Optimising a shop’s retail space is crucial for high street success. The amount of space available to a retailer affects the number of products that can be displayed, the comfort of shoppers, and the efficiency of storage for both surplus products and utilities. At a time when retailers are seeking to reduce the size of their retail operations, minimising the costs of rental and overheads while simultaneously choosing more effective locations, the value of space becomes even greater.
Today, we’re sharing four methods that retailers can use to improve, adjust, and optimise their retail space, depending on their chosen requirements.
Custom Furniture
The furniture and shelving that is used in a retail space do not necessarily need to be compromised upon. While many shop counters, for example, will be sold as prebuilt assets, there are also custom designs that can be specifically styled to fit the space of a high street store.
This is particularly effective for those with unusual floor plans, whereby a custom-designed shop counter would offer a more optimised fit than a prebuilt alternative. Such investments are generally better valued since they can also be created to better suit a brand’s aesthetic identity too.
Modular Design
There have been a number of advancements made in both design and technology leading to a great improvement in modular retail furniture. Almost every element of retail space, from freestanding displays to greeting card units, has the potential for modular elements, meaning that they can be moved and adjusted to better suit the changing needs of a retail environment.
This is especially useful for those high street stores that experience a great change in foot traffic, such as on weekends and weekdays. Products can be added to a shop floor during quieter periods, with retail furniture then being removed during busier periods.
Vertical Implementation
Shop spaces can be designed upward, making use of vertical space alongside horizontal space. While there are certain limitations, especially when it comes to the browsing potential and reach of customers, there are a number of elements, such as information and displays, that can be lifted from the ground.
By choosing to incorporate a greater deal of vertical design within a shop space, retailers will discover an alleviated pressure from their floor space, allowing for customers to have more room to browse or for a larger amount of shelving to be installed for products.
Improve Technology
One of the most significant inhibitors of space within a retail environment is technology. Counter space, for example, is often encumbered with wires and gadgets necessary to the checkout experience. In recent years, however, there have been a number of advancements that make much of this burden unnecessary.
Now, the process of selling items can be done with small and portable devices, even tablets or phones, eliminating the need for traditional tills. By choosing to make such purchases for a store, retailers are able to reduce the need for larger shop furniture assets and, as a result, create more space in store.
