Answer to Question #190536 in Management for Andrew-John Bock

Question

Question 1     

Visit any retail website or go to Milyds, Foschini, Edgars, Woolworths, etc. or any other apparel merchandising techniques employed. Be sure to reference the concepts you have learned in your chapters.

1. How is the store layout, design and visual merchandising techniques used to attract customers? Make recommendations of your findings on the store appearance.  (10 marks)              
2. Discuss the recent developments in retailing in Namibia. What are the major challenges facing organised retailers in Namibia?   (10 marks)
3. Does the lighting highlight merchandise, structure space, capture a model, or downplay unwanted features? Comment on consistent fixture of the overall ambiance of the store?   (5 marks

Answer 1

   Edgars Retail

1.

Layout, design and Visual Merchandising Techniques

            Edgars retail is a U.S based retail shop that operate in the New England. The stores’ outlook is designed in a way to attract customers. For instance, every December of each year when the sales is at its peak. Edgars is usually dressed up like a Santa Claus to entertain shoppers’ children hence retaining them. Another technique used by the retail is that all the locations are actually bright green to attract new customers and also retain the existing customers.

2.

Recent Developments in Retailing in Namibia

 Retailing in Namibia is currently undergoing new developments like new store acquisitions and openings, and invention of e-commerce has advanced the operation of Namibian retails.  Again, most of the retail in Namibia have expanded their distribution channels to benefit all organizations and companies in Namibia’s retails market.

On the other hand, organized retailers in Namibia experience challenges like increased competition hence limiting their profit margin.  Growing consumer awareness also presents challenges to the retails companies in Namibia. Lastly, high costs involved in the deployment of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence in the operation of the stores significantly raise the companies’ operation costs hence limiting profit margin.

3.

  Lighting in the store highlight Merchandise in the store. Aisle from highlighting merchandise, the lighting in the store also illuminate aisles to guide customers through the store hence giving a sense of direction throughout the store.