Visual merchandising can be intimidating if you’re new to the task, but it’s an oh-so-important part of organizing your store and displaying your merchandise.

It’s more than simply folding tees, hanging up cardigans and buying a pre-made sale sign—it’s an art. Whether you’re training new employees on best practices or learning about store displays for the first time, don’t fret. We’ve got some tips to take your store to the next level.

Does visual merchandising make an impact on sales? Absolutely. In today’s fast-paced, instant world, shoppers’ attention spans are shorter than ever. Your store displays are your best tool to quickly show customers what you have to offer and how they may use your products. With a single display, you can communicate a promotion, a trend, a striking color story, a sense of boutique-like quality and an attitude.

Here are 3 quick, easy ways to utilize smart store displays today.

Promote Your Promotions.

Do you have a sale or clearance section? Are you running a sale on winter items as the temperatures rise and seasons change? Are you offering a buy one, get one deal on accessories? While it’s a great idea to have your employees greet customers at the door and make them aware of these promotions, it’s also a superb idea to create and display beautiful signage that communicates these messages. Use signage and a punchy call-to-action or think outside the box with a clever tagline.

Tell a Story.

According to an October 2013 article in the International Business & Economics Research Journal, “Successful visual merchandising displays have an effect on consumer emotion; consumers sometimes purchase products unconsciously depending on their current mood.” Your storefront’s window displays, signage, and the way you organize your merchandise needs to impact your audience in a genuine, emotional way. How can your customer wear these items? What pairs well with those pants? Where will they go in this top or with that handbag? Start with a story plan and execute your vision using backdrops, props and other merchandise. Get your entire team involved in the creative brainstorming.

One thing to be careful of is keeping a consistent focal point within each display. If you’re setting up a tropical scene to sell sandals, bathing suits, and sun hats, be sure that your beach blankets, umbrellas, and seashells support the story and not detract from your product.

The Product You Show is the Product That Sells.

Be sure to use your store’s empty space to create new displays. And don’t just think of the basics racks and shelves. Use your walls to create beautiful flat displays. Could anything be hung from your store’s low ceiling? Don’t be afraid to get creative and certainly don’t be afraid to rearrange your store so that you may add more visual merchandising. It’s simple: the more product you show in your store in a gorgeous, organized way, the more merchandise you’ll sell.

With that being said, keep your final products clean and simple. There’s nothing worse than an overcrowded, sloppy display—but there’s nothing more powerful than a thought-provoking one. The impact it has on sales just might surprise you.

How do you like to visually merchandise your products? What’s a hard lesson you’ve learned through creating displays? Tell us about your styling experience in the comments below!