With an ever-increasing e-commerce market, it can be challenging for traditional, physical stores to compete with businesses who are solely based online. There are an array of added overheads to consider, not to mention the legal trading hours which will never stand up to the 24/7 online shopping culture. However, there are plenty of people who enjoy heading towards the shops, walking in, receiving great customer service, and being able to see and feel the products in real life.
Customers are less likely to return items if they’ve tried them on in store, and if you have the bonus of a website; they can get a better sense of what they may buy at a later point online. The challenge lies in not only getting enough footfall into your store, but impressing them enough to stay, browse, and purchase products once they’ve arrived. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice for store owners who want to boost their business and focus their attention on the visual side of their shop, for retail success.
An Appealing Space
Unless you’re a thrift store or selling unusual antiques; visitors are unlikely to enjoy feeling cramped and surrounded by your wares. Therefore, it’s important to create a clear and clean space which makes it simple for your potential customers to move around, browse, and pick up items. Create plenty of visual appeal towards the back of your store, at the furthest point away from the door; this will encourage potential buyers to travel further into your shop, and they’ll have to walk past all of the items that you want to sell in the meantime. You could put items in model display cases, for example, to make them look more intriguing and to persuade customers to take a closer look.
If you sell an item in a range of sizes; display an amount that won’t look cluttered and inform your visitors that there is more stock in the back which you can bring out for them. Think of your stockroom as a place to store everything and pile items high; your shop floor is the display and should remain well-presented at all times. Make sure that everything functions so that shopping is a breeze. You’ll need to consider everything from barcode scanner repair to frayed hems on the dressing room curtains, so it’s time to head through the space with a fine-toothed comb.
Stars Of The Show (or shop)
Whether you sell clothing, accessories, or beauty products; your customers will always appreciate being able to see items clearly. If you have a window which lets in natural light, make the most of it; don’t over-clutter it with too many posters or advertising, and let the light flood your store so that people can see what they’re picking up.
Stark and cold strip lights are a little old-fashioned and can cause headaches, making them an un-appealing aspect for many when they’re out shopping. Therefore, it’s worth investing in some lighting that with highlight your items and fit into the theme of your shop. Your lights should enhance the space, and ensure that customers feel welcome, warm, and are able to see the colors and shapes of your products clearly.
