Highlighting Unique Features of Each Product
There was a time, quite a while ago, where I used to think every t-shirt was pretty much the same. There were only a few differences, sure. More or less.
But overall, they all looked like boxy pieces of fabric to me with little to nothing separating one from the next. I am quite happy to say that my fashion sense has progressed and that I now understand just how important a t-shirt or any apparel really is - after all, what you wear can decide how you feel for the rest of the day. That’s why showcasing the features of a product is just as important as telling customers what it is. Maybe there’s a pair of breezy shorts in your store that would be great for a summer day at the beach.
Or perhaps you have knitwear that looks like it would be at home on a winter holiday in the Alps - with no mountains for miles in Australia, however, there’s only so many appropriate opportunities to wear those jumpers. With so many different kinds of products and options available, guiding customers towards what suits them best (both in terms of style and practicalities) is essential. Whenever I’m shopping online (which happens more often than not these days), I find that not knowing what makes a pair of trousers unique as opposed to another can lead to me getting frustrated.
It doesn’t help that I tend to spend ages scrolling through tabs before making my decisions. This is especially true when there isn’t really an effective way for me to figure out what one product offers over another (or if it even fits into my wardrobe). If only there was an easy way for both customers and retailers to have this information without having to look too far or rely on other sources.
If you want people to try out new things or even just take notice of products they might’ve otherwise missed, then highlighting their best features is how you get them interested - every single time. From where we stand today, it seems like giving buyers enough information (but not too much) about each product can help immensely with removing any hesitation they might feel towards items they haven’t tried before. Whether this is done through videos, detailed product descriptions, or pictures that show off how an item fits differently from one person to another, the world’s your oyster when it comes to telling people all about your products.
Creating Engaging Visual Displays
You know that feeling you get when you walk into a store and everything looks, well, boring. Just racks and racks of clothes, maybe some mannequins half-heartedly trying to show off the latest arrivals. You find yourself wandering aimlessly, feeling like there’s nothing special about the place or anything that really grabs your attention.
Now imagine walking into a store where every corner feels like a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. The displays are vibrant, creative, and make you want to reach out and touch everything. That’s the power of engaging visual displays.
It’s not just about making things look pretty, although that’s definitely a bonus. More or less. Visual merchandising is all about creating an experience for your customers.
It’s about telling a story with your products and inviting people to be part of it. By using colour, texture, and lighting, you can create an atmosphere that makes people want to stay and explore. You might group products by theme or colour or create little vignettes that showcase different ways to style them.
The key is to make it visually interesting and engaging so that people are drawn in and want to see more. I once worked with a retailer who was struggling to get customers to notice their accessories section. They had great products but they were just sitting on shelves looking sad and forgotten.
We decided to create a series of themed displays using props and signage to showcase different ways to wear the accessories. We used mannequins, jewellery stands, and even some vintage suitcases to create a sense of discovery. Sales went up almost immediately because customers could actually see how the accessories could be styled and incorporated into their own lives.
Engaging visual displays don’t have to be complicated or expensive but they do require some thought and creativity. I think the most important thing is to keep it fresh and interesting by changing up the displays regularly so that customers always have something new to discover when they come in.
Utilizing Customer Testimonials and Reviews
I Believe i'm not ashamed to admit that i've been convinced to try more than one face oil because of raving reviews. Even after the salesperson at the store couldn't make up her mind about what product was best for my skin. I’ve looked at all the options on the shelf, standing there wondering if this one is better, or that one is better and then remembered seeing someone say something online about that one product being so good. And that's it - into my basket it goes.
Social proof through customer testimonials and reviews can help customers decide between products and get them to put more items in their cart. Since we’re all fairly curious beings, giving your customers a look into what others have bought from you will let them try out different options in their own shopping journey as well. Everyone wants a closer look at how other people are doing things.
Sometimes it’s even easier for us to trust a real person with buying advice than a brand or person who's clearly being paid to say those things. If you can get people talking about your business on social media, they’ll become your biggest advertisers. Even Instagram stories of someone wearing an outfit from your store or TikTok videos of an unboxing experience can be strong ways to showcase your brand and products and encourage people to interact with you online.
Reviews on Google Business Profiles also come up on search results which are great for getting people in through the door and in-store reviews let people see new styles up close. Even if some of these reviews aren't always positive, they still serve as valid sources of information for other customers who want to know more about what you're offering. Your team can always address these concerns publicly and privately - but that's an opportunity for growth too. You're already doing so much in so many ways so why not show them off through the experience of those who've already had it.
Implementing Interactive Product Demos
You know when you’re online shopping and there’s a grainy, not-so-helpful video showing off some so-called miracle piece of technology. It’s very difficult to connect with a product when you can barely see it, let alone interact with it. Interactive product demos or AR-based displays are fairly effective tools for helping customers picture themselves owning a certain product - especially when it comes to fashion items. It’s a clever way to create a sense of ownership and make customers more likely to buy.
It’s almost impossible to see if something looks good on you without, well, seeing it on you. It seems like and giving your customers the chance to experiment with mixing and matching pieces from your collection with pieces in their wardrobe is how interactive demos play out in the real world. It’s sort of like trying on clothes virtually at home without leaving the house or being able to snap fingers and have all your entire wardrobe at your fingertips.
Like Cher from Clueless but better. But I think the real benefit of integrating interactive product demos into websites for fashion brands is inclusivity. This feels like a feature that works for every kind of shopper regardless of who they are or where they come from.
If people can see themselves wearing something, there’s almost nothing that’ll stop them from buying it. This is hardly ever also an excellent way for fashion brands to showcase the depth and breadth of their collections by encouraging customers to create different looks or styles using different products from their range as long as they look good together.
Offering Bundles and Special Promotions
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen for an online “bundle” – oh, you’ll give me three pairs of socks and a cute bag. Ok. It’s a classic retail move - and one that works. Bundles, as a means of upselling your clients are a great way to both introduce new products, as well as increase the average order value on your site.
I personally think that people love the idea of bundles because it taps into their hunter-gatherer side, like they’re getting something at an absolute steal. There’s even ways for you to digitally reward customers with “bundles” – such as giving them secret codes or promo codes that they can use at checkout. This unlocks the exclusivity aspect of shopping, making someone feel like they’ve got unique access to something special, simply by being part of your community. Bundling is also good if you’re dealing with specific types of products - maybe a product that’s not doing well at all and needs a little push.
When you’re adding bundling into your brand strategy, remember that this is very different from a sale or discount - you’re not bringing the price down for your customer, you’re packaging things together in a way that makes sense for them as a consumer and for you as a brand. Remember that there are endless opportunities when it comes to this kind of upselling but like we always say - keep it real and find ways to elevate the overall brand experience through this. Give it more than a “shove these two items together and hope for the best” approach and instead figure out how you can create unique products together that’ll keep people coming back.
Leveraging Social Media for Product Showcases
Ever scroll through Instagram and catch yourself ten minutes deep in someone’s product showcase, suddenly convinced that you need those perfectly arranged kitchen containers. You’re not alone. I think we’ve all fallen into the rabbit hole of beautiful visuals, clever captions, and influencers who make owning a complete set of teal mugs feel like the key to happiness. The way I see it, social media is no longer a space for haphazard brand posts or cryptic status updates - it’s the most effective window for people to browse, explore, and fall in love with new products.
Whether it’s static images or short videos or live product demonstrations, today’s visual platforms offer retailers an opportunity to connect with their customers in meaningful ways. Social commerce has taken on a life of its own, making it possible for brands to create entire digital shopping experiences that span continents. But as great as this is for both businesses and consumers, what makes social media worth talking about is how it helps people make purchase decisions. I know I’ve ended up buying more than one thing because a reviewer raved about how well it worked - even if my experience didn’t quite match theirs.
Seeing other people use products can help customers make sense of your catalogue before they buy. This doesn’t always have to be influencer-driven content either - user-generated content from fans who genuinely love your products can be just as powerful (maybe even more). These could be reviews, style guides, or even beauty tutorials depending on the kind of store you run.
Another great thing about social media content is how well it works as a supplement to online shopping experiences. Think product discovery tools that help customers find what they’re looking for with links to your social profiles so they know where else they can almost never get inspired by your brand or maybe a feed featuring all the best content created by your community. This helps provide credibility and builds trust in addition to giving visitors lots of new ideas on ways they can use the things you sell.