Starting a retail venture can be incredibly rewarding, especially when it is able to prosper, leading retailers to connect with customers who appreciate and support their products. As a small and independent retailer, getting a space on the high street can be a challenge, a necessary hurdle to grow from operations that are likely to have begun online or as a retail pop-up concept. While the initial costs are high, there are a number of unique factors that budding retailers must also face if they are to ensure success down the line.

One of the most common issues that face small businesses that venture into brick and mortar retail is the compromise of space. Modest budgets seldom extend to large retail venues and, as such, new retailers must make certain compromises with their store expectations. Thankfully, however, these retail spaces, even particularly compact premises, can be made more manageable with considered retail design.

Make It Modular

A small retail store can easily feel overwhelming. The impact of a delivery or a sudden influx of customers can lead to a space feeling cramped and unmanageable. This is where modular design can be of significant benefit. Furniture and shelving, mannequins and display stand offs, can all be chosen for potential adjustable designs, meaning that their utility and presence can be changed on a whim.

While typically this has benefited those looking to refresh their store’s design regularly, keeping aesthetics fresh for the continued interest of shoppers, they can also help small stores to arrange their products effectively, adapting to fit the function of a space

Custom Design

Having a piece of retail furniture designed specifically for a store might seem like an expensive investment. However, with a greater number of local manufacturers, as well as the long term benefits of having retail furniture manufactured specifically for a challenging or unusual shop space, the return on investment is a worthy consideration.

Compromising with premade furniture options, such as checkout counters and shelving, can potentially lead to inefficiency and low-quality presentation. There is even the risk of health and safety issues that can potentially arise from spatial issues. But it isn’t all practical because investing in one’s own custom retail furniture and shop shelving can also enable a small space to make a big impression on customers who find appeal in the confident signature of a retailer’s independent brand.

Choose The Essential

Operating within a limited space can be a fantastic opportunity to reevaluate exactly what is needed for your store. For example, checkout counter areas have long been considered a required component for retailers but, coinciding with cashless transactions and mobile technology, such areas are being altogether removed, dedicated instead to more pertinent retail features.

Other small businesses are choosing to merge their business with online sales, using their store as a showroom space or brand experience that allows customers to browse the brand and products before ordering an item that is delivered to their home or collected later on in-store. Such practices are becoming increasingly popular as customers seek the benefits of both online commerce and brick and mortar stores.