Are you looking to enhance your retail space and attract more customers? Making smart design decisions can have a significant impact on your sales and customer satisfaction. We've gathered some essential tips and current trends in retail design to help you create an appealing store environment that drives sales and engages your customers.
What is Retail Design?
Retail design encompasses how you organize and design your retail space, from the entryway to the checkout display. It plays a crucial role in welcoming customers and guiding them through your store. But retail design is more than just merchandising your products; it applies to your entire retail space.
The Basics of Retail Design
Use Color Wisely
Color has a profound impact on the shopping experience. While a vibrant store can create a positive atmosphere, too much color can be overwhelming. Thoughtfully incorporate color and consider its psychological effects. For example, black communicates authority, while red grabs attention and encourages impulse purchases.
Source: Image source
Update Product Displays Regularly
Visual merchandising is proven to increase sales. Regularly update your product displays to keep them fresh and engaging. Displays not only showcase your products but also provide interactive shopping experiences and opportunities for user-generated content. Aesthetically pleasing displays encourage customers to share photos of your store on social media.
The Threshold Area
The threshold area is the first space customers step into when entering your store. This area sets the tone and creates the first impression. Make sure your retail design eases shoppers into your store with a subtle display or a welcoming area. Avoid overwhelming them with too much information or clutter.
Guide Shoppers with a Clear Path
Create a clear path for customers to navigate through your store. Use furniture, displays, and other tools to pave the way. Most customers naturally turn right after entering a store, so pay extra attention to the first wall they see. This "power wall" should showcase high-impact products and capture your customers' attention.
Slow Them Down
Don't let your customers rush past your carefully merchandised products. Create breaks or "speed bumps" that visually interrupt their shopping experience. These can be signage, special displays, or merchandise outposts that encourage impulse purchases and complement nearby products.
Keep Shoppers Comfortable
Ensure that your aisles and displays allow customers enough personal space when browsing your products. Avoid the "butt-brush" effect, where customers avoid aisles that are too crowded. Incorporate comfortable seating areas to encourage customers to spend more time in your store, especially for shoppers accompanied by someone not interested in making a purchase.
A Well-Designed Checkout Counter
The checkout counter should be located at a natural stopping point in the shopping experience. Most customers naturally turn right, so consider placing your checkout counter on the front left side of your store. Make sure the counter is big enough for shoppers to place their bags, and use the wall behind it to create interesting displays.
Emerging Trends in Retail Design
Interactive Retail Experiences
Engage your customers with interactive experiences in your store. Incorporate digital technology that allows customers to sample products or access additional information. Touchscreens, smart dressing rooms, and interactive displays keep shoppers in your store longer and enhance their shopping experience.
Source: Image source
Modernized Mobile Checkout
Upgrade your checkout experience with mobile POS systems and card readers. Offer convenience and flexibility by allowing payments anywhere in your store. A seamless checkout process leaves a positive impression on customers and increases the likelihood of repeat visits.
Content Creation Studios
Transform your store into a space where shoppers and influencers can capture and share content on social media. Sprinkle interactive displays among your products, making it nearly impossible for shoppers to resist capturing user-generated content. Train your staff to engage and inspire your shoppers, creating authentic moments for them to share their experience.
Elements of the Local Community
Incorporate elements of your community into your retail design. Showcase locally curated selections that highlight unique, high-grossing items. This not only attracts customers but also helps them feel connected to the community.
A Minimalistic Approach to Merchandising
Less is often more when it comes to retail design. Cut back on cluttered displays and focus on one or two impactful showcases. Minimal merchandising creates a clean, focused shopping experience and encourages customers to interact with your products.
Natural Lighting
Utilize natural lighting in your retail design whenever possible. It enhances the color and ambiance of your store, creates a comfortable shopping environment, and positively impacts buyer behavior. Incorporate windows and remove obstructions that block natural light, allowing it to flow through your store.
Smaller Physical Spaces
Consider offering a smaller inventory selection to combat decision paralysis. Smaller physical spaces can create a curated shopping experience that customers appreciate. However, proper inventory management and restocking are crucial to ensure customers can always find what they need.
Creative Retail Interiors: Examples of Effective Retail Design
Here are three examples of retail interior design that effectively engage customers:
The Sill
The Sill, a plant delivery company, recently opened physical store locations. Their retail design is bright, airy, and designed to make customers feel confident about taking care of plants. The Sill guides plant beginners and experts alike through their greenhouse-inspired aisles.
Source: Image source
Outdoor Voices
Outdoor Voices, an athletic wear retailer, excels in creating exciting displays for user-generated content. They also prioritize providing ample browsing space and embrace the local community. Their Chicago store features a vintage water fountain and flexible furniture that can be moved for events and classes.
Source: Image source
Wildling
Wildling, a German shoe brand, focuses on minimalistic retail interior design that showcases their shoes. Their store offers ample space for browsing and trying on products, emphasizing a clean and curated shopping experience. The checkout displays engage customers and encourage additional purchases.
Source: Image source
Moving Forward with Your Retail Design
Your retail design is an ongoing process. Continuously evaluate and adjust your retail layout based on customer feedback and observations. Pay attention to how customers engage with your displays, follow your intended path, and interact with your products. By prioritizing the customer journey and staying informed about current trends, you can create a retail experience that benefits both you and your customers.
