Webster defines reset as “to set again, or to change.” When your store/bulk food department was set up originally, you set the products up in sections according to similar characteristics such as snack mixes, baking supplies, etc. Over the course of a year or more you have the opportunity to add new items in the specific space you’ve designated for bulk foods. In the course of this time there have been items that you carry which may have been discontinued by the manufacturer or for some reason has lost its customer appeal and not sold well or an item that was in for a period of time but is no longer of interest. It is the desire of every store owner, manager, or bulk food department to have products that are popular, meet the needs of customers, and provide an opportunity for new growth. In addition to having products that customers want, it is important to have products that make money and sell readily on a regular basis. Trying to find a balance between new items, items that are popular with customers, items that sell well, and trying to eliminate slower moving items or items that have lost their appeal, can be an ongoing challenge. In addition to trying to find space and make room for products you carry, it is important to periodically give your store a fresh look. For this reason it is important at the end of every year or two to consider a product reset. This can be done by a specific section or sections of your store or to the entire store. One of the services Dutch Valley offers is to provide full support in helping you with this process. In this process consideration to what makes the most sense as far as specific product space allotted, introduction of new items, designated specific end-caps, just to name a few. This is done to achieve the purpose of giving you the opportunity to make efficient and effective use of your investment and provide for greater opportunities for customers to buy products.
* The following are areas to be evaluated in the process of a reset:
1. End-caps – Developing a specific product plan for each of the end-caps in your store tying in products that coincide with a specific theme such as organic, sugar free, seasonal, snack mixes, etc.
2. Developing the most efficient use of shelf and product space- by coordinating like products in the most efficient way possible for a given section. For example, you may have glass products in an 8 foot section that require a base (bottom shelf) and 5 shelves above in which to effectively present all the glass items. In another section, such as sugar free, you may have a base and 6 shelves in which to effectively display the products you carry in this section. One of the purposes of a reset is to allow for the necessary items you carry along with providing additional spacing for additional growth.
3. Family groupings - Just like families in a community who live in designated homes, there are products you carry that are similar/alike and should be placed in their appropriate “family” grouping. By doing this, you increase the opportunity to have your customers pick up additional items within that grouping that otherwise would have been missed. For example, during a reset all baking items would be gathered together in a designated section. These would include items such as the traditional flour, sugar, chocolate, sprinkles, and support items like baking powder, cornmeal, cake mixes, and baking nuts used in the baking process. In the sugar free section, all items of interest to a customer looking for sugar free items would be contained in a specific section. These items might include sugar free sweeteners, sugar free candies, jams, jellies, cookies, syrups, mixes, and cereals, just to list a few.
4. Store location – In resetting your store, products will be set according to initial visibility when the customer first walks in. For example, depending on the entrance of your store, what is the first area that is seen by the customer? This should be an area that is colorful and attracts attention similar to an invitation come in a look around. The products placed in this section will be reviewed according to the customers you serve and, in turn, placed in a visible location for customers when they first walk into your store.
5. Size matters – In considering products within a set, large bag sizes or product sizes start at the bottom on your base shelf and progressively work up to the smaller sizes on the top shelf for any particular set. For example, in a cereal section, you may have a 10 or 25 lb. bag of oatmeal. These bags would be placed on the bottom base shelf. Smaller sizes of oats, granola, or other cereals would be on the upper shelves.
6. Visibility – In resetting your store, consideration for keeping key items at eye level for the shopper is critical. For example, in the candy aisle, adult candy like hard sanded or starlight candy would be placed on the top shelf so it is easily visible to adults. At the same time, products such as candy watches, gummy candy, and candy novelties would go on the lower shelves to be easily visible to children.
7. Expectations/results - Depending on the size of the reset to be done, it can take a few hours or a few days. In either case, the end result is to increase sales and greater customer interest. On the average, a given reset is projected to generate 15 – 20% sales increase
8. Customer interest - By in large you will find that customers will share in the excitement of this new “look.” You will find customers stating, “Wow! This is great you got these products in.” You chuckle to yourself about these products that you’ve always had but have now relocated.
On the following pages are some examples from sections of stores that have been reset according to family groupings and effective merchandising:
While it is true that resets take planning and oftentimes require a great deal of work, they also can be a lot of fun as you create a whole new look in one section or entire store. For additional information and ideas, please contact our store consultant, Mike Helt http://dutchvalleyfoods.com/food/application/storeresetrequest.aspx www.bulkfoodsandcandy.com
posted by Campfireracks.com @ 5:07 AM
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