The following blog post is sponsored content provided by JR Visuals.
Part 1: Creating an emotional customer response through visual displays
As we head into the Christmas season, we want to focus on a key customer shopping behavior – EMOTION.
The holidays evoke a range of emotions, from nostalgia to happiness and a sense of magic. We aim to create this emotional experience for our customers during their in-store shopping. Research shows that 80% of shoppers prefer to do their holiday shopping in-store, indicating a strong desire for an exciting and festive shopping experience.
Why emotion? Emotion is what drives customers to make impulse purchases. It can turn customers who may not have been planning to shop for the holidays into holiday shoppers. Additionally, it can influence customers to buy multiple items at once, ultimately boosting your sales.
How can you create an emotional connection for your customers in your store? Here is what we suggest:
It all starts with captivating visual displays. These displays will create a connection, evoking feelings of nostalgia or warmth and excitement.
Start with a window display. During the holidays, foot traffic increases, so a surefire way to attract customers to your store is by catching their attention with your windows. You want to stop them in their tracks and entice them to browse and explore the displays and products in your window, ultimately leading them into your store to explore further.
Here are some other holiday windows that we have created in case you need some inspiration and prefer something different from what we have provided above!
JR TIP: If you’re having trouble creating a window display because of limited space, consider using window decals! They can grab attention, convey messages to your customers, and can be applied to any window to create a strong visual impact. We’ve also included some inspiration for you.
Now let’s talk in-store visual displays! You don’t want customers to be excited by your window display only to be disappointed by what’s inside. Mirror your window display with an additional interior display on or above your front table to maintain that emotional connection and festive feeling, encouraging them to shop and buy.
Here are some other holiday in-store displays that we have created, and others that we admire, in case you need some inspiration and prefer something different from what we have provided above!
Next up – visual moments. You will also always want to incorporate visual moments and décor throughout your store. These are smaller decorative touches such as holiday décor on upper shelves, back tables, cash desk, etc. To maintain the festive, magical holiday feeling throughout your store, adding these touches of holiday décor will help achieve this.
Here are some examples of holiday visual moments we have created to help inspire you on how to create them within your store:
Part 2: Creating an emotional customer response through merchandising.
Strategic product placement, also known as merchandising, is crucial for evoking emotion in your customers. You should merchandise products together to inspire your customers on how they can pair items to create the ultimate gift. Shoppers are seeking ready-made solutions, so this positions your brand as helpful, which is highly valued during the busy shopping season.
We recommend creating multiple areas of gift ideas for different demographics, such as a cozy gift area where you cross-merchandise slippers with candles, bath salts, and a pajama set. Another area could be for the fashionista, featuring bags, on-trend accessories, toques, and scarves. Additionally, consider a section for the men in someone’s life, showcasing men’s clothing and accessories along with grooming lotions and chocolates. Tailor the gifts to your shoppers. This approach not only creates a seamless shopping experience but also encourages customers to buy multiple items at once, which is essential.
If you’re unsure how to adapt your merchandising to the holiday season, we’ve got you covered. Here are some sections we always create within a store, and we recommend that you do the same!
Sections to include in your store this holiday season:
- Create giftable sections tailored to different demographics.
- For clothing, set up a holiday outfit area featuring dressier pieces for holiday parties, a cozy section for loungewear and accessories for shoppers staying in during the break, a section for new arrivals, and a section for outerwear.
- Have grab-and-go areas near your cash desk and where customers would be waiting in line. Stock these areas with small items that customers might add to their purchase, such as lip balm, hair clips, hand lotion, and affordable jewelry like initial rings or necklaces. This can help increase overall sales.
Here are some visual examples of holiday sections we have created:
How JR Visual can help you this holiday season:
- Virtual window display and interior display concepts: Send them a photo of your space, and they will create an impactful visual for you with all the materials and directions you need to seamlessly install it yourself. Starting at $300usd +
- Virtual store flips: Send them photos of your store with an overview layout, and they will create the ultimate holiday store layout, including where you should place your fixtures, sections, and products in the most effective way. They will also include visuals of how some of your gifting sections should be set up, so you have the ultimate easy-to-follow and install guide. Starting at $400.00usd +
- Join our JR VIP Facebook group where you will receive FREE window display concepts, FREE interior display concepts, visual moment décor suggestions, and so many valuable holiday merchandising how-to’s including video learning. Only $21.99/month!
Special promo for the Boutique Hub members – book a virtual service with JR Visual Design and receive a FREE visual merchandising e-book of your choice. https://www.jrvisualdesign.com/shop
Happy Holidays! – JR Visual Design
- The Smart Retailer’s September Playbook: 5 Ways to Prep Now for a Profitable Holiday Season
For small business retailers, the end of August isn’t just about back-to-school sales — it’s the signal that the holiday season is right around the corner. While big-box stores are already pushing fall and Christmas displays, boutique owners and independent retailers know the smartest moves happen in September. - What is Pink Friday 2025? Everything You Need to Know About the Support Small First MovementSince 2020, Pink Friday has been a nationwide movement held on the Friday before Black Friday, created to encourage shoppers to discover and support small retailers first during the holiday season. In 2025, Pink Friday will take place on Friday, November 21st, 2025.
- The Boutique Hub at Vegas Fashion WeekThe Boutique Hub at Vegas Fashion Week We are so excited to announce that The Boutique Hub will be at Vegas Fashion Week! With so many sourcing opportunities, Vegas Fashion Week is a ‘must-attend’ event!
- The Boutique Hub at the Dallas August Apparel WESA + AETA MarketsThe time has come for Dallas Market and the Hub team couldn’t be more excited! We know how busy market days can be so we wanted to make sure you guys are filled in on our schedule so you can come and stop by!
- The Boutique Hub Heads to NY NOW: Supporting the Home + Gift Market Like Never BeforeWe’re excited to announce that, for the first time, The Boutique Hub will be attending and presenting at the NY NOW Summer Market this August in New York City. This milestone highlights our growing commitment to supporting the fast-rising Home + Gift category within our retail community.
