bought?

DO: The right point of purchase display makes the difference between products sold right away and those that remain sitting in the shelf for a long time. Although this is an extremely popular price point, the display continually sells to the customer.

DON'T: I feel bad for the seller of these celebrity endorsed lipsticks. They do not deserve to be presented in a brown corrugated box. Infallible? I think not in this case.

Do and Don't: Amazons Viewing Windows

When displaying merchandise in a window, what is the ideal height? I always thought that its always best when the eye hits the chest area of the mannquins or close to the main feature of the clothing being promoted. Now the question is whose eyes? Someone who is 6 ft. tall or someone less than 5'5"?

DO: I like how the mannquins are just the right height, with my eye hitting the chest area. The lighting also hits this very area, hence drawing the eye to the spot. The strategy of repetition is successfully implemented and indeed makes an impact.

DON'T: I do like the repetition but my eyes hit near the knee area of the jeans. Viewed from afar, this height may be ok, however at that distance one cannot see the jean details. Besides the negative space below is too jarring isn't it?

Do and Don't: Don't Say Bad Words

Ever been to shops where you already know the chances of the staff being rude is high? Just the tone of their signs already gives off a signal of this. How sad many shop owners are unaware the power of their signs and how unwelcoming they can be.

DO: This sign says "These items are FRAGILE Please handle with care, We gladly provide assistance." Isnt this a nice way of informing customers to be careful instead of saying the usual "You break you pay"? or "Do not touch"?

DON'T: Hmmmm. The store wants customers to buy but God forbid they try something on. As if the pink paper and border ribbons will make up for "NO FITTING"!

Do and Don't: The Power of Light

Ever wonder why some stores attract more customers while others have customers passing them by? The not so secret secret? Well-lit spaces! Bright areas attract the eye, hence hard to ignore. Well-lit stores often follow the ABC of lighting- A for the brightest spots which are the focal displays and task lighting including lease lines; B for framing the walls and floor units and C just spillover lighting.

DO: Wow, what a nice and enticing display upfront! I am sure its effective in getting passers-by to come in as well. Did I ever mention that the brightest stores tend to attract the most customers? Lighting the entrance, especially the main focal display is sure to grab attention.

DON'T: Who turned off the lights? Lighting the entrance is crucial not only in getting attention but also in defining the start of the store experience.

Do and Don't: Which Sells Better?

There are so many display techniques and styles around but at the end of the day, I think the one that wins is the one that sells the most.

Which of these two display styles do you think will sell more?
DO: Each shelf is merchandised exactly the same way with small items flanking taller items creating a triangular effect. I prefer this display in that as customers shop, moving from left to right, they are offered a new product (still within the same category). Talk about silent multiple selling!

DON'T: This isn't really a don't, more of "can be improved". The good thing is that smaller items are placed eye level for easy visibility. However, the drawback is that more customers may purchase the smaller lower margin items than the large bottles displayed on the bottom shelf.

Do and Don't: Light Up!

Do you know that the brightest stores catches the most eyes? Ditto with the brightest spots inside a selling space, hence features and focals gets the most light. I am not saying to equally light up the entire floor, as lighting when used properly, can create drama and lead the eye from one point to the next. That is why I often feel bad for stores who are not aware of this. Not only are they losing "eyes" they are also losing sales.

DO: A nice bright clean window display attracts a good amount of attention. The lighting is bright enough to fight the outside glare so merchandise on display is easily seen. Not only does this window display attract attention, I also notice customers walking in looking for a specific piece they saw in this window.

DON'T: When a space is dark, most customers often ignore it. Such a waste of a great opportunity to showcase the shop's merchandise. It was difficult to take a good photo of this window due to the reflection from the main mall corridor. I had to struggle to find an angle that shows the merchandise best. The reflection of brighter things across this window is more dominant than the very products being sold.

Do and Don't: When Backlighting Backfires

DO: Backlighting is a great strategy to attract customer attention and drive them to a specific area. However, additional lighting in front is needed to balance the bright back wall.

DON'T: See what I mean if the front is not lit and only the back is?  While this may marginally work for items such as eyeglasses/sunglasses, other merchandise displays fail when the product face becomes dark especially solid items such as the branding sign seen here.

Do and Don't: The Romance of the Holidays

DO: A select few pieces is showcased dramatically with the use of colour and simple props to convey a strong message of holiday gift giving.

DON'T: A holiday window display needs more appeal than the one seen below. The display not only fails to multiple sell within a set, it hardly encourages customers to even want the items displayed. Jewelry is a gift of love and romance. Its absence in this window is simply too jarring.

Do and Don't: Body Form Displays

DO: Visual clues such as these body forms convey where these shirts can be found. In this case, the body forms are part of the table display making shopping easy. To enhance this display visually, the green body form should be above the green shirts and same with the brown Alaska shirts. DON'T: The mannequins behind the display table should ideally be sporting the very shirts being sold on the table.

Do and Don't: Feature Area Displays

DO: Present a clear story, one theme at a time. This has greater impact than displaying multiple stories.DON'T: Too much of everything, customers see nothing!