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What Is Planogramming? The Complete Guide for Modern Retailers

Product placement can make or break a retail store’s performance. Research consistently shows that effective store layouts and shelf strategies can directly influence shopper behaviour and sales, yet many retailers still overlook the power of precise visual planning.

That’s where planogramming comes in.

This guide breaks down everything modern retail leaders need to know about planogramming – from its core purpose to the evolution of VR-driven solutions like StoreLab Connect™.

VR Software
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Why Store Layouts Matter More Than Ever

Where a product sits on the shelf can impact whether it gets noticed, picked up, or left behind. In fact, studies show that optimised product placement can lead to sales uplifts of up to 20%, particularly for impulse-driven or high-margin categories.

Yet many retailers still rely on outdated layouts or guesswork, missing out on measurable growth.

What Is a Planogram?

A planogram is a visual representation or blueprint of how products should be displayed in a retail space. It maps out shelf positions, product quantities, facings, and adjacencies to ensure a consistent, strategic presentation across stores.

Planograms are used to:

  • Boost sales through better visibility and flow
  • Align with shopper psychology (like “eye-level is buy-level”)
  • Maintain brand and supplier compliance
  • Enable store teams to execute layouts correctly

Planogramming is the process of creating, testing, and rolling out these diagrams to support in-store execution.

3d retail store design software

Why Planogramming Matters for Retailers

Done well, planogramming directly supports:

Sales performance:

Better visibility drives product discovery and higher conversions.

Shopper experience:

Organised layouts make stores easier to navigate.

Operational consistency:

Every store can present products the same way.

Supplier partnerships:

Ensures brands meet promotional agreements and category plans.

In short, planograms turn layout into a measurable business advantage.

Challenges with Traditional Planograms

While planograms are valuable, traditional methods come with limitations:

Static PDFs don’t reflect real shopper behaviour

In-store testing is slow and expensive

Difficult to train teams on execution visually

Limited feedback on whether layouts actually perform
This leads to missed sales, uneven compliance, and costly trial-and-error.
virtual online shopping

How VR Planogramming Changes the Game

With VR-driven planogramming, retailers can test before they invest. Platforms like StoreLab Connect™ allow teams to:

Simulate store layouts in an immersive, real-world context

Visualise shelf plans from a shopper’s perspective

Use eye-tracking insights to identify what captures attention

Iterate designs quickly and cost-effectively

Share VR walkthroughs with marketing, merchandising, and operations
This brings agility, accuracy, and alignment across the planning process.
Online Virtual Research — Pre-Shop Screener

Planogram Management with StoreLab Connect™

StoreLab Connect™ provides an intuitive, data-enhanced planogramming experience. Retailers can:

Import and edit planograms (including .psa files) in a shared platform

Walk through layouts in immersive 3D

Save, modify, and repurpose designs for future campaigns

Export visuals and videos for staff onboarding and training

Planogram management through VR reduces time-to-execution, improves accuracy, and makes store planning collaborative.

From Planogram to Execution: StoreLab FieldForce™

Designing a great layout is only step one — execution matters just as much. StoreLab FieldForce™ bridges the gap by enabling:

Geo-tagged campaign walkthroughs

Real-time compliance tracking

Central visibility into store-level rollout
This ensures your ideal layout actually gets implemented, at scale.

Examples: The ROI of Smarter Planogramming

Even hypothetical use cases show the value:

A grocery chain improves snack sales by 15% after repositioning grab-and-go items at endcaps.

A beauty brand uses VR to test three shelf configurations before a major launch, choosing the one that maximised visibility with minimal space.

These outcomes are now easier to achieve thanks to VR shelf simulation tools.

Virtual Research for Retail

The Future of Planogramming: Data + VR Integration

Planograms are no longer static diagrams — they’re becoming interactive, data-driven tools. The next generation of planogramming will involve:

AI-assisted layout optimisation

Live shopper data integration

Seamless syncing between planning, testing, and execution

StoreLab is leading this shift with tools that make merchandising smarter, faster, and measurable.

What’s Next?

Planogramming is no longer optional — it’s a competitive necessity. The retailers seeing the strongest growth are those using VR and data to inform how their shelves work.

Book a demo of StoreLab Connect™ to see how VR planogramming can help you streamline layout, improve execution, and lift sales.