Superior retail store designs maximise on two major goals: profits and consumer satisfaction. All too often, retailers concentrate on the former rather than the latter. To ensure comprehensive success, retailers must attract customers with a lot more than just spectacular deals and excellent service. A well-organised interior layout and aesthetically pleasing design that stimulates the target market will do just the trick. Architects and interior designers often advise brand owners and retailers to consider their brand's mission and vision when choosing interior spaces and styles, decor language, and furnishings and lighting. In this way, each store will emphasise its goals & intentions and make its own identity by maximising on that as its x-factor.
Let's take a look at some creative and innovative tips, tricks, and trends to put a spotlight on how design can redeem our shopping experiences in the marketplace Minimalist and open approach Stores typically provide a multitude of items placed in a confined space, furnishing lots of chances to browse. Nonetheless, various proprietors go too far, creating shops that are far too muddled or overstimulating for anyone to relish. On the other hand, developing a bare-bone design creates an air of elegance, in line with the upmarket stores that feature single presentations. This trick is also helpful in demonstrating a given product selection and highlighting its exclusivity. Hence, providing only several products and more comfortable layouts, pared-down stores are intended to hawk luxury wares. With single showings or minimal stands, these stores project the idea that every item inside is of high worth. In one of our recent projects, Meena Bazaar in Gurgaon, select pieces of clothing are displayed in organically designed spacious alleys that break away from the linear planning approach, creating a focal point for the customer. Additionally, these pathways are slightly elevated from the rest of the floor for the customer to flaneur around, perusing through the collection the brand offers. As the cherry on the cake, these spaces are further accentuated with a pop of colours on the ceiling, spotlights, and demarcated flooring. All of these design elements thus collocate together harmoniously, making the product the hero of the space.
The idea is that when customers feel comfortable and impressed, they may come back to that zone in the future. Taking into enactment could be the implementation of wood plus wooden hues and textures, warm colour tones, and distinguished lighting inspired by the brand’s collection since they bring a perception of warmth, amity and friendliness. Besides, allowing natural lighting, colouring with soft shades & tones, and adorning the space with interspersed vegetation.
Hence, the design of a built environment, yet again, proves to tie the bridge between the function and efficiency of the space with the human interplay. Creating a holistic shopping experience based on people-centric design approaches and webs of interactions between the human and the space not only makes the space more sound and valuable but also takes care of customers at every level of the sales funnel. That is the key to a fruitful and coherent retail shopping escapade.
(The author Architect Abhigyan Neogi, Principal Architect and Founder of Chromed Design Studio)