It may seem counter intuitive for a retailer to consider, or even value, space. On paper, it is an overhead cost that should be used to its full potential, filled with stock and utility equipment, to make the most of the financial investment. However, as high street stores continue to change in the face of digital competition, the value we place on space must change too. A shop must seek to be both enjoyable and memorable to the customer, one where it is a pleasure to browse items and see the brand. Whereas, previously, shops were driven to offer as many options as possible, now creating a positive shopping experience is even more important.
Part of a customer’s enjoyment within the store is their impression of the space. The traffic of shoppers should be unrestricted and never feel congested. Overloading shelves and rails with stock can have an adverse effect. Stock items should be easily seen or reached, without causing any stress to the shopper. This can be particularly difficult to assure during busier seasons, with increased seasonal footfall, but, with the right retail furniture shops can maintain a favourable impression.
Take, for example, clothing stores, which must continue to hold large amounts of stock, retaining an appropriate size and variety for customers to try on before buying. Without the right furniture, the stock can become messy, intrusive, and forcing customers to browse through stacks of clothing. This is one reason why clothing stores organise their stock into vertical spaces, such as garment rails. These clothes rails are an excellent way to display stock with obvious visual organisation and allow customers to browse intuitively.
One of their biggest benefits is that they are also versatile. These chrome clothes rails are easily moveable or deconstructed, meaning that, during busier times that can be shifted or stored to maintain space within the shop. Adjustable retail furniture also supports changing stock and, if your business deals with some form of stock rotation, having flexible shop display equipment will be a great benefit.
Clothes stands are also excellent at filling unexpected space. During quieter periods or opportunities for a new display, they are quickly and simply put together, similar to how clothing retailers utilise mannequins. It is this kind of flexible approach to shop design that is becoming more popular within businesses, instead of the previous one size fits all model. And, while not all retail items will fit onto coat hangers, valuing less intrusive shelving and an adaptable shop design within retail is becoming normalised, creating an enjoyable shopping experience for the customer.
Our Crown Display team are always eager to discuss how to best use your shop space, as well as recommend the best products we can offer you. To find out more, please call us on 0800 587 5880 or email us at sales@crowndisplay.co.uk. In addition to retail furniture advice and a wide array of shop fitting options, we also offer nationwide UK delivery.
