What is the term for the process of selecting an assortment of products and promoting sales in a store?

The process of selecting an assortment of products and promoting sales in a store is referred to as merchandising. This encompasses not only the selection of the product mix—determining which items to offer and in what quantity—but also the strategies employed to promote those products effectively, such as the layout, signage, pricing strategies, and promotional displays.

Merchandising plays a crucial role in retail because it directly influences a customer’s shopping experience, guiding their decisions and encouraging purchases. It involves understanding consumer behavior, market trends, and how to best present products to appeal to customers’ preferences. Effective merchandising can lead to higher sales and improved customer satisfaction, making it a foundational aspect of successful retail operations.

Visual merchandising, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the aesthetic presentation of the store and its products, while product placement involves strategically positioning items within the store to attract attention and drive sales. Store design refers to the overall physical layout and architecture of the retail space rather than the specific marketing strategies related to product selection and sales promotion.