How do you use standard shelving materials to create a custom store interior?
An attractive and functional store layout is essential to the success of any retail store. You have thought carefully about your store concept and now you are about to work out your store layout. In doing so, you want to use standard shelving materials. After all, that is readily available and price-wise interesting. And so you have the question: how do I use standard shelving materials to create a custom store design? Because yes, you would like your layout to have a good atmosphere and provide a nice shopping experience.
The good news is that you can use standard shelving materials to create a custom store interior without going deep into the pocket. In this article, we’ll take you through the process and share valuable tips for optimizing your retail space and store design.
Step 1: Determine your store concept
Choosing a specific store concept depends on several factors. Consider the type of products being sold, the target audience, the location and the retailer’s overall strategy. These factors determine which concept you choose: will you go for discount or luxury? Or would you prefer a concept store or a retail space set up as an experience store? Think carefully about this yourself or engage an advisor to do so. An advisor from WMN Shopfitting can also think along with you. He or she will then translate your business vision into a beautiful and effective store concept.
Step 2: Plan your store design
Before you begin, you need to determine what type of store design you need. Think shelves, racks, displays, or a combination thereof. Make sure you know the dimensions of your retail space and allow for adequate walking space for customers. Feel free to spend a lot of time thinking out the optimal walking route through your store. That way, you’ll make sure you make good use of your retail space and guide customers past your entire assortment.
Step 3: Select and gather your materials
Call some references and find a good supplier of standard shelving materials. Tegometall and Tegometall-compatible racks are an excellent basis for this. Second-hand shelving is also possible, but it is often more difficult to get your desired layout exactly together. Other considerations are that the racking material should still look good and clean and that the final price should be more favorable. Pay attention to transportation costs as well. If you have a lot of time and a good storage space, used shelving materials are a serious option. At a minimum, you will need the following materials:
-Shelving profiles or rack stands
-Rack feet, rack skirting and consoles/shelf supports
-Rack back walls and hooks
-Shelves, shelves and accessories
-lighting
-Finishing materials such as paneling and front shelves.
And, of course, order mounting hardware, special items such as wire baskets and label tips.
Step 4: Build your store fixtures
Follow the instructions on the shelving equipment manual to make sure you install it correctly. Your supplier can help you with this if it’s right. At least WMN Shopfitting can. Here are some helpful tips:
-Look for wall mounts with enough attachment points, especially if you want to display heavier items.
-Choose supports and uprights/sleeves of the right thickness to support the intended load. After all, a rack containing packs of detergent must be able to support a lot of weight. –Shelf supports should be able to take a lot. And a tip: you have them with two or three hooks. The version with three hooks allows you to put much more weight on the rack. -Tubes also come in different thicknesses. Six inches thick is standard. For heavy use, you can also choose tubes 8 inches thick for more strength.
-Use finishing material for a professional look. With this, give departments a distinctive look that fits your store concept.
Creativity turns standard into custom furnishings
With some creativity, you can create unique and functional store fixtures. For example, take a look at the following components.
-Shelves: ideal for storage and presentation of products. Stack, hang or place products on shelves. Did you choose a dark color for your shelves? Then pay attention to good lighting for highlighting the products.
-Match the height and width well to the type of products you sell.
-Racks or walls with hooks: suitable for displaying large items. Use racks for boxes, crates or other bulky items. A wall with hooks can be given a striking contrasting color that also matches your corporate identity. You can also choose your own color per department for visual consistency with, for example, shelf strips.
-For specific products that you cannot easily put down, such as drills, knitting needles or tools, you can look for specific racks, hooks or shelves that allow you to present the product standing and clearly visible.
-Displays: Attract customers’ attention with displays. Stack, hang or present products in display cases for added appeal. Use displays made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic or glass, adapted to the products to be presented.
And ten more furnishing tips from WMN
-Spatial layout: ensure comfortable aisles and strategic placement of shelves and displays.
-Flexibility: choose modular and adjustable options to adapt the store layout to changing needs, such as seasonal changes.
-Merchandising: consider presentation options for attractive product displays.
-Customer experience: create a positive atmosphere with appropriate lighting, color schemes and matching background music.
-Lighting: achieve good, even lighting throughout the store. Also consider highlighting deep shelves or store shelving with a dark color such as RAL 7015 (dark gray) and RAL 9005 (black). Recently, shelves with a dark color have been on the rise, making shelf lighting increasingly important.
-Storage space: make sure there is enough storage space behind the scenes to keep the store organized.
-Technology: consider using digital displays, online ordering systems or signing up for a loyalty card.
-Safety and security: implement security measures such as cameras and security tags on valuable items.
-Accessibility: provide wide aisles and consider provisions for customers with limited mobility.1
By planning carefully and considering budget, quality, safety, functionality and the customer experience, you can certainly create a customized store layout with standard shelving materials. And moreover, one that perfectly suits the needs of your retail store. This way, you give customers a pleasant shopping experience that makes them want to come back again.
