The brick and mortar retail space has been an important part of business for many years. Get it right and you have customers flocking to your shop. You might even land some loyal, repeat customers based on the experience they get while in the shop. According to David Ling’s book on shop design, “The storefront and window display provide public visibility and attract consumers into the interior sales area; as such, they are considered of paramount importance.”
With this in mind, it’s critical for a smart shop owner to continuously evaluate their shop fit-out. This will help them see the signs and the areas that need improvement. We explore some of the things that will guide you in making these decisions before you invest in a new shop fit out.
Outdated/ Unattractive Shop Setup
Consumer preferences and shop design trends are always changing. Take a long hard look at your current fit out and see whether it’s attractive enough for your target customer. If you have old or worn-out fittings in the shop, customers will find it hard to trust you. Shop attractiveness and modernity gives confidence to customers that what you are selling is equally attractive and top quality.
Changing Spatial Requirements
You might have purchased the current shop a few years ago when you were starting. Over time, you have added new fixtures and more stock. However, the size of the shop is still the same as before thus leading to disorganisation or an overcrowded retail space. This can be a huge turn off to most customers as they can’t see or find what they are looking for right away.
You can be a little creative with how you use the available space without having to move out. This where a company that specialises in overhauling commercial spaces can help. You can install new shelves, rearrange some fittings and even tear down a wall to create new retail space. The point is to maintain a properly organised shop that can accommodate every product you have at a given time.
Too Much Improvisation
Do you find yourself having to improvise every time you want to add an item to your shop? For instance, you shouldn’t have to put nails into a wall to hang new clothes if you operate a boutique. A shop can be modified to the last detail to suit your specific purpose thus eliminating the need to improvise. If you have products that need specialised props or stands, you should have them as part of your shop fit out instead of improvising.
Blind Spots and Dark Areas
Does the retail space have areas that are either outside your field of view or can’t be accessed by your customers? You might find yourself having to block off a certain “dark” section or employing more workers to manage the area. This is a problem that can be fixed by redesigning the space and getting rid of these dark spots. This way you will take advantage of your entire space and make your customers and workers happier!
Final Remarks
Your retail space is the most important to your business. It’s where your clients spend their time and where you showcase your products. Make it attractive and practical and you will see the results in increased sales. This is a tried and tested formula for success in the retail business.