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.

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