Two tips for building an attractive and functional retail space
Having your own retail space constructed can be both expensive and time-consuming. As such, it's important to ensure that you're happy with the end results. Here are two tips which should help you to build a retail space which is both functional and aesthetically-pleasing.
Don't opt for a generic layout plan from your shop fitters
A lot of shop fitters offer generic layout plans; whilst these plans can be useful for those who cannot afford to spend a lot of time choosing every last detail of their commercial space, they will not provide you with a shop that meets your exact individual requirements. As such, it is generally best to be as involved in the evaluation and planning process as possible and ensure that the construction firm you hire takes your personal specifications into account when drawing up the plans for the space.
For example, if the building in which you intend to set up your shop is very small, you will need the shop fitters you hire to take the size limitations of the property into account and ensure that the space is fully maximised, so that you can showcase as many products as possible, without making the shop look and feel overcrowded and cluttered. This might require the fitters to install space-saving shelves which extend upwards towards the ceiling or to opt for light-coloured or mirrored countertops and display cases, which will reflect the light and create a sense of spaciousness.
Understand the importance of good lighting
The lighting used in a retail space can have a huge impact on how it is perceived by customers. Lighting can affect the ambience of the shop, help to draw attention to products and even affect the customers' moods. As such, it is crucial to think very carefully about what type of lighting your shop fitters install in your commercial space.
For example, if you want your shop to be perceived as sophisticated and luxurious, you might want to opt for gentle, recessed lighting along the undersides of the shelves, in order to subtly highlight the products being displayed on them, and then use a chandelier or other high-end light fixture for overhead lighting.
Conversely, if you want your shop to appeal to trendy people in their teens and early twenties, it might be better to choose brighter, more eye-catching fixtures, such as a neon LED letter sign in the window and bare bulb string lights around the display cases.
