6 Common Retail Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
In retail, everything from the products you stock to the color of your wallpaper matters if you want your business to thrive.
Retail design mistakes are all too common, and they cost businesses countless amounts of profit every single day. If your store is unappealing to customers, it will repel them. People want to walk into your shop and sense consistency between the brand you have built and the way your store looks and functions.
In this handy guide, we’re going to outline six common mistakes made in retail design. That way, you can be sure to avoid them.
1. Unappealing Lighting
When you design a store, you need to carefully consider your stock and the colors in your fittings and fixtures. The size of your store and the atmosphere you’re trying to create is also directly linked to retail store lighting.
Choose lighting that highlights your products nicely, and fits with the reality of your store. Remember: an exclusive boutique needs totally different lighting from a supermarket!
2. Poor Storage
Having badly planned storage can have a significant negative impact on restocking times. Your most popular items should be shelved with built-in storage so customers never have to wait for you to restock from the storeroom.
Never put shop-floor storage in an inconvenient place. This will make things hard for customers, so keep it compact wherever possible.
3. Bad Floor Planning
One of the most common problems with retail design ideas is failing to consider their practical implications in the space. Your store should be accessible, safe, and accommodate a good amount of customers between the stock shelves.
Designing retail stores well means considering measurements and being spatially aware. Customers will leave if they feel overly cramped.
4. Lack of Flexible Space
Certain promotions or new lines might call for a special display. If this is the case, you need to be able to make space for it wherever it fits best.
Being able to change your store around means you can optimize it for whatever is in season. Don’t restrict yourself by having only permanent fixtures.
5. Awkward Counter Space
Payment is the final step if shopping at your store. That’s what makes it so disappointing to fall at the final hurdle.
Make sure your payment desk is accessible and inviting.
This means having it in sight and signposted, with good branding so that the customers feel compelled to shop. Make sure your desk has space to store bags and other necessities below so they are not cluttering up customers’ vision. Your desk will make your store look like a professional and desirable place to shop.
6. Failing to Consult the Experts
Designing your own store will allow you to tie it into your branding. It’s a great thing to do for your business.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from expert help.
There are countless things to consider in exterior and interior designing, all of which have to fit your retail design budget. Retail store design firms can help you bring everything together, perfecting all the little details that would otherwise catch you out.
Retail Design Mistakes Are a Thing of the Past
Now you know what the most common retail design mistakes are, you can be sure to avoid them. Try contacting a retail design firm if you’re still feeling unsure!
If you want more advice on how to help your business boom, you’re in the right place. Be sure to check our other blog posts for what you need!