Retail space planning in Las Vegas is an important feature that helps potential customers walk through the store easily and interact better with the products. More importantly, It helps to increase the business profit. There are different retail or commercial store layouts, with each type specific to the retail store design. Therefore, it is essential to understand the available layout options and choose the best one.
What Is A Retail Or Commercial Store Layout?
A retail or commercial store layout is the strategic management of space to improve customer experience and influence their interaction with the merchandise. Whether it is a physical store or an online store, a retail or commercial design in Las Vegas has a great impact on sales.
Customer flow and store design are the major important features of a retail or commercial store layout. These two components help to convert high sales. Customer flow refers to how customers navigate the store. To manage a retail store effectively, it is essential to understand customer flow and buying patterns.
On the other hand, store design refers to effective space management, floor plans, use of furniture, signage, fixtures, etc. Store management influences customers’ experience; hence it is important to contact a commercial interior design firm in Las Vegas to help with the store design.
Importance of A Retail Store Layout
One of the major determinants of a retail store is its layout. This is why it requires a lot of effort to put in place. Using professional hands also helps ensure that customers get value for the time spent navigating the store. Some of the importance of a good retail store layout are outlined below.
It Prevents Theft And Shoplifting
A good layout ensures each item is kept in the right place, where it is difficult to steal, thereby preventing theft and shoplifting. The layout is also designed to make the exit a bit narrow and uneasy for thieves to get away with stolen items.
It Creates A Positive Attitude In Customers
When the store is well designed, customers feel at home and even buy more than they planned, increasing sales. A bad layout, however, makes customers uncomfortable and even lose interest in the items. Therefore, customers’ attitude towards shopping depends majorly on the store design.
It Can Predict Customers’ Behavior
A good store layout predicts customers’ behavior. It helps to know customers’ needs according to their priorities and arrange the merchandise accordingly. The most patronized items are placed at the end of the store to allow customers to see and, most likely, buy other items.
Common Types Of Retail Store Layout
There are different types of store layouts, and making the right choice majorly depends on the product type and store size. Knowing the various design types also makes it easy to choose the best layout for each particular store. Below are the common retail store layouts.
Straight Layout
The straight layout is an effective one that small retail store owners use. It helps maximize the space and makes it easy for customers to easily navigate the store. This store design ensures that customers see products at every angle by using the different corner spaces and store walls to display items.
Because of its convenience and ease of planning, a lot of stores use this layout. However, showcasing certain products in a specific location may be difficult. Sometimes, customers may move past a particular product, depending on how they entered.
Geometric Layout
The geometric Layout encompasses the display of products of varying sizes and shapes. It is of high benefit to commercial stores with special interior designs. Asides from displaying products appropriately, the geometric layout is also a display of creativity.
The drawback of the geometric layout is that it works only for stores with a large space to creatively display items. It is also not the best option for a commercial store that is mostly patronized by the older generation.
Free-flow Layout
As the name suggests, the free-flow Layout allows customers to walk around the store with no pre-existing traffic pattern. It is versatile and flexible, hence allowing small retail stores to explore. It also helps stores with little merchandise to build their brand identity.
However, due to its versatility, the free-flow layout can be a bit complex and confusing to follow. Also, sometimes, it doesn’t leave room for showcasing products. Lastly, its flexibility makes it possible to use a floor plan that does not entice customers to the store.
Forced-path Layout
The forced-path layout ensures that customers go through a particular route. It is good for maintaining orderliness in the store and also makes customers see most of the products before they check out. With this layout, products are strategically placed to entice customers, promoting sales.
However, most customers feel restricted by the forced-path layout. Some customers can also find it frustrating and time-consuming, especially when they come for a particular item and don’t have extra to buy other things.
Grid Layout
The grid layout is the most common local floor plan. It is mostly used at pharmacies and grocery stores. It arranges the highly demanded products at the end of the store, making it compulsory for customers to walk the long aisles and view the impulse-buy items. The grid layout also ensures that the products are well-arranged.
However, it does not create a unique user experience. This is because customers are already used to the layout type. It also requires a large space to avoid customers bumping into each other. Like the forced-path layout, the grid layout can also frustrate customers in a hurry.
Angular Layout
An angular retail store layout is a curved retail store layout. It employs store fixtures and signage to guide customers through the merchandise. It is the best layout for luxury stores. This is because it displays products in a way that makes customers perceive them as high-quality products.
However, the major disadvantage of the angular store layout is that it does not leave enough space to display inventory. The curved design also makes it difficult to have a wall shelf space.
With the knowledge of the different retail store layouts, it is easier to choose the right layout. However, it is better to involve experts that can give professional advice based on the retail store layout and products.