Yuck at first sight...

I hate walking into a store and the first thing you see is old, tired merchandise. Too often, better stores put “sale” merchandise in the front entrance to entice customers with lower prices and promotional goods. But you get the picture: piles of discontinued, mismatched merchandise. To make it visually worse, the “sale” entrance is usually poorly displayed. It makes me want to walk out!

As customers, we all love a bargain. But I suggest placing the discontinued, sale goods at the back of the store or in the clearance center. You segment the “old” merchandise together, and the customers will walk through the store to the back to possibly buy better goods. Put your best presentation in the front entrance. Customers should walk in and be excited about seeing new, well thought out displays that have a point of view. Give them the WOW, not the red tag sale!  –Mark Abrams

Check back for more on this subject in a few days when we’ll share another designer’s comments … in the meantime, leave a few of your own.