7 Creative Ideas for Retail Stores that won’t break the bank.
Opening a new retail space or deciding to do an entire store refresh can easily become a large investment. Contractors will be hired, associates may put in overtime, and the store will not be making revenue during construction days. But when it’s finished, your customers will purchase more high-ticket items, come back more often, and recommend your shop to others. The investment will be worth every penny, that is if you spend your pennies wisely. We have compiled our best creative ideas for retail stores that won’t break the bank for your next store opening or refresh.
1. Level Up your Street Appeal
Every store owner knows half the battle is getting customers to walk in the door. Street appeal refers to how likely someone passing by will come into your shop. Street appeal is all about telling a compelling story about your shop to get people interested enough to come inside. To level up your street appeal make all signage easy to read and update window displays to tell a seasonally appropriate story. Signage and displays should be intuitive to what is being sold inside. If someone is confused about what is being sold inside a store, they will likely pass it up. Potential customers are also more likely to enter stores that have in-season displays as it shows there is fresh inventory and items that they need right now.
2. Be Mindful that Less is Always More
People love having options until they have too many options. Too much product creates an unpleasant shopping experience and overwhelms customers. Many retailers make the mistake of thinking that they have to be constantly selling and pushing products, but this leads to an excessive amount of decision-making and fatigue.
Instead of stuffing products everywhere, allow for moments of pause and storytelling in your space. This will help your customers focus on one item at a time and feel a sense of calm while inside your retail space. Your store will transform from overwhelming to a story your customer can connect with.
3. Make your Small Space Feel Bigger
It can be hard to make your retail store welcoming when you are working with smaller or awkward spaces. Luckily our designers have some tricks up our sleeves. Does your store lack physical space? Use large mirrors to create the illusion of more space. Do customers never make it past the front half of the store? Add color at the back of your store to elongate the space and pull users further in. Do you have low ceilings? Use low-height floor fixtures and concentrate your product on the perimeter walls.
4. Create an Easy to Follow Journey
If your store doesn’t have intuitive movement users may feel awkward and leave before finding something they would like to purchase. One of the easiest ways to have an intuitive journey is by keeping circulation paths clear and open. Then break up long rows of fixtures or overwhelming amounts of product with bright colors, graphics, and imagery. Lastly, group floor fixtures into islands to create intentional product stories with cross-merchandising.
5. Maximize your natural light
Natural light makes spaces feel inviting and pleasant to the user. Customers will linger longer and make more purchases in stores that maximize natural light. Take advantage of light by moving tall fixtures to the back of the store to not block any windows.
6. Save Space for Seating
More retailers are adding community and seating spaces to their stores. This encourages people to hang out in your space which gives them a moment of pause. Many brands use seating spaces as an opportunity to share a story about the company making the brand more authentic. Seating spaces allow retailers space to host events which brings us to our next point.
7. Connect with your Local Community
Make your store a part of the community through connections to foster customer loyalty and repeat business. Having a seating area allows spaces to expand to holding community engagement events after hours. Add photographs of the surrounding landscape and support local photographers. Sell art from local artists to show you care about putting money back into the community. Hire a local artist to decorate your storefront during holidays and local events.
Looking for more Creative Ideas for Retail Stores?
Feels on Brand is a boutique, women-owned retail experience studio, that is passionate about interior design and authentic brand-driven storytelling. We have been trusted by big brands including Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Adidas, Garmin, and Nike to create unforgettable retail spaces. If you are ready to elevate your retail experience for your customers, you’ve come to the right place. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and tricks.
