Most people opening their own retail space often justify the cost knowing that the convenience it provides the local populace will overcome online-only transactions. People will always want to travel to the local stores to pick up important goods, and a display can do wonders in selling excess items that online stores can’t. For some retailers, providing tactile examples of the goods on display is of paramount importance, such as baby walkers and toys, clothing, or specialized groceries.
It’s important, however, that you design your retail space to best benefit from this exchange with the consumer. The potential business transaction begins from the moment a customer sees your store. You might think that it begins when the customer steps inside your store, but you’d be wrong. As soon as a prospective passerby sees your outdoor display, they will make a snap and instinctive judgement about whether or not you are to receive their purchasing power. At the very least, it will dictate if they come in to browse your wares, and so designing your store with this in mind is important. Here are some tips that can help you achieve these goals.
Psychology
The psychology of your store layout is the first and most important thing you need to consider. As soon as a customer walks into your space, where are they drawn? What does the layout of your store promote regarding walking navigation? What products are most on display, and which are hidden in the background? How high up are certain products to reach, and could they deter someone interested in giving up looking at them?
Large stores will often employ retail psychologists who consider all of these tips and apply the best solutions which hopefully intend to encourage a customer to buy. For example, you have most likely seen cheaper products lined up at the end of a retail queue for the checkout clerk. These are simply there to capitalize on the ‘well, I’m already here,’ feeling that customers get when wondering if they truly picked up everything they need. As a result, they are much more likely to pick up these items even if they don’t need them and didn’t expect to purchase them when they walked in. It’s also important if you’re stocking your shelves with third party products, to draw attention to products on your main displays in a regularly shifting format so that customers can see daily promotions and deals with complete clarity.
Walk into your store and think as if you had never seen the space before. Where are you drawn? How do you proceed through the environment? Over time, you are sure to come to an express understanding of how to optimize your strategy.
Outside
The introduction to your store is the very first impression a customer receives when identifying if you stock the items they want, and if you’re likely to bring the quality they expect. Do everything you can to improve the outdoor display so they are immediately greeted with positive responses to these queries. You might choose to have an outside display in the summer months, shaded by attractive metal canopies sheltering staff greeting everyone who walks past with a beaming smile, a product to show off, and a short sales pitch about why they should check you out. You should clearly list any promotions that are taking place in your vicinity, so consumers are immediately greeted with the benefits of coming into your store. An outdoor display should serve as an advertisement, like those you’d spend thousands of dollars for on the radio or television. Here, it’s relatively low-cost, so make the most of it.
With these simple tips, you’re sure to benefit greatly from your store design.
