Do and Don't: Irrationality of Combinations

IRRATIONALITY OF COMBINATIONS
DO: Yes, there is a term for mixing unrelated items in a display. However, the catch is that they still need to belong to a single story as in this case.
The display below of table mats and plates may have nothing to do with pillows and birdcage candle holders but they belong in the same colour story. DON'T: Car mats and kitchen accessories. Hmmm. Even this will not get away with using the term irrationality of combinations.

Do and Don't: Hodge Podge Displays

DO: Make it easy to buy! Within a single category such as souvenirs, group like items together. E.G. Food within its own subgroup and gifts in another.
DON'T: Avoid displaying all kinds of souvenirs together. Products lose their credibility and perceived values when it is in a hodge podge display.

Do and Don't: Selling Signs-Is Handwritten OK?

DO: Mass market retailers like the one below, who want to promote the idea of extremely popular price points, use machine printed "handwritten" signs. This is the one instance where actual handwritten signs may also be acceptable although not as preferred as machine print. DON'T: Boutique owners selling mid to high price point goods should avoid handwritten signs. Besides looking unprofessional, printed signs always outsell handwritten ones! Product credibility, not to mention brand credibility is greatly diminished.

Do and Don't: Lighting- How unromantic!

DO: Ensure that in-store lighting is well mainted from selling spaces to task areas such as the cash desk. Brightest spots are usually found right by the lease line, task areas and focal displays. DON'T Ignore busted light bulbs. While it may seem harmless leaving a burnt out lightbulb, remember, a selling area becomes dim and less attractive to customers. This equates to lost sales!

Do and Don't: Layout-Category Placement

DO: Keep your merchandise category layout organized and logically sequenced. This makes shopping so much easier. Best of all, it encourages multiple sales between categories. Fixtures that form mini sections can create a clean delineation between categories. DON'T: Refrain from placing merchandise without careful thought of the story you would like to convey.

Do and Don't: Housekeeping- behind the cash desk

DO: Keep back of cash desks neat and tidy. Just because this is the back does not mean customers now have their blinders on. Remember, this is often where the last impression is formed.

DON'T: When did backs of cash desks become garbage storage? I was purchasing something from this store and this is the cash counter they used to process my transaction. Needless to say the cashier had a harder time bagging my items when she had to move things around to access the bags.

Do and Don't: Valentine Window Display

I realize that not all retailers can afford to hire professional visual merchandisers to do their window displays all the time. This is just fine, when having the right foundation (in this case, fixtures) and by applying some shape to the set-up can go a long way in creating an eye catching display.
DO: (Above)

1. Nesting tables set a good foundation that creates interest in a display.

2. The products placed from top to bottom invites the eye to view the entire display.

3. The diagonal line created by the bags provide eye direction.

4. The backdrop stops the eye from meandering elsewhere.

5. The strong use of the colour red cannot help but stop the eye.

DON'T:

1. Half hearted attempts at this Valentine display fail to attract positive attention.

2. The sparse merchandising and haphazardly placed merchandise look extremely unprofessional and thus, devalue the products.

3. There is really nothing that attracts the eye to this low display. Eye level is really the interior of the shop which just adds to visual clutter.

TO DO THEMED WINDOWS WELL, YOU GOTTA DO IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT