Store Layout and Design in Retailing
Store layout or design refers to the way retailers set up product displays, fixtures, and merchandise in-store to direct customer flow. Visual merchandising involves planning, designing, and displaying products to highlight features and benefits.
Choosing the Right Store Layout
Choosing the right store layout is important to focus on your target market, space, and products to create a layout that works. Angular floor plans utilize round tables, angled fixtures, and wall shelves to guide shoppers, making shopping more intimate. Diagonal floor plans place shelves at 45 degrees to increase visibility and boost sales.
Retail Store Planning and Design Basics
Retail store planning and design tend to follow five basic layouts: grid, loop, free flow, geometric, or angular. The best layout depends on space, products, and desired customer experience. Guidelines for store layout planning include allocating enough shelf and display space based on inventory needs and product velocity. The state of the facility and targeted customer base also impact layout. Store density draws people in but aisles must allow comfortable movement.
Key Aspects of Planning Store Design
- Merchandising space based on inventory requirements and product importance
- Condition of facility
- Target customer and their needs
- Traffic flow and aisle space
Steps for Designing Store Layout
- Create brief
- Audit store and research competitors
- Design concept floor plan
- Optimize commercial communication
- Test concept; finalize technical documents
Effective Retail Layout Planning
Effective retail layout requires strategic planning to maximize space and enhance customer experience. This involves creating traffic flow patterns that guide customers logically and efficiently through the store. Product placement strategies are also key.
By creating clear, intuitive traffic flow and product placement, retailers can improve customer experience and increase sales. Angular floor plans utilize fixtures to guide shoppers. Diagonal plans place shelves at 45 degrees to increase visibility and sales. Grid plans with long aisles are easy to navigate and place impulse purchases at aisle ends.