Visual Merchandising Checklist: How to Prepare Your Retail Experience for 2025 and Beyond

Thinking of elevating your in-store presence? We are currently accepting a select few clients for transformative Visual Merchandising retrofits in Sephora!

We don’t have to say what you already know—the most important thing your brand can do to elevate its presence is by unifying storytelling across all touchpoints. But there’s no better place to put your brand’s story on full display than in Visual Merchandising (VM). Discover the Front Row difference by partnering with us to help your brand create cohesive and impactful VM experiences across all your U.S. and global locations.

Our design team expects some major VM trends this year to include:

-Increased use of digital signage and interactive displays to create dynamic, personalized experiences;

-Greater focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials in displays and store design;

-Integration of AR and VR capabilities to enhance the shopping experience;

-Added emphasis on creating "Instagram-worthy" displays that encourage user-generated content (UGC);

-Use of AI and data analytics to optimize product placement and personalize merchandising;

-Adoption of modular, flexible display systems that can be easily reconfigured;

-And even more blending of online and offline experiences through omnichannel visual merchandising strategies.

To stay ahead of these trends, our team uses a Visual Merchandising Checklist to ensure your brand’s vision comes to life with more dynamic, personalized, and interactive displays that seamlessly integrate digital and physical elements. Check it out below!

✓ Cohesive, Compelling, and Captivating Storytelling

As aforementioned, creating a unified brand narrative across all touchpoints is more crucial than ever. With a consistent visual language that reflects your brand's values and aesthetics, our team ensures all visual elements, from product displays to signage, align with your brand identity. We are hyperfocused on creating immersive experiences that tell your brand's story throughout the customer journey, driving engagement and securing loyalty.

Click the link below to see our team’s work in partnership with Kosas and Youth to the People. From sustainable materials to gallery inspired designs, the new language captured a new sense of discovery and education. 

✓ Leverage Technology for Enhanced Experiences

Your VM strategy should take advantage of technology, creating immersive experiences for your customers. From implementing AR displays to using interactive touchscreens and digital signage, we’ll ensure your display experience is thoroughly accessible, educational, and motivational. 

As omnichannel commerce gains prominence, seamlessly connecting in-store experiences with your social media presence and online marketplaces (like Sephora and Amazon) significantly enhances your ability to cultivate long-term customer relationships.

✓ Create UGC-Worthy Moments

Give your customers a reason to head in store. We will design your space with shareability in mind, developing eye-catching photo opportunities with bold, visually striking elements that inspire user-generated content. Our team likes to incorporate testimonials, brand hashtags, and social media handles into visual displays, too, guiding the customer’s journey beyond checkout. 

Take our partnership with La Mer, which brought innovative design that inspired massive social engagement. The campaign, dubbed Edge of the Sea, bridged guests’ online and offline experience by allowing them to “check-in” to the exhibition through WeChat by scanning a QR code. In just 10 days, the activation attracted 20,000 visitors and generated in excess of 1 billion social media impressions for La Mer.

Click below to see our full partnership with La Mer!

✓ Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability

Given the ever-evolving retail landscape, maintaining an agile VM strategy is paramount for our team. We design modular display systems that can be easily reconfigured, plan for versatile fixtures that can accommodate diverse product types and sizes, and integrate accommodations for seasonal changes and limited-time promotions into your overall design strategy.

To revitalize their Sephora presence and simplify shoppability, Bumble and Bumble sought to attract new customers while maintaining their iconic New York City roots and cutting-edge brand image.

Front Row reimagined the Sephora gondola experience with the concept of 'Experimental Nonconformity.' We transformed the space into a dynamic and functional backstage setting, reflecting Bumble and Bumble's heritage and innovative spirit. By employing a minimalist yet vibrant design aesthetic, we captured the essence of the brand's New York City origins, creating an unforgettable and engaging shopping experience for all.

To learn more about our partnership with Bumble and Bumble, click the link below! https://www.frontrowgroup.com/case/transforming-sephora-gondola-experience-for-bumble-and-bumble/

Our team is brimming with excitement and eager to collaborate on your next major Visual Merchandising project! We've earned the trust of leading brands like Saie, Kosas, Josie Maran, K18, and more. In just one quarter after launch, we've helped brands achieve double-digit profitability margin growth on their best-selling shelves, demonstrating the critical role visual merchandising plays in boosting retail sales.