Planograms: A Critical Strategic Tool

By Ralph Williams, JDA Software

Space planning is an activity that occurs quietly, without much fanfare or acknowledgment. When you're investing in major ad campaigns, opening new stores, or launching trendy private-label products, it can be difficult to focus on the efforts of your planners to generate highly detailed planograms — a complex activity that often resembles putting a jigsaw puzzle together.

But, the truth is that space planning is one of your most critical activities. Planogram creators are the unsung heroes who ensure that, when shoppers enter your stores, they find the products they're looking for. What could be more important?

By taking a higher-level approach to space planning, retailers can achieve increased sales and a competitive edge in every market. In order to shift your view of planograms from a micro to a macro perspective, there are a few key points to consider.