Easy to Use.Visual Merchandising Software by Taqtics

Visual merchandising software is consistently growing as a valuable tool in the retail industry, enabling businesses to consistently work on captivating displays to attract foot traffic into their stores. Visual merchandising software helps with captivating Visual Merchandising execution as retail stores today need to give a solid reason for customers to want to come down to their store and experience shopping. Many stores have a good visual merchandising plan, but executing and monitoring is challenging. Without proper execution, even the best plan fails to achieve its purpose.

Enter Taqtics! A digital software exclusively designed for the retail business offers various smart tools along with tools to simplify Visual Merchandising execution to ensure a consistent look and feel across multiple stores. In this blog, we’ll explore the key aspects of visual merchandising software and its importance.

What is visual merchandising software?

Visual merchandising software is a digital solution that streamlines all VM activities of retail operations. The VM software enables managers to send targeted VM guidelines to multiple outlets easily, ensure their execution on time, and monitor the proper execution of the VM guidelines from their office desks without having to visit the store outlets all the time. Visual merchandising software simplifies the planning and implementation of visual displays, saving time and resources while maximizing the impact on customers.

What are the benefits of using the visual merchandising tools on Taqtics?

Taqtics is a platform that streamlines all the day-to-day operations of a retail or restaurant outlet which includes Standard Operating Procedures checklists, training, assessments, visual merchandising, auditing, attendance, and noticeboards. Let us look at some of the important and effective benefits of using the VM smart tools on the Taqtics platform.

1.Sharing VM guidelines with photo/ video attachments 

Through the app, Taqtics enables management to instantly share the VM guidelines across all the store outlets. You can easily use a photo or video attachment to make the VM instruction so that there are higher chances your store teams will get the VM execution right the first time reducing the time taken for further corrections and redos.

2. Targeted VM guidelines

Every store is unique and has some specific requirements based on store architecture, location, etc. For example, let’s say, one store is located in a coastal area, then the software can provide guidelines on showcasing beachwear and summer fashion trends. On the other hand, a store in a colder climate can receive instructions on promoting winter clothing and layering techniques. By sending tailored instructions, the software ensures that each store receives relevant information, maximizing its ability to create appealing displays that resonate with local customers.

3. VM Checklists 

Visual merchandising execution is simplified with photo/video attached detailed VM guidelines along with a digital store operation checklist to ensure that store teams complete the process of VM execution correctly. This reduces mistakes and improves the compliance of VM guidelines.

4. Live-photo feature

Managers need not restlessly visit store to store to ensure proper VM execution. Taqtics entails the live-photo feature that enables store teams to send live photos after completing VM tasks. Managers can go through these photos and instantly correct them through the platform from their office desk. This saves time and cost spent on visiting every store to oversee VM execution.

5. Real-time Visibility

Taqtics offers business dashboards with real-time visibility that helps to-

• Track completion and compliance of visual merchandising across all outlets.
• Track the time taken to complete the VM guidelines and checklists
• Instantly identify in case of an issue or missed tasks
• Generate automated reports using all the VM data across different outlets in PDF or presentation format for review

Elevate the quality of your in-store operations efficiently with the smart tools and features of Taqtics. Ensure that you deliver consistent customer experience across all the stores. Taqtics is exclusively tailored to cater to the retail and restaurant’s everyday operational needs. You can also customize tools to meet the unique requirements of your business.

How does visual merchandising software work?

Visual merchandising software simplifies the process of planning and implementing a visually appealing display plan in retail stores. It allows retailers to design virtual store layouts, visualize product placement, optimize space utilization, plan displays specific to outlets, collaborate with teams, and track performance. Retailers can create attractive and effective visual merchandising strategies that enhance customer engagement to drive sales with visual merchandising software.

How visual merchandising software can increase ROI?

Visual merchandising is the process of setting up the products in the store in a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing manner to attract customers to make a purchase. Visual merchandising software automates tasks, simplifies processes, and provides smart tools that save time and reduce costs significantly through the automation of many traditional ways of carrying out VM tasks.  This helps the retail stores redirect their finance and resources toward more revenue-generating activities. Using visual merchandising software gives your retail stores a competitive advantage through automated insights and data analysis.

What is VM in merchandising?

Visual merchandising (VM) is the process and practice of displaying products in retail store space. It uses a planned way of organizing the store with its products in the most appealing way to attract customers and persuade them to buy those products.

Has a store immediately caught your eye while you were walking down the street and you had to get into the store to see more? Sometimes when you are searching for a store to buy a product from an unfamiliar area, something tells you one of the stores seems better than the others, so you go to the store to make the purchase. Relatable? This is because humans respond to visual stimuli and that is why retail stores ensure that their store is well presented and aesthetically pleasing.

Visual merchandising is the in-store marketing strategy that uses the store plan, lighting, color schemes, shelves, displays, promotions, etc. to arrange the merchandise in a way that attracts and persuades the audience to step into your store and make a purchase. Visual merchandising also represents how the brand is presented to its customers as well. This process creatively nudges the customers to enter the store, shop longer, and create a demand for your product by offering a splendid experience consistently to boost sales.

What are the 3 most important things in visual merchandising?

Visual merchandising refers to the science of creating visual art and transforming a retail space into a gratifying shopping experience. The strategic product placement, promotions, interactive visual stimuli, store ambience and more draw the customers to your brand story and create a demand for your products or choose your product in the competitive retail world. Now, let us take a look at the important elements of visual merchandising.

1. Layout & Design

Layout and design are the crux of the art of visual merchandising. This is the element that uses the retail space with a well-presented store with a great branded interior, colour schemes, attention-grabbing product strategies, marketing, signage, and proper lighting to create the perfect ambience for your stores.

1. Product Placement 

Product placement management and strategies ensure that the right products get maximum visibility in a visually appealing and ambient environment. The basis of product placement is to keep the main category of products at an eye level so that the customers pay attention to these products as soon as the entire retail store. The rest of the products should also be grouped carefully and placed across the store providing an easy view and accessibility to check out the products.

1. Story Telling 

Visual merchandising gives the brand the perfect opportunity to the story of your brand and its products or services. With the art of telling a story through visual merchandising, you can speak to your audience about how your brand came into existence, what its unique selling propositions, brand values, and more through visually presenting your products. This will leave a long-lasting impression in the minds of customers even after they are done shopping.

Smart layout and design, strategic product placement, and the art of storytelling are the top 3 pivotal elements in visual merchandising. By mastering these three important elements of visual merchandising, you can leave a lasting impression on your customers.

What are the 4 types of merchandising?

Merchandising comprises several kinds of techniques for successfully marketing and promoting products. There are four main types of merchandise:

1. Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is the type that focuses on the display and placement of merchandise or products. Visual merchandising strategies are curated by VM experts and executed at the retail stores by retail store teams. The aesthetic, captivating, and other VM strategies attract customers to your store and persuade them to make purchases.

1. Digital Merchandising

As the name suggests, digital merchandising is the type of merchandising that uses digital platforms like websites, social media, and other software to sell, promote, and conduct marketing. Digital merchandising enables you to showcase your products to a wider audience. It also uses marketing techniques like personalized ads, email marketing etc

1. Retail Merchandising 

The various procedures and kinds of marketing initiatives carried out in retail store outlets are referred to as retail merchandising. This includes setting up a kiosk, distributing flyers, giving away samples of the products, drawing lucky winners, having summer deals, etc. This promotes a stronger relationship between your products and customers.

1. Strategic Merchandising 

It employs carefully gathered data to construct carefully curated and successful distinctive merchandising strategies, including competitor analysis, customer behavior, market research, and insights into retail market trends.

Understanding the types of merchandising is helpful as it gives important guidance to navigate through the best merchandising policies for your business. Most businesses use multiple types of merchandising to increase sales and profitability.

Why is VM important in retail?

Visual merchandising is a non-negotiable as it is one of the most essential practices that can transform a normal retail store into an attractive and engaging one.

1. Enhance the Shopping Experience: With the help of visual merchandising software, execution of VM guidelines without any issues becomes easier. This brings an enhanced look and feel to your stores ensuring that your customers get the best shopping experience at any of your retail store outlets.
2. Increase footprints: By using appealing displays, the right VM tools, and visually appealing storefronts, you can grab attention and improve the number of walk-ins to your store. Appealing ambience also includes the smell, look, feel, and even the background music that is being played in a retail store.
3. Increase Sales: VM with strategic product placement, cross-merchandising, and smart selling techniques increase the number of customers to purchase your products and boost your sales. VM is your silent and visual salesman who invites customers to your store and persuades them to buy different products.
4. Brand Image: VM is used to tell your brand story, promises, unique selling proposition, and more leaving a long-lasting imprint in the minds of your customers. This communicates the brand value increasing the trust in your brand with customers and helps you in building a strong brand image.

Visual merchandising adds personality to your brand and store. Hence, it is very important to build its character carefully for your customers to experience.

What is the difference between VM and merchandising?

Difference between VM and merchandising

Merchandising: Merchandising includes the entire process of planning, developing, and implementing strategies to promote and sell products. It involves activities such as product selection, pricing, inventory management, and promotional campaigns. Merchandising focuses on optimizing product offerings and ensuring their availability to meet customer demands.

Visual Merchandising: Visual merchandising is part of merchandising that specifically deals with the visual presentation and display of products within a retail space. Visual merchandising aims to smartly and strategically utilize the visual elements to create a great shopping experience for your customers.

What are the 4 Ps of visual merchandising?

In the retail sector, presentation, placement, promotion, and preservation are frequently used as yardsticks for success. Each of these components is crucial for drawing customers in, cultivating brand loyalty, and increasing sales. Let’s examine the four Ps of visual merchandising.

4 Ps of visual merchandising

1. Product

Regarding products, the most important thing to consider is their storage, Does the products need to be refrigerated? does the product need to be kept in a warmer environment? When it comes to supermarkets or grocery stores, certain products are grouped at a set location. For: You don’t want you’re sitting in carton boxes in the corner or you don’t want to pick up onions from a decorated and ambient table. These are examples of why it is very critical to the group and store your products tactfully in the right place according to their storage requirements.

1. Placement

Most customers do not go and check out every aisle or set of products. Therefore, the products should be placed tactfully in such a manner that as the customer runs their eyes through the store, the product they are looking for easily catches their eyes. This involves carefully looking at placement factors like key viewpoints, organic traffic flow, focal points, and more to successfully guide the customers throughout your store.

1. Presentation 

The foundation of the presentation is that there is a lot of difference between placing your products for a smart sale and just a sale. A smart sale will ensure that the customer will come back to your store for more, customers are impressed with your products and are reminded of your brand even after the shopping experience. This also increases customer loyalty apart from just a one-time sale. The presentation of store ambience and product presentation can leave a long-lasting impression on the customers.

1. Promotions

This is one of the most essential magnets to attract customers. Promotions comprise all the marketing activities implemented to boost sales. These activities convey brand messages, capture customer attention, and entice customers through exciting offers and more. With the usage of the right visual tools and creative messaging techniques, it can create an interest in the brand with customers while also sustaining customer interaction and engagement with the brand.

Mastering the management of products, placement, presentation, and promotion paves the way for the store from being a one-time customer base to building a loyal customer base. by manoeuvring these elements creatively and effectively, you can undoubtedly leave an unforgettable shopping experience for your customers.