SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the snow sports industry’s member-owned trade association, has updated its Winter Sports Merchandising resources to help retailers throughout the snow sports industry kick off the 2014/15 season with a fresh take on visual merchandising.

SIA’s merchandising resources are curated by Ali Levy, a merchandising consultant who has worked with brands like SmartWool,Cloudveil and Marmot.

“Our goal continues to evolve by bringing the best elements of successful in-store merchandising,” Levy said. “Something as simple as knowing where to find great mannequins will definitely take the legwork out of doing the research when your day is already overbooked with other everyday tasks.”

The new format of the page gives a quick look at the Latest Trends, articles written by Levy for SIA’s monthly newsletter that review different techniques and give real-life visual merchandising examples.

The new Visual Merchandising Resource Library provides dozens of links Levy refers to when she is looking for fresh ideas and sourcing materials – from mannequins and flooring to signs and blogs.

Additionally, SIA’s series of Merchandising Guides developed in conjunction with Levy are now all in one easy-to-browse location. Each guide is designed to target specific retail spaces that require extra special attention, like the cashwrap area, window displays and hardgoods section. Levy draws her inspiration for these guides from retailers in snow sports and other industries.

“Because when you are stuck for new ideas, the next great one can come from an unexpected source,” commented Levy.

Effective merchandising is key to success according to Fischer van Gulden, hardgoods buyer for Alpine Shop in South Burlington, VT.

“Visual merchandising strategies are critical to sales,” van Gulden said. “For instance, by not putting big price tags on our hardgoods, we’re able to start a conversation with the customer that is based on need, not price. It’s all about making sure you are properly fitting that customer with the equipment that is a perfect fit for them and their ski/snowboard style.”

For quick tips, retailers can draw from merchandising-specific SIA Pins on theWinter Sports Merchandising as well as the perennial favoriteMerchandising Mondays, also posted to SIA’s Facebook and Twitter.

Contact Lindsey Auer at LAuer@snowsport.org with any questions about SIA’s new Winter Sports Merchandising section.

Logo courtesy SnowSports Industries America