With the potential for record-breaking holiday sales around the corner, new and small retailers are learning how to make a planogram. Implementing this visual merchandising tool can increase sales and grow revenue – even during the competitive holiday rush. But when it comes to making a planogram, retailers need to gather data before sitting down to design the store. Information like profit margin, brand agreements, and packaging aesthetics all play a role in planogram generation.
If you’ve never made a planogram before, know that it’s an uncomplicated process – it just might take some time to learn. And, if you want to make the process more efficient and intelligent, consider a software tool from Scorpion.
How to Make a Planogram: 5 Steps
Planogram generation is straightforward, but it can be tedious. While retailers can do this manually, most professionals recommend a planogram software tool. This can help save time and eliminate redundancies in the process. But whether you choose a manual or software-generated planogram, you’ll follow similar steps.
- Record and measure your fixtures. Fixtures include shelves and racks, both on the wall and on the floor. Recording these dimensions is key to understanding how items will fit on a display.
- Determine high-margin and low-margin items. Most retailers prefer to prioritize high-margin items on a shelf. This can maximize revenue. Separating and organizing high-margin items from low-margin items is a first step toward product organization on the shelf.
- Revisit any visual merchandising agreements in provider contracts. In some cases, like at a supermarket or convenience store, brands are very specific about how their items should be displayed. Take a moment to revisit these agreements before beginning to design your planogram.
- Consider brand and product factors. Planograms shift depending on the season, a product’s popularity, its visual appeal, and inventory availability. Factor these characteristics into your process.
- Build the planogram. With the necessary information assembled, you are ready to create your planogram. Remember to save your work as much as possible. These visual merchandising displays ensure consistent product placement. This, in turn, leads to a more positive customer experience.
Some retailers may choose to draw planograms by hand. But for time-strapped workers with many responsibilities, this process can be slow. Instead, learn how to make a planogram with a software tool like Scorpion Planogram.
Using a Planogram Software to Increase Sales
While a manual planogram can maximize store space and increase sales, a planogram software can provide much more. Software tools like Scorpion Planogram provide personalized insights as your 2D or 3D planogram comes to life. This tool focuses on optimizing sales, but it also helps to achieve category objectives. For example, Scorpion Planogram users have inventory management support, plus gap analysis, hotspot analysis, and Days of Supply analysis capabilities. These insights provide critical information to better leverage sales during high-traffic periods, like the holiday season.
If you’re not sure how to make a planogram, Scorpion is a great place to start. The intuitive design and interface makes this an excellent software for both new and long-time retail specialists.