Innovations in Visual Merchandise Displays

While the COVID-19 pandemic increased online sales, customers still enjoy a physical shopping experience. Today’s consumers favor instant gratification. In-person experiences allow them to try a product and walk out with it immediately, making in-store shopping more attractive and engaging.

Businesses that leverage innovative digital displays in retail can increase sales, boost the customer experience and build brand loyalty. Learn about the latest visual merchandising trends and how to use them to showcase your products in the best light.

The Current State of Visual Merchandise Displays

The concept of using visual merchandise displays to promote products was first introduced in 1883 by retail extraordinaire Harry Gordon Selfridge. Today, a few key display elements define the state of modern visual merchandising.

Traditional Displays

Traditional merchandising displays are physical setups that showcase products in the retail space. Some common examples include:

  • Signage: Eye-catching retail signage helps capture the customer’s attention while providing useful information to inform their purchasing decisions.
  • Point-of-purchase displays: You can customize these visual merchandising options to counters or aisles, prompting customers to make a last-minute purchase.
  • Multitiered displays: Displays that encompass several levels promote a variety of products. They are useful for cross-selling strategies, such as offering nacho chips with bottles of salsa or a makeup remover with waterproof mascara.

While traditional options have a great track record for boosting sales, newer, more innovative options can take your displays to the next level.

Lighting and Signage

Adding lights to your displays can create a captivating experience. Illumination can spotlight your products and establish an all-around more engaging setup.

These displays have become even more popular with the addition of light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that burn 75% less energy and last 25% longer than canescent alternatives. They are a great option for energy-conscious businesses. Battery-powered LEDs are even more advantageous, allowing a display to go virtually anywhere in a store without requiring an electrical outlet.

QR Codes

Your displays have limited space to share important features and benefits of your products. Quick response (QR) codes allow you to provide additional details to shoppers in a convenient, easily accessible format. Consumers can scan the code with their smartphone to get valuable information about your product and brand.

Since shoppers actively engage with the QR code, you can get higher-quality leads. Your brand can also use QR insights to improve campaigns and optimize the shopper experience.

Digital Displays

Technology has changed how many industries operate, and the visual merchandising sector is no different. Here are some of the most innovative digital displays to drive brand awareness:

  • LED billboards: Like their card counterparts, LED billboards showcase brand information and selected products. They allow brands to rotate products and customize messaging to your customer demographics, making them highly effective.
  • Video walls: This digital trend encompasses multiple screens to create a large-format display. The sheer size of the video wall makes it exceptionally eye-catching to passersby.
  • Interactive displays: Smart video and sound formats allow you to suggest additional products, helping businesses upsell. You can also save customer data, helping your business improve forecasting.

The Future of Digital Displays in Retail

Purchasing trends are ever-evolving, and digital displays enable companies to adjust their merchandising displays for maximum impact. Here is a deeper look at the emerging technologies in retail:

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Augmented reality (AR) displays the user’s environment in real-time, whereas virtual reality (VR) focuses on an imaginary realm. Both merchandising displays offer a unique experience for the customer, enticing them to engage with the product.

By leveraging this immersive display, customer can try on products and learn about their benefits. It helps them visualize how these items will benefit their daily lives.

Interactive Touchscreens

Stores can advertise their latest products via touchscreens. They streamline the customer experience and allow people to learn more about the brands and products that catch their attention.

Touchscreens can prompt customers to enter their email addresses so your business can foster ongoing relationships and optimize your in-store advertising campaigns.

Holographic Displays

Holographic displays are particularly effective with high-end products like perfume and sunglasses. They help customers imagine how the product will fit in their lives, leading to greater engagement and sales.

As holographic displays are a more specialized medium, they effectively showcase your brand as innovative. Consumers associate these displays with top-of-the-range products.

Benefits of Digital Displays

While digital displays are more expensive than traditional options, they offer several valuable benefits for your business that can offset costs. Below is an overview of the top advantages:

  • Enhanced customer engagement: Digital displays can attract ample attention, especially with the right design and colors. Adding these displays in-store entices customers to take a second look and learn about your product.
  • Personalized shopping experiences: You can customize digital displays based on the weather or time of day, supercharging innovation and interactiveness. Adding personalized messages helps connect with your ideal customers and resonates with them on a deeper level.
  • Increased sales and brand loyalty: Digital displays may prompt a customer to select a product and suggest additional products that pair well together. This cross-selling strategy results in increased sales and greater brand engagement.

Case Studies of Innovative Digital Displays

If you are wondering if investing in new digital displays for your products is worth the investment, consider these case studies:

Hello Sense

Hello is a company specializing in sleep devices. They approached our team before launching their new sleep improvement product, Sense.

Great Northern Instore created a modern interactive display to showcase the brand’s unique personality. By leveraging soft LED lighting, video messaging and product samples, we were able to meet sales targets.

Ultimate Ears

Ultimate Ears is a renowned earbud and speaker manufacturer that worked with the Great Northern Instore team to promote their portable speaker in Costco stores.

We created an interactive display that allowed Costco members to engage with the product out of the packaging to experience the amazing sound quality. Shoppers had the opportunity to experiment with the product and that in-person engagement translated to more speaker sales.

Overcoming Budget Constraints

One of the easiest ways to curb costs on your visual merchandising campaign is to use one business. As the display creation process involves multiple steps, using one company allows you to set one overall budget. Internal teams can then communicate the best way to complete your project within cost constraints. Some other tips for maximizing your budget include:

  • Set clear goals: Taking the time to identify your objectives helps you design displays that support these results. If you achieve your goals, your investment would have been well worth it.
  • Focus on high-impact areas: Brands do not always have the resources to put a display in every retailer. Conduct thorough customer and sales research using these insights to position displays in high-traffic stores.
  • Use cost-effective technology: Showcasing smaller digital displays on tablets is much more cost-effective than larger video walls. By working with a creative team, you can also ask them to suggest other digital displays that will not break the bank.

Great Northern Instore Helps You Capitalize on Visual Merchandising Trends

Digital signage is a great way to optimize your brand visibility and encourage more sales. However, traditional displays such as promotional racks, pallet skirts and counter displays are still effective currently.

Great Northern Instore helps businesses like yours leverage merchandising trends for optimal success. Whether you choose an interactive display or an eye-catching sign, we have the skills to create attractive displays within your budget. Learn more about our display solutions for your business, or contact a brand expert for personalized assistance!

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