How to design a Retail Store
Retail has been around for a very long time and one thing we know is that there are many different approaches when it comes to retail design and setting up your store layout.
However, interior designers have to employ some common strategies that will lead to more sales for the retailer’s business. A store is a physical form of the brand that needs to be designed well to enhance the retail experience of the consumers.
So let us see, how can we create an optimal store layout keeping in mind the below points:
1. The Brand Indentity
Firstly, the brand needs to understand the brand position and their image that they would like to convey to the customers. The company needs to understand where will be their store location, their target customers, visual identity and price points of their products.
2. Concept and Store Layout
Always start with a concept that you would like the customers to identify with the products your selling. So lets start putting the store layout on paper. Many small retailers find that a mix of floor plans and layout styles works best. Most common layouts for retail are:
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Grid Layout – This layout makes customer steer up and downs rows of aisles. Design simplifies the inventory control and a key retail stratergy to maximize profitability.
You can see this layouts for supermarkets. - Loop Layout – It has a central grouping of displays with a circular or square pathways around it. Designers can have floor path with a standard color or use different floor material for different loops. It can be made more interactive with various visual displays and focal points for the customers.
You can see this layouts for large retail spaces like electronics stores. - Free-Flowing layout - It is most preferred store layout as it gives the shoppers to spur impulse buying, as they can move freely throughout the store. It is a less rushed environment for the customers and is sophisticated in its simplicity.
3. Personal space
Whichever store layout you choose, you need to arrange your store’s pathways, aisles, and display fixtures with traffic flow in mind. The main criteria for any retailer is to browse through the whole store so they can view various options to buy. Customers like to have their personal space while shopping so the aisle space, pathway need to be spacious and hinderance free and not brush with another customer.
4. Fixtures
Fixtures depend on the various products that will be displayed in the store like on walls, floors. Also the fixtures and display counters need to be at a particular height and shape, style so there is good visibilty. The purpose of fixtures and display units is to put the products as the hero. But at the same time, the overall look, styling, and finish is your biggest branding opportunity.
The check out area should also be mostly placed in the front left area or the rear side of the store with ample space around for the customers to bill.
5. Stockroom
The stockroom is also an essential are in a retail store. One needs to provide an enclosed store room which can accommodate extra supplies and stock, shoppings bags, a small office, staff area.
6. Visual Merchandising
Visuals are another means of attracting consumers to the store. It starts from the main enterance of the store till the end of the outlet. Visuals can be in form of branding, mannequins, merchandising of the products.
7. Store Entrance
The first eye catching factor in retail stores are the stunning store entrances. Investing on a storefront at times helps woo shoppers to visit the store inside. Also make sure that few products are visible to people who pass by the shop’s window.
With these ideas, you can map out a retail store that’s easy to navigate, welcoming to customers and profitable for the retailers.
