Are Competitors Stealing Your Shelf Space? Find Out Now!

Expanding market presence and gaining a competitive edge require more than just a great product. Today, brands must navigate multi-brand retail environments where visibility, shelf share, and sales tactics directly impact market share and revenue.

Channelplay’s Mystery Shopping & Audits provide brands with deep insights into competitive strategies, enabling data-driven decisions that enhance retail execution. Here’s how:

1. Competition Share of Visibility

Audit Type: Declared & Mystery Audits

In retail, brand visibility is key. Whether it's external signage, in-store branding, or strategic fixture placement, competition often fights for premium space.

• Declared audits analyse the proportion of space occupied by competitors and their branding placement in exclusive and multi-brand retail stores.
• Mystery audits assess how well a brand stands out through wall branding, standees, brochures, and other visual merchandising tools.

2. Competition Share of Shelf

Audit Type: Declared & Mystery Audits

A brand’s shelf share determines how frequently customers see and choose its products over competitors'.

• Mystery audits measure stock facings and shelf space occupied by competing brands.
• Declared audits ensure compliance with brand stocking agreements in semi-exclusive retail formats.

3. Sales Promoters’ Competition Objection Handling

Audit Type: Mystery Audits

Once a brand gains visibility and enters a customer’s consideration set, sales promoters play a critical role in closing the sale. But are they effectively handling competition-related objections?

• Mystery audits evaluate sales teams' ability to compare their brand with competitors and overcome customer doubts.
• These insights help refine sales training and promotional strategies.

4. Competition Brand Recommendation

Audit Type: Mystery Audits

Some retailers and brand promoters may push competitor products in exchange for better incentives. Brands must track and counteract this trend.

• Mystery audits uncover whether brand promoters or semi-exclusive dealers are recommending competitor products.
• The findings highlight areas for improvement, whether through better selling margins or stronger relationships with retailers.

Also read: How Mystery Shopping & Audits Can Help Tackle Competition in Retail?

Understanding competitor strategies is crucial for sustained retail success. With Channelplay’s mystery shopping and audit services, brands can:

✔ Gain real-time competitive intelligence

✔ Optimize visibility and shelf share

✔ Improve sales team effectiveness

✔ Strengthen retailer relationships