You can have the best products in the world but if they’re not well presented, you’ll struggle to maximise their sales potential. An eye-catching, thoughtfully designed display, however, draws customers in, encourages browsing, and inspires purchases. If you’re looking for new ways to refresh your shop’s look and boost sales, here are six creative gift shop merchandising ideas to spark your imagination.
Themed Displays That Tell A Story
Visual merchandising doesn’t just put the product in front of the customer, it tells a story and takes visitors to your store on a journey. So, instead of grouping products together solely by type, try grouping by mood or scene. For example, a cosy night in might feature scented candles, fragrant reed diffusers and soft, inviting textiles. A storytelling display helps customers visualise how products can work together in their lives, and often encourages the purchase of more than one item.
Use Colour Blocking For Impact
Colour is one of the most powerful tools you can use in visual merchandising so think carefully about it when you select the wholesale gifts you wish to sell. Grouping products by colour, known as colour blocking, can transform the way your shelves appear to shoppers, drawing them in for a closer look.
Whether you go for soothing pastels, rich jewel colours or seasonal hews (think autumnal browns, russets and oranges) a cohesive colour scheme makes your display pop and adds a sense of order that invites people to explore.
Play With Height And Layers
A flat display where everything is lined up can look rather uninspiring but popping items at different heights can make a huge difference. Think about it like dressing a stage where you have background taller scenery and lower props at the front.
Use crates, risers, boxes, anything that appeals to add interest and levels. If it’s a coastal-themed display consider weaving old ropes throughout or using driftwood, for example to help catch the eye. This works particularly well for central or window displays.
Rotate Displays Regularly
Displays can quickly become tired and dated looking, especially if they’re not kept clean or well stocked. Just think about the post-Christmas period. While a festive display looks perfect in the run up to Christmas, it looks distinctly lacklustre and a little bit sad in the days and weeks afterwards.
Rotate displays to coincide with seasonal events but go a step further and change things up every few weeks. You don’t have to overhaul the entire shop each time, just refresh key areas with seasonal gifts or new arrivals.
Create Mini Gift Bundles
A kitchen apron on its own might seem a touch uninspiring but bundling it with some floral tea towels, a floral ceramic mug and coasters can create a lovely gift set for a customer. It also evokes the kind of image that encourages them to buy.
Additionally, bundling products together is a great way to increase sales of slow-moving products. By pairing them with top sellers you can improve sales of stock you want to clear whilst simultaneously giving your customer better perceived value.
Incorporate Natural Elements
Natural materials appeal to our inherent love of nature. Adding stone, wood, greenery or dried flowers to a display creates warmth and texture. Wicker baskets, slate boards and wooden crates all make wonderful display enhancements while a few sprigs of eucalyptus or lavender can add a subtle but inviting scent.
If you specialise in artisan or natural made products this kind of addition will only help to enhance your range further. A well-thought-out display does more than showcase products. It supports your brand identity, leads customers to make more or larger purchases and creates a shop environment that is a joy to browse.
Contact Us
Looking to elevate your shop displays or need help choosing products that work beautifully together? We’re here to help. Whether you want advice on curating themed collections, seasonal merchandising ideas, or the best-selling products to feature, our team is always happy to chat.