Great merchandising is like sleight of hand: if it's done right, it's magic. If it's done wrong, it's silly. Merchandising is a combination of science and art that takes strategy, imagination, money, and persistence. Whatever strategy you use to promote your store to customers, always use merchandising to bring a little magic to the shopping experience.

This guide is an overview of how to build a merchandising plan for your store that will help you dazzle customers. It is also a good refresher for those of you who need to revisit your current merchandising strategies.

In this guide, you'll learn about:

• Start with a strategy
• Develop a plan
• Create a space for customers
• Tell a story
• Layer on the merchandise