In this final episode of our Why We Buy Summer Book Club series, we’re combining the art of visual merchandising with the science of shopper behavior to unlock one of Paco Underhill’s most valuable insights: how display height, depth, and tactile engagement work together to keep customers in your store longer, interacting with more products, and making more purchases.

From the “strike zone” that maximizes visibility, to layered displays that act as visual speed bumps, to the power of encouraging customers to pick up and touch your products — you’ll learn practical, research-backed strategies to transform your store layout into a sales-driving experience. Whether you run a cozy boutique or a large showroom, these ideas will help you create displays that aren’t just pretty, they’re profitable.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What the “strike zone” is and how it influences where customers look and shop.
• How layered, tiered displays slow shoppers down and increase engagement.
• Why product interaction (touching and handling items) significantly boosts purchase likelihood.
• Practical ways to merge visual merchandising with behavioral science.
• Easy, low-cost tips for applying height, depth, and touch strategies in small retail spaces.

Resources & Links:

• Heart on Main Street Website: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org
• Donate to Support Main Street Retailers: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/donate
• Follow Heart on Main Street on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartonmainstreet
• About Why We Buy by Paco Underhill: https://www.pacounderhill.com/why-we-buy

Keywords: retail display tips, Paco Underhill, Why We Buy book, product interaction science, retail merchandising strategies, height and depth in displays, retail strike zone, visual merchandising, independent retail, retail sales growth, customer engagement strategies, small store merchandising, retail behavioral science.