Home » Guides » Operations » Property Management » Redesigning Your Store

Featured Listings

 
Diane Benson Harrington

Guide to Redesigning Your Store

New shelf, floor, window layouts can yield better sales

By Diane Benson Harrington, Freelance Writer, Diane Benson Harrington

You have the right products, the right prices and the right location — but not nearly enough customers? An ineffective store design may be the culprit. Follow these three steps to turn an off-putting atmosphere into a profitable retail shopping experience:
  1. Make a grand entrance
  2. Focus on the floor plan
  3. Use creative displays

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Start with the entry

From the front windows to the doors themselves, the entry is your first impression. Accessible displays let customers get their hands on what they see right away. Glass dividers behind them offer views into the store, enticing customers inside to what's beyond.
I recommend: Put your checkout counter in the back so "paying" isn't what hits the customer first. Get inspiration from designers like Design Forum, Quest Service Group and Vinick Associates.

Create a fluid floor plan

Narrow aisles and boxy configurations give a discount-store feeling. Roomy, open floor plans with a curvilinear sensibility encourage shoppers to linger and move around the store.
I recommend: Software like SmartDraw makes easy work of floor plans. To play with different shelving display designs, try Smart Furniture's free "design your own" feature.

Make a difference with details

Brighter, louder color combinations can suggest either bargain items or fun, trendy products. Subtler blues, grays, greens and blacks evoke high-fashion, upscale collections.
I recommend: A combination of lighting — pendants, track, fluorescent — will make the most of your merchandise. Neutral tones may be great for a spa, but retail venues need more pizzazz. Retail Element illustrates several trends in action. Visual Store offers several resources for retail design. Energy Design Resources provides details on lighting design and energy savings.

Choose functional, creative displays

Incorporate a tactile experience. Experiment with interactive displays. Allow customers to handle all but the most valuable products.
I recommend: Modular displays like Smart Furniture's can be reconfigured without tools to meet your changing needs. Trio's free store-planning primer and Displays2Go show different display styles. Display & Design Ideas' resource library features dozens of product examples and catalogs.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • For a more upscale image, post elegant pricing signs on shelves instead of putting price stickers on products.
  • Big store? Signs near the ceiling lead customers from one area to another, minimizing frustration.
  • Think vertical. Displays can run to the ceiling — but don't put too much merchandise up high, or customers will be frustrated.
  • Choose materials that will hold up to constant customer contact; wood and steel won't chip like inexpensive plastic shelving.
More Featured Listings
Store Design Consultants
Ivar's Displays offers a complete line of Retail Display, Store Fixture and Sales Counter Products for any store or retail outlet. Call today.
Custom Display | Store Design | About Us | Contact Us
www.ivarsdisplay.com
Store Design Consultants
Nationwide store planning and design services. We design stores that both look good and sell goods. Contact us today for a free consultation!
Portfolio | Free Estimate | Retail Newsletter | Contact Us
TrioDisplay.com/StoreDesign
Online Stores
Quick & Simple 3 Step Setup. Let Homestead.com Help you Create a Free Website & Be Found by Customers. Start your Free Trial Online.
Homestead.com
Ecommerce Online Store Hosting Plans
Build & manage your own E-store. Shopping carts, site templates & store set up wizard. Choose your ideal plan starting at $28.95. Register today!
www.verio.com
Related Resources

Recommended Solution Providers

The Fixture Liquidators: The Nation's Largest Source for New and Used Fixtures
Fixture Liquidators also offer a store planning service. Offices located on both the east and west coast.

Gershel Bros: New and Used Store Fixtures
In addition to store fixtures and displays, Gershel also offers free store planning so you can maximize your display area. They lend experienced advice on the best way to display a particular item.

American Retail Supply: Complete Store Design Service
Offers a store design service to help develop the right image and "feel" that best merchandises your products.

Scott Truitt: Brand Image Coach
Works with you to create a store environment that connects with customers. Truitt used to design for top retailers, such as Nike and Office Depot, now he specializes on the small business owner.

Matrix Fixtures: Manufacturer of Quality Store Fixtures
Specialize in stainless steel, metal, and acrylic display shelving. If you need something specially designed (for a significantly higher price) this is your place.

TRIO: Store Design and Planning
A retail design service that handles big-name clients and also offers services amenable to the small business owner's budget.

Visual Retailing: Recreating the Retail Experience
Software that lets you design virtual stores to explore all possible ideas in your retail planning.

Best Sites to Learn More

About: Retail Store Design and Layout
This page features links to a range of articles to help you plan your store layout and create effective merchandising displays.

TRIO Retail and Design: Store Planning Primer
Browse a series of handy articles to help you plan the design of your store, whether refurbishing or starting from scratch. Includes access to design guides and printable pdfs.

DDI Magazine: Reports and Analysis
Download free surveys and in-depth features about current trends in store design, from DDI, the leading magazine in the industry. Other reports require a fee.

Institute of Store Planners: Setting the Standards for Retail Store Design
A list of helpful resources for retail and store design. Everything from how to carpet your store to environmentally friendly design.

Best Blogs and Forums

VisualStore: Retail Design Magazine Online Forums
Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine offers this discussion group that covers all aspects of store design. Great place to get advice or find a reputable, affordable design company.

Retail Store Supply Information: A Nu-Era Service
Provides lots of helpful information on what to buy for your store and, more importantly, where to put it.

About Retail: Retailing Blog
Find lots of helpful advice on running your retail business. Several articles devoted to store layout and design.

Retail Design Diva: The Industry's First Retail Design Weblog
Dedicated to hashing out the issues, opinions, and frustrations concerning store design. Presented by DDI (Display Design Ideas) Magazine.



FEATURED LISTINGS
Store Design Consultants
Ivar's Displays offers a complete line of Retail Display, Store Fixture and Sales Counter Products for any store or retail outlet. Call today.
www.ivarsdisplay.com
Store Design Consultants
Nationwide store planning and design services. We design stores that both look good and sell goods. Contact us today for a free consultation!
TrioDisplay.com/StoreDesign
Online Stores
Quick & Simple 3 Step Setup. Let Homestead.com Help you Create a Free Website & Be Found by Customers. Start your Free Trial Online.
Homestead.com
Ecommerce Online Store Hosting Plans
Build & manage your own E-store. Shopping carts, site templates & store set up wizard. Choose your ideal plan starting at $28.95. Register today!
www.verio.com
Compare eCommerce Software for your Web Store at Capterra
Compare eCommerce software using Capterra's free, comprehensive software directory.
Capterra.com/ecommerce-software
Ecommerce Web Store Solution Price Quotes
Free quotes and multiple online stores. Compare prices and save time and money!
Ecommerce.BuyerZone.com
Business.com Answers

Ask a Business Question

115 characters maximum

What WorksTM for Property Management

Matt Alderton

Picking a Location for Your Business

 By Matt Alderton, Writer, Editor and Media Consultant, Logolepsy Custom Content and Communications
Drive traffic and fuel growth with the right real estate
Business legend has it that if you build it, they will come. Building it, however, requires time and capital – and there's no guarantee that anyone will ever come. That's why smart business owners seeking a new or startup location study up on a subject they probably haven't touched since seventh grade: geography. Your business location can make or break you, whether you own a restaurant, a retail shop or even ... Read more

Related Topics

Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
Download

To advertise on Business.com, click here
Business.com Home | Advertise With Business.com | Advertiser Login | Business Categories | Operations Guides | Jobs | Affiliate Program | About Business.com
© 2009 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms Of Use | Help | Business How To Guides
Business.com SMART BUSINESS RESULTS ™