Store Layout

How your store is laid out and organized can have a direct impact on sales. Use your space wisely, allowing enough room for customers to navigate the aisles, interact with the product and each other.

Your store layout will be dictated by the size and configuration of the space and the types of products you want to display. There are a variety of ways to layout your store:

• The grid layout, preferred by grocery stores, channels customers up and down rows of aisles.
• The loop layout has a central group of displays, and a square or circular pathway around it.
• A free-flowing layout allows customers to move freely around displays and has a tendency to spur more impulse buys.

The best way to get a handle on maximizing your space is to draw a floorplan and sketch several different layouts for floor and wall shelving, under counter and wall displays and racks. There are a variety of shelving and display options, so explore whether a grid of long, linear shelves or multiple freestanding units best suit the space.

The layout of your store should include a focal point, a main visual that attracts attention upon entering the store and acts as a landmark as the customer walks through the aisles. This can be a sign, display or some other noticeable 3D or 2D visual that can be seen from most areas of the TPC.

Also consider the space needed for customers to look for and interact with products without encroaching on each other. For instance, imagine two customers passing each other or facing away from each other bending over to look at products on opposite shelves.

Another thing to think about when you layout your store is the percentage of space you devote to each category. Your top-selling products should have the most space in your TPC, while items that don’t perform as well should be given less space.

If you have a smaller space and want to display larger items, like skid plates and wheels, this can be accomplished with a limited physical display supplemented by either catalogs or video.