Frequently Asked Questions
Will this work for my business?Visual merchandising is a critical aspect of retail and is becoming an even stronger component of the physical shopping experience. More and more customers are shopping online. Those making the effort to visit bricks and mortar stores want tactile and sensory experiences that they can’t get online.
Optimising your store environment will benefit your business, the extent to which depends on you – and your willingness to operate at your full potential. Furore will encourage and support the changes necessary for your business to benefit. How soon will I see results?Results can be immediate. Visual merchandising and product presentation will make or break a shopping experience and customers respond to improvement right away.
When customers enjoy shopping your store it is evident in their body language and behaviour. When you make it easy for customers to find things, source information, and make buying decisions they will respond accordingly and immediately. "Nicolle has played an important role in the growth of our business. She is a reliable hard worker who takes great pride in being a true professional." I'm a switched on retailer, why would I need VM advice?
Retailers often do what they think works, rather than what has been proven to work. Staff can become store blind and set in their ways and a fresh pair of eyes can reveal insights that hadn’t occurred to the retailer.
Nicolle takes an honest approach. She can determine very quickly the extent to which her services will benefit your business and she is candid in her assessment. At the very least, the things you are doing well can be acknowledged and affirmed. Nicolle will take the time to understand your business before suggestions are made. How much does it cost?Furore tailors services to suit each client.
Each retailer is unique and one size does not fit all. Furore will look at the level of support and involvement you require. Nicolle is fond of hard working, independent thinking retailers, and she understands that ideas often need to be implemented on a shoestring budget. Furore looks at your present merchandising standards and weighs this against how you could be performing. Furore will customise a package to produce the best results. Are my store displays really that important to my retail performance?Yes! A strong visual strategy will do more than give you a competitive advantage.
This is especially true for independent retailers who punctuate an otherwise repetitive retail environment. Small retailers are up against competition from big box retailers and chain stores and they often have the least resources for visual merchandising, but without their creative input and points of difference our shopping experiences would become bland and generic. Visual presentation has an immediate impact on our senses. Of all the business tools available to retailers Furore has the capacity to instantly raise your retail profile and increase sales. "Our sales are proportional to how fresh and new our displays are. We measure it; sales double their average when the shops are revamped." I’m not creative – how will I benefit?Don’t let that thought halt you, or prevent you from creating the store of your dreams. Your confidence will grow with training and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Yes, visual merchandising requires a sense of aesthetic, and understanding of balance and composition. But retail display is not simply the art of making things look nice, it includes practical and commercial aspects - which are easy to grasp. Furore methods have been tried and tested and are simple for you to replicate in your own store. Creative ideas are plentiful on websites such as Pinterest. Other invaluable online resources such as blogs and boards will help you find creative direction and define your own style. I’d like to make positive changes to my store, where do I begin?The best starting point is an assessment - via photographs. Send a series of photos to Nicolle via email and she will determine the extent to which she can help you.
The next stage might involve a store visit, a discussion, and a review of your present standards. From here we can move you forward. Call Furore today and have a chat. What does a store audit involve?A store audit involves a visit to your store, whereby Nicolle meets with you to learn about your business, and then independently reviews the store. Following the assessment (30-50 minutes depending on the size of the store,) Nicolle will call upon you again, to discuss the findings and make suggestions for improvement.
Do you run workshops for the general public and general retail staff to attend?Not at this stage.
Workshops are arranged for (and by) independent retailers, whereby their staff are required to attend for training. Conferences (and speaking engagements,) are coordinated by corporate retail clients, whereby retail store owners and staff are invited to attend. Other training sessions are coordinated by Business Associations for the retailers in their particular region, and others are organized by Shopping Mall Management for their retail tenants. In the past Furore has delivered VM training sessions in partnership with Retail NZ whereby Retail NZ members are invited to attend. This helps us to reach and assist more independent retailers across NZ. Nicolle will team up with Retail NZ in 2016 to deliver seminars. Due to the demand for general attendance Furore will look to host workshops for everyone to attend and these will be promoted via the Furore newsletter. If you would like to register your interest for a future workshop please let Nicolle know or sign up for the newsletter today. Do you offer VM services nationwide?Yes. Furore is based in Matakana, north of Auckland. The majority of my work is in the greater Auckland area but I travel across NZ and Australia for my clients.
Do you offer mass merchandising services?No. I don’t service big box retailers, nationwide planograms, or FMCG’s (Fast moving consumer
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