Merchandising & Store Design is the data-driven and observation-based planning of a retail store's layout, including aisle configuration, placement of signage, placement of cash registers, even the organization of product on the shelves. Tools in this category include retail space planning software, diagramming software, analytics designed to evaluate and optimize the performance of store locations and sales associates, mechanisms that measure in-store foot traffic and analytics that provide in-depth insights into retail shopper behavior. (See also Mobile Location Analytics (MLA)).