Overview: As a Visual Merchandising Designer at Molbak’s Home & Garden, a longtime Pacific Northwest gardening destination, I was tasked with reimagining the store’s 40,000-square-foot Houseplant Section into a more immersive, cohesive branded environment. With customers entering through two flanking entrances and immediately hitting a bottleneck, I saw an opportunity to create a stronger entry experience while improving circulation and product discovery throughout the space. The goal was to guide customers naturally through the department while creating visual moments that encouraged exploration.
Working with the buying team, I developed a concept that integrated plants with complementary pots, soil, and accessories, creating more intuitive product groupings and a one-stop shopping experience. To add dimension and visual hierarchy to the previously flat, low layout, I introduced custom wood potting benches, shelving, wrapped structural pillars, and black architectural accents. Together, these elements created a boutique, shop-within-a-shop environment within the existing retail space.
I developed the spatial concept and presented it to the CEO, securing an $8,000 implementation budget. The redesigned environment improved customer flow, strengthened product discovery, and created a more engaging and elevated experience. Department margins exceeded the 20% target within two months.
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