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Unit 4 of 4 · B.Sc Textile Sem 4

Unit 4: Display planning

Visual Merchandising notes · PTU syllabus (BSTD 405-20)

3 min read3 topics9 exam questions
On this page
  1. Unit summary
  2. Types of displays
  3. Floor plans
  4. Visual merchandise planning
  5. Key terms
  6. Quick revision
  7. Important questions

Unit summary

Good displays and floor plans are planned in advance and tracked. This unit covers the types of displays and floor plans, and visual merchandise planning.

After this unit you can

  • Classify types of displays
  • Compare store floor plans
  • Prepare a visual merchandising plan and planogram
  • Evaluate VM effectiveness

PTU syllabus topics

Types of displays and floor plans, visual merchandise planning

ProcessPlanning a display
  1. 1

    Choose the theme

    Season, festival, launch

  2. 2

    Select merchandise

  3. 3

    Plan the floor layout and fixtures

  4. 4

    Pick props, colours and lighting

  5. 5

    Install and style mannequins

  6. 6

    Review and refresh regularly

1

Topic 1

Types of displays

Key termsDisplay types
Merchandise display
Product-focused
Institutional (prestige) display
Promotes the store or a cause, not products
Promotional display
Sales and offers
Seasonal and festive display
Diwali, wedding season, back-to-school
Thematic or lifestyle display
Tells a story
One-item, line-of-goods and related-merchandise displays
One product; one category; complementary items
Assortment display
Wide variety — sales
2

Topic 2

Floor plans

ComparisonStore layouts
Arrangement
Features

Grid layout

Parallel aisles

Efficient, familiar; less exciting — supermarkets

Racetrack (loop)

Main aisle loops around departments

Exposes customers to all areas — department stores

Free-flow (boutique)

Fixtures in irregular, open arrangement

Browsing, premium apparel

Spine layout

Central aisle with departments on both sides

Mid-size stores

Diagonal

Angled aisles

Visibility from the centre

3

Topic 3

Visual merchandise planning

ProcessVM planning process
  1. 1

    Study the brand guidelines and seasonal calendar

  2. 2

    Analyse sales data — best sellers, slow movers

  3. 3

    Plan themes and windows for each period

  4. 4

    Prepare planograms (fixture-wise placement of products) and floor plans

  5. 5

    Budget props, graphics and lighting

  6. 6

    Train staff; execute; photograph for compliance

  7. 7

    Measure results — footfall, conversion, sales per square foot

  8. 8

    Refresh displays regularly

Key formulasVM performance

  • Conversion rate

    Transactions ÷ footfall × 100

  • Sales per square foot

    Sales ÷ selling area

  • Average transaction value

    Sales ÷ transactions

Key terms

Institutional display
Display promoting the store's image
Racetrack layout
Loop aisle around departments
Free-flow layout
Irregular open arrangement of fixtures
Planogram
Diagram of product placement on fixtures
Conversion rate
Share of visitors who buy

Quick revision

  • Merchandise, institutional, promotional, seasonal, thematic, related, assortment displays.
  • Grid, racetrack, free-flow, spine, diagonal layouts.
  • VM planning steps; planograms; compliance; KPIs.

Important exam questions

Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).

Short-answer questions

  1. Q1.What is an institutional display?
  2. Q2.Which layout suits a department store?
  3. Q3.What is a free-flow layout?
  4. Q4.What is a planogram?
  5. Q5.Define conversion rate.
  6. Q6.How often should windows be changed?

Long-answer questions

  1. Q1.Describe the types of displays.
  2. Q2.Compare store floor plans.
  3. Q3.Explain visual merchandise planning.

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