Welcome back to Part 2 in our series on the psychology behind great retail Shop Interior Design. Today’s post is about retail store layouts. Register for blog updates to receive the next instalments directly in your inbox!
Retail store layouts that increase revenue and improve customer experience are good. Retailers often neglect the latter in their pursuit of the first.
Research has shown that customers who have a better experience are more likely to be successful in the long-term. It is even more important in the age of “experience economy”. Your store may sell physical items, but the experience of your customers is an intangible and crucial prerequisite for the sale.
Experience is another reason why it is important. Retail store interior design is intended to influence customers’ behaviour. You can increase sales by carefully considering the layout and design of your store.
Major components of retail store layouts
There are several factors you should consider when putting together a floor plan for your space.
Retail store Shop Interior Design
This is your visual space. It involves floor plans and space management. This can be used to not only make your retail store appealing to the eye, but also to support your brand identity.
Customer behaviour Shop Interior Design
This describes how a customer navigates the store and interacts in a shop. The pattern that customers follow when they enter a store has been proven by observation and tracking techniques. 90% of North American customers will immediately turn to the right. Women, in particular, will avoid areas that could lead to bumping with other shoppers.
Real estate or the geographic location of your store
Customers are already unconsciously making opinions about the place they live before they even step foot into your store. Location is not only a determinant of rent but also sets expectations for your store. For example, if you are a high-end retailer selling homewares, you won’t want your store to be in a poor location.
Window appearances and entrance
Window displays are often ignored by many retailers, especially small ones. This is a mistake. Linda Cahan, a retail visual designer expert, says that each window should tell a story. Just like the eyes are windows into a person’s souls, store windows provide glimpses of the treasures inside.
Consider your market. You should remember luxury if you are a high-end retailer. Think about jewellers: A few pieces at a time are displayed in glass windows. This conveys the message that each item is unique.
Clear the Shop Interior Design “Decompression Area”
This is the name of the first 10-15 feet of a store’s space, depending on its size. This area is where customers move from the outside world into the Shop Interior Design environment you create for them. Do not try to sell. Make a good first impression.
Your customer is still getting to know you, so this is your opportunity to introduce your brand. Customers are now assessing the value of your products and your story.
Humayun Khan, product designer, said that their brains are too busy transitioning so they are more likely to overlook any signage or carts placed in this area. Don’t worry about the merchandise they are most interested in, but instead, focus on the initial experience.
Turn Right
North American shoppers tend to make a right turn when they enter a store. This is likely because Americans drive on the right side and have a tendency toward turning right.
They are now ready to examine your merchandise in greater detail. This area should include your “power wall”, a display that should have the greatest impact on your customers.
Lead them along a path
Unless your store is a large one that has a lot of customers who come in and buy, then they leave, it’s best for them to be led on a guided tour. You will have more control over the experience and can influence their buying decisions.
Small stores work best with a loop layout. (More details below). Because customers have a clear path to get there, it’s easier for them to navigate.
Avoid the “buttbrush effect” Shop Interior Design
It’s true, Paco Underhill, a consumer behaviour expert, invented the term. This is the typical customer reaction to having their backside brushed or given a chance. Even if they are very interested in the products on display, most shoppers, especially women will avoid the aisles.
This problem is not as simple as it seems. All you have to do is ensure that there’s enough space for everyone to move around without being pushed against one another.
The feet will follow the Eyes
The creation of small discoveries is a fundamental principle of Japanese garden layouts. This same approach is effective for retail store interior design. Use curves and angles to lead the eye down the path, promising more treasures. (You can also use a different texture or colour on the floor or walls for this), then create a separate experience at the end.
Encourage Impulse Purchases
Customers can’t stop shopping once they reach the “end” (i.e. Customers don’t have to stop shopping at the cash register. Low-cost merchandise can be displayed near registers to encourage customers to buy more.
Grid Store Layout also known as Straight Floor Plan
This floor plan is very simple: It uses repetitive patterns by using parallel shelves. This layout is best for grocery, big-box stores, drugstores, convenience stores and other stores that sell different types of shelf-stocked goods such as canned food, toys, hardware, homewares or books.
