Imagine looking at a shop and seeing a vibrant rainbow of colours. These colours are immediately visually stunning, and your shop stands out. This has been found to be a clever retail strategy that can boost customer engagement and sales. Let's explore how this unconventional approach can brighten your shop.
What is Colour Coding?
It is a display idea that colour coding involves arranging goods by their colours. Please create a striking rainbow effect. Unlike traditional sorting methods, this approach prioritises visual appeal over conventional categorisation. Consider making it part of your retail merchandising strategy.
Now that we've explored colour coding let's examine its exciting benefits for your shop.
The Benefits of Colour-Coded Shelves
Enhanced Visual Appeal
Colour-coded shelves create an instant aesthetic that draws customers in. According to a 2024 study by the Retail Design Institute, stores with visually appealing displays saw a 27% increase in foot traffic.
This visual appeal is not just about aesthetics; it also taps into the psychological impact of colour on consumer behaviour. Research shows that strategic use of colour can increase brand recognition by up to 80%. That is a significant increase.
Increased Browsing Time
The treasure hunt atmosphere encourages customers to explore. A survey by the National Retail Federation found that customers spend 18% more time browsing in stores with unique visual merchandising. Increasing the time in your shop will lead to higher sales.
Social Media Exposure
Vibrant displays are highly shareable. Research from Hootsuite shows that user-generated content featuring colourful retail displays receives 4.5 times more engagement than standard store photos. It can lead to free promotion and increased brand visibility.
Implementing Colour Coding in Your Store
Step-by-Step Guide
Let us start with a few small dedicated shelves near each other or a stand to test customer response. We are going to run a hybrid system in which your items are also where they usually are.
Inventory Assessment
Conduct a thorough inventory to determine the colour distribution of goods in your shop. Then, those suitable products are put aside.
Update your POS System
You will need to find these products in your POS System, so put this area as a secondary location.
Colour Code them
Make a nice rainbow colour effect with the items. Work out a layout. The colours will be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. There is nothing wrong with making a stand, say all green products, but if you have many different colours, that is how to display them.
Addressing Potential Drawbacks
While visually appealing, colour coding can present challenges:
Accessibility Concerns
Customers may find it difficult to find specific items. That is why you need a hybrid system in your traditional layout.
Inventory Management
Restocking can be more time-consuming. That is why you need a secondary location in your POS System.
The Psychology of Colour in Retail
Colour psychology does shape our perceptions. Warm colours like red create excitement, while blue is very professional. Green promotes relaxation.
Conclusion
Colour-coded shelves provide a fresh, visually appealing strategy that does work in retail.
Let me know how it turned out for you if you give it a go.
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
