Retail Shop Fitting: How To Get It Right First Time

By Author: Lucifer Jordo
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Shop fitting: Top Tips for Success

If you are starting out for the first time or even if you have many stores under your belt, shop fitting can be a very daunting process. Your number one aim is to attract customers into your store. Once they are in there you want them to link buy products, and then return again. This may sound like 1, 2, 3 but the reality is that first you have to attract customers into the store and then make it a very pleasant experience in order for them to buy and return.

The top tips for success when embarking on shop fitting for your store are:

• Access. If the location of your store has parking this is a plus point. Be sure that all entrances are clearly marked and are easily accessible. Automatic sliding doors are advantageous for customers such as mothers with babies, elderly or those in wheelchairs.

• Signage. Store signs are the fundamental responsibility for directing customers into your store. Branding, logo and colour are essential here as the store must be visually appealing in order to attract custom.

• Store layout. Once the customer is inside the store ...
... they need to be able to find what they are looking for and more often than not they need to be able to do this fast. Your store must be planned and laid out precisely in order to capture the customer from the outset and guide them nicely around the entire store. The best advice is to employ a reputable shop fitting company who will provide a Retail Design Service totally free of charge and without obligation. They will give advice on floor plan, customer flow, merchandise and position of equipment in order to optimise your store to its best potential, all in the form of CAD (Computer Aided Design).

• Shelving and Display. Make the best use of space for both storage and display in order to make your products visually appealing. Glass cabinets and counters are effective way to display products in any environment. For a contemporary modern feel and an opportunity to display from all angles the use of glass shelved gondolas is an elegant way to attract interest in your products. Freestanding modular wall display unit shelving are suitable for a variety of products including fruit and veg, confectionery, magazines and non-food items. The Intrac Shelving System is a heavy duty shelving system which is both popular and highly versatile.

• Refrigeration / Air Conditioning Equipment. This is an essential ingredient for the display and quality of your goods and the ambiance of the store. It is imperative to have temperature control in order to make shopping a comfortable experience whilst preserving the shelf life of your stock. Again a reputable company will give advice on the most suitable, energy efficient products on the market along with the supply, fit and maintenance of the equipment.

• Lighting. This is often overlooked by retail owners but is a very important factor when creating the ambiance of your store and the correct shopping experience. Super bright LED lighting is advantageous as not only does it save on energy, it also heightens the appeal of the store and is 10 times more durable than effervescent lighting.

• Counters. A professional looking counter is a must in virtually any retail environment. Make it spacious and easy to operate enabling staff and customers to pack and pay with ease.

• Flooring / Plumbing / Electrical. Reputable shop fitters will design, plan and deliver bespoke requirements specific to your needs. Whether it is a wash room for the staff or extra sockets for the coffee machine, be sure to have your exact specification.

• Security. Security is vital in today’s retail market. Not only does having a good quality CCTV system give the authorities more chance of catching criminals it will provide an active deterrent and minimise your exposure to theft and robbery.

Impulse buys are an exceptional way of gathering extra sales. 'Spur of the moment' items at the queuing area and at till points are fantastic ways of increasing sales.

Finally, is the service the customer receives. Customer service training for staff is essential as customers must feel special and welcome in order for them to return and beome regular customers. Essentially, distinguish your store from the competition. Go that extra mile and offer something the competition doesn’t as setting yourself away from the crowd is always a crowd pleaser.

For expert advice about shop fitting, refrigeration and air conditioning, please visit www.jordon.co.uk