Shoppers expect stores to reflect the season, offering products they are most likely to buy at specific times of the year. Seasonal shelf planning goes beyond simply swapping out items; it is about adjusting displays, layouts, and product prominence to resonate with customer expectations. This helps align your store’s layout with customer needs throughout the year, whether it is holiday gifting, back-to-school, or summer essentials. Here is how you can keep your store relevant year-round with seasonal shelf space planning:

Building Your Seasonal Strategy: Steps to Success

To build a successful seasonal plan, start with a structured strategy. Here is how:

• Review seasonal sales data: Begin by analyzing sales data from previous years to identify peak times for different product categories. For instance, winter may see a surge in coats, gloves, and scarves, while summer might demand swimsuits, sunscreen, and outdoor accessories. Use data to forecast and plan inventory that matches customer needs accurately.
• Adjust layouts and traffic flow: Make sure your layout is optimized to showcase seasonal items in prominent, high-traffic areas. For example, during the holiday season, consider setting up a display near the entrance or checkout counters featuring gift ideas. Similarly, for summer sales, outdoor or vacation essentials can be organized near the entrance to grab attention right away.
• Use planograms to maximize visual impact: Planogram provides a visual blueprint for arranging products on your shelves. By creating a seasonal planogram, you can ensure that top-selling seasonal items are positioned at eye level and in accessible areas, while less popular items can be placed lower or higher on shelves. This arrangement encourages higher sales by highlighting the most relevant products to shoppers.

Seasonal Shelf Planning Tips for Different Times of Year

Every season comes with its own unique customer preferences. Here are some tips to maximize the impact of your seasonal planning throughout the year.

Winter: Capture Holiday and New Year’s Demand

• Capture holiday and New Year’s demand: Winter brings many shopping events, from Black Friday to holiday gift-giving and New Year’s resolutions. Shelves should be filled with festive decor, winter clothing, and popular gift items like toys, electronics, and winter accessories.
• Feature holiday themes: Group related items together, such as creating sections for “Gifts for her” or “Holiday party essentials” to drive sales. Display warm clothing, blankets, and winter accessories in highly visible locations to align with customer demand.

Spring: Embrace Renewal and Organization

• Highlight seasonal changes: Rotate in spring décor and gardening supplies to appeal to customers ready for seasonal shifts.
• Organize for spring-cleaning: Position cleaning supplies, organizers, and storage solutions in prominent locations, inspiring shoppers with spring-cleaning ideas.

Summer: Cater to Outdoor Enthusiasts and Vacationers

• Create summer vacation displays: Feature travel-size toiletries, luggage, and vacation-friendly clothing for easy shopping.
• Focus on outdoor living: Showcase grilling accessories, patio items, and poolside gear to appeal to those looking to enjoy the warm weather.

Fall: Prep for Back-to-School and Cozy Seasons

• Plan a back-to-school setup: Arrange school supplies, backpacks, and lunch accessories together for easy access.
• Emphasize warm colors and textures: Feature products in fall colors and textures, from home décor to warm sweaters and blankets.

Overview of Nexgen POG

Nexgen POG is a robust and user-friendly cloud-based visual merchandising tool. It is designed for quick and efficient planogramming with minimal effort. Planogram in retail can be designed by easily dragging and dropping the products. The multi-device compatibility feature of POG allows you to obtain, share and edit planogram on any device, including your phone. It helps in designing store-specific planograms for increased product visibility and sales.

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