Numerous factors can affect the rate at which consumers buy products. When it comes to in-person shopping, potential buyers may be weighing elements such as quality, price, and convenience. Some people are more likely to make impulse purchases, while others come to the store having already determined what they need. Did you know that the very layout of your shop can have a meaningful impact on the way your customers shop? Follow these tips to significantly improve the floor design of your store and turn more browsers into buyers.
Direct Traffic Strategically
By placing retail store fixtures in deliberate patterns such as grid, herringbone, or circular layouts, you can direct the flow of traffic to your advantage. People generally look left to right when they enter a store, and they tend to travel starting with the right side and moving counterclockwise throughout the space. You can keep this in mind and place merchandise accordingly. For example, if customers usually come into the store looking for bread, it can help to place the bakery items in the rear and have shoppers walk past impulse purchase items on the way there.
Make Merchandise Visible
In a store with a large supply of varied products, like a grocery or convenience store, exposure is key. You want your customers to see and notice as many items as possible, thereby increasing the likely number of purchases they will make. A grid layout can be a great way to get the most goods in front of the most eyes. Strolling up and down aisles is a familiar and comforting experience for most shoppers, and a straightforward layout makes it easy for repeat customers to find what they came for.
Use the Power Wall
Because customers generally enter from one spot and immediately travel to the right, the far-right wall of the store is likely to get more attention than the others. This space is sometimes called the power wall, and it’s often a great area to display promotional items or flash sales. Other good candidates for the power wall include seasonal displays, brand-unique specials, or trending merchandise.
Give Shoppers Breathing Room
The success of your store design requires striking a delicate balance: Offer maximum exposure to products without drowning shoppers in claustrophobia-inducing clutter. One tip to always remember is to keep the front space of the building open and clear. The first 10 to 15 feet of the store can be considered the entryway, where customers stop, decompress, and take in the overall look and feel of the space. Products should usually not be placed here because they are likely to be overlooked. Also, be sure to allow space between displays to engender a feeling of spaciousness and cleanliness.
Planning your store’s layout can be a great way to sharpen your vision of your target audience. The process helps you put yourself in your customers’ shoes to more easily determine the type of experience you hope they have in your store. With intentional design, you can not only boost the atmosphere of your store but also turn that improvement into measurable profits.
