What is
Merchandising.
Merchandising is any practice that aids in the sale of goods or services to 
consumers. With regards to retail sales, this would be the types of 
merchandise and the methods of displaying them that attracts the eye and 
encourages sales.
Visual merchandising refers to the use of sight to entice your audience. This 
is done by using attractive displays and arrangements, demonstrations, 
informative signage, and packaging. Knowing where to place items within 
each arrangement, proper placement within the retail environment and the 
overall impression of your space all contribute to visual merchandising.
Merchandise simply laid out on a table or placed on shelves does not imply 
any sort of worth or attract attention. It is key to have a plan for your products 
within your space. Effective merchandising increases sales and keeps you 
ahead of the competition, therefore you need to stand out in your field and 
work smartly to draw the attention to you and your merchandise. Decorative 
displays, products, arrangements and environments suggest worth, variety 
and individuality, and generate a desire to obtain the product or service, 
therefore increasing your bottom line.
It is important to order adequate amounts of merchandise, enough to supply 
demands, but not so much that it goes out of style while you have it in stock. 
Ordering the wrong amount of merchandise will tie up your space with 
undesired items, causing consumers to go elsewhere to find a wider variety 
of items that visually appeal to them.
Timing is also an integral part of effective 
merchandising to attract sales. Back to School, 
holidays, summer vacations, and other special 
events all offer opportunities to enhance your 
merchandising plan. Reminders to help children 
see the blackboard, extra contacts for vacation 
and new sunglasses for the beach are all effective 
means to draw attention to your merchandise and 
elevate sales. Variety and rotating your displays, 
stock and merchandise are imperative to 
proper merchandising.
Advertising moves people toward 
goods; merchandising moves goods 
toward people.
CHARLES EAMES
American Designer
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