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.