High-performing retail stores don’t happen by accident. They are built using visual merchandising strategy, signage, store layout, design, and attention to details like sight, scent and sound.
These details, when chosen correctly, can be the elements that will improve a retail store’s sales and conversion. Read on to learn more about the details to pay attention to when shopfitting your retail store.
The Little Things Can Make an Impact on Store Buying Behavior
In-store sound or music doesn’t seem like something that most shoppers would focus on while they are in the store. It usually plays in the background and is not expected to be the focus for customers because they are busy shopping.
But music does go a long way toward creating a positive customer experience. It makes shopping easier and more pleasant. Some shoppers would even sing along or hum the music. Music has a deeper effect than just encouraging singing or humming. Music affects the mood and influences physical activity, which in turn increases or reduces the heart rate. It helps self-regulate feelings and emotions that can have an impact on buying behavior.
Retailers and shop owners can use music strategically, to encourage them to speed up or slow down. You can use slow tempo sounds or music in area of the shop where you want customers to relax and spend more time.
Matching the in-store music to the target audience is also crucial. Choose music that your target consumers would know and enjoy. If there’s a huge mismatch between the music and your target consumer, you could end up with annoyed shoppers who will likely not purchase anything and leave the store.
Scent can Impact Sales
Scent, like in-store music, is another element that’s in the background but can make a big difference. It can directly affect a shop’s profitability and sales. Human beings can distinguish more than 10,000 different scents. These scents, in turn, can trigger specific memories and reactions.
Certain smells are known to affect state of mind or mood. A light vanilla scent can be comforting and calming to many people. Lavender is believed to ease stress and reduce anxiety. Some ambient scents are believed to help people relax, feel great and tend to like the retail environment enough to browse, stay longer and shop more.
It’s important to not overdo this aspect. Scents have to be correctly incorporated into your retail environment and even up to your overall marketing efforts. There has to be a match between the scent and your target consumer. It also has to work with the overall design of the shop. If you’re new to this, consult scent marketing experts who can help you create a positive sensory experience that can help boost sales.
Pleasing Visuals when Shopfitting a Retail Store
Every visual element in the store has to be appealing and desirable to your target consumer. Create positive customer engagements and avoid evoking anything that could negatively affect your brand. If you don’t know that much yet about visual merchandising, here are a few questions that can help you use sight, scent, sound and lights to trigger customer engagement and attract potential and existing customers:
- Do you have a brand-specific scent at your store?
- Who is your target consumer?
- What scent would be appealing to this target consumer?
- What emotions do you want to evoke through the store scent?
- Do you have in-store music?
- If yes, what kind of music are playing in your shop?
- Who is your target customer and what music would be appealing to them?
- What ambiance do you want to create through your in-store music?
- Do the merchandise and visuals in your shop reflect your brand? Do they convey your business ideas?
The answers to these questions can help you plan for shopfitting. Renovating, redesigning and optimising elements in your shop is all about an overall vision that works toward the shopping experience your target customer seeks. Whether you are totally new to this or not, it always helps to consult professionals and experts who have been doing shopfitting for years.
Planning Shop Design and Layout
Planning shop design and layout planning? Focus Shopfit can help. Focus has been managing and executing retail and commercial shopfitting projects for decades. Our experience can help you bring your plan to the best possible outcome.
To learn more about shopfitting your retail store, visit our services page or contact us today!