research & strategic planning
DARKO works with clients to establish effective merchandising solutions that align with brands & retailer objectives. We assist in materials preparation, facilitation, evaluation of team planning & round table sessions. Our marketing team also conducts independent research in an effort to provide calculated rational for proposed solutions.
Industry Research
Researching current shopper trends, retail innovations & advancements in technology is a crucial step in paving the way for the customer experience. We research and analyze “smart marketing” approaches that will cut through the noise of the competition and yield a higher return for your brand.
On Site Store Visit
Our design and marketing teams conduct on-site retail audits to analyze current environments including: floor plan, traffic flow, adjacencies, competitive activity & department/ category opportunities/initiatives to guide us in the development of an effective approach for customer interactivity and a visual impact that influences the overall shopping experience.
In-Store Surveys
Our philosophy is to find out what real customers think about in-store displays. We compose and execute in-store shopper surveys to test the current performance of a display and the analyze the collected data to make recommendations on future initiatives.