How To Use Store Design to Reduce Shoplifting
By Shari Waters, About.com

It has been reported that employee theft and shoplifting combined account for the largest source of property crime committed annually in the United States. The easiest way for retailers to discourage theft in a store is by taking away opportunities to steal. A little thought into the store's layout and design can prevent theft before a loss occurs. Here's How...

Checkout: Design the store lay out so customers must pass the register area and staff to exit the store. Never leave the register unlocked or unattended. Do not display merchandise near the store exits.
Tidy Up: Keep the store neat and orderly. Full displays and straightened shelves allow employees to see at a glance if something is missing.

View All: Use mirrors to eliminate blind spots in corners that might hide shoplifters. Maintain adequate lighting in all areas of the store, keep fixtures and displays low for better visibility.

Under Lock and Key: Place small, expensive items in locked cabinets or behind the counter. Rest rooms and dressing areas should be watched at all times. Keep dressing rooms locked and limit the number of items taken in by each customer. Use alarms on unlocked exits and close or block off unused checkout aisles.

Signage: Signs and posters reinforcing security messages should be used. Post anti-shoplifting signs like 'Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted' in clearly visible locations.

Security: Use security equipment such as closed circuit television, security tags and two-way mirrors. Uniformed security guards are also powerful visual deterrents to the shoplifter.

Not a great display but colors do get your attention and very unique merchandise. This vegetable/fruit shop was in Surajkund Mela, Faridabad, Haryana. The vegetables are fake for display purpose only.
There was good crowed gathered and everyone was appreciating the display. Starting Rs.30 per piece...

3M Digital Signage powers Indian Railways.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Dual-Screen Railway Ticketing Screens
The Indian Railways is one the world's largest and busiest railway networks in the world which transports about 16 million passengers daily. 3M Digital Signage has provided a customized 'infotainment' network which spans over 100 screens in the Passenger Reservation Counters of South Western Railways.

LCD screens placed in front of the booking windows show advertisements and public service messages. The bottom half of the screen shows live ticketing information to the passenger which includes the train names, train number, departure and destination information and the fare.

Previously, Passengers could have no way of seeing the booking clerks screen but with 3M's customized Terminal Emulation Software, the passenger can see selected fields and confirm the information prior to final booking. This prevents errors, and also fraud by touts.

Powered by 3M's customized LAN DSN Solution, it also supports information in multiple languages English, Kannada and Hindi and is installed at 27 locations and is viewed by more than 80,000 passengers per day. Advertisers taking advantage of this DSN network include BSNL and State Bank of Mysore.

To know more on 3M Digital Signage, Please contact: Mr.Prabhu Venkatesh - 0 9902096701

A disappointed salesman of Coca Cola returns from his Middle East assignment.

A friend asked: "Why weren't you successful with the Arabs?"

The salesman explained: "When I got posted in the Middle East , I was very confident that I would make a good sales pitch as Cola is virtually unknown there. But, I had a problem I didn't know to speak Arabic. So, I planned to convey the message through three posters...

First poster: A man lying in the hot desert sand - totally exhausted and fainting
Second poster: The man is drinking our Cola.
Third poster: Our man is now totally refreshed.

And then these posters were pasted all over the place.

"Then that should have worked" said the friend.

"The hell it should have!" said the salesman. “I didn't realize that Arabs read from right to left"

Source: http://www.glmshows.com/

Merchandising similar product together can create a dramatic impact, while quickly educating a customer to the depth of product you carry within a given category. This type of merchandising presents a visually clean image and makes the best use of the customers' time in your store by making it easy to identify where the product is located.

Displaying similar products together in a window is called creating an impact window. This type of presentation is dramatic and creates an awareness of the variety of a particular selection inside the store.
For example:
If you carry an extensive line of mugs, you could create a dramatic presentation by simply stacking your product in the window.
A store like Williams Sonoma might construct a display incorporating every variety of flavored vinegar they carry.

Placing similar products together inside the store is called creating a shop interior, anchor area or niche. This is sometimes called creating a store within a store. These areas are the basic building blocks of your store and this type of interior organization is most commonly used by retailers. When you create an anchor area, merchandise is usually placed together with similar product, brand, color or texture. For instance, all of your lamps will be in one section, perhaps organized by brand, while all of your stationery will be in another. This product grouping works especially well for demand items. It allows your customers to quickly find what they are looking for and to see the breadth of product you offer within any given category. You may want to create a focal point which incorporates cross-mix merchandising within each area.

Post messages, your work, enquiries, display snaps...know the industry...build your network!
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