“…marketing your store to bring customers in, and using visual merchandising to make your products appealing. Facing helps you maximize that effort. It ensures that your store looks put together, organized, and functional—and shows your customers you prioritize them and how they feel while they shop.” – Marijana Kay, Shopify.
The way retailers display products in stores plays a key role in attracting and retaining customers.
According to Nexgen, a six-month study found that “60% of shoppers had a negative shopping experience because of disorganized and empty shelves, which caused most shoppers to leave the store without buying anything. The reason behind this is that they do not have a proper shelf planning solution.”
Hence, good product placement practices can enhance a retail store’s visual appeal and make it easier for shoppers to find what they need. A retail store that prioritizes product facing can leave customers with a positive impression and encourage repeat business over the long term.
This article explores tips and strategies retailers can use to improve retail product facing, ensuring shoppers have a seamless and memorable shopping experience.
What is Product Facing?
Product facing in retail is the practice of organizing products so that the shelves appear well-stocked and aesthetically appealing.
When an employee faces an aisle, they physically pull products to the front of the shelf and ensure labels face forward. Product-facing helps the store look professional, organized, stocked, and ready for shoppers.
Facing is also called fronting, zoning, blocking, straightening, or leveling.
What is a Slotting Fee?
Slotting fees, or slotting allowance, is a payment retailers receive from manufacturers to guarantee that their products will be allocated shelf space.
Facings also refers to the amount of shelf space a product occupies. The quantity of facings can increase the sale of a particular product. Thus, manufacturers often elect to pay slotting fees to ensure their products receive adequate self-space and facings.
Who is Responsible for Product Facing?
In retail stores, facing is usually the responsibility of cashiers, sales associates, and customer service representatives.
Why is Product Facing Important in Retail Stores?
Facing makes it easier for shoppers to find the items they want and need quickly. In addition, they can also compare products when they are neatly organized on shelves.
Good product-facing practices ensure that shelf space is optimally managed, and the practice concurrently showcases the stores’ entire product assortment for customers to view as they enter the store.
How Does Product Facing Impact Sales?
Facing can significantly increase store sales by making products more visible and accessible to shoppers. Here are five ways product-facing impacts sales potential:
Enhances Product Visibility
Placing products at eye level or slightly below ensures customers find them quickly, increasing the chances of purchase.
Creates the Appearance of Abundance
Well-faced products give the impression of a fully stocked store, encouraging customers to buy more.
Improves the Shopping Experience
Organized and neatly faced products make it easier for customers to find what they need, leading to a more satisfying shopping experience.
Promotes Impulse Buys
Successful retailers intentionally place tempting high-margin items in key locations at eye level throughout the store. For example, putting candy near the checkout counter is a widespread retail industry practice that has been proven to stimulate impulse purchases.
Optimizes Inventory Management
Regularly facing products helps employees to quickly identify low-stock or out-of-stock items, ensuring popular products are always available.
“Recent studies have thrown a spanner into this theory slightly, as researchers found that the ideal spot for attracting customers’ attention is approximately 14.7 inches below a shopper’s eye level. Given that the average person’s eye level is around 62 inches, the optimal height to display your key products is anywhere between 47-62 inches from the ground.” – Alysha Bennett.
How Does Product Facing Affect Customer Experience?
Product facing improves the customer experience by making goods easy to find and shelves look organized, visually appealing and fully stocked.
When retail stores place products at eye level with labels facing forward, customers can easily locate what they need; creating a quick and convenient shopping experience.
Properly faced products also create an impression that the store is well-maintained and welcoming. This positive shopping environment encourages customers to return to make future purchases.
5 Tips For Improving Product-Facing Practices
Tip #1: Face During Slow Periods
Dedicate time to straighten and pull products to the front of shelves when fewer customers are in the store. This ensures the store looks tidy and organized throughout the day.
Tip #2: Create a Facing Schedule
Assign specific staff members to be responsible for facing tasks during their shifts. This routine ensures consistent maintenance of shelf organization and product visibility.
Tip #3: End-of-Day Facing Routine
Prioritize facing tasks toward the end of the business day to prepare for the next day’s opening. This practice makes the morning setup smoother and ensures the store is ready for early shoppers.
Tip #4: Adjust for Busy Seasons
Schedule additional facing shifts during high-traffic periods such as holidays or sales events. The extra staff can help maintain shelf organization even when the store is busier than usual.
Tip #5: Develop a Facing Checklist
Create a detailed checklist for staff to follow daily, including tasks like pulling products to the front, ensuring labels face forward, and checking for out-of-place or out-of-stock items. This structured approach simplifies the facing process and ensures consistency.
“The less time a customer spends on a purchase, the quicker, easier and more comfortable it is to find the right product, the more likely it is that a satisfied customer will buy and return.” – Alex Bilousko.
Final Comments
Product facing is linked to retail store success; it enhances product visibility, optimizes inventory management, and creates an enjoyable shopping experience for customers.
In addition, implementing consistent facing practices helps retailers increase sales and maintain a well-organized, welcoming shopping environment.
These facing strategies, though simple, can significantly improve customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business.
Thank you for reading our article!
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