The Essential Guide to Retail Store Layouts - Steps to Plan Store Layout

1. Put Down the Right Floor Plan on Paper!

There are several basic floor plans for retail stores - grid, free-flow, diagonal, angular, loop, forced path, straight and geometric. We will get into what each of these styles entail. Choosing any of them is essentially emphasising on the desired purchasing behaviour. Utilising the entire space without compromising is the key to selecting the right plan. 

Put down the plan on paper to get a clearer picture. It will help you visualise the end­ goal and guide you in case you wish to mix two or more floor plans.

2.  Be Cognisant of Customer Traffic Flow & Behaviour 

Put yourself in the customer's shoes before you start planning the position of fixtures, aisles and pathways. Ensure a comfortable customer experience always. 

The decompression zone, where the customer first enters should guide the transition. They say, 'shoppers browse a store, the way they drive'. So in countries like NZ they have a tendency to turn left. So, be aware of where you are leading your customers in the store. 

3. Poisition Your Check Out Area Or Billling Counter 

Feng shui expert DeAnna Radaj says, "Store checkout and register placements are one of the biggest mistakes seen in retail store layouts". Front left could be a good positioning of the billing counter as customers tend to drift right on entering. Some experts suggest the rear of the store as a good place for a check out counter. The basic idea is to be less distracting and not take up attractive space that can be used for branding and promotion.

4. Place the Products for Maximum Exposure 

This is the point where retail owners tend to get ahead of themselves. Often, once the design plans are laid, they tend to be quick to shop for fixtures, installing and loading them with products. But the fixtures need to be flexible to accommodate the changing displays like featured and seasonal merchandise. 

Also, before considering position of fixtures, you need to consider the placements of your classic. seasonal. limited edition and sale products. This is product mapping. It is a science that requires constant updating.

5. Creating Space Between Products & Fixtures 

Once the general idea of the store layout and product mapping is clear in your head, it is time to consider the placement of fixtures and displays. These should define your brand in terms of appeal and experience they offer. 

Create personal space for your shoppers during this step. Even though the fixtures may be bustling with merchandise, enough space between them will ensure that your customers don't abandon a product on being nudged or bumped by another customer from behind.

7. Create Comfort Zones

You may create fixture speed bumps to slow down your shoppers and unique displays to attract attention. But a retail store can be more than that. If a customer feels at home, they are more likely to stay longer and shop more. 

Adding amenities like comfortable seating especially near dressing rooms or creating a lounge area for accompanying members of customers is a welcoming experience sure to make them return.