Choosing retail shop fittings can be difficult and is an often-overlooked aspect of opening a new small business. However, this short guide makes it easier to decide on shop fittings by explaining three simple things you need to think about.

Think About The Layout Of Your Shop

Before you purchase shop fittings, you should think carefully about the layout the shop will have. Shopify has a great guide to the different layouts that are popular, such as grid, loop, and free-flow layouts. Think about what is generally used for your type of shop – for example, clothing stores are often more freeform, while food shops tend to stick to a grid layout. Decide which way you want customers to walk around your shop to experience everything, and figure out how to make them do that. You should also ensure that any aisles and walking spaces are wide enough for pushchairs and wheelchairs. All of this will affect the fittings that you buy, as it will give you an idea of whether you need freeform units or wall-mounted shelves, as well as how big your fittings need to be.

Decide How Much Storage Space You Need

In order to decide how many units and shelves you need for your retail shop, you need to work out how much shelf space you need and how many products you will display. This really depends on your business: if you are selling food, you will want to display a lot of items, but if you are selling high-end shoes, you might choose to display less merchandise on the shop floor and store most of your products in the back. If you aren't sure, get more shelves than you think you need to be safe, though not so many your shop looks cluttered. You can find the most effective ways of displaying stuff on shelves and units by looking at visual merchandising tips – you can create displays that are memorable because they are unusual and unexpected.

Choose A Style And Look

The fittings and fixtures of your shop can contribute to the overall look of your shop just as much as the merchandise you are selling, and what your fittings look like should depend on the type of shop. For example, a pharmacy fitout should have a clean, bright white look, while an old-fashioned gift store may want a darker look with wooden shelves. A designer fashion shop might go for a cool monochrome look, while a shop aimed at teenage girls might want bright, fun colours. Spend some time considering what kind of look you want for your shop and finding fittings within your budget that can achieve that look.

If you think carefully about the flow and layout of your shop, as well as what you want it to look like and how much space you need, you can make sure that your retail shop fittings are appropriate and effective for your business.

Share