When you own and operate a retail store, you want to draw the eye of anyone who walks by. Before customers know about your quality merchandise, you’ll need to capture their interest. Once they enter your establishment, the layout of the store needs to make sense while still appearing creative and exclusive. Consider these simple and effective ways to design your retail store.
Focus on Traffic Flow
When it comes to creating a floor plan, you need to decide how you want the traffic of your store to flow. You can base the floor plan on the type of merchandise you sell. For example, you don’t want to design your clothing retail store the way you would a grocery store.
When it comes to clothing and accessories, consider a loop floor plan so that your customers can naturally move throughout the entire store without you vocally directing them. Grocery stores require more structure because certain food items coordinate with others and because impulse buying is more prevalent.
Keep the Entrance Open
Never have a congested entrance for your retail store. Too many items in the front will cause a traffic jam and make your store uncomfortable to enter. Instead, have a few key pieces on display in the windows—just enough to attract the attention of customers.
Once they see something they like, they will gradually make their way throughout the rest of the store. If you own a clothing store, always place the most current seasonal items in the front. You can also use this area to feature trendy items or frequently asked about products.
Improve the Displays
Always make sure the displays throughout your store are in the best shape. There are simple ways to improve any displays you feel need a touch-up. Never keep damaged or discarded pieces on display, as this can give customers the wrong impression.
Frequently check on the displays and look for any structural or visual damage. Replace and change up the mannequins and signage every few days. You want to give every new item a chance to shine. You can also pair poorly performing items with top sellers to help push them out.
Include Proper Signage
Don’t just place words on a sign and think it will effectively relay the message you want to convey. There is an art to proper signage. Don’t say too much on the display because people usually don’t want to stop and read while actively shopping.
Keep your message about deals, new items, or changes short and sweet. A bold color and font size relay a message better than subtle text that is difficult to read at a distance. When it comes to sale signage, consider using the color red because it always draws attention.
It’s easy to sell your merchandise in your retail store when you design and make the layout of the floor simple and effective. Implement these methods to reorganize your retail store and improve the shopping experience.
