Overhauling your retail outlet in 5 simple steps

2nd September 2015

Surviving in the modern retail environment isn’t easy for firms and so if you want your store to be a success, you’ll have to make sure you pull out all the stops. To attract customers and boost sales levels, here are five simple steps that could help you to overhaul your retail outlet.

1) Draw people in with effective window displays

You can’t persuade people to part with their cash for your products unless you succeed in drawing them into your shop in the first place, and this is why effective window displays are a must. Many people make decisions about which stores to visit on the move and so by having an imaginative, eye-catching and alluring display in your shopfront, you’re more likely to encourage them to step through your door. Show off some of your best stock in this space and highlight promotions too. Also, if you don’t already have them, consider installing automatic doors. They can seem much more welcoming than traditional entrances.

2) Rethink product placement

There’s no shortage of display equipment on offer now. To get inspiration, you can take a look at the retail displays from CJ Retail Solutions. However, it’s not just about having the right fixtures and fittings. You must also make sure you position your products in the most effective manner. For example, make the most of eye-level displays by placing your best selling products and items with the highest profit margins at this height. Try to create triangular balance on your shelves too. This display technique simply involves putting the tallest and biggest products with the highest profit margins at the centre of shelves and arranging other goods around them.

3) Encourage impulse buying

Take advantage of people’s tendency to buy on impulse too by placing smaller, supplementary products on route to your point of sale. A classic example is putting sweets by the till. You can also incorporate impulse buys on aisle ends where they will get more exposure.

4) Consider the customer experience

Think carefully about the overall look and feel of your store as well. Simple changes to your décor and lighting, and the addition of background music, could dramatically enhance shoppers’ experiences. In turn, this could increase the amount of time people spend in your outlet and it could encourage repeat visits. On a related point, make sure your shop is tidy and uncluttered, and always keep your shelves replenished and your displays in order.

5) Ensure your sales transactions are seamless

Last but by no means least, make sure your sales transactions are seamless. Shoppers don’t want to waste time standing around in queues and so you risk putting people off your store if your point of sale system is inefficient or understaffed. This means you’ll need enough tills to keep queues to a minimum. You might also benefit from installing some self-service kiosks to further speed things up.

By bearing design tips like these in mind, you stand to boost sales levels and enhance your store’s long-term success.

Corey is an all round tech guru who has worked at some major blue chip companies. He started Poweronemedia to share his views and knowledge with the rest of the blogging world.