As the days get shorter and the miles stay steady, National Running Safety Month is the perfect opportunity to inspire your customers to think smart about visibility and safety. With a few strategic display ideas, you can create eye-catching moments that not only remind runners to stay seen, but also showcase the nutrition, apparel, accessories and tech that keep them safe – and keep sales strong all season long.

In this article, I will walk you through some simple ideas to help bring the “Run Safety” category to life in ways you may not have thought about.  

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Running Safety Products in the Front Entry

Running Safety Products on the Main Floor Fixture

Safety Electronics

Hydration and Nutritional Products

1. Catch Their Attention Right Inside the Door!  

First impressions matter, and your front entry display is the perfect place to set the tone for the importance of this category. I suggest dressing full body mannequins in reflective apparel, shoes and accessories and placing them on an elevated platform to draw additional attention. Don’t forget about all the extras that you can incorporate, including reflective vests, blinking lights, and shoes and/or socks with visibility details. I would then pair the mannequins with a floor fixture or table displaying featured products and incorporating signage calling out National Running Safety Month.

2. Elevate Your Accessory Fixture.

Your main safety accessory display can become a highlight of your store with just a few tweaks. Pull a torso form from the backroom or an apparel wall and place it on a shelf on the fixture to help bring vests, belts and other reflective pieces to life. Small details make a big difference so remember to unpack accessories, display them visibly, and use signage or product callouts to draw attention to key items such as blinky lights, personal alarms or sirens. Often, the incredible features of these smaller products get overlooked as they don’t “read” well in packaging but have strong safety value. Remember, the key here is to make it simple for your customers to see what you carry and to understand the importance of this category.

3. Spotlight the Electronics Zone.

Your electronics section is a natural tie-in for the safety conversation. Open-ear headphones are a perfect example, allowing runners to stay aware of their surroundings while enjoying music or podcasts.   Use signage or a demo display to tie these products in to your safety theme, and position them as an essential rather than optional if you’re wanting to stay safe.  Remember to stay consistent with all of your safety month signage, so shoppers get hit with the reminder repeatedly as they explore your whole store.

4. Don’t Forget Nutrition.

Hydration and fueling are often overlooked in safety discussions, but they’re just as vital. Highlight electrolyte products and other on-the-go nutrition near your safety display or an endcap with messaging about staying safe through proper fueling and hydration.  These subtle connections help reinforce a complete approach to running safely and they open the door to incremental sales. I suggest double merchandising this category for National Running Safety Month, so your customers will get a “teaser” sense of hydration and nutrition products in the safety area, and then see the whole offering over in your main nutrition display.

By weaving the safety story across multiple zones in your store, you’ll create a unified message that resonates with customers and educates them about products thy may not have even realized could help keep them safe. I’m confident these ideas will help your customers learn more about running safely - and lead to a successful National Running Safety Month in your stores!

Article written by Holly Wiese, retail expert and founder of 3 Dots Design - the leading retail design firm serving  the speciality run, outdoor and cycling channels. For nearly 20 years, 3 Dots Design has helped specialty retailers elevate their in-store experience. Contact Holly at holly@3dotsdesign.com or learn more at www.3dotsdesign.com