When decorating your retail store, create an intriguing window display.
Martin Pegler, editor of "Stores of the Year," told the online magazine, "CanadaOne" that a retail store has to tell an inviting story that customers want to "hear" from start to finish. Pegler says it starts with a decorated window display, leads to inviting d cor throughout the interior, and ends with a successful sale. When decorating your shop, you need to make sure your brand is exemplified, according to Adaptive Path.
Instructions
1. Perform market research. Pegler recommends to think about whom your main customers are and what kind of elements would create an inviting atmosphere for them. Visit similar stores and look at their layout and decor. Notice what displays customers flock to. Take pictures of other window displays to remember some of their creative techniques.
2. Devise a plan for layout, color, accessories and displays. Hire a designer to complete your store decorating project from start to finish or for a few hours to provide you with some suggestions, according to an article in "CanadaOne." If this is not in the budget, perhaps someone on staff has an art or design background. Borrow books from the library on retail design and decor. Develop a plan to know if your project involves simple tweaks or a major overhaul.
3. Devise a budget to determine how much money you have to work with. If you need to buy various furnishings, this could be quite expensive if you purchase all new furnishings. According to "CanadaOne" magazine, to save money, build your own, buy items from a store that has gone out of business, buy used furniture or purchase pieces you assemble yourself. Ask your vendors if they can provide you with accessories related to their products you sell. Hire an emerging artist to produce pieces to decorate the space, rather than buying expensive art.
4. Decide on a color scheme that reflects your store’s brand and atmosphere. According to the Color Guild, orange makes customers feel re-energized, yellow makes shoppers feel welcome, purple creates a sense of elegance and promotes curiosity, and gray is a good tone for artistic retail shops.
5. Acquire furnishings if need be. Incorporate display cases, desks and shelving units that compliment your color scheme and allow the focus to be on your merchandise.
6. Create an alluring, uncluttered, window display that will attract customers into your store, recommends AllBusiness.com. Use a theme that promotes your brand or reflects a special time of year. Use lighting that spotlights the focus of the display and keep it on at night. If using mannequins, pose them in a vibrant way. If located on a busy driving street, make sure motorists will be able to see the display. Create one that is more eye-catching than your neighbors'. Make sure the window is clean. Change your window display at least once a month.
7. Decide on a layout that will coax your customers to walk throughout the whole store. For example, the Apple Store in San Francisco made their staircase the focal point, to encourage customers to go upstairs, by creating glass steps and demo theatre at the top. Make sure the store is not too cluttered with accessories so customers can walk around easily and arrange products in an uncluttered fashion.
Tags: window display, color scheme, customers walk, decorating your, from start, from start finish