Visual Standards for Retail Displays

🚀 Halfday is quietly building a The Next Biggest Iced Tea Brand… and here’s how. Everyone talks about product-market fit… But once you’ve got it, retail execution becomes the biggest driver of velocity. At Basemakers, we’ve unlocked results for Halfday Iced Tea using 3 powerful, actionable insights grounded in psychology, design, and field-tested results 👇 1️⃣ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲) Want to stop a shopper mid-aisle? Start with straight lines. Cognitive psychology shows the human brain prefers visual order. When displays are misaligned, the eye doesn’t know where to focus. But vertical brand blocks? They offer a visual anchor the brain trusts. Building your shelf presence vertically keeps the shopper’s eye locked in. It also captures incremental brand sales by showcasing all flavors—without forcing the shopper to wander. 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫: 3+ 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐊𝐔 Let’s talk displays that move product: A test display with 3 facings per SKU outperformed 6 others with the same amount of cases but 1 facing per SKU in a study conducted. 📈 +19% in sales (with same # of cases!) 🛑 10% more shoppers stopped 💳 4% more converted Why? Because the display created a strong visual anchor. Facings should span at least 18 inches—just enough for the eye to instantly lock in. The result? Shoppers notice, trust & buy more. 3️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞: 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 Winning displays follow every rule of great merchandising: ✔️ One clear price point → to instantly communicate value ✔️ Brand is the beacon → no distractions, only focus ✔️ Clean, vertical blocks that hold attention and drive flow Nail these, and we guarantee: sales will respond. These are some of the key ways Basemakers drives sales velocity while optimizing for profit per linear foot for our retail & brand partners. Win for the Brand. Win for the Retailer. Win for the Shopper. 👏 Shoutout to our Basemakers team for executing in the field! — ♻️ Reshare if you found these tips insightful!

Will Nitze shared on X a really cool new CPG metric: GRABBABILITY 👇 Grabbability refers to the number of sellable units a shopper can comfortably grab with one hand. This seemingly simple metric can drive higher sales, especially for impulse items. Chomps, with its long, skinny form factor, exemplifies high grabbability. Shoppers can easily grab 7-8 CHOMPS sticks in one hand, compared to just 1-2 Clif Bars, even though both are priced at $1.99 each. The ease of grabbing multiple units can directly impact the amount of product a shopper adds to their cart. Because of their higher grabability, more units of CHOMPS end up in shoppers' carts compared to Clif Bars, increasing overall sales volume. This is critical to maximizing sales in competitive retail environments. → Designing for Grabbability Packaging design plays a crucial role in enhancing a product’s grabbability. Products designed for easy handling and stacking can encourage bulk purchases. Consider redesigning product packaging to make it slimmer or easier to handle. For example, single-serve snack packs or beverage bottles with ergonomic grips can significantly improve grabability and therefore sales. → Merchandising Strategies Effective merchandising setups that enhance grabbability can drive impulse purchases. Placement and display are key factors in leveraging this metric. Arrange products in grab-friendly displays, such as bins or easy-access shelves at checkout areas. Highlight products that shoppers can quickly grab in multiples to encourage last-minute additions to their carts. 🤔 How have you incorporated grabability into your product designs or merchandising strategies, and what results have you seen? Does this apply to other industries as well?

“The stores are so clean” is a statement often said about Publix. This isn’t untrue, but there’s a lot more to it. I could make multiple posts about why customers have that perception, but I’ll start with one that is near and dear to my heart: merchandising. Customers don’t recognize each decision Publix makes with merchandising, but they recognize the overall, clean and organized appearance. The amount of detail that goes into display planning and execution is multiples above what is needed: I was in charge of the grocery set-up for a new store while I was in a field support role at Publix. Less than 24 hours before opening, the Divisional Vice President walked the store and indicated he thought some of the items chosen for the front displays would likely be better on the back displays. The rest of that day and the early morning hours of the next day, we moved hundreds of cases of product to accommodate his perspective. I admit, I was thinking no customer would ever notice the difference, but I realize now that the standard set has less to do with the individual display and more with the overall perception the customer has of the store. Without the merchandising excellence our VP expected, we could have opened the door for a customer to feel something wasn’t quite right with our store. It’s the unnoticed extra effort that separates good from great. Enjoy one of those displays here.

Walmart Store Walks: Sidekick Displays Understanding the retail fixture environment is key to growing your brand and market share instore. Sidekicks are a great and easy off-shelf marketing billboard. Images are examples found on a recent store walk at local NW Arkansas Walmart's. Your standard Walmart sidekick rack allows for 14"W x 5"D x 24"H or 48"H. This can be 2 x 24" displays or just one large 48in display or anything that fits inside that footprint. The weight matters and cannot exceed 25lbs for 24" and 50lbs for a 48". The space allows for products to be either pegged, shelved, or gravity-feed. Sidekick displays are typically made of sustainable paper materials. The hardware is typically plastic hooks and s-clips for adhering to the fixture. Brands can opt for permanent materials if they have a longer commitment from the retailer. Here are other things to keep in mind when planning your display program: ✔️ Have clear price point impression. ✔️ Share examples of product use cases. ✔️ Opportunity for product comparison to the leading brand. ✔️ Product Item # for planogram placement. ✔️ QR code, drive traffic to Walmart dot-com sales and additional assortments. ✔️ Add a mission statement used to differentiate the price & impact of buying the product. ✔️ Add die cuts and angles when possible, to disrupt the shopping pattern. ✔️ Artwork placement on the sides will be disrupted by the metal rack. Recommend keeping all artwork front facing, unless you know it will not be in a rack. ✔️ Make sure to maximize your branding and communication. What else would your brand add to in-store communication? Let me know if this was helpful and if you have any questions. #retail #cpg #shoppermarketing #displays #walmart #TheRetailDude ***I love a good store walk. If you are one of my many Corrugate/Display/ Agency/Broker industry friends and you see your work, please leave a note in the comments. I want to create a space to lift everyone up in our industries as we all do incredible work to support the CPG and retail space.***

𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 "𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀" 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘏𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘳𝘶𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 "𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧?" 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁? Magic, Sleight of hand, or just pure luck that my basket get bigger the closer I walked to the checkout? I have clients that I work for that have items in the Convenience and Drug Channel's Front-End Section (What I like to call "Impulse Island").  So, I visit these outlets frequently to see What's NEW AND to OBSERVE What is it about a section that influences shopper behavior.  𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 & 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿? 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: • 60-70% of unplanned purchases happen at the checkout aisle (Circana) • Impulse purchases add 49% to a customer's shopping cart (Circana). • 82% of shoppers make impulse purchases at least once a month (Invesp). 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: • Eye-catching displays at checkout • Swayed by "limited-time" offers • Consider Impulse buys as a form of self-reward after completing their shopping list 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗻: • Candy & gum: Small, affordable, and readily available for instant gratification. • Seasonal items: Tap into FOMO and cater to current trends. • Convenience & Drug: Smaller aisles, focused displays, and quick checkout encourage impulse buys. Front End is not a gimmie!  Competition, high profit, Promotions, Packaging that pops and Value all have to be part of the selling equation that you need to consider. Are you Ready to win at the checkout?  Have you thought about a Front-End Assortment Strategy or Develop limited time discount/product bundles to support this section? 𝗽𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨!🍭🍬🍫🥤☕🍎🍺🍩🍪🥓 (𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗲??) #CatmanAnalyticsGroup #ImpulseIsland #CheckoutMarketing #RetailStrategy #ShopperBehavior

Retail beverage displays play a crucial role in driving sales, building brand awareness, and influencing shopper behavior. Five key areas: 1. Visibility & Impulse Buys: A well-placed display—whether it’s near the entrance, checkout, or high-traffic aisle—puts products directly in the shopper’s path. That visibility is key for impulse purchases, especially in categories like energy drinks, RTDs, or limited-edition spirits. 2. Brand Storytelling: Displays offer a mini stage to tell a brand’s story. Whether it’s through packaging, messaging, or seasonal themes, the right setup can connect emotionally with consumers and differentiate a brand in a crowded space. 3. Trial & Discovery: For new or niche brands, displays can be a powerful tool for trial. A prominent endcap or cooler takeover can introduce shoppers to products they’d never find on a standard shelf. 4. Promotion & Value Perception: Displays are often linked to promotions, which not only drive volume but signal value. Bundles, discounts, or “buy one get one” signage turn passive interest into action. 5. Retailer -Brand Collaboration: Strong displays reflect good relationships between brands and retailers. They demonstrate investment, planning, and often co-marketing spend—critical for long-term placement and growth. #beverageindustry #beverages

Apple's Retail Revolution: Creating Living Ecosystems Beyond the Screen In Cupertino, California, a visionary design team at Apple is quietly transforming retail fundamentals. Apple Stores are evolving from simple purchase points into immersive environments where technology, sustainability, and human-centric design merge seamlessly. The Visual Merchandising Special Projects team leads this transformation, creating experiences that blur the lines between physical and digital realms. The Store as an Immersive Experience When you enter an Apple Store, augmented reality allows you to visualize products in your own space—like seeing a HomePod Mini on your kitchen counter or testing a MacBook's camera in a virtual environment. These aren't mere sales tactics but emotional journeys. The team develops AR/VR installations that transform products into interactive narratives, using AI to personalize experiences for each visitor. Narrative-Driven Environments Static product displays are giving way to dynamic, thematic zones: - Health Havens where Apple Watch wearables track real-time metrics during Fitness+ demonstrations - Smart Home Labs showcasing seamless HomeKit integration, illustrating how devices work together in daily life Culturally Resonant Pop-Ups Apple reimagines pop-up spaces as R&D laboratories reflecting local culture while maintaining brand identity—from anime-themed Apple Pencil workshops in Tokyo to collaborations with Parisian artists. These temporary installations create culturally relevant experiences showcasing Apple's creative ecosystem. Invisible Technology Behind the scenes, cutting-edge systems power the retail experience: - Ultra-wideband sensors guiding customers with precision - Machine learning optimizing layouts based on foot traffic patterns - Gesture-controlled interfaces creating intuitive interactions The Larger Impact Apple's approach extends beyond selling products to crafting experiences that embody possibility. By transforming stores into adaptive ecosystems, Apple establishes new standards for building emotional connections in the digital age. As physical retail faces e-commerce competition, Apple positions its stores as living laboratories where technology, sustainability, and human empathy converge. While competitors might replicate aesthetic elements, duplicating this holistic experience presents a formidable challenge. Next time you visit an Apple Store, observe the details—the minimalist table functioning as a power hub, the display offering a personalized experience, each element contributing to a cohesive system designed to transform technology into a deeply human experience. This might be Apple's most significant design achievement yet.

What defines retail standards in your store? I visited three stores yesterday with very different results. Harbor Freight Tools stood out. The shelves were full, products in stock, displays organized. Aisles were clean, well lit, clearly signed. Staff was present. Checkout was quick and friendly. Kohl's home section showed empty and messy shelves, displays out of place, ignored for some time. I know they are struggling but poor standards and execution....the basics....is killing their business further! Target was better than I expected. Shelves mostly stocked, displays neat, aisles clean and lit. Partner displays like Magnolia looked well merchandised, neat and organized. Kudos for improvement! All three had solid foot traffic on a Tuesday afternoon. Target's foot traffic was by far the strongest likely fueled by the back-to-school seasonal push. You can see the difference standards make. They require leadership to set clear expectations, train teams properly, and provide the right resources. Without standards, customers face frustration and disappointment. Here are some action points for leaders: 👉 Define what standards look like in every area of the store 👉 Train your teams to meet those standards consistently 👉 Give them tools and support to keep standards high 👉 Monitor the store regularly and hold the team accountable Your customers notice every detail. Don’t let poor standards drive them away. #RetailLeadership #CustomerExperience #StoreStandards #TeamTraining #OperationalExcellence