If you’ve ever gone into a store and wondered why the products are arranged the way they are, you’re not alone. Have you ever noticed that some stores have all of their products neatly organized while others seem to just throw things together? There’s actually a method to this madness – it’s called planogramming. This article teaches you how to read a planogram and also create them. 

Planogramming is the science of designing retail spaces so that they are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. In other words, planograms help retailers figure out how to best arrange their products on shelves and in displays. If you’re in charge of stocking shelves or setting up displays, it’s important to know how to read a planogram.

After all, understanding how planograms work can help you make better decisions about what products to stock and where to put them.So, if you want learn more about reading planograms (or creating them), keep reading!

What is a planogram?

A planogram is a diagram used by retail companies to map out the layout of their stores. These diagrams are especially important when it comes to the placement of products, and where to place POS terminals.

The goal of using a planogram is to maximize sales and customer experience.

A product display plan is a visual layout of how products should be displayed in a store. It is part of a comprehensive, larger plan visual merchandising plan.

They typically provide a set of guidelines that retailers can use to create attractive product displays and manage their stock. A good layout will help maximize sales and client experience.

How do you use a planogram?

Grocery stores and big box retailers often use planogramming systems to organize their stores.

Even if you aren’t using a traditional retail store setup, you can use its strategies to help plan your layout and product arrangement.

Before stocking their shelves with groceries, supermarkets often use a planogram to ensure that their products are the right size and fit. A supermarket’s floor plan, shelf dimensions and turnover rate are all taken into account when creating a planogram.

For store locations with fewer products and displays, the planogram may not be as comprehensive.

How to Read a Planogram

There are three main types of planograms: schematic, image-based, and interactive.

Schematic planograms utilize text and numerical data to designate everything from store location to shelf location to specific product placement on that shelf. Although there is usually some form of visual representation of the shelf space present, actual product images are typically absent. This type of planogram is good for simple and replicable systems that have relatively little variance in space allocation.

Image-based planograms are a traditional way of clearly visualizing the designated shelf space for each item for both visual merchandisers and store associates. This is an improvement over depending on item codes, as it allows retailers to be more versatile and provides employees with a clear picture of what needs to go where.

As a merchandiser, being able to read a planogram is important not just for product stationing, but for understanding the visual merchandising strategy within the store. With a 3D viewer tool, you can take a virtual tour of your retail area and see what your customers see. This allows you to design merchandising displays with immediate feedback on lighting effects and the visual impact on the surrounding space.

Know How to Read Sales Data and Category Insights

The first step in reading a planogram is understanding how it was designed. In order to use the planogram to its full potential, you need accurate, up-to-date, and relevant data.

Sales data is the foundation for any planogram design, but it’s not the only metric that should be considered. A variety of range planning, list assortment, and space optimization metrics are available through Scorpion Planogram that can help inform your decisions.

Advanced analytics and dashboards enable retail planners to quickly and easily interpret the data.

To be an effective and successful retail planner, it’s vital that you be able to read and interpret your categories and sales insights.

Conclusion

If you want to learn how to read a planogram, the best way is to start by understanding what goes into one. Planograms are created using category insights and sales data, so once you know what those two things are, you’ll be well on your way to reading them like a pro. In addition, keep in mind that planograms can be helpful tools for making informed decisions about stocking shelves and setting up displays.

With just a little bit of practice, you’ll be reading planograms like a pro in no time!