Cross-merchandising is best described as

• A. Grouping all items by color only.
• B. Stocking items in the backroom.
• C. Removing items from shelves to simplify choices.
• D. Placing complementary items together to encourage add-ons.

Answer: (D)

Cross-merchandising means placing items that go well together in close proximity so customers can easily see related products and are encouraged to add on. The idea is to create convenient, complementary pairings that spark additional purchases, like pasta next to sauce, soup bowls near soup mixes, or croutons with salad kits. This approach boosts convenience and impulse buys by guiding the shopper toward logically connected items.

Grouping by color doesn’t create functional pairings for use together. Storing items in the backroom hides them from customers, defeating the purpose of visibility and easy discovery. Removing items from shelves reduces choices and stops the shopper from finding what they might need next to related products.