How to layout a retail store

One of the first aspects to consider and understand when designing store layout is the concept of customer flow. In simple terms, customer flow is the way in which people move throughout your store. Retailers need to consider the number of customers that may pass through the store, how they will navigate the aisles of goods, and how much time an individual customer may spend in the store. These details are important when planning customer flow. 

Analysing customer flow patterns once you have opened can identify areas of your store that aren’t getting the attention they need. You can also see what areas are performing well and adjust the design of your shop accordingly.

With the right store layout, you can encourage customers to spend longer amounts of time in your store. The longer a customer spends in a store, the more likely they are to purchase products. You can also use store layout to direct customers towards items you wish to sell. 

The design you choose for your store depends on what type of store you are operating. For instance, a small coffee shop design will be vastly different to the design of a clothing store. 

In general, however, there are ten interior shop designs used by retail businesses:

1. The grid layout: Goods are displayed on shelves that form long aisles throughout the store. Most often seen in supermarkets or grocery stores. 
2. The herringbone layout: Aisles or product displays are placed on either side of the walls creating a long walkway through the middle of the store. 
3. The loop layout: A closed loop is used to direct customer flow in a rigid pattern throughout the store. 
4. The free-flow layout: No effort is made to encourage customer flow, aisles and product racks are placed randomly throughout a space. 
5. The boutique layout: This is where goods are separated by brand or by category to give the feeling of many small shops within one big one. 
6. The simple layout: Sometimes called the spine layout, the simple layout is a basic way of placing aisles to guide customers to the back of the store.
7. The diagonal layout: Places aisles at angles throughout the store. This layout is a variant of the grid layout. 
8. The angular layout: Also known as a curved layout. Uses rounded product displays, corners and walls.
9. The geometric layout: Creates a unique design focusing on geometric shapes.
10. Combination layouts: You can use elements from all of the above choices.

Think about the type of customer you wish to attract and plan your store accordingly. A grid layout is best for stores that have older customers while a free flow layout can work well for stores with a younger customer base. Grid layouts are easier to navigate and locate products, this makes them more attractive for older people. Free flow layouts encourage customers to explore the retail space, so they are an ideal way to attract younger customers who may not be in as much of a hurry as their older counterparts. 

Make sure you have adequate exterior signage and good window displays. Concentrate on creating an impressive initial entrance area to the store. This is where your customers will get their first impression. However, it will only be a cursory glance, so avoid cluttering the area and do not put big ticket items here. 

Base your store design on the insights gained from customer flow analysis. Pay attention to where your customers tend to go when in your store and position key goods in high-traffic areas. 

Try and incorporate break points where customers can rest while inside the store. This will encourage them to spend more time browsing. You can also use speedbumps to control the speed of foot traffic and use shelf-stopping signage to encourage shoppers to linger at certain aisles and browse certain items. 

Retailers must consider that customers also expect physical stores to have a professional e-commerce  component. It is advisable to incorporate a digital experience into the layout of your store. This can be done by providing customers with QR codes they can scan to access exclusive online sales, for example.

The most obvious examples of good store design can be found in supermarkets such as Tesco or Sainsbury’s. The grid layout is familiar, easily navigable by people of all ages, enables optimum product placement opportunities, and encourages shoppers to make their way through the stores in an orderly fashion, passing by huge amounts of products as they do so. 

One example of good store design that everyone will be familiar with is IKEA. The Swedish home decor giant uses the loop layout technique to funnel customers past all of its products in a display section in combination with a straightforward herringbone design for its warehouse below. Customers can choose whether to spend a good amount of time browsing products in mock-up settings or simply go straight to the warehouse to pick what they want quickly.

The design concepts employed by large supermarkets and chains such as Ikea can also be utilised by smaller retailers. Applying these principles to more compact spaces is simply a matter of scaling the designs. 

A good example of how to use an unconventional store layout is exemplified by the fashion store River Island. River Island uses a free-flow layout where display racks are placed seemingly haphazardly throughout a large space. The stores are separated by themes, (Men’s, Women’s, Boys’, and Girls’ clothing segments) but this is not immediately apparent to the customer. This design encourages customers to spend more time browsing aisles and has a real sense of excitement and style.

Choosing the right retail store layout for you means considering a number of aspects.  What type of business do you have? Who are your customers? How much time will your customers want to spend in your store? Opting for a trendy, free-flow design may be the best option for a fashion store aimed at younger people who wish to browse, but will not be a suitable option for a pharmacy that caters to older customers who want to make their purchases quickly.

You should also consider what types of products you are selling. If you have a large amount of inventory made up of many different types of products, then a grid style may be the best option. For stores that have a smaller number of products on offer, a free-flow style can work well. Opting for a loop layout can ensure that your customers pass by all your products.  

If you are opening up a retail store and need advice, try checking out the Ankorstart programme from Ankorstore. Ankorstart provides new retail entrepreneurs with support, advice and guidance on launching a new business. Ankorstart is non-binding and completely free! Have a look for yourself and see why so many new retailers are signing up to Ankorstart.