The New Year usually triggers us to map out what we are hoping to accomplish over the next 12 months. We all know that when it comes to making New Year's resolutions we tend to over-commit. Resolutions are easy to make but fulfilling them is a different kettle of fish. Don’t worry; we aren’t going too overboard with these resolutions.
This article can’t help you follow the latest fad diet but it will certainly equip you will all the tips and tricks you will need to maximise your sales…
Resolution 1 - Determine the best floor plan
Store design could be described as an exact science. A fine line runs between getting it right and messing it up completely. Small business owners will understand that every square meter counts. Therefore, choosing the correct floor plan to suit the size and needs of your business is a must.
Straight floor plans:
for retail spaces, this particular floor plan makes a lot of sense. There are a number of reasons why we would endorse this particular floor design.
Many small businesses will only boast a limited amount of actual floor space. This is why displays and fixtures can be so important. A straight floor plan makes the most efficient use of both floor and wall space as commonly unused areas, like corners, can be set up to house some type of display.
Mixed floor plans:
The mixed floor plan is the most customisable option. It incorporates straight, diagonal and other display options to form a more functional design. This can benefit you if your business wants to customise specific areas of the store and showcase separate themes. The mixed floor plan could be your best bet in terms of versatility. The shop fit team at Shopfittings Manchester will be happy to discuss any of these with you.
Resolution 2 - Do your Shop fitting homework
Where do you start? Shop fittings are vital when it comes to showcasing your retail space in the best light. When you start picking what kind of shop fittings will work in your retail environment you will need to think about what type of customer you want to attract. If you want to promote a value or bargain offer high volume budget systems are the way to go. If however, you want to sell at a higher price point you should look at lower density and some of our Italian systems.
Our team can advise on which system would be best suited to entice the right type of customer. Always keep in mind that eye level is buy level. Place the items you want to showcase in clear view. Shopfittings Manchester will visit you wherever possible to help guide you through the wide range of options that are open to you. We offer a very wide range of fittings from very economical systems to visually creative and inspiring bespoke systems that will not break your budget.
Resolution 3 - Clothing rails
Don’t get hung up on the amount of floor space you have to work with. Small retail environments can begin to look overstocked and cluttered over time. If this is an issue within your space then try hanging garments on clothing rails as opposed to folding them. Not only will this alleviate the possible look of chaos but it also switches up the look of your store.
If you have got space free you can always move portable clothing rails around. This is where shop fittings can really open up your design options. You will be able to keep your store up to date by pushing selected lines in more prominent places. We have a vast experience of helping customers with this so if you are finding it difficult please call our shop fit team.
Resolution 4 - Wall shelving
Picture this:
Your store is offering an awesome end of season sale and you will be expecting an upsurge of foot traffic coming through your doors. The last thing your customers will want to do is to go on a treasure hunt just to find the item they are interested in. Right?
Slatwall and Gridwall are two of the most versatile fixture options that you can install in your retail space.
Gridwall:
This is made up of metal grids and is normally installed directly onto a wall. Hooks can be placed onto the grid for store owners to display their products uniquely. It has become an established favourite in retail chains and it’s no wonder as it can be used to exhibit any type of product. Gridwall requires little maintenance and has a contemporary look.
Slatwall:
This features horizontal grooves that can hold various display accessories. You can strategically place Slatwall to blend into your décor as well as taking advantage of vertical space that may otherwise go unused.
Wall shelving:
If designed properly will give you a huge amount of flexibility to go from double height displays to single. Show a combination of rails and shelves. We can even supply small easy to move slat panels.
Leave a personal statement by adding decorative touches on these wall fixtures. Using your wall space effectively can be worked into part of your aesthetic with ease!
Resolution 5 - Keep things clean!
Smaller spaces reveal clutter at a faster rate than larger spaces. Thankfully we can clean up smaller spaces faster too. Your cleaning routine doesn’t have to span 365 days a year for it to work well. Cleaning as you go about your day may be the simplest option. When you own your own business you may have little time to relax on a normal day. Try to fit in a do-able cleaning regimen whenever you get a chance. Once you start to do this regularly it will become part of your routine.
Resolution 6 - Out of season, out of sight
Retail seasons are relatively predictable. This is good news as you can determine the best time to launch certain lines. This also means that once a season ends you need to act with haste. Once spring comes around you should tightly pack the cold-weather gear until cooler temperatures make a comeback. As each season passes repeat the same pattern so that your transitional items can hit the racks at the right time.
Resolution 7 - Swaying people to make an impulse buy
We are all familiar with the phrase “first impressions count”. However, let’s not forget final impressions. While it may be tempting to load the counter with impulse items, avoiding overcrowding is probably the best thing you can do. Be strategic when you are selecting what impulse counter purchases you offer so you don’t overwhelm your customers with choice.
Resolution 8 - Setting the mood of your atmosphere
Retail is detail. When you’ve established your basic layout you can cast your attention to making the atmosphere of your store shine. It is simpler than you think to achieve this. You can even do it with coat hangers. Yes, coat hangers…
Whilst these shop-fitting staples are usually overlooked they can be that little touch that offset your colour scheme nicely. For example, business A may have a modern ambience and this could be teamed with sleek black hangers. On the other hand, business B may exude a more traditional theme and could benefit with using wooden hangers that have a rustic feel. Our team has many years experience with this and we would be delighted to help.
Resolution 9 - well-organised storeroom makes for a more efficient storefront
Having a more organised storeroom makes your day-to-day tasks a lot easier. Adopting a cycle where you are frequently checking portions of your stock is often better than running checks once per year. This can only be done if the storeroom itself is in full running order. Ensure that you have the correct storage facilities to be able to organise all of your stock.
Resolution 10 - Point of sale
Keep your store fresh and up to date. When you have a sale on sure your customers know about it!
Ensure that the information attached to your products is relevant and up to date. Don’t leave any sizing cube unchecked. You don’t have to go overboard but simple advertising such as special offer tickets can drive sales forward. Replace any tickets that look like they have seen a lot of wear and tear. If any shop supplies are left looking shabby it will only give off the wrong impression!
Consider how you can transform your store into a place those customers will want to return to, despite its lack of square footage. If you follow these steps then you’re kicking 2017 to a good start.
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Please remember if you need any help with any of the above please feel free to give us a call and we will do our best to help and look after you.