There are a number of considerations that retailers face when thinking about the efficiency of shop space. In addition to the display of products and advertisements, customer traffic and shop storage must also be incorporated. Seldom can retail design benefit one aspect without compromising another, making it challenging for retailers to ever achieve their ideal space.
That is not to say, however, that an efficiency of space isn’t at all possible. In fact, there are many ways in which retailers can achieve a remarkable balance between aesthetics and operation. Certain adjustments can be made and certain designs implemented, each of which, coupled with the right shop shelving and furniture, can make a high street shop more appealing to both customers and retailers
Drawing from our own experience working with some of the most reputable retailers across the country, we’re sharing four ways in which a shop space can be effectively optimised.
Design Upward
There is a tendency among retailers to limit interior design to eye level. Advertising, it has been said, is most effective when it is directly within the line of sight of a shopper. This idea, however, has become conflated with all shop designs, leading retailers to prioritise a customer’s eye level above all else and, as a result, neglecting vertical areas.
Drawing customer attention upward, with design elements such as slatwall panels and stand offs, can help to fill otherwise blank space and even alleviate clutter from a floor plan.
Customise Furniture
Choosing to buy premade retail furniture has its benefits. However, for retailers looking to optimise their shop space, it can be advantageous to obtain custom-designed and handmade assets. Choosing to design furniture for a specific space allows it to be optimised, leaving no excess space. Designs can be made to incorporate retail-specific needs, such as checkout equipment or display counters, preventing the need to compromise an otherwise efficient organisation of space.
Modular Furniture
There are a number of shop designs that make remarkable use of modular furniture. These items are by their very nature able to be adjusted easily, adapting to the changing needs of a shop space. Such assets are especially valuable to shops with seasonal wares and distinct changes in footfall.
Seasonal sales, for example, those that welcome a greater number of customers into a shop space, can place a great deal of pressure upon retail designs, which can be quickly alleviated by retailers who are able to adapt their shop layout accordingly.
Smart Storage
Not every retailer has access to a dedicated storage area for surplus products and even those who do may often find themselves having to make space elsewhere. There are a number of ways in which storage needs can actually be met, or at least supported, on a shop floor, with many retailers incorporating their storage into mainstay shop furniture assets. The pursuit of such smart storage designs not only benefits operations but can also minimise risk too, concealing surplus products and ensuring their safety.
Crown Display
For information on how shop furniture can improve a shop space, as well as any information regarding our products and services, please reach out to a member of the Crown Display team, either by calling 0800 587 5880 or by emailing sales@crowndisplay.co.uk.
