WASHINGTON, DC — May 23, 2002 — To help food retailers address the strategic challenge of increasing top-line growth, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) introduces a new training video, Merchandising for Profit: Building Sales Through Product Placement.

“Through creative merchandising, stores can increase sales, improve product image and placement and promote new items,” said Kim Roberts, manager, education, at FMI. “This video is a key tool in developing a better understanding of how to use merchandising to affect customers and sales.”

The video is broken down into segments to help associates better understand how merchandising can enhance customer shopping experiences. Key subject areas include:

• Types of Displays — displaying merchandise so that it sells quickly through the use of the six different types of displays: mass, island, endcap, wing, tie-in and aisle.

• Creative and Attractive Signage — using effective signage to complete eye-catching displays that utilize uniform lettering and attract attention to the products.

• Traffic Flow Patterns — creating a traffic flow that allows the retailer to position products in “hot spot” locations that can generate the greatest turnover of product.

• Stocking and Display Tips — keeping a full and attractive display, hanging large signs above the display to advertise savings, theme-based displays, product sampling, promotional handouts and other strategies that aid in keeping the customer’s attention.
  

To purchase Merchandising for Profit: Building Sales Through Product Placement ($65 members, $110 associate members and $130 nonmembers) or for more information, contact FMI Publication Sales at www.fmi.org/pub or (202) 220-0723.