The way your retail space looks and feels can directly impact how well your business does on a daily basis. If you already own a retail property, but your current space is not working for you, then it might be time to think about a refurbishment. Not only could you open up many new possibilities for your store, but you might even add to its overall value.
No matter the size of the space you’re working with, you have plenty of options for your retail fitout. The key is not to get bogged down in decision paralysis and instead consider what would suit the needs and wants of your ideal customer before making any final calls.
Today, we’re exploring how to transform your retail space with an eye toward attracting and retaining your ideal customers. We’ll break down the right questions to ask before you get started, and even expand on some of our favourite retail refurbishment ideas to get those creative wheels turning.
The first and best thing you can do when kicking off a retail fitout is to assess your current space from a functionality standpoint. What works, and what doesn’t?
Remember that the goal is to optimise your customers’ experience when they walk in the door, which means you need to balance your store’s appearance and layout.
There are a few different ways to do this, including heat mapping your customer’s journey through the store and noting your sales patterns across the previous quarter, but it all comes down to observing what your customer cares about and optimising the new fitout towards those priorities.
When in doubt, leaning into a modular design with flexible shelving, adaptable displays, and multifunctional counters will always stand you in good stead. Retail sales are by nature seasonal, so modular design is a smart commercial construction choice that allows for quick updates that can highlight trending items and drive sales.
A modular design for a retail fitout is a great approach to take if you want to continue optimising your layout once the design is completed. It’s important to partner with a competent design and construction crew for this purpose, as this ensures your space will look and feel cohesive no matter which configuration you choose for a particular season.
Leaning into unique or mood lighting during a retail fitout can be transformative. Most spaces can be enhanced by switching out stark overhead lighting for well-designed fixtures that lend texture and atmosphere to your store.
Your choice of lighting will say a lot about what you want your space to feel like. Warm, yellow fixtures speckled across the walls create an inviting atmosphere, while coloured or neon lighting with a darker colour palette can help create an intimate or edgy atmosphere.
The key here is knowing how you want your customers to feel as soon as they step through the door. What emotions do you want the space to evoke? What is your brand, and how will that be conveyed? Think carefully about your lighting design, and you’ll come out the other end of your retail fitout with a stunning retail space that immediately puts your ideal customer in the right headspace.
For brick-and-mortar retail spaces, visual impact and curb appeal make all the difference. A stunning storefront is a make-or-break turning point in your customer’s journey, and the right look can draw your ideal customer in from the street. Experiential and immersive in-store experiences can be key to increasing your foot traffic and contribute to an overall increase in sales.
This all starts with your storefront. You already know that this space is the best spot you have for advertising, so consider unique or interesting ways you can tailor the space to have it stand out from other stores nearby.
As you can see, transforming your space with key retail refurbishment ideas can make or break your store’s performance for the coming year. When in doubt, always lean into what you know about the relationship between your customer and your brand. Executing a retail fitout can be exciting, effective, and enriching for you as a business owner… as long as you find the right team to guide you.
QBS are Auckland’s retail fitout experts. Bring us in at the design and concept stage, or work with us to execute a pre-existing vision.
Our speciality is bespoke retail environments that elevate not just the look of the store but the overall shopping experience. Give your customers a space they want to be in, and watch your business flourish.
Ready to begin? Enquire about our services today.
