10 Must-Ask Questions When Choosing a Visual Merchandising Outsourcing Partner

Outsourcing visual merchandising or any part of your business requires deep thought and thorough research. After all, you’ve poured your blood and sweat into your business. However, creating those eye-catching displays and executing flawless visual merchandising strategies takes time, talent, and resources. That's where outsourcing to a qualified partner comes in.

1. Can you share your client list?

From electronic consumer goods giants to fintech leaders, Channelplay's Visual Merchandising team has worked with leaders from across different industries.

This question delves into the VM partner's project management approach. Will they assign a dedicated team? What communication channels will be used? A clear plan ensures smooth collaboration and keeps you informed throughout the project lifecycle.

3. If a short notice change arises, can you deal with it?

Delivering high-quality results even on tight deadlines is something we have done for OnePlus and many other clients.

If you have a national presence, understanding the partner's geographical reach is vital. Can they manage VM implementation across all your stores? Knowing their limitations helps you determine if they're a good fit for your specific needs.

5. What is your turn-around time?

Channelplay has competitive TATs that continue to get us appreciation from our clients. We have a campaign execution TAT of 7 days in Base and Branch Town stores, and a TAT of 14 days in rest of India.

Some VM firms offer a wider range of services. This could include campaign deployment, inventory management, installation, and even ongoing maintenance of store displays. Identifying these additional offerings helps you determine if they can be a one-stop shop for your VM needs.

7. How are your visual merchandisers hired and trained?

We take particular care to hire the best talent and spend even more time training them to precision. Our employees are satisfied and most have a long-term association with no intention of leaving. Take Rahul for example. He has been a visual merchandiser with us for a decade now. He started as a young fresh college graduate and now, he is the best mentor for newcomers.

Industry-specific experience allows the VM partner to understand your target audience's preferences and tailor VM strategies accordingly. This could lead to more effective and impactful displays that resonate with your customers.

9. What reporting systems do you have in place to keep me informed of progress?

1Channel is our full channel-tech stack that provides advanced data capture and reporting capabilities. We provide detailed and live data for tracking progress and understanding competitor behaviour. We also offer workflow customisation for you to have complete control over the processes.

Quality assurance is paramount in visual merchandising. Understanding the partner's approach to maintaining high standards is vital. Look for partners who have a clear quality control process in place. By asking about their quality assurance measures, you gain confidence in the outcome of your VM displays.

It is understandable to feel apprehensive about outsourcing visual merchandising, but the benefits of outsourcing visual merchandising to a good firm is worth the leap of faith.