Online businesses might be the trend today, but brick-and-mortars aren’t going anywhere. Even if most businesses transition online, people will always prefer to feel products first before buying them. But online businesses remain a significant threat to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. As people become more confident in shopping online, they might not be so eager to try products anymore before buying them.
If you’re building a retail store soon, pay close attention to the details that entice a purchase. One of those is good design. Of course, the product’s quality, customer service, and price aren’t any less critical. But good design can deliver a positive experience. If a customer feels “at home” in your store, they’re more likely to purchase something.
Look at IKEA: they might be a cheaper option than other home improvement brands, but everyone who visits their store rarely leaves empty-handed. That’s because IKEA’s environment draws out excitement and creativity. As a result, their customers happily purchase their products, whether they need them or not.
The Role of Design in Making Sales
Your store’s design creates its environment. And the environment is the physical touch point between your business and its customers. It reaches out to the customer and provides a space for you to interact with them. For example, couches can serve as the receiving area where you can answer your customers’ questions. Receiving areas are particularly essential in luxury retail stores, where customers often take their time before purchasing.
Theelements in your store’s layout, which form part of the design, also influence a sale’s likelihood. Grocery stores, for instance, usually place meat and produce at the very back. A customer has to pass through aisles of junk food, beverages, and non-food products before reaching the meat and produce sections. That layout tempts them to buy products they don’t need, much to the delight of the stores.
This type of layout also works well for other kinds of retail stores. For a fashion boutique, if the sales staff display the latest collections in front, this will attract more attention. Thus, a customer will likely buy one of the pieces. The cheaper clothes, meanwhile, are typically hung on a rack. Though customers generally prefer more affordable clothes, retail stores prefer if customers buy the more expensive items. And even if the customers don’t end up buying them, they’d find it fun to explore the boutique.
Theenvironment of your retail storeadds value to your customer’s in-store experience. Other players in the retail sector will elevate their perception of a brand and retail store if the in-store experience it offers is memorable. If a beautiful house sells faster than a fixer-upper, then the same logic applies to retail stores. The better its design, the more attractive it’ll be in the eyes of customers. As a result, they’d be encouraged to make a purchase.
Design Features That Attract More Sales
Product placement, or the store’s layout, is the design feature that helps attract sales the most. But other parts can draw out a desire to buy, too-eye-catching signages are one of those. A prominent red “Sale” signage never fails to attract customers. Mannequins, too, especially for formal wear. If customers can see what a dress looks like when worn, they’re more likely to try it on.
The theme of a retail store matters as well. If you sell cowboy clothes and horse-riding equipment, you can’t have a sci-fi theme for your store. A country-home-inspired design is more befitting.
The design of home improvement, auto parts, or gadget stores is crucial for attracting sales too. But it’s hard to put a theme for these retail stores because the products they sell don’t have a specific style. Such stores often go for a generic, cookie-cutter building design or an industrial one. But a contemporary, timeless design like hardwood floors, a robust, utilitarian aesthetic instainless steel square tubingrailings, or even quirky light fixtures work well too. It’s more creative, photogenic, and fun to explore.
And don’t forget to design for the holidays. Holidays are a time when you can freely express your design and decorating skills in your retail store. You don’t have to prioritize your branding. The goal is just to set the tone for the particular holiday. Customers will feel excited the moment they walk into the premises.
Now that online businesses are leading the industry, retail store design has become critical if brick-and-mortar stores want to keep. The physical space might have fewer stocks and a smaller market, but an online store can never match the stimulating experience physical retail stores offer.
