Even though online shopping continuously influences customers and market behaviours, the experience of visiting a well-designed physical store and interacting with products firsthand remains invaluable. In the U.S. alone, retail in physical stores remains major, accounting for 85% of the country’s total sales and proving the platform’s dominance.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, shoppers equally prefer e-commerce and physical stores, with nearly two-thirds showing brand loyalty, wherein they want a store that allows them to shop in-store and then check out online or vice versa. 

For business owners, specifically in the retail industry, the facts presented reinforce the importance of still having an enticing and comfortable brick-and-mortar store. So, whether you own a retail store or are trying to expand from an online-only business, creating a store that sells is essential. Partnering with design and build renovation contractors could be your first step. 

Working with such contractors, you can create a 360-degree strategy for your retail renovation plans–all while following a checklist to ensure your store is built to captivate, convert, and retain customers. 

Create a Customer-Centric Vision

The customers are the ones you want to please and consume what you offer, so having a customer-centric vision in everything your business does is essential. It involves aligning the design and feel of your store with your brand identity and the needs of your target market. But how do you do this? The golden rule in marketing is knowing your customers from the inside out. If you know them, you’ll see the kind of space they can resonate with and use this to improve their shopping experience. 

For instance, if you’re a tech company, you should make demo products available in your store that customers can immerse themselves in. As Apple did in their stores, they let shoppers experience and engage with their offerings. 

Design for an Optimised Layout and Traffic Flow

The layout of your physical store requires a lot of consideration and study as it can direct shoppers to the right places and products they can purchase. 

The first thing you can think of is your “power wall.” It’s a high-impact area typically located on the shoppers’ right-hand side when facing your shop, as they naturally turn in this direction. Thus, this wall should feature your brand’s best merchandise or seasonal items to attract them to purchase and discover more of your products. 

From the power wall, the shop’s layout should strategically guide customers through various focal points. People always follow their line of sight when shopping, so it’s best to assume where they look, and place displays there that can encourage them to explore. 

Deciding on the narrowness or wideness of the aisle, shelving arrangements, and other product placements are also critical. 

If you want to learn more about layout optimisation, it’s best to work with a design and build renovation team. These professionals can ensure that your space promotes smooth navigation and product interaction and drive more sales. 

Lighting and Ambiance—Set the Mood for Buying

Any place you go, lighting plays a significant role in influencing one’s mood and behaviour. It’s the same with retail stores. Great lighting can provoke emotions that can contribute to shoppers’ purchasing behaviour. 

So, what lights do you need to have at your store? LEDs are trending among establishments now as they are energy efficient, produce less heat, and are more durable. Meanwhile, you must avoid fluorescents and incandescents as they are unflattering and can create higher store temperatures, making customers uncomfortable. 

Regarding lighting setup, high-end clothes or other fashion-related items require bright and focused lighting to accentuate details and emphasise their style. Warm, ambient lighting, on the other hand, creates a cosy feeling that is best for home furniture and decor stores. 

Stay On-Trend with Modern Retail Technologies

Technology has risen to keep up with all industries, including retail stores. The most common incorporations of tech in physical stores are creative digital signages, mobile POS systems, and interactive displays like AR and VR that make in-store shopping more seamless and enjoyable for customers.

With technology, you can also integrate e-commerce elements into your store and provide an incredible hybrid shopping experience. This includes AI-related functions to give personalised recommendations, self-service kiosks, and pick-up places. 

However, technology integration can sometimes be challenging, so choosing a design and build contractor that is capable and you can trust is necessary. 

Prioritise Durability and Style with Material Choices

When choosing materials for construction or renovation, it’s best to think beyond aesthetics. Your store might be eye candy for customers, but what can make them stay is the premium feel that they can only get if your store is built with durable and high-quality materials. 

Moreover, using durable materials means your store can remain functional over time, avoiding constant repairs and potential costs while maintaining an inviting image. 

A few great examples of trendy and long-lasting materials you can choose from are sustainable wood for a warm and natural ambience, polished concrete for a sleek and modern finish, and stainless steel in high-traffic areas in your store. 

Plan for Future Growth—Flexibility in Design

Of course, most business owners’ ultimate goal is to grow and expand their brand, so when renovating or building your physical store, ensure the overall design remains adaptable for future extension. 

Relay this vision to your design and build renovation team and ask if it’s possible to use modular shelvings and movable fixtures, for instance, as they are easily adjustable and allow convenient stocking and restocking of store products. 

These design elements are just a few possible flexibilities you can implement in your store to ensure you’re ready for the future and avoid another round of total renovation costs.  

Manage Budget and Timeline with Confidence

Maintaining and managing the project’s timeline and budget starts with detailed planning. If you’re renovating, the first step you must do is identify all the necessary structural changes.

Ask yourself if you need to tear down the walls, change the roofing, repaint everything, or do other installations. 

Once you have identified that, you can begin breaking down the expenses into categories, like labour, materials, and unexpected costs. You can also start plotting the timeline for each construction phase. It’s essential, though, that you allot cushion for your time and budget so potential setbacks would not hinder the project. 

Meanwhile, if you want stress-free management of your construction budget and timeline, hire a trusted design and build renovation team or contractors. Part of their package is handling these matters for you. 

The Last Box to Tick in the Design and Build Renovation Checklist for Retail

Store construction is a critical factor in the success of your business, hence the need for thoughtful designing, strategic planning, and seamless execution.

However, managing a project as strenuous as renovation or construction while handling the business can be challenging. This is why you must find a trusted design and build renovation team like ID Craft. 

We are a leading design and build contractor in Singapore with a strong reputation backed by our solid portfolio and team of experts who can help you with your retail renovation projects from initial concepts to final touches.

Ready to elevate your retail space? Contact us today to discover how our design and build renovation services can transform your store into a sales powerhouse.