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Merchandising in Small Spaces
Not every salon retail area is open and spacious, and most salons have a small corner or space that can be challenging to merchandise.
by Nicole Leinbach Reyhle
June 1, 2010
2 min to read
Not every salon retail area is open and spacious, and most salons have a small corner or space that can be challenging to merchandise. The key to maximizing these spaces is to recognize the challenges involved so you can overcome them. Some suggested merchandising methods to help do this include the following:
1. Make use of both vertical and horizontal space. Do not ignore the opportunities to display items below or above eye level. If your customers can see it, it’s still worth utilizing in displays. Just make sure you can reach the items you are displaying easily — even with some aid — if you have products displayed that are out of reach for the client to grab herself.
2. Layer your displays with texture, add-on accessories, and other contrasts to create more interest. By offering more in your display, you will draw more attention to that particular area. Don’t mistake this merchandising method for cluttering up a space, though. You still want your display to look visually appealing.
3. Utilize effective lighting to highlight your small space. Too many retailers ignore this crucial element. Don’t overlook this step. The right lighting can highlight your small space and displayed items, drawing attention to this otherwise possibly overlooked area.
4. Use color and excitement. Whatever excitement may mean to your salon, challenge yourself to use it in small spaces. Enhance this with color. Combined, this will draw interest to your small space and customers will be visually drawn to it as well.
5. Focus on a theme, collection, or focal point. Concentrating on one dedicated product or general assortment of products can make your small space appear cohesive and meant to be. Try and use the space in a dedicated fashion toward one purpose to give your customers a better understanding of this space. Finally, make sure to re-merchandise your small space often in an effort to bring new interest to it while also giving the items there new life in another space. Remember the key to all merchandising is to do it routinely for it to impact sales effectively, so don’t just get your small spaces done and settle in for too long. Repeat your actions with new products and new displays often for the best results.
Nicole Leinbach Reyhle is the founder of Retail Minded, which is dedicated to supporting independent retailers and wholesalers through a professional blog and one-on-one, project-based support. To learn more about Retail Minded, visit www.retailminded.com.
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