Planning a retail store is the first step. This is crucial to the business’s ability to generate revenue, even though many business owners don’t pay enough attention. It doesn’t matter if the business is physical or online, it’s important to think about how visitors would view the shop.
The retail shop layout will determine if a prospect will be a long-term client or not. Brilliant retail store designs can be both functional and beautiful. This is why it is important to consult a specialist in retail space design. These eight steps will help any business owner design the perfect shop layout.
Choose the Layout that’s Right for Your Business
There are many decisions involved in creating a retail shop layout. This is just one of them. When designing a retail shop, there are many factors you should consider. These include the industry of the business, available space, products sold and any competition. There are many retail store layouts that businesses can choose from. There are several common layouts for retail stores that businesses can choose from:
- Grid – This is used mainly by convenience or grocery stores.
- Mixed – Boutiques need to be creative. They are often a mixture of all the above.
- Forcible – This is mainly for businesses that require the customer to go through a nurturing process.
- Angular – The Angular retail store layouts were primarily adopted by bespoke or high end retail collections.
- Loop – This is a loop for retailers that sell specialty and apparel items.
Get a Picture of What the Store Would Look Like
Next comes architecture. This stage is also known as the pre-implementation phase. It must include all the essential features that the store will have. The template must show what the store will look when it is ready.
This will help you during installation if it is done correctly. All layouts come with templates. This template can be printed and modified by the business owner. The business owner can print the template and make any modifications.
Decide How the Products Will Be Arranged
The next step is product placement. Plan how products will be displayed in the physical store. It is crucial because product mapping determines many things. This includes whether customers will be able to find the products they are looking for, interact with them and ultimately get them to purchase.
It is also a key factor in generating constant revenue. Businesses need to think creatively about the arrangement of their products. This can be done by making the most popular products prominent. Businesses can also appeal to urgency. One example of this is displaying limited stock or products for sale.
Take Into Account Fixtures and Other Accessories
The business owner then decides what additions will best complement the store. These are the additions that define the store’s functionality and aesthetics. These items can be divided into accessories and fixtures.
Fixtures can be wall furniture, dressers and lighting. Accessories on the other side are removable. These accessories include tables, chairs and clothing racks. When choosing accessories and fixtures, there are a few things you should consider. Fixtures should convey the company’s message while accessories should highlight the products displayed.
Make a Strategic Place for Checking Out
The layout of a store determines how customers enter and exit the store. The best place to put the checkout point is at the customer’s exit. This makes it easy for customers to pay and then leave. This prevents theft, miscalculations, and mixing of products.
This method is used by many retail shops, but it’s not the only one. Large retail stores often place their checkout at the end of the shop. It is important to keep the shop safe and make the checkout easy to access. After reviewing the layout template of the business, a firm offering commercial design may offer checkout solutions.
Customer Behavior Can Be Used as a Guide
Before doing anything, most businesses conduct extensive market research. You can also study the competitors to find out how customers behave. New retail shops can learn from the interactions of customers with similar shops to help them structure their stores better. These are some common shopping habits that customers share:
- They should turn right when they enter a shop. Retail businesses strive to maximize their right side.
- Walk on the aisle. Customers may come into contact if the aisle is too narrow.
They can also view the shop from the entrance point. The entrance point should be large enough to allow customers to see the store clearly.
Businesses should consider the needs of people with disabilities when designing a retail store layout. No matter what disability a customer may have, the store should be easy for them to navigate. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides a checklist retail stores must adhere to in order to enforce this. These are some of the requirements to make sure that a retail shop is ADA-compliant.
- Space: The store must have sufficient space between fixtures, and aisles that are sufficiently wide.
- Accessible rooms: Fitting rooms and toilets must be accessible for people with disabilities.
- Parking lots: Retail stores should have disabled-friendly parking lots. You must make them easy to find.
Customer experience is a key factor in whether customers return to a store. Customers will remember you if you have great customer service. You will find comfortable seating, dressing areas, and clean bathrooms. It is important that these amenities meet the needs of customers. These details are essential to ensure customer satisfaction.
A well-designed retail shop layout can make a positive impact on a company’s image. This improves the chances of a business making more money and leaving a lasting impression with customers. Customers might be more loyal and may even refer others to the business because of their layout. It takes time to design a retail shop layout. The process will be easier for business owners if they follow these eight steps. They may still need to visit a commercial interior design firm at some point. A professional commercial design firm will know the latest trends and can also suggest designs that are more appropriate for your business.