That reminds me of things about shelves, going on all the time, not only during a crisis: let's call them War and Science.
1. "War" among manufacturers regarding shelf space, as there's a multitude of products versus limited shelfing space.
It seems to me the supermarkets favor the big companies; their products stake up the front.. That's not fair for competition. The shopper has a lot to lose this way; competition is of utmost importance, as it influences prices and quality.
When looking for the products I'm used to buy, I sometimes notice how the bigger companies just 'swallow' the smaller ones and this process starts on the shelf. Small manufacturers's merchandise gradually disappears ; later on, I find out that the small company has gone out of business or 'persuaded' to merge with the bigger one.
2. "Science" - planogramming - space planning.
A 'planogram' is a diagram showing how and where a product should be placed on shelves in order to increase customer purchase.
Many supermarkets and pharma stores employ experienced people for this specific job.
Planogramming sounds like a nice job to me. I know there's a lot of software products that help building and reading a planogram. I suppose there's also the possibility of formal training somewhere. It's worth it for those already in the retail business or wishing to join this sort of business.
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Big companies pay the supermarkets to feature their products in prominent positions, and since large corporations have much deeper pockets than small companies, they inevitably get the best locations.
ReplyDeleteYes, it ,makes sense. Sadly, money 'speaks' everywhere.
DeleteIt does, indeed.
DeleteIt's all about deep pockets, like David above said. And there's definitely a science to where products are placed, the better the store is at it, the better their profits. Milk and dairy products at the back of the store so that customers have to walk down the aisles to get to the products, candy at the checkouts, etc. It's all about strategy, a game!
ReplyDeleteThere's a certain product I use to buy, and it's placed on the upper shelf, behind other products.
DeleteI always have to ask someone's help with it, and that makes me mad. It shouldn't be up,it's a sort of yoghurt.
I've seen that planogramming in the stores these days. I thought it was because they were hiring people who hadn't stocked the aisles before so it was sort of a "blue print" for them to be able to know where things go on those particular shelves
ReplyDeleteWhat I do know is in the cereal aisle here the icky sugary sweet cereal seems to be at a child's eye level and the healthy alternatives are so hard to find.
It is marketing strategy trying to design where to place things to get the most sales. I'm one who likes to be in and out of a store as quickly as possible but I have to say if I see a product that says "new" I'm going to check it out. Even if what is new about it is the packaging of it.
betty
One of the supermarkets I sometimes visit, has at the entrance posters with tips for saving money, among them one that says: 'don't bring the children with you'.
DeleteHowever,when one enters the place, one sees that the whole strategy (placing of sweets and junk food)is set to attract children
Wasn't exactly sure what a planogram was, thanks for sharing. Now I can picture it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you do! It's important for us, shoppers, to know everything there's to know about our grocery stores.
DeleteThis also holds true for book placement. Check out lanes are also designed to entice shoppers to pitch
ReplyDeletein one last thing or two. Stay safe.
I suppose the 'money' element applies to books in a bookstore too. It's probably the publisher and or distributor that pays for a visible placement of the book.
DeleteOur supermarkets don't sell books, only magazines and newspapers, near the entrance/checkout lane.
This is an attention grabbing post you have created here. It really makes you stop and think.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know anything about the "War" among manufacturers regarding shelf space or the "Science" of space planning before reading about it here.
I learned something new today. Thank you for introducing this.
Thanks. I'm glad you feel you've learnt something new.
DeleteThe two, war and science, somehow complement each other.
Something I recently learned about placement of spaghetti sauces: the pricier ones are on the top shelf, almost out of reach. The more popular brands in plain sight. Wonder why this is?
ReplyDeleteWe may often wonder about placement of products; it's all part of the plan of the store to influence our shopping behaviour and purchasing decisions.
DeleteIt interest the psychology behind most things including shopping.
ReplyDeleteIt's a known fact that the shopping process (the purchasing tendencies of people) is both a logical and a psycholgical one.
DeleteSince the virus I can't buy yeast anywhere, but there is plenty of food in stores, thank God! Have a lovely day and stay safe and healthy everyone ☺
ReplyDeleteI believe the shortage of yeast is not a long-term one. It's just so happens (corona)that people are more at home and everyone bakes bread.
DeleteSo far we don't have empty shelves and nothing is missing except flour to make bread yourself with a machine. I just read your post below, no country ever expected such a disaster so it's normal that they are not enough equipped. Masks are missing everywhere. We are lucky in Belgium we have enough intensive care rooms and hospitals. A lot of people died in the past week in retirement homes. I think it's normal that the weakest are going first. Sad to say but I am 77 and had a good life so if the virus takes me it's less sad then a young one of 25 who has the whole life in front of him.
ReplyDeleteThank God for that!
DeleteNobody's expecting hospitals to be over-equipped, but they were shamefully very much under-equipped.
Anyway, masks and gloves, are in my opinion "first responders" and should have been distributed freely to the population.
I had a friend who had to create planograms for her craft company. It was kind of interesting. So true about big money controlling the store shelf space. It's one reason why I like my small grocery store. I'm sure they deal with it some, but there isn't the same incentive for the marketers as there is in a large store to grab that important space.
ReplyDeleteYes, planogramming does look rather interesting.
DeleteWell, I prefer rhe supermarket for the anonimity it offers me, and of course, the great variety of products to choose from.
Hello Duta, I love how you always look at life with an enquiring mind.
ReplyDeleteQuite a lot of thought goes into planning on the shelves... wish they would put some planning into the music that is played - and the volume lol... oh, now, I know I'm sounding like a grumpy old woman - guess I must be ;D)
"enquiring mind" - I like that, thank you.
DeleteAs for music, I don't mind the genre of music played, but I certainly do mind the volume.
This condition is not good for local products that normally own by small families. I too, have to walk to the back to get my things. About planogramming, I have never used it, but it is very interesting, Duta, I will learn about it :)
ReplyDeleteRight. Local products might get a poor location in a big store or supermarket; that's a pity, both for the shopper and the supplier.
DeleteHi Duta,
ReplyDeleteI hope you've been able to find what you need. It is probably the first time for many or most of us to see shelves with big portions empty like that.
Blessed Passover week to you and I do hope you were able to get Matzah!
PS You're always finding new findings through your researches!! Blessings in your findings, both the provisions and the spiritual and other topics you seek:))♡
The empty portions in the picture above, used to be taken by packages of toilet paper rolls.
DeleteThere's no visible shortage of other products. Not yet; it'll come later when the warehouses receive no new merchandise.
Blessed Passover to you too, Shayndel!
I will admit to not knowing about planograms although i was aware that some products get more visible placement on store shelves. Now that I've read this post, I can understand how the larger manufacturers get the prominent shelf space more often. I have seen similar empty store shelves here, but lately they are not so empty so perhaps the hoarding phase is somewhat ending, one can hope.
ReplyDeletePlanogramming was new to me too until last year. The son of a friend of mine lost his job as a design engineer, and was offered to work as a planogrammer at a big pharma store. I think he's still there trying to earn a living.
DeleteInteresting post. Years ago when I took a marketing class, I heard that most stores are set up to entice shoppers to spend more money and draw the eye to certain products.
ReplyDeleteThank you. That's correct. Retailers use various techniques (both psychological and technological) to entice shoppers.
DeleteThe panic-buying really has gone over the top. Some shelves in our local supermarket have been bare of products for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of planograms before this...
Take good care, DUTA :)
The panic is not totally devoid of reason, at least in my country. For years, essentials have been manufactured in China and its neighbors. So, now there's going to be shortage for who knows how long.
DeleteI think any products on the shelves right now is a good sign!
ReplyDeleteTrue. Before Passover we had shortage of eggs. Millions of eggs were imported from Portugal and Ukraine. It shouldn't ome to this.
DeleteI have a dreaded shopping trip today. But, luckily our shelves are full here in Minneapolis.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the shelves will always be full, in Minneapolis and everywhere else in the world.
DeleteI’m just saying hi, stopping back by to check on you and to let you know I’m thinking of you. I hope you had a good week and all is well with you. Wishing you a wonderful and Blessed Sunday. Stay Safe, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you. A wonderful Sunday to you too!
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