While paint tools and accessories are a broad category with a large number of items that could fall under that department in a store, it’s important to utilize smart merchandising so customers can find the products and information they need and you can better manage inventory. Thoughtful merchandising also makes a store look fully stocked, which has an impact on overall perception and quality of your business. 

At Redding Paint Mart, Inc. in Redding, California, owner Jeff Schuler knows the importance of prioritizing paint accessories and merchandising them successfully. Clear and creative displays allow customers to easily choose the best tools for their needs.

“I dedicate a lot of space to have everything out on display,” Schuler says. “It really gives the customer a nice visual as to what will work best for their project.”

For many accessories at Redding Paint, specifically paint trays, buckets and liners, Schuler has found his customers prefer well-known brands, regardless of price point. Stocking multiple products from the same brand, like matching liners and buckets, keeps his customers coming back to the store as a one-stop shop for accessories.

“While the cost of some of the liners for these brands seem a little pricey, the convenience seems to outweigh the cost as we sell a lot of them,” Schuler says.

Cross-merchandising with other paint products is also an effective way to merchandise accessories. Displaying paint tools with the items they are intended to go with can boost transaction sizes. 

“We market our accessories by setting them next to similar products, like roller pans and rollers,” Schuler says. “Our accessories are really more of a quick convenience item for our customers.”

Paint accessory categories also serve as niche categories, offering opportunities to specialize in certain areas.

“We are a very diverse store, so what may seem normal to me may be niche to another dealer,” Schuler says. “What we  specialize in that our competition does not is a vast supply of sanders and vacs, pressure washers and space heaters.”

Accessories can also serve as impulse items. When customers are looking for a last-minute tool for the project, stopping by a store is a better and more efficient option than ordering something online. Schuler’s accessory category stays competitive by aligning prices with online prices for similar items.

“What I have found is that when customers want or need equipment they do not want to order it,” Schuler says. “As long as I can be close to an online or direct price, it will sell. Our accessories are a segment of our business that continues to grow every year and I am always expanding it.”