Technology shopping is built on possibility. Shoppers walk into stores energized, eager to test devices, explore features, and envision how new tools will enhance their lives.
But too often, that spark of interest dims before it becomes a purchase. The challenge? Turning hands-on engagement into real conversion.
Most consumers approach technology purchases thoughtfully. They’ve done their research. Nonetheless, shoppers still seek out reassurance, clarity, and inspiration from in-store experiences to finalize their purchases with confidence.
Without critical touchpoints like intuitive displays, seamless demonstrations, and clear product information, shoppers frequently leave stores empty-handed.
In fact, according to our recent consumer research, American shoppers ranked electronics/gadgets among the top 3 discretionary product categories they’re most likely to reduce spending on over the next six months. Unlike impulse buys in grocery or emotion-driven decisions in apparel, consumer electronics purchases are largely logic- and trust-driven — putting greater pressure on retailers to get merchandising right.
So, how can retailers overcome these barriers and convert browsers into buyers?
It starts with embracing AI merchandising, or retail strategies that leverage data-driven, automated capabilities to optimize how teams plan, display, and manage products within brick-and-mortar environments. The goal? Driving more intuitive, connected, and confidence-inspiring in-store experiences.
Think about the last time you made a technology purchase. You likely researched products, compared alternatives, read reviews, tested functionalities, looked for discounts — and then double-checked your work.
Buying consumer electronics, big or small, involves thoughtful evaluation. Small missteps in product presentation, layout, or availability can add friction to in-store shopping experiences, which can cause even high-intent shoppers to lose momentum. Usually, something critical is missing or breaking down close to the point of decision:
Remember: Many people shopping for consumer electronics arrive in store with a head start — at this stage, what they’re looking for is validation.
That means in-store shopping experiences should show clearly how a device or other technology product fits into a shopper’s world, whether it’s a connected home, hybrid workspace, or fitness setup.
When done right, effective in-store merchandising makes the path forward more obvious for consumers, helping move from interest to purchase without hesitation.
When shopper confidence depends on precise product presentation, retailers require merchandising strategies that are both agile and adaptable in real time.
AI merchandising tools like Realgram AI help retailers create locally relevant, shoppable in-store experiences. By aligning merchandising strategies with real-time product inventory, layout, shopper expectations, and more, the technology supports clearer product storytelling and removes in-store friction points that hamper interested shoppers.
Consumers seldom purchase tech products for their novelty — they’re investing in solutions that fit into their daily routines and work seamlessly across multiple needs. AI-powered planogramming helps retailers reflect this consumer mindset across in-store product ecosystems.
Retailers in the consumer electronics space can turn to leaders in other product verticals for inspiration.
Apparel retailers, for example, lead the way in treating merchandising as a form of storytelling, not just product placement. From curated outfits based on localized clothing trends to immersive brand moments, apparel retailers create progressive in-store shopping experiences that inspire, connect to consumer emotions, and intelligently guide shoppers throughout physical spaces.
The same is true for grocery, where leading retailers are facilitating in-store shopping experiences that prioritize trending products, as well as layouts that help shoppers connect the dots between purchases. This may look like an endcap that features viral items on social media, or a display that brings into close proximity all of the ingredients required for a recipe.
Consumer electronics can take a page from these playbooks and think beyond product specs and SKUs. Instead, retailers should focus on curated, lifestyle-driven displays that showcase how devices connect and fit into the real world.
This might look like a smartphone display with wireless earbuds and a portable charger as part of a mobile-first setup. Or a tablet merchandised alongside a smart home hub and compatible accessories to demonstrate how these tools improve a connected living space. These types of curated product arrangements make it easier for shoppers to see how the pieces fit together, boosting purchasing confidence.
Regardless of the product type, effective consumer electronics merchandising must follow a less-is-more approach. Too many devices crammed into tight spaces, scattered accessories, or a clutter of competing messages creates friction and decision fatigue.
Retailers that embrace AI merchandising and make the shift to clean, immersive, and solution-based displays stand the best chance of turning browsers into buyers.
Frequent product launches, short promotional cycles, and shifting store layouts are a given in consumer electronics.
These elements can create confusion on the floor when store teams lack clear, updated merchandising direction. Retail success comes from dynamic planograms tailored to each store’s inventory, fixture layout, and local demand patterns. This approach ensures store teams receive clear, actionable direction based on what’s actually in stock and relevant to their store’s unique shopper base.
By grounding plans in real-time data that automatically update as product availability, inventory levels, or priorities shift, headquarters can eliminate guesswork and limit manual adjustments among store teams. This means employees can move faster and execute with greater precision — better planning their time, staffing accordingly, and approaching merchandising changes with confidence, not chaos.
This increased agility level facilitates a smoother in-store experience for shoppers, too. Employees who aren't busy or frustrated with having to rework displays are more available to answer shoppers’ questions in real time, which can prove a critical touchpoint for higher-price or higher-priority tech purchases.
Another bonus of AI merchandising optimization is fewer printed materials. Consumer electronics products are often marketed with a broad portfolio of printed materials to outline product specs and comparisons. When merchandising plans change last minute, store teams have to reprint associated signage.
Avoiding reprints saves time and money. Consider how Bell, a telecommunications company, used dynamic planogramming to achieve a 20% reduction in print spend. Operating in a less wasteful way also lowers a retailer’s sustainability footprint.
For consumer electronics, retailers gain a clear advantage from greater visibility into how merchandising plans are executed in the field.
Using AI-driven image recognition tools and RFID technologies, companies can track display setups and surface gaps. Headquarters can confirm whether key product narratives are being delivered as intended, while store teams gain predictability and on-demand support to troubleshoot merchandising errors.
For example, a retailer may want to make timely adjustments when displays are incomplete, off plan, or failing to highlight key product pairings. This could include ticketing triage or other in-store automations that ensure errors are routed to the correct parties and escalated appropriately. Streamlining workflows between planning and execution teams resolves points of friction that are stalling shopper decision-making more quickly.
This ongoing feedback loop optimizes store performance and capitalizes on consumer spending habits to improve both shopper and employee experiences.
Don’t let high-intent shoppers walk away empty-handed. If a display is confusing, cluttered, or misaligned with expectations, even the most interested customer might think twice before buying — wouldn’t you?
In consumer electronics, where purchases involve careful evaluation, merchandising must guide decision-making. AI merchandising tools like Realgram AI help retailers meet this standard by creating store-specific plans, building product displays around real-life use cases, and ensuring teams have the visibility to follow through and improve over time.
Learn how Optimum Retailing can help connect strategy to execution and support a more confident shopping journey.
Because in consumer electronics retail, the right in-store setup makes all the difference.