In today’s competitive retail landscape, visual merchandising isn’t just about arranging products, it’s about creating experiences that captivate customers, tell a story, and ultimately drive sales. The way a product is displayed can influence whether a shopper walks past or stops to engage. Done well, visual merchandising transforms a store from a simple place to shop into an immersive environment that sparks curiosity and emotional connection.
Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to two of the industry’s top experts as they shared their insights into strategies and creative approaches at the Melbourne Life InStyle 2025 event. These weren’t just theoretical ideas, they were actionable techniques that leading brands are using to stay ahead of the curve.
In this post, I’m sharing 10 expert-approved tips I learned covering everything from layout design and storytelling techniques to trend application and sensory experiences. Whether you’re a boutique owner, retail merchandiser, or just someone passionate about creating beautiful spaces, these tips will help you elevate your in-store experience and keep customers coming back for more.
1. Start with the Store Concept
Customers don’t just want products, they want meaning. Visual storytelling draws shoppers in by connecting items to a lifestyle or feeling. Curate displays so that products make sense together, just like a department store
• General store / supermarket look – Stock feels plentiful and approachable.
• Gallery / curated style – A more elevated feel, spotlighting products like art.
• Pop-up experience within a store – Refresh merchandising seasonally or with themes, so the space feels new.
2. Borrow from the Big Guys
Large retail brands invest heavily in merchandising strategy, and you can apply similar techniques without big budgets:
• Signage: A fresh tagline can make the store feel new without a full redesign.
• Product grouping: Visual merchandising shines when items complement each other
• Avoid impractical displays like placing products too high (e.g., 3m shelves). If it doesn’t feel realistic at home, it won’t feel relatable in-store.
3. The Art of Display
Your product’s position and presentation speak volumes. Your entryway sets the tone for the shopping experience. This is where the customer decides whether to explore further.
• Engage the senses - sight, touch, even scent
• Eye-Level = Buy Level
○ Top shelves = Perceived as premium
○ Middle shelves = Fastest-moving
○ Bottom shelves = Heavy or bulky items
• Never display products on the floor as it devalues the product. Use risers and plinths to add height and sophistication.
• Visual Breaks: Negative space creates breathing room and makes displays easier to digest.
4. Visual Merchandising Toolkit
Build a strong foundation for any display with:
• Block colours for impact.
• Display systems for flexibility and consistency.
• Education signage – use signs to tell the story, especially when the full range isn’t on display to create a sense of what they're missing out on by not purchasing the entire set up.
5. Layout Matters
The right layout shapes how customers shop:
• Grid Layout: Efficient, systematic (like a supermarket) but doesn’t encourage discovery.
• Loop Layout: Creates a logical pathway for storytelling and product flow.
• Free Flow Layout: Perfect for boutique spaces as it invites browsing, discovery, and focus zones.
Bonus: Place impulse buys at the point of sale and eye level for maximum conversion.
6. Keep It Fresh
Your window is your billboard. If it’s static, it feels stale. Experts recommend refreshing displays every 1–4 weeks.
If something in the window isn’t moving, it’s not resonating with its audience, so switch it up.
7. Design Principles for Impact
• Symmetry & Balance: Perfect reflection isn’t always needed. Visual balance can be created with asymmetry using similar weights (size, color, texture).
• Odd Numbers: Grouping in 3s or 5s often feels most natural.
• Triangle Composition: Draws the eye upward and across.
• Negative Space: Allows breathing room and avoids clutter.
• Visual Hierarchy:
Hero product > Complement > Accessory
• Styling Details: Let drapes fall naturally, repeat shapes for cohesion.
• Left-to-Right Flow: Our eyes scan this way naturally - use it to your advantage.
8. Curating Vignettes
Vignettes are mini stories within your space, perfect for inspiring customers and creating Instagrammable moments.
Best spots include:
• Entry threshold
• Behind the POS
• Upper-level displays
Think like a personal shopper and curate pieces that complement each other, create symmetry and tell a lifestyle story.
9. Translating Trends
Trends shape design and influence consumer expectations, but they must feel authentic to your brand. Key insights:
• Understand the difference:
○ Fads = short-lived
○ Trends = emotionally driven, evolving over seasons
• Enduring Trend Themes:
○ Velma: 70s nostalgia, earthy tones, handmade textures
○ Echo: Brutalist forms softened with natural finishes - raw, structured, calm
○ Pillow: Soft, playful, pastel, sensory comfort
Hewn: Quiet luxury, functional beauty inspired by Japanese/Nordic minimalism
10. Applying Trends Authentically
Don’t overhaul your entire aesthetic for every new trend. Instead, evolve slightly, which you can achieve through adjusted color palettes, textures, or typography to stay current without losing brand identity.
My final thoughts? Visual merchandising is more than arranging products; it’s crafting an emotional journey. Every display, every sign, every texture contributes to a story your customers experience the moment they walk through your door.
A huge thank you to Interior Stylist, Tim Neve and Interior Designer, Bree Banfield for attending the retail therapy sessions at Life InStyle and providing their insightful talks and discussions on styling, interior trends and visual merchandising trends, that enabled me to walk away with these new perspectives.