Retail Store Layout – Rearranging your store

How effective is your retail store layout? If you haven’t remodeled or retrofitted your store in the last five years then you should start making plans to do so. I have observed great improvements in stores that go through the process of changing their retail store layout. It just makes sense though doesn’t it? It’s like putting on new clothes. It just feels good. A change to your retail store layout can generate excitement in your staff and your customers alike. Heck, who knows, it might even just get your juices flowing again.

Are you overwhelmed at the thought of such an undertaking? Well, I understand that. I’ve been involved in enough store resets to know that, at best, they’re difficult. But I can’t emphasize enough the good differences that can result. For example, I have seen business mushroom after a store redesign. I have seen shoddy housekeeping turn to a point where the housekeeping was actually a strength of the store just because of the pride that was generated as employees helped with the remodeling project. I don’t know why this occurred but maybe the employees felt that they had more vested interests or perhaps the manager just took more pride in the improved store that was left in his charge.

Your retail store layout is a subtle communication piece with your customers. If it hasn’t been changed in the last five years, I’ll bet they’re as bored with it as you are. I have heard store customers marvel at the new products added to a store after a retail store layout change. The truth was that there were no new products added, but the difference was in perception. And perception, as we all know, is as important, perhaps more important than fact.

In the book Discovery-Based Retail I wrote that undertaking a project like this should be done in the same manner as one would undertake eating an elephant. Regardless of the size of an eater’s appetite, an elephant could not be eaten all at once but instead, would have to be chewed one bite at a time. As you consider changing your retail store design divide the project into small digestible bites. You will be amazed at how soon your plans come together and you will be even more amazed at the positive changes in your store once the project has been completed.

Interested in retail store layout? Then get your copy of Discovery Based Retail today!