Design Mistakes: Lighting and Permanent Store Fixtures

Consumers are looking for a unique shopping experience each time they enter a store, and it is taking more and more to get them off of the computer and into the brick-and-mortar environment. When designing a new store, it is easy to overlook details that will make a retailer stand out from the competition. Two common mistakes that can hurt a business from the beginning are bad lighting and installing permanent fixtures.

Bad Lighting

It is easy to stick with the lighting already present in a new building, but the days of overhead florescent lights are gone. Unless you are going for the discount warehouse feel, statement lighting is a must. Spotlights on mannequins, well-lit showcases, and unique decorative pieces are just some of the ways top retailers use lighting to their advantage.

Pro Tip: Moving with LED, the need for replacement bulbs would be removed and save you tons on your bottom line. A dollar saved is a dollar earned.

Permanent Fixtures

Installing permanent fixtures can be hazardous to the bottom line of a new store. Sure, those long wooden tables at the Apple Store look amazingly sleek, but they have plenty of funds to replace them at whim. It is difficult to know how customers will navigate through store display fixtures before the grand opening. There may be traffic flow issues causing certain areas of a store to be overlooked or uncomfortable to shop. The ability to make small changes to correct customer patterns is key to the success of a new business. Permanent fixtures also lead to problems down the road with cleaning and even legal issues with ADA compliance. Instead, look for fixtures with heavy-duty, locking castors that move when needed.

Pro Tip: If your heart is set on a permanent install, call in a design expert to ensure proper placement, or only go for permanent fixtures in your display cases because nothing is more important then your product.

Success in store design comes down to the needs of the shopper. Keeping these tips in mind, do not be afraid to make adjustments to suit customer needs.

Using Store Display Fixtures to Promote your Business

To get people to come to your store, one needs creativity. There are so many things to consider. When setting up your store display fixtures, think about the flow of your displays and how you can include some areas that will bring you free advertising direct from your customers.

• Set up a customer sign-in area where they can leave their name, address, phone number, and email in a binder for future contact. This will show you where your customers are coming from and potentially what zip codes to do mass mailings to.
• Add free WiFi to your store to get the customer to give you their email address. Customers like to compare prices on their cell phones, so by letting them do that freely in your store, you are getting an opportunity to gain their email address for future store events or emails about store specials and sales. You might also be able to gain information about what people are looking at the most in your store.
• Do a give-a-way once a week. Something small works to keep your customers coming in every week to see what new things you have or to remind them of what they didn't get the week before. Just another way to get the customer's information for the future. Set up a display showing the give-a-way item and a ballot box with entry forms and pencils.
• If you have extra space in your store, set up an area for a selfie station to post to social media sites. Make sure the backdrop includes your store information. Have the customers post it including a hashtag that is relevant to your store. It's free advertising!
• Make a U-shaped area from display cases where you can put a sitting area inside with a sofa and chairs. This allows a space for spouses to rest while the customer is shopping. They are more likely to stay longer if their spouse is comfortable. The spouse may also find something in one of the display cases while they are sitting there.
• For those shopping online, include an affiliate program on your website. This will drive customers to your site from other businesses. By having that link on their site, you may find that they become a repeat customer by keeping your information in front of them all the time. Out of site, out of mind.
• You could even have a computer area set up where customers could sign up for an online account right in your store. Set your computer up so that it won't go to any site but yours.

There are tons of ideas out there that are out-of-the-box. These days, you have to fight for the number one spot in your business field. Keep a creative mind and don't be afraid to change it up. Your customers will love you for it.

Store Display: Influence through Design

Black Aluminum Trim Display case

You’re finally ready to set up the perfect retail space representing the heart and soul of your business. Whether starting with a fresh new showroom or revitalizing your current layout, designing the look of your store is an essential phase that will dictate the energy you convey. Finding the right display fixtures to fit comfortably within the space is a crucial step. Equally important is choosing dynamic ways to highlight your star products.

Visualize your Floor Plan

Decide how you wish to divide the space based on accessibility to your items and the overall mood you’re trying to achieve. Physically walk through the space as the customer would, plan where racks should be placed for eye-level visibility and direct access. It’s important to make your store instantly welcoming and easy to navigate, this can be achieved by strategic placement of display stands, shelving, wall displays and islands. The possibilities are endless, don’t be afraid to create various configurations before deciding what feels right.

Rich Wood, Sweet Acrylic or Cool Glass

Think of the aesthetic you’re going for with the design of your store. Compliment the merchandise through your choice of display cases without overpowering it. For smaller stores consider acrylic or glass displays to keep the room spacious, allowing focus on the items without competition from solid cases. Lighter options are best suited for fine jewelry or small intricate objects. Glowing wood shelving and display racks can add much needed warmth and weight to a space, working beautifully in larger rooms or to accentuate natural products.

There are limitless design options to attain the ultimate layout for your store.

More Layouts for your Store Fixtures

One of the single most important objectives to opening your new retail store is how to layout your store display fixtures. How you lay out your displays can directly result in more or fewer sales.
Choosing your floor plan is your first consideration. We have discussed some before but there are several ways to design your floor plan, consider these;

• Straight Floor Plan -- An economical and efficient option, fixtures and displays will be at right angles leaving more space for selling your items. This plan also leaves your floor plan open to using a versatile selection of fixtures and displays.
• Angular Floor Plan -- Higher end stores use this method. There is actually less space available for products using the curves of this plan. It does, however, provide a sophisticated feel for the customer.
• Mixed Floor Plan -- A functional option using circular, diagonal, straight, and angular fixtures. If you want versatility, you may find this plan pleasing.
• Diagonal Floor Plan -- This plan is found most often in self-service stores.
• Geometric Floor Plan -- Apparel and clothing stores use this plan most often.

Another consideration is your aisles.  Size and placement of aisles are a necessary thought. A common width for aisles is 4 feet. This gives customers room to wander and view products without running into other customers or displays.

Where will you put your products and displays? Make sure your displays can carry the weight of the merchandise it will hold. The display should emphasize your product and highlight your brand. Incorporate some end caps or outposts to encourage impulse buying.

Your register should never go in the front of the store. Registers are a natural stopping point for customers and you want to keep the flow of shoppers near the front of the store. In the rear or left of the store is a great place for registers or check-outs. Always consider the register being in a place that can view the entire store easily.

Finally, visit stores where you enjoy shopping. Write down the pros and cons of those stores and use those notes to perfect your own store layout.

4 Steps to Planning Your Store Layout

New Store Direction

If you are starting a retail business, you have probably spent many hours creating a business plan. There are many factors to consider when starting a business. Do not overlook one the most important--creating a strategic layout for your store.

Store layout and design is critical to the success of your store. In a recent study co-written by professors from the University of Illinois and State University of New York, Albany, research proves that store layout is particularly important for brick-and-mortar retailers looking to compete with online shopping. Customers want to see and touch your merchandise so they can make the decision to buy. How can you design a store that helps your customers do this?

1. Start with a blueprint or drawing.
Experts suggest obtaining a blueprint of your store. If you do not have one, you can draw your store's layout, including all measurements. Note the locations of exits, doors, windows, and built-in fixtures.

2. Decide on a layout type.
There are several types of classic retail layouts, the most common of which is the straight floor plan. Most experts suggest this plan for small businesses, mainly because it most efficiently uses floor space. It also works with many types of businesses, from jewelry and clothing to hardware. Other types of layouts include angle and free form.

3. Think about store fixtures.
Store fixtures are the backbone of your store; they literally hold up your inventory. Put some thought into the kinds of fixtures your store will need. There is much more to store fixtures than just shelving. Depending on the types of products you plan to sell, you may need clothing racks, display cases, mannequins, or wall installations.

4. Draw the store fixtures into your blueprint.
Using the measurements of the store fixtures you have chosen, draw them into your store's layout. Remember that aisles must be at least three feet wide, per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Also take into account the location of your cash wrap. Create a decompression zone of at least a few feet at the entrance of your store. This is an area where customers can begin to feel comfortable without having products directly in front of them.


Following these four steps will give you a rough outline of your store layout. If you put as much thought into designing your store as you do on your business plan, your store will be a place that customers enjoy visiting.

Starting the Right Way with Store Display Fixtures

You've got the great new store and it looks like your space of 2,500 feet is going to be enough to carry all of your products. Now you have to figure out how you are going to showcase all the right items and get your traffic in the right direction.

The products you choose to display your goods is instrumental in the success of your sales. Product that is crowded, too high, too low or placed in dark areas prevents customers from viewing and appreciating the products they are in front of. If they get frustrated at trying to get to your product, they'll walk away.

Choosing the right shelves or displays for your unique items will enhance your visibility and entice your customers to see more. Take the round display fixture with 4 shelves. Fill this display with product samples or sale items and place it where customers can walk around. Not working in that spot? It's on wheels so you can try it somewhere else; maybe by the register. Check out our website to view this versatile round display fixture, currently on sale.

Lighted, glass displays can highlight your product and keep it safe from accident or theft and display the unique personality of your business. Showcase the items that can only be found in your business.

There is no end to the possibilities of design. Advice from a professional can help you see the possibilities as well as the pitfalls of overdoing or under-doing the schematics for a flowing traffic business.

ND Store Fixtures has the equipment and the experience to help you find the best design for your unique store.