For people who know the definition of a planogram but have little experience in an actual business setting, how to read a planogram doesn’t sound like rocket science. You just match the products on the shelf to the diagram, right? What’s so hard about that? But like so many aspects of merchandising, the reality isn’t nearly so simple. You’d be surprised by how often the planogram designs don’t match the in-store experience. Planogram compliance failures can happen for several different reasons including:
- Failure by suppliers or inventory managers.
- Failure by store associates.
- Planograms that don’t correspond with the actual space in the store.
- Planograms that are for a different store location or otherwise mislabeled.
Here’s the good news: Scorpion Planogram makes it easy to design planograms and to communicate the planogram templates to each relevant member of the team. Both retailers and suppliers will be on the same page and stay on the same page, while also being ready to respond to changes in consumer behavior and sales data.
How to Read a Planogram Starts with the Type
There is more than one kind of planogram template and, thus, more than one method for how to read a planogram. The biggest difference is whether you’re using schematic, image-based, or interactive planograms.
- Schematic planograms use text and numerical information to indicate everything from location within the store to the location of the shelf to the designation of specific products on that shelf. There is still usually some visual representation of the shelf space, but no actual product images. This type of planogram is great for simple and replicable systems with comparatively little variance in space allocation.
- Traditional, image-based planograms use actual product images superimposed on a diagram of the store’s shelf space. Instead of depending on item codes, images make the planogram clearly visible to both visual merchandisers and store associates. It reveals not just the item, but the product packaging that’s designated for that shelf space. This is a nice step up for more versatile retailers and as an aid for store employees as well as visual merchandisers.
- Today, merchandisers learn how to read a planogram not just for product placement but for the visual merchandising strategy within the store. With our 3D viewer tool, take a virtual tour of your retail space and see what your customers see. Design merchandising displays with immediate feedback on lighting effects and the visual impact on the surrounding space. This is a valuable resource for trendy and high-end retailers who are looking to analyze every aspect of their visual merchandising displays.
Know How to Read Category Insights and Sales Data
Reading a planogram starts with the understanding the planogram design process. To follow even the basic principles of planogram merchandising and space optimization, you need reliable, timely, and relevant data. This starts with sales data, but it doesn’t end there. A variety of range planning, list assortment, and space optimization metrics are available with Scorpion Planogram.
More than just advanced metrics, planogrammers need to be able to quickly and accurately interpret this data through dashboard-style displays. Planogrammers who are unaware of or confused about reading this type of data inevitably create less than optimal or even incompatible planograms for their store locations.
Scorpion POG Templates and Software
Wondering what our planogram design software looks like? An image is worth a thousand words, so check out the examples and planogram templates in our Gallery. Powerful POG software also offers automation, 3D viewer, category management, and IT security features. Looking for even more space planning features? Scorpion One combines our Planogram software with our Floor Planner and Range Planner. Looking for more active support to customize our software for your store and retail operations? Take advantage of our professional space planning consultants with planogram and store plan creation, range reviews and product photography.