Selling high-value power tools creates an interesting retail problem: how do you protect expensive demo product without disrupting the customer experience?
Many retailers chain power tools to display bays with heavy cables, but they block the display and clutter the bay. Holding a tool reveals its look and feel, but not the specs. It conceals key features and makes side-by-side comparison nearly impossible. When we tackled pneumatic nail gun bays for The Home Depot, we knew we had to change that approach. To solve it, we flipped traditional retail display strategy on its head.
The Strategy: Shift from Heavy Hardware to Clear Information
Instead of forcing shoppers to untangle cables to inspect the power tools, we removed every pneumatic nailer off the display. In their place, we built a standardized, high-definition product card system with QR codes.
We did not treat the display as mere signage. We designed each card to act as a “silent salesperson” on the retail floor.
Key Elements of the Design System:
- Clear Spec Hierarchy: Crucial buying factors, including nail length, tool weight, and warranty details, stay in exact, matching spots for every brand.
- App-Like Comparison: We matched the clean interface of a mobile shopping app. This lets customers scan across models and compare features in seconds.
- Seamless Digital Integration: Each QR code lets shoppers dive deeper into specs or order online if a model is out of stock on the shelf.
“We designed each card like a digital interface. By placing key details like nail length, tool weight, and warranty info in the same spot on every card, shoppers can quickly compare options across different brands.” – Elizabeth Maunu, Graphic Designer at The Bernard Group.
"We designed each card like a digital interface. By placing key details like nail length, tool weight, and warranty info in the same spot on every card, shoppers can quickly compare options across different brands." - Elizabeth Maunu, Graphic Designer at The Bernard Group.
The Results: Clarity Beats Hardware
Removing physical tools felt risky, but the sales data spoke for itself: sales jumped by 300% after launching the new display system.
Removing clutter and organizing specs gives buyers confidence. Sometimes it helps more than holding the product in hand. Buying the wrong tool wastes time and money, while organized data keeps customers from leaving the store for a competitor who made the choice more clear.
When you understand buyer behavior, you can rewrite the rules of your industry.
Taking products off the shelf may sound strange, until you look at the mental blocks holding buyers back. Josh Erickson, Account Manager for The Home Depot remarks, “The Pneumatic Nailer project is a prime example of solving for modern retail needs. We eliminated demo-product theft while standardizing product presentation across brands. By creating a clearer, more informed shopping experience on the shelf, we’re directly shortening the consumer’s path to purchase.” At The Bernard Group, we’re no strangers to unconventional problem-solving. By pairing behavioral insights with smart design, we guide customers from confusion to conversion.
“Our long-standing relationship with The Home Depot is built on over a decade of dedicated, strategic curation. Above all, we focus on listening first, being proactive, and bringing actionable ideas to the table that solve retail needs and drive measurable value to the bottom line.” Pete Ludwig, Account Executive for The Home Depot Account.
“How customers navigate those stores is evolving fast; shopping behaviors and wayfinding are shifting alongside new technologies like AI and e-commerce.” – Emily Oelke, Account Manager.
“While big-ticket sales have felt the impact of broader economic headwinds and interest rates, The Home Depot continues to maintain a massive physical footprint. How customers navigate those stores is evolving fast; shopping behaviors and wayfinding are shifting alongside new technologies like AI and e-commerce. As retail shifts toward digital integration, we’re focused on moving with dynamic curiosity and speed to market to ensure our physical store solutions support that digital shift.” – Emily Oelke, Account Manager.
Ready to rethink buyer engagement with your retail display strategy? Let’s build your next breakthrough customer experience. Contact us today.