DESIGN & INTERIORS
Naturally, for businesses which have spent the best part of a year closed – or completely reliant on online orders – updated interiors and investment into shopper experience needs to match the potential return, which is where an experienced fit- out specialist can help to maximise any budget available.
Although it’s impossible to prevent shoppers from picking up, and putting back, items, many retailers are instead looking to create a more experiential environment, whereby limited stock is on display and customers must request an item to try on, or can view a product instore before heading home to order it online.
Creating that crucial curb appeal Looking after the customer once they’re over the threshold is arguably the easy part, as now more than ever, it’s important to remember that first impressions count – and can be made in less than seven seconds.
It’s easy to focus so much time, and budget, on the main store space, but the eyes of passers-by will naturally be drawn to visually appealing shopfronts. A bold façade can do wonders for footfall, so remember that people will gravitate towards inspired window displays – during both the day and night.
“How a space is laid out and the public’s journey through it, must
be carefully managed throughout all elements of the planning, construction, and fit-out stages.”
However, it’s worth knowing what is, and isn’t, permitted on your local high-street – particularly for those international brands which rely on their consistent visual identity to draw in the crowds.
Something that might be permitted in London or Leeds, for example, could be received quite differently in places such as Paris or Prague, which have unique rules and departments for potential changes to the frontage in protected areas.
If your business operates from a historic building or prestigious postcode, be mindful that these extra layers of
administration can have a knock-on effect on schedules, plans, and budgets.
Never forget to consider disabled access and egress too. How a space is laid out – from the front door to shelves, changing rooms, and tills – and the public’s journey through it, must be carefully managed throughout all elements of the planning, construction, and fit-out stages.
Don’t overlook disused space – it’s
key to our recovery Finally, another popular construction trend is the transformation of derelict and dilapidated spaces. These trendy, multi-use facilities not only make use of the bricks and mortar we already have but are designed to encourage investment and socio-economic growth.
Whether a city centre or out-of-town option, breathing new life into spaces which offer a range of lifestyle choices – from food and drink, to retail, leisure and living – is on the up. Often former places of industry, the desire to live, work, and socialise in a place with a rich past and true character is very much à la mode.
Design which pays homage to the history of a building, and embraces original stone or brickwork alongside exposed steel, timber, or pipework can provide an ideal backdrop for social media marketing too – a key route to attracting Instagram-inspired visits.
However, as with all refurb projects, an exhaustive examination of the existing structure and building adjacencies is a prerequisite to any decision regarding potential reuse, as this is where initial costs – and potentially hidden ones – will lie.
The pandemic has made owners, users, and developers of structures new and old think more carefully in terms of movement around a space – in ways we never needed to before. While kickstarting the global economy and a desire to ‘get back to normal’ offers an opportunity for retailers looking to entice shoppers back across the threshold, be sure to consider how design can play a key role in the usability of a space – and surround yourself with the right people and information to help get your ‘ducks in a row’.
www.agilitesolutions.com
www.tomorrowsfm.com
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