In a competitive retail environment, the importance of your store's layout cannot be overstated. According to a survey by ServiceChannel, 70% of shoppers had a negative experience due to the store having disorganized shelves, dirty bathrooms, and burned-out light bulbs.
A store layout is the physical arrangement of retail space. It includes the placement of shelves, displays, counters, and other fixtures. The layout also takes into account the flow of traffic throughout the space. You also need to consider the products you will be selling alongside the space you have at your store.
The purpose of store layout design is to create an environment that is both inviting and efficient. The goal is to maximize sales potential while providing a positive shopping experience for customers.
Table of Contents
- Key Elements of Designing Your Store's Layout
- Benefits of An Effective Store Layout
- Influence of Store Layout on Sales
- Types of Store Layouts
- How Store Layout can Increase Sales
- Conclusion
Key Elements of Designing Your Store's Layout
There are several key elements to consider when designing a store layout. These include:
Traffic flow
The way customers move through the space should be taken into account when designing the layout. There should be a natural flow that guides shoppers through the store in a logical manner. Any potential bottlenecks or dead-ends in the design or layout should be avoided.
Product placement
Careful consideration should be given to the placement of products within the store. Items should be placed in strategic locations that are easy for customers to find and reach. Product placement can also be used to influence shopper behaviour.
Lighting
Proper lighting is important for creating an inviting atmosphere in the store. It can also be used to highlight certain products or areas of the space. Poor lighting can make the space seem uninviting and can negatively impact sales.
Storefront
The storefront is the first thing customers will see when they approach the store. It should be designed to capture attention and entice shoppers to come inside. The storefront should be well-lit, inviting and should be different from your competitors.
Benefits of An Effective Store Layout
There are many benefits to designing an effective store layout. These include:
Increase customer satisfaction
A well-designed layout can help to increase customer satisfaction by providing a positive shopping experience. Customers should feel comfortable and relaxed while browsing the store. The layout should be easy to navigate and easy to find what they are looking for.
Improve customer experience
An effective layout can also help to improve the overall customer experience. The store should be designed with the customer in mind. The layout should be easy to understand and navigate for the customers. Technology can also be used to enhance the customer experience by using digital displays.
Maximize sales potential
A well-designed layout can help to maximize a store’s sales potential. Careful consideration should be given to product placement and traffic flow. The layout should be designed to encourage customers to browse the store and make impulse purchases. These tactics can maximize your sales.
Increase brand awareness and recognition
A well-designed store layout can help to increase brand awareness and recognition. The layout should be consistent with the brand’s image and messaging. The store’s signage should be easily visible and legible.
Optimize space usage
An effective layout can help to optimize the use of space within a retail space. The layout should be designed to make efficient use of the available space. Careful consideration should be given to traffic flow and product placement.
Influence of Store Layout on Sales
The layout of a store can have a significant impact on sales. The way the space is designed can influence shopper behaviour in a number of ways. These include:
Shopper decisions
The layout of a store can influence the decisions shoppers make while browsing the space. The placement of products, signage and other elements can affect what shoppers notice and pay attention to. The layout can also influence where shoppers choose to spend their time while in the store.
Shopper behaviour
The layout of a store can also influence shopper behaviour. The way the space is designed can affect how long shoppers spend in the store, how much time they spend browsing, and whether or not they make a purchase.
Sale performance
The layout of a store can have a direct impact on sale performance. An effective layout can help to increase sales by influencing shopper behaviour. A poorly designed layout can deter customers from entering the store or result in them leaving without making a purchase.
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Types of Store Layouts
There are many types of store layouts, but we will be discussing 5 types of layouts:
Grid Layout
The most commonly used layout is grid layout. Merchandise is displayed in long parallel aisles, customers can go up and down the aisles and browse for the products they want to buy. This layout is solely focused on displaying the product so that it is easily seen by the customer.
The best strategy for this layout is to display the latest collection of products at the start of the store and other products can be placed accordingly. As you will be placing the latest releases and offers at the beginning of the store, it will prompt the customer to check the latest releases and offers out.
This store layout is used by many grocery and convenience stores as it is easier for the customers to find and buy the products they need. This type of store layout is also great for utilizing all the space available to you.
Advantages of using a grid layout
- Easy to navigate for the customers
- Can easily accommodate high foot traffic
- Products get more exposure as customers browse through them
- Maximizes space for products
Disadvantages of using a grid layout
- No uniqueness to this layout
- Customers might get frustrated for not finding products immediately
- Can give customers an overwhelming feeling
- Cramped aisles can lead to the customers being uncomfortable
Free-Flow Layout
If you want your customers to wander around the store so that they may browse all of the products, then this layout is best suited for your business. As there is no set pattern of this layout so it isn’t easy to predict the flow of traffic according to the aisles.
Although saying that there are no rules at all for designing a free-flow layout is also not true, you would need to keep your exterior display, checkout, and impulse buying points the same way they are. Other than those spaces you can get creative with the rest of the space of your store.
Advantages of using a free-flow layout
- Great for shops with fewer products or merchandise
- Best suited for small shops or shops with irregular spaces
- Great for discovering new products
- Displays products prominently
Disadvantages of using a free-flow layout
- It can create confusion for the customers
- Can easily create a cluttered space
- Difficult to maintain
Loop Layout
A loop store layout is also called a racetrack layout. As loop layout creates a guided pathway for customers this point can be used as an advantage by store owners to create a more guided shopping experience for their customers.
The perimeter walls in a loop layout feature and display all of the products on the shelves. This type of display exposes the customers to every item on the shelves. This sort of layout is great for combining other layouts as it can create a hybrid or customized store layout.
Advantages of using a loop layout
- Provides a more guided pathway for customers
- Creates an engaging shopping experience for customers
- Gives maximum product exposure
Disadvantages of using a loop layout
- Not suitable for smaller stores
- Takes a long time to browse through
- Space maximization can become an issue
Diagonal Layout
A diagonal layout is similar to a grid layout with the aisles just placed angularly. Diagonal layout feels more open than grid layout. Products are easily visible in a diagonal layout which promotes the majority of the products placed in the store.
A diagonal layout makes it easier for the customers to move between aisles and provides the store employees with a good view of the whole store so that they can keep check on the store. This type of layout is great for stores that have limited space as it utilizes most of it for displaying products and merchandise.
Advantages of using a diagonal layout
- Increases the visibility of all the products
- Allows the store to be more secure against theft
- Great for stores with limited space
Disadvantages of using a diagonal layout
- Makes it difficult to take a shortcut
- Aisles become narrower for customers
Hybrid Layout
A hybrid layout is designed by merging two or more store layouts. Your store can be a mix of grid and loop store layouts or it can be a mix of angular and diagonal layouts. A hybrid layout can also be called a mixed layout.
The best way to create a hybrid layout design is to start with one type of store layout plan and see which store layout plan will be best suited to create a continuous flow of customers. A good example is to use the loop and grid layout together, as the loop layout can be on the outside while the grid layout can be in the center or inside.
How Store Layout can Increase Sales
There are several ways retailers can use store layouts to increase sales. These include:
Utilize layout design to capture customer attention
The layout of the store should be designed to capture the attention of shoppers. The use of colour, lighting, and signage can help to draw attention to certain areas of the store. Product displays should be eye-catching and inviting.
Apply visual merchandising techniques
Visual merchandising techniques can be used to engage shoppers and encourage them to spend more time in the store. The use of props, mannequins, and creative displays can help to create an engaging environment.
Integrate technology to enhance customer experience
Technology can be used to enhance the customer experience in a number of ways. Interactive displays, self-checkout kiosks, and digital signage can all be used to improve the shopping experience of your customers.
Create an inviting atmosphere
The overall atmosphere of the store should be welcoming. The use of music, scent, and lighting can all contribute to creating a pleasant environment. An inviting environment not only attracts customers but also increases your sales.
Let customers explore your store more
The layout should be designed to encourage customers to explore more of the store. Wide aisles, strategic product placement, and well-lit areas can all help to promote customer engagement.
Related Article: Selecting the Perfect Location for Your Fitness or Combat Sports Retail Store
Conclusion
When deciding which layout you should go for, you should consider the types of products you will be selling alongside the space you have available at your store. If you have bigger-sized products such as punch bags then you should consider the diagonal layout otherwise, if you have smaller products you can select the grid or loop style.
