Upgrading your shop’s layout and design can highly affect your bottom line. You might want to remodel or reorganize your items thoroughly. Doing the job correctly will ensure that everything is going according to plan. Upgrading your store will also significantly attract new customers and ensure that your brand stays competitive. But before taking the significant step towards remodeling, you have a lot of factors to sort out.
Below is a guide that will walk you through the tips of designing a layout that increases purchases and attract more customers.
Opt for Open Floor Plans
Naturally, your products or services have a huge role in planning your renovations. For example, suppose you deal with luxury cars. A repair shop for Porsches and Ferraris will most benefit from open floor plans with maximized shelves to accommodate the tools and different add-ons you can offer. But technology retailers and luxury brands aim for stylish and sleek spaces that only feature limited products.
If possible, opt for open floor plans for a more open shop. Having overcrowded shelves or narrow aisles isn’t the experience your customer is expecting to have. Keep the shop easy to navigate and breathable. You can also use partitions than walls to differentiate areas. You’ll also check if there’s enough product, so your store appears fully stocked, but not much that makes a customer’s shopping experience confusing.
Install Clear Signages
Upgrading your store is another perfect opportunity to reorganize your in-store signages and communications. Don’t hesitate to install new, easy-to-read signages that provide a customer with valuable information. Your store’s new signages should inform the buyers about a great offer and point them to a store department. Your new signages will highly affect their shopping experience. It’ll also be helpful to:
- use lifestyle images and oversized products to draw their attention,
- use a well-defined color scheme that creates a sense of place, and
- use a witty and clever headline that is as powerful as imagery.
Build Flow in Your Shop
Your remodeling project should also guide buyers through the shop strategically. If they notice a clear path, customers tend to follow it. Building flow is another critical factor that you should include in your plans. If done correctly, it’ll be the best way to lead customers directly to impulse buys, sale merchandise, seasonal goods, top sellers, and other items that you think might pique their interest.
Invest in Good Lighting
Your new layout should also have a more vibrant ambiance. Upgrading the store might help maintain your brand’s image and design. However, your store should also feel and look like a new location. Lighting is another essential factor that will help establish the right ambiance.
Installing fluorescent lighting might not be helpful. But if you’re going for an industrial warehouse ambiance, they might help. For smaller stores, incandescent lights can be uncomfortable and more costly. Instead, use LED lights that last longer and run cooler.
Replace the Old Fixtures
Working on a blank canvas is another way to ensure that you’re getting an innovative and completely remodeled store. It’ll also guarantee that you’ll be getting the layout you have in mind. For starters, you’ll have to get rid of the old fixtures in your store.
That can refer to getting rid of walls, shelves, storage systems, and displays obstructing your floor plans. It’ll help you identify the area you have to work with, allowing your team to work inside the store more efficiently.
Establish Your Timeline
You can’t keep your store closed for months because it’ll affect your finances or even the ability to keep your business afloat. For that reason, you should make a timeline for your remodeling project. It’ll also guarantee that the remodeling is going according to your plans. In addition, it’ll make it easier to check that your relaunch can happen. It’ll also be the best way to plan for your store’s relaunch.
During the renovation, you should also find ways to keep your business financially afloat. This process includes applying for a business loan for assistance, using your savings, or interacting with customers online.
Plan for Your Relaunch
Once you’ve renovated the store, it’s time for the reopening. You should plan an exciting event that can pique your customers’ interest to grab their attention and get a good return on investment on your refit. That can include a large opening party or PR.
Talk to Your Employees
One of the exciting parts of remodeling your store is creating your dream space. But working with your team is more efficient in making the most comfortable ambiance than remodeling yourself. Your vision can include floor plans, fixtures, or displays.
You can also ask your team for valuable insights because they’re also familiar with the shop. Hence, you’ll have to combine your ideas for the best outcome.
Offering an outstanding shopping experience will set your business apart from the other competitors in the area.
