Now that the Christmas rush is over your inventory is probably looking pretty sparse and a little bit shabby. This is a perfect time to re-merchandise.

There are always a few items that you thought would sell but they didn’t find there way out the door yet. Those items that you bought too many of and you are still sitting on lots of stock , and of course frankly there might even be a few items that look like they may never sell. Never fear- This is when merchandising will really shine to show you its true value.

Take all of those items just mentioned and pull them to the very front of your store. Treat them like they just arrived and give them the love you would any new item just received. No need to put them on sale. The front of your store needs to look fresh and full and like you just received new stock. Make it interesting and enticing so when the weary shopper looks into your door they will feel a sense of new merchandise that is easy to shop. Not the picked over leftovers in every other store nearby.

Next take everything else and move it behind this front area. Don’t make the mistake of spreading it out trying to cover the empty space. Embrace your space. Take down extra shelves and racks and put them in the back room.
Tell whatever story you can with the merchandise left. When I say story I mean related items. An example would be putting all the left over bath and beauty products on a few shelves. Remember it is best to merchandise vertically instead of horizontally. Then leave some space and tell the next story. Maybe all the kitchen items you have left. Try to have some sort of flow from one story to the next if at all possible. That can be tough this time of year, but you get the idea. Rearrange your floor racks and get a little space around those as well. After all the close isles and tight racks of the Christmas season it is nice to be able to move around in a store. Make the empty space look intentional. You don’t want to look like you’re going out of business.

Take a little time to do this and you will be amazed at how fast that item you thought was a mistake is flying out the door. You will have exchanges instead of returns. Your store will shine above the others because it looks exciting instead of picked over. You might even have a few extra dollars to come buy some risers from Capitol for all the new merchandise on the way.
Whatever you do-have fun with it. There is no right or wrong in merchandising. If you’re not having fun and want some help, call me. I love to re-arrange a space. I’ll come and do it for you or do a little training session for a nominal fee.