“We always blame the product. But sometimes the problem is the shelf.”
They were referring to how certain SKUs never moved - while others flew off the racks.
Same store. Same footfall. Same price point.
But the dead stock always seemed to land in the same section.
Quiet corner. Odd lighting. Low staff engagement.
It reminded me of something I’d heard years ago from a merchandiser at a large-format store:
“Every shelf has its own energy. Some pull. Some push away.”
Back then, it felt like retail folklore.
Now, I realise it’s often just… layout science + human behaviour.
In the age of data and AI, it’s easy to overlook the simple stuff:
- Bad shelf placement.
- Staff crowding.
- Products that customers never actually see.
The best part? You don’t need high-tech answers to solve these.
You just need to see the problem in the first place.
That’s where real visibility begins - not with a dashboard, but with a question:
“What’s not getting noticed?”
It’s a reminder I carry into every new deployment we do at StorePulse AI.
Retail isn’t just about selling more.
It’s about seeing better.
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