What makes a store attractive to customers? Studies show that people make snap judgments about businesses within seconds of entering the store.
If these judgments feel negative, customers probably picked up on common design errors. In retail, these errors make customers feel unwelcome from the start.
Fortunately, minimizing these common design errors doesn’t take superpower vision. It just takes a little attention on the part of the business owner or manager.
So read on for some common retail design errors and how to avoid them.
1. Poor Lighting Decisions
Poor lighting can make the atmosphere feel dull and dingy to customers, even if the store has been beautifully designed. To avoid this error, you must be leveraging retail lighting solutions. You should focus on providing a dynamic blend of natural and artificial lighting.
You need to get the perfect balance between enough light for customers to navigate their way around the store safely. But the light should not be so bright as to be uncomfortable.
2. Neglecting Space and Organization
Poor layout structure and retail store flooring can lead to making shoppers feel overwhelmed. You need your customers to feel comfortable and secure while shopping. So you must not only adhere to safety regulations, but you must also ensure that your products can be viewed and accessed conveniently.
To avoid this, you should first measure the areas available in your interior retail space and incorporate many pathways to ensure good organization. Items should be grouped by the type of product and by color.
3. Failing to Utilize Signages
Poor signage can diminish a customer’s shopping experience, create confusion, and lead to lost sales. So you need to use signage strategically throughout the store to ensure customers can find what they are looking for.
This includes large signs near the entrance, helpful pointers, and arrows for navigation. You also need signs near product displays that list prices or help customers locate items. Signs should also be placed at the checkout line and near exits.
4. Inferior Aisle Design
Poorly designed aisles make it difficult for customers to navigate your store and quickly find what they’re looking for. This may result in customers leaving without buying.
To avoid an inferior aisle design, it’s important to make your aisles wide enough for customers to move through. You also need to make sure that the aisle layout is intuitive. Customers should be able to find what they need.
Place high-volume items in easy-to-reach areas and low-volume items in less accessible areas. You also need not overcrowd aisles. Having too many products in one area can make it overwhelming for shoppers.
5. Overcrowding
Overcrowding and poor shelving in retail spaces result in confusion and distraction for shoppers. To avoid this, break up the space into sections and have an eye for balance and flow.
Separate products into categories and leave breathing room between them for a more organized look. Having too much merchandise clustered in one area creates clutter and makes choices overwhelming.
Follow Our Guide to Avoid These Retail Design Errors
It is easy to overlook common retail design errors, but these mistakes can cost you lost sales and lost customers. So use proper shelving, use effective signage, and include the right accents to make the customer experience enjoyable.
If you need help, look to a professional retail consultant for advice. With help, you can carve your store’s path to success.
