The Art and Craft of Building Displays That Sell

Why South African Franchisee Supermarket Owners & Managers Should Download

“The Art and Craft of Building Displays That Sell” (FREE)

In most supermarkets, the difference between average performance and strong performance isn’t location, pricing, or even range.

It’s how products are presented on the floor.

This guide focuses on the quiet, often underestimated discipline of visual merchandising — the small decisions that consistently influence how customers move, pause, and buy inside South African stores.

1. Because Displays Influence Buying More Than Most Managers Realise

Customers make the majority of their purchase decisions inside the store, not before they arrive.

Well-built displays:

• Slow customers down at the right moments
• Signal value and abundance
• Encourage unplanned purchases

This manual explains how to design displays that do this naturally, without gimmicks.

2. Because Good Displays Work Even When Staff Are Busy

A strong display continues selling:

• During peak hours
• During staff shortages
• Without constant intervention

The guide treats displays as quiet sales tools, not decorations that need constant attention.

3. Because Where You Place a Display Matters as Much as What’s On It

Not all store space performs equally.

The book explains:

• Which areas attract the most attention
• Where customers naturally slow down
• Which zones consistently underperform

This helps owners avoid wasting stock and effort in areas customers rarely engage with.

4. Because Customers Respond to Structure, Not Creativity

The guide focuses on repeatable principles, not artistic flair:

• How the eye moves
• Why eye-level placement matters
• Why simplicity often outperforms variety

It replaces guesswork with practical structure that can be taught and maintained.

5. Because Colour, Height, and Volume Send Signals

Customers read displays before they read prices.

This manual explains:

• How colour influences urgency and trust
• Why full displays sell better than neat ones
• How height and scale affect perceived value

These cues work quietly, but consistently.

6. Because Gondola Ends and Entrances Shape Price Perception

Certain areas of the store influence how customers judge all pricing inside the shop.

The guide shows how to:

• Use gondola ends purposefully
• Avoid clutter and slow-moving stock in high-impact zones
• Present value clearly, without shouting

Small changes here can shift overall customer perception.

7. Because Bulk Displays Require Discipline

Bulk and pallet displays are powerful — when used correctly.

The book explains:

• When bulk signals value
• When it creates congestion
• How to keep displays safe, accessible, and shoppable

This ensures bulk selling supports the store instead of disrupting it.

8. Because Safety and Compliance Are Part of Merchandising

Displays must sell — but they must also be safe.

The guide includes:

• Clear stacking and stability rules
• Practical safety checks
• Guidance that protects customers and owners alike

This reduces risk without adding complexity.

9. Because Impulse Zones Are Easily Neglected

Till points, queue runs, and entrance zones quietly generate high-margin sales.

The manual shows how to:

• Keep these areas disciplined and full
• Avoid overloading customers
• Focus on items that genuinely perform

Well-managed impulse zones improve results without adding pressure to staff.

10. Because Seasonal Displays Work Best With Planning

Seasonal activity is more effective when it is:

• Planned early
• Executed simply
• Cleared decisively

The guide provides a practical framework for seasonal displays that support sales rather than create leftover problems.

11. Because Signage Should Reduce Friction, Not Add It

Clear pricing removes hesitation.

This book explains:

• How large pricing improves confidence
• Why readable signage matters in busy stores
• How small formatting choices affect decision-making

Customers buy faster when information is easy to absorb.

12. Because Maintenance Is What Sustains Performance

Even good displays decline without routine care.

The guide outlines:

• Simple recovery standards
• Daily visual checks
• Lighting and cleanliness basics

These habits preserve performance without extra labour.

13. Because Measuring Results Matters

The manual encourages owners and managers to ask one simple question:

Did this display actually sell?

It provides guidance on:

• Reviewing sales impact
• Identifying underperforming displays
• Replacing emotion with evidence

This keeps merchandising aligned with business outcomes.

14. Because It’s Practical, Usable, and Free

This is not a conceptual guide.

It includes:

• Checklists
• Planning tools
• Floor-walk routines
• Clear, repeatable standards

One improved display can repay the time spent reading it many times over.

Final Thought

This guide reflects a simple RIDBS belief:

Retail performance improves when small details are done consistently well.

If you want:

• Better use of floor space
• More reliable impulse sales
• Cleaner, calmer store presentation
• Fewer merchandising debates

This manual provides a grounded, practical approach.

👉 Download the FREE “The Art and Craft of Building Displays That Sell”

👉 Learn more about disciplined retail execution at https://ridbs.co.za

RIDBS focuses on what quietly works — and helps stores repeat it.