The Power of Presentation
Visual merchandising is the art and science of presenting products in a way that drives sales.
Our priority is to make a positive first impression the moment a customer enters the store.
Merchandising Open Day - Preparing for the Future
Registered to attend the virtual Merchandising Open Day on Wednesday, 21st May 2025.
Although I unfortunately missed the January event due to illness, I'm excited to present my initial merchandising findings.
For this exercise, I've chosen to analyse the Sainsbury's store in Kidlington
against our competitor, Tesco,
located on Ambassador Avenue in Cowley.
My observations often focus on product displays, particularly within the haircare and World Food sections, making this a particularly engaging area for me to explore.
Below is a preview of some of my findings, ready for presentation at the Open Day.
Beauty Expert role and its connection to the principles of good retail.
It's no surprise that the Beauty Expert role within our company emphasises the need to cultivate a positive atmosphere, actively engage with our customers, drive sales, and be knowledgeable representatives of our products.
Our shelves must communicate the extensive availability we offer. Furthermore, we aim to build genuine relationships with our customers, fostering loyalty and creating the feeling that they have discovered a retail niche specifically tailored to their individual needs.
Connecting my lived experience with the principles of visual merchandising and retail strategy
As someone with ADHD who has been drawn to creating displays since childhood, I get the powerful influence of product packaging.
My indecisiveness often leads to a more considered (and sometimes longer!) purchasing journey.
However, my enthusiasm for such offers is quickly dampened by poor availability. There's nothing more frustrating than wanting to take advantage of a multi-buy promotion only to find insufficient stock on the shelves. This firsthand understanding underscores a crucial element of successful merchandising: availability is everything. Ensuring that shelves are well-stocked and reflect the promotions being offered is paramount to converting interest into sales and maintaining customer satisfaction."
There is a clear gap in research regarding the impact of visual merchandising on individuals with ADHD. As understanding of neurodiversity grows, future studies could explore:
How do different visual merchandising techniques affect attention, engagement, and purchasing behaviour in individuals with ADHD?
Design principles for retail spaces that are more inclusive and less overwhelming for neurodivergent customers.
The potential benefits of tailored visual merchandising approaches for specific customer segments.
