
A good layout of your store starts with a drawing on paper, where you indicate your customer flow, building specs, product placement, and other details before you fill the store. With a clear and well-thought plan, you can explore different options and create a layout that will attract your customers to look through and purchase your products.
Let us look at the steps of building the best store layout for any commercial property for sale in Birmingham.
Decide on the floor plan
The layout of your store will guide the customer flow, product placement, and the character of the store. There are lots of factors that will affect the choice of the floor plan, like the shape and size of the sale floor, the product you are selling, and your target customers. Additionally, consider the following factors at this stage:
Grid floor plan layout
This plan allows displays and fixtures to run parallel to the store walls. It is also ideal if you want to promote items and feature seasonal products. If you plan to set up a big box, grocery, or a convenience store, then this floor plan will provide your customers with a familiar layout.
Loop floor plan layout
This layout exposes your products fully to your customers. This plan is ideal for zone merchandising tactics. You can set up the central part of the store with a free-flow or grid layout or mix the two plans. Alternatively, if you want to use the central part of the store for creative displays, you can make variations using this plan.
Free flow plan layout
For full creativity, this is the best layout because it is easy to update and change. You can use it to place items on angles which can encourage shoppers to explore the products at each turn. You can use this plan to navigate your customers to specific merchandise using product groupings and colours.
Draft your floor plan
Before you settle on the type of floor plan, most retailers like to mix up the floor plans that can work best for their stores. For instance, use a free-flow for your central section and the grid-style for the shelves. In case your sales floor does not have a flexible shape, you can use a free-flow on one section, and a loop on the other.
Consider customer behaviour and the traffic flow
Always arrange the pathways of your stores keeping in mind the traffic flow. To achieve this, understand the following:
- Create a decompression space. This is a space where customers can use to transition once they get into the store.
- Customers shop the same way they drive. Arrange the store in that respect.
- Create enough space for the shopper to shop; customers do not like crowded shopping areas.
Position your product well
For most shop owners, they tend to rush to install fixtures quickly after the floor plan is sketched. The problem with this approach is that when the products are placed on the fixtures, some products may not be displayed well in their areas. To make it worse, it gets hard to feature seasonal or promotional products in a badly designed space.
So, always think about the product positioning before replacing your displays and fixtures. This is what is referred to as product mapping.
In conclusion, once you purchase an ideal commercial property for sale in Birmingham, follow the guidelines above and create the best store for your business.