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Achieving Visual Merchandising Excellence with Botree Software

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September 26, 2025 No Comments

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6 Effective Visual Merchandising Strategies Every FMCG Brand Can Use to Boost Sales

September 26, 2025
christina ebinezer

Walk into any successful retail store, and one thing stands out: its appearance and atmosphere. Visual merchandising goes beyond making products look appealing. It shapes customer behavior, creates a memorable experience, and influences buying choices. A shopper might enter planning to buy one item, but the store’s atmosphere, layout, and displays often lead them to find and purchase more. This is why visual merchandising is one of the key tools for driving repeat sales and building long-term loyalty.

Did you know?

Research shows that over 76% of purchasing decisions happen inside the store. That means your shelves, displays, and layouts influence customers just as much as your advertising. Retailers who work on creating the right environment do more than just sell products.

The challenge is consistency. It’s easy to create a great display once. However, ensuring that every store, in different regions and markets, meets the same standard is much tougher. Retail execution often fails because teams do not have the right tools to track compliance, measure performance, or refresh displays quickly. This is where technology becomes essential.

This is where Botree Software comes in with the tools which helps the brands to ensure their visual merchandising strategies are carried out correctly every time. From guiding store teams to tracking results in real time, Botree turns merchandising ideas into outcomes that can be repeated and measured.

In the next sections, we will look at six effective visual merchandising strategies. These approaches are practical, tested, and designed for today’s competitive retail world. Each one will also illustrate how Botree supports execution at scale. By combining traditional merchandising principles with modern retail technology, you can create stores that not only look better but also perform better.

Strategy 1: Control Customer Traffic with Store Layout

The layout of a store impacts how customers move, what they notice, and where they spend their money. Even before shoppers see a product, the layout directs their path. If the flow is smooth and inviting, they explore more sections and spend more time inside. If the layout is confusing or cluttered, they leave quickly and buy less. This makes layout one of the most effective tools in visual merchandising.

Types of Store Layouts

Retailers often use three basic layouts, each with its own pros and cons:

Grid Layout

Products are arranged in long aisles, commonly found in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Pros: Easy to navigate, showcases products well, works efficiently for large inventories.
Cons: Can feel predictable, may limit exploration beyond planned purchases.

Loop (or Racetrack) Layout

Customers follow a specific path that loops through the store.

Pros: Leads shoppers to all sections, increases exposure to impulse items.
Cons: May feel restrictive for customers who want to make quick purchases.

Free-Flow Layout

Displays are arranged freely without strict aisles, typical in fashion and lifestyle stores.

Pros: Encourages discovery, promotes a relaxed browsing experience.
Cons: Can create confusion if signs and navigation are unclear.

Most stores combine these layouts based on size, product type, and shopper preferences. For example, a supermarket might use a grid for groceries but set up free-flow areas for seasonal promotions.

How Layout Shapes Sales

Studies shows that shoppers often turn right when they enter, avoid crowded areas, and slow down at corners or intersections. Placing high-margin products in these “hot zones” boosts visibility and sales. In contrast, essentials like milk or bread are usually located at the back to encourage shoppers to pass through several aisles.

Retailers who plan layouts thoughtfully see larger basket sizes.

For instance, a loop layout with impulse products near the checkout often adds small but profitable items to customers’ baskets. Likewise, fashion stores with free-flow designs encourage shoppers to browse more categories than they initially intended.

Botree Sales Force Automation provides detailed data visibility, interactive dashboards, and clear scheme visibility during order booking. This helps field teams and managers monitor execution and compliance almost in real time. The dashboards offer useful insights. They enable teams to understand how store layouts affect customer traffic, identify performance trends, and improve strategies for better sales and efficiency.

Did you know?

Research shows that over 90 percent of shoppers unconsciously follow the store’s physical flow instead of making deliberate choices about which aisles to visit. That means your layout decisions quietly guide most of their purchases.

Strategy 2: Group Products for Eye-Catching Displays

Shoppers rarely enter a store with a complete list of what they will buy. An appealing display can inspire ideas and encourage them to try new products. Grouping items together is one of the easiest and most effective ways to achieve this. When products are arranged by theme, color, or usage, they become more attractive and easier to find.

Why Grouping Works

The human brain processes visual information faster than text. A well-organized display cuts down on decision fatigue and creates a sense of order. Instead of searching through multiple shelves, customers quickly see how products relate to each other. This connection increases the likelihood of them choosing more than one item.

Common Grouping Strategies:

By Color

This works well in areas like fashion, cosmetics, and beverages.

It creates a strong visual effect that draws customers in.

By Theme

For example, a “Back-to-School” display with stationery, snacks, and water bottles.

This helps customers shop for various needs in one spot.

By Usage or Occasion

For example, pasta, sauces, and olive oil placed together in a grocery store.

This approach encourages cross-selling and adds convenience for shoppers.

By Bundle

Products are packaged or displayed together as a value offer.

This helps to increase basket value and clear out slower-moving stock.

Retailers who consistently use these methods notice better engagement. A supermarket that groups breakfast items often sell more cereals, spreads, and beverages compared to when these items are scattered across various aisles.

Pro Tip

Use grouped displays to solve shopper needs, not just to show product range.

Ask: “What else does a customer need with this item?” That’s how you create cross-selling opportunities.

Strategy 3: Use Color Theory to Guide Shoppers

Color is one of the most powerful tools in visual merchandising. It captures attention, sets the mood, and influences purchasing decisions. Shoppers may not think about it consciously, but the colors surrounding them play a significant role in how long they stay, what they notice, and what they buy.

Why Color Matters in Retail ? Different colors bring out different emotions:

Red and orange create urgency and promote impulse buys.

Blue and green have a calming effect and are often linked to trust and freshness.

Yellow quickly grabs attention and suggests affordability.

Black and gold convey luxury and high quality.

Retailers who use color wisely can influence customer behavior. For instance, grocery stores often use green in produce sections to indicate freshness, while fast-fashion brands use bold seasonal colors to create excitement.

Using Color in Displays

Highlight Promotions

Bright, contrasting colors help discounts and offers stand out.

Build Seasonal Themes

Red and gold during festive seasons or pastels during spring immediately connect with shoppers.

Guide Shopper Flow

Color blocks on shelves or signage help customers navigate more quickly and explore additional categories.

Strengthen Brand Identity

Consistent use of brand colors across displays boosts recognition and loyalty.

When done right, color does more than make displays appealing—it directs shoppers toward high-margin or priority products.

Picking the right color scheme is an art. Proving its effects is a science. Botree outletpulse helps in tracking regional performance which helps retailers to see how different color layouts perform across stores. If a festive display in one region significantly boosts sales, Botree dashboards make it easy to identify that trend and expand it nationwide.

This transforms color theory from guesswork into a reliable strategy

Pro Tip

Test color combinations in smaller regions before rolling them out widely. What works in one market may not connect the same way in another.

Strategy 4: Align Displays to Shopper Flow

Shoppers do not move randomly inside a store. Their path is influenced by store design, entry points, and even habits they are not aware of. Retailers who grasp this flow can place products in the right spots to increase visibility and sales.

Understanding Shopper Flow

Studies show that most shoppers instinctively turn right after entering a store. They also slow down at corners, intersections, and checkout lines. These spots become prime locations for product placement. Essentials like bread or milk are often located at the back, encouraging shoppers to pass through multiple aisles before reaching them. High-margin and impulse products perform best in busy areas where shoppers naturally pause or move through.

Ignoring these patterns leads to missed sales opportunities. Even the best display loses its effectiveness if it is hidden in a low-traffic area.

Examples of Flow-Aligned Displays

Entry Points: Bold, in-demand products placed near the entrance grab attention right away.

Right-Hand Aisle: Since most shoppers turn right first, placing seasonal or promotional items there increases exposure.

Corners and Intersections: Great spots for eye-level impulse products or new launches.

Checkout Counters: Small, affordable products at checkout encourage last-minute purchases.

For instance ,
A supermarket that moved a premium snack display from a side aisle to a main flow path saw increase in sales. The product remained the same, but the location changed.

Botree Role in Shopper Flow

Designing displays to match shopper flow works only if stores follow through. Botree SFA compliance nudges ensure that store teams set up displays in the right areas. If a product intended for checkout ends up in a side aisle, managers receive alerts, and fixes happen quickly. This maintains shopper flow strategies across outlets and regions.

Strategy 5: Keep Displays Fresh and Seasonal

Shoppers notice when displays feel new, and they also see when they look outdated. A display that worked last month may lose its impact if it is not updated. Keeping store layouts and displays in line with seasons, festivals, and campaigns is essential for maintaining customer interest and encouraging repeat visits.

Why Freshness Matters

Avoids fatigue: Shoppers tune out when they repeatedly see the same setup.

Matches shopper mindset: Seasonal themes make displays feel timely and relevant.

Drives urgency: Limited-time campaigns encourage customers to buy before the offers end.

Supports new launches: Fresh displays highlight what’s new and exciting.

Outdated displays send the wrong message. They suggest that a store is not paying attention, which can impact how customers view the entire brand.

Examples of Seasonal Refresh

Festive Campaigns: Clothing stores introduce new colors and styles during Diwali or Christmas.

Back-to-School: Supermarkets group stationery, snacks, and water bottles together before school starts.

Summer Specials: Beverage brands showcase chilled drinks in cool-toned displays to match the season.

These refreshes do more than draw attention. They create a sense of relevance that encourages customers to return more often.

Pro Tip

Plan seasonal refreshes in advance. Have display materials, stock, and guidelines ready so execution happens fast when the campaign period begins.

Strategy 6: Use Focal Points to Attract Attention

When shoppers enter a store, their eyes do not scan everything the same way. They focus on specific points that stand out, known as focal points. Using focal points effectively makes displays more engaging and leads customers further into the store.

Why Focal Points Work

The human brain instinctively processes visual hierarchy. A bold sign, a well-lit shelf, or a display at eye level catches attention first. From there, customers look at surrounding products. Without clear focal points, displays merge into the background and do not spark interest.

Examples of Focal Points in Action

Window Displays: A striking setup at the entrance attracts walk-ins.

Eye-Level Shelves: Products at eye height sell faster because they get noticed first.

Feature Tables: Fashion stores use tables with bold signage as main focal points.

Lighting and Signage: Spotlights or large visuals emphasize important products.

A cosmetics retailer tested focal points by highlighting a new product in the center of the store. Sales of that item increases when compared to stores where it was placed on regular shelves.

Why Visual Merchandising Matters

Competition is intense

Every retail category is crowded. Well-designed displays can be the difference between a shopper noticing your product or walking past it.

Customers make decisions in-store

Research shows that most purchases are unplanned. The arrangement of products strongly influences what gets added to the basket.

Experience builds loyalty

Shoppers return to stores where navigation is easy and displays look fresh. A cluttered or outdated setup quickly drives them away.

Integration with digital shopping is essential

Even customers who browse online often visit physical stores before making a purchase. In-store merchandising must reflect the brand’s online promise for a consistent experience.

The challenge lies in execution. A head office may design a perfect planogram but getting hundreds of stores to implement it correctly is complex. Stock availability, seasonal changes, and staff training often create gaps between the plan and reality. Many brands struggle due to a lack of real-time visibility into what is happening at the retail level.

👉 See how Botree turns merchandising strategies into flawless in-store execution

Read Blog

Conclusion

Shoppers make most of their purchase decisions inside the store. This means that how products are displayed is just as important as pricing or promotions. Visual merchandising determines whether customers explore more aisles, discover new products, and leave with full baskets.

The six strategies discussed—layout, grouping, color, shopper flow, seasonal updates, and focal points—are effective ways to capture attention and influence behavior. However, many retailers struggle not because the strategies are weak, but because they execute them inconsistently. A misplaced display, a missed seasonal update, or an out-of-stock product can undo weeks of planning.

Tools by Botree Software together turn visual merchandising into a system that can scale. Brands move beyond one-time displays and create a cycle of planning, execution, measurement, and improvement. The outcome is higher sales, greater customer loyalty, and stores that always feel fresh and inviting.

Your competitors are already fighting for shopper attention.

The question is: will your displays stand out or fade into the background?

Want to check how Botree SFA works for your business?

About the Author

Meet Christina Evangelin Ebinezer, our dynamic marketing associate at Botree Software. With a background in HR and marketing, and prior experience as a content writer, Christina brings a sharp eye for storytelling and a knack for crafting engaging blogs and marketing content. She’s passionate about turning ideas into words that drive impact. Outside of work, Christina finds joy behind the piano keys or the wheel—whether she’s playing a soulful tune or cruising down open roads.

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6 Effective Visual Merchandising Strategies Every FMCG Brand Can Use to Boost Sales

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Did you know?

Strategy 1: Control Customer Traffic with Store Layout

Types of Store Layouts

Grid Layout

Loop (or Racetrack) Layout

Free-Flow Layout

How Layout Shapes Sales

Did you know?

Strategy 2: Group Products for Eye-Catching Displays

Why Grouping Works

Common Grouping Strategies:

Pro Tip

Strategy 3: Use Color Theory to Guide Shoppers

Using Color in Displays

Pro Tip

Strategy 4: Align Displays to Shopper Flow

Understanding Shopper Flow

Examples of Flow-Aligned Displays

Botree Role in Shopper Flow

Strategy 5: Keep Displays Fresh and Seasonal

Why Freshness Matters

Pro Tip

Strategy 6: Use Focal Points to Attract Attention

Why Focal Points Work

Examples of Focal Points in Action

Why Visual Merchandising Matters

👉 See how Botree turns merchandising strategies into flawless in-store execution

Read Blog

Conclusion

Your competitors are already fighting for shopper attention.

The question is: will your displays stand out or fade into the background?

About the Author

Christina Evangelin Ebinezer

Marketing Associate

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