You’ve no doubt heard that one of the keys to a successful business is the location. Yes- a convenient location improves steady store traffic, but then you need to have a proper store layout to drive profits.
Would you rather have: (1) A steady flow of customers that only come in to get what they need, or (2) a steady flow of customers who get what they need and then are encouraged by the store layout to browse for tie-in and impulse purchases?
The addition of unplanned purchases due to the store layout will increase your profits. This is achieved through the store atmosphere, traffic flow, and effective merchandising.
Store Environment
Your store environment is composed of different factors that contribute to the impression you give your customers. The details you choose in your store fixtures, such as colors and shelving placement and styles, will directly affect your store environment. In addition, the friendly staff, mood-inducing sounds, pleasant lighting, variety of merchandise, store cleanliness, visual presentation, enticing color schemes and clear signage all play a role in the store layout.
Traffic Flow
Fixture placement and styles impact your store layout and the traffic flow of your store. In this instance, traffic flow refers to the direction your customers walk through your retail store to buy merchandise. You should aim to guide your customers through all of the corners of your retail store to expose them to different merchandise. Strategic placement of your fixture styles – gondola fixtures, retail store shelving, custom displays and more – along with effective merchandising, is how you can achieve this “Four-Corner Penetration.”
Effective Merchandising
Effective merchandising means that you stock your shelves with the right product in places that make it tempting for customers to purchase. Guide or “pull” customers through your store to your demand products, and set up or display merchandise along the store traffic path. Use your store fixtures, end cap units, and retail displays to effectively showcase impulse, promotional and high profit items. By allowing this merchandise to be seen by customers as they walk through, you increase the chances of impulse sales.
Consider these three factors as you plan your store layout. By rotating stock and moving fixtures regularly, you will determine what works for the best inventory turnover rate and keep your store’s atmosphere fresh.