Planning an upcoming shop fitting can often be a stressful design process because there is no “one size fits all” approach to what you are doing. Every retail shop is unique, meaning you are not following a fit out design roadmap as much as you are creating your own from scratch. Having said that, there are a number of important things to consider when designing your new shop fitout that can help create the best shopping experience possible.
Pay Particular Attention to Store Layout During Your Shop Fitout
When you get to the part of the shop fit designing process that focuses on effective store layout, prioritise the needs of your customers. Make it as easy as possible for them to locate your most popular items. They should not have to spend a lot of time hunting for what they came for.
Be Mindful of the Lighting With Shop Fitting
You will want to pay attention to lighting in your fit out design for a few important reasons. People need to be able to clearly see as they move around the store for the purposes of safety. Dim lighting only hurts the shopping experience. Retail fixtures should highlight products whenever possible. Natural light also creates a warm and welcoming environment on the sales floor.
Counter Considerations During the Design Process
When designing your counters, keep a few key things in mind. First, employees should have enough space behind the counter to move freely. Likewise, the counter should have enough free space on top for both customers and employees. Customers need space to comfortably put all of their items. Employees need space to more efficiently help those customers.
This is true even if the customers are not making a purchase. Both help the customer experience significantly. Also, the counter should be set up in a way that makes it clear how people need to line up. Avoiding confusion can help avoid a lot of frustrated shoppers in the process.
Drive Impulse Sales in Shop Fit Out Design
Impulse purchases aren’t only for the checkout counter. Think about the path that someone would take to get to the counter. Then, put endcap and displays at strategic locations along that path.
The Importance of Free Retail Space in a Shop Fitout
Nobody likes being packed into an overly crowded store. Try to make larger aisles and embrace free space. This will give people more room to move around. That creates a more enjoyable customer experience. How much space you need will dictate where certain items are housed.
A free flow layout is recommended. Regardless, careful planning that takes into consideration your own unique customer base is a must. A clothing store would likely have a different store layout than an electronics dealer, for example, even if they have roughly the same amount of retail space.
Shoppers Love Seating for a Better Customer Experience
Wherever possible, try to add seating areas for customers. This is a great way to make them more comfortable. They’re also more likely to stay in the store longer if they know they can sit down and take a break if they need to.
A Shop Fitout Ties Back Into the Brand Identity
Finally, don’t forget that your shop fitout needs to reinforce your brand image. Every decision you make needs to be influenced by it. It’s another extension of the customer experience you’re creating.
Therefore, it should be as consistent with all other aspects of your business as possible.
QTC build: Your Fit Out Company Partner
If you have any additional questions about how to make the most of your fit out design, or if you’d just like to learn more about what the right fit out company can do for you, please don’t delay – contact QTC build today.
