In-store displays aren’t just another spot on the floor to stack inventory—they’re silent salespeople and high-impact impression engines…when managed properly. Whether your goal is driving brand awareness, new product trial, basket growth and beyond, every detail must work together to turn casual browsers into committed buyers. Here’s how to crush your retail KPIs with displays that dominate aisles and win with shoppers. Smart brands know that effective in-store displays are built not just for visibility, but for impact driven by shopper insights.
1. Material & Design: The vehicle is the vessel
Display materials and structure cannot be an after thought. Flimsy materials and poorly engineered builds can erode brand equity and, in the end, do more harm than good. Prioritize durable display materials with intentional use of colors, clean lines, and finishes that scream premium. Think critically about how shoppers will interact with your display. For example, are the shelf heights high enough that the shopper can easily reach in and pick up heavier products (like beer and CSD) by the handle without scraping their hands on the fixture shelf? It goes without saying, but it is also essential that all fixtures and point of connection materials are fully grounded in your brand identity and value proposition. Finally, test designs for transit resilience—damaged displays hurt brand perception. Well-constructed in-store displays reflect a premium brand experience and drive higher engagement.
2. Signage & Imaging: Cut through the clutter
Shoppers decide in mere seconds. Use benefit-driven headlines and visuals that pop. Clarity > complexity…every time. When it comes to messaging and signage copy, remember the importance of small variations and the power of real-life in-store testing to find which copy comes out on top. Even promotional language, such as BOGO versus 2 for $X can have varying degrees of impact on shopper interest and display engagement rates. Using real-time shopper insights can reveal which versions influence decisions most.
3. Product Curation: Don’t just fill the space—strategize to win with display assortment.
Mix Mastery: Making the most of your space is paramount. While you want to ensure you feature the right categories, brands, and flavors to appeal to diverse shoppers, don’t lose momentum and focus by throwing the kitchen sink at it. Understanding shopper insights can help tailor your display assortment more effectively.
Packaging Power: Highlight size variations, variety packs, or limited editions to trigger FOMO. Above all else, bring intentionality to the assortment of pack sizes featured on display
Cross-Merchandising Wins: Pair complementary products to boost basket size and inspire occasion-based consumption moments. In-store testing can reveal the hidden category affinities shoppers will gravitate towards. Using shopper insights can further optimise in-store displays to align with consumer behaviour pattern
4. Facings & Flow: Think it through
Too cluttered? Shoppers bolt. Too sparse? Missed revenue. Optimize spacing to guide a seamless journey from discovery to purchase. Remember to consider the placement of your display, and gut check scenarios things could go wrong. For example, if your display is single-sided, what happens when it’s placed on a corner? What will it look like if half of the shoppers who walk past it are presented with a blank cardboard backing? A well-positioned in-store displays can make the difference between a glance and a conversion.
Want More? Check out this case study: Grocery Retailer’s Display Audit
Leave no element to chance. Display placement testing allows for precise measurement of impact - helping you prioritize investments and reach shoppers in the moments that matter most.
Great displays aren’t built on hunches. They are thoughtfully designed, tested, and refined. VideoMining’s in-store shopper research reveals how shoppers actually behave, giving you critical insights that allow you to:
Track Engagement: Where do eyes linger? What % of shoppers stop and engage? How many scan QR codes featured on the display?
Measure Conversions: Which layouts drive the strongest product interactions? Which signage copy encourages bigger baskets? Which cross-sells boost impulse buys?
Shopper Profiling: Tailor displays to your core audience, and track how that shopper profile (demographic, trip mission, day part etc. ) engages in real store settings, then design and iterate according to their preferences. The success of your in-store displays is magnified when grounded in real shopper insights.
Why guess when you can validate in real-life store environments? VideoMining’s Behavior Tests™ track experimental displays placed in Behavior Hubs™ - a network of participating retail chains with real stores that allow for scalable display testing and learning.
✅ Authentic Reactions: Watch real shoppers shop (no staged scenarios).
✅ Fail Fast, Fix Faster: Spot friction (confusing signage, poor placement) and adapt pre-launch.
✅ Quantify ROI: Measure dwell time, conversions, and basket size impact with clear evidence.
Harnessing shopper insights from Behavior Tests™ helps you refine every element of your in-store displays.
Combine razor-sharp display design with data-driven shopper insights, and you’ll eliminate wasted space, time, and budget. VideoMining’s Behavior Tests™ bridge the gap between “boardroom pretty” and “aisle-dominating ROI.”
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