Have you been past a shop that gave you a certain vibe? Felt like it was going out of its way to deter you from going in? Did it seem dingy or uninviting? These are perfect examples of stores where the owners either have not taken pride in their store’s appearance or simply haven’t had the cash to make it look pretty. Here’s how to avoid a similar fate.

1. First Impressions

They say you only get one shot at a first impression, and that’s true enough. The look of your store from the doorway should invite a customer to come in. Getting attractive light fixtures (or similar commercial fitouts) and getting them installed by an experienced handyman can be a wise idea. This can make sure everything is brightly lit, safe and warm, neat and tidy within is a big help. One way to ensure this is to hire professional shop fitters – and there are plenty around, take Sydney shop fitters TU Projects for example – to come in and make the place look presentable.

2. Draw

Who does your business appeal to? What is your target demographic? Building the look of your shop to appeal to that specific subset of customers is ideal. For instance, if you are opening a makeup store, then your customers would be women of different ages with an understanding of different shades of color and all things artistic. To allure them, therefore, your store could put up a quirky look — perhaps a brush and lipstick signage, colorful window displays, and funky digital boards highlighting the makeup brands you sell (browse through pixelinspiration.co.uk to see more similar options). These may be enough to draw them for a look around, opening up more potential business.

3. Trust

A clean, bright, well-designed shop makes customers feel like they can trust you. Professional services such as those offered by Perth Citi Fitout and others generally know how to design your shop space in such a way that it invokes a feeling of implicit trust in your customers. This might include ideas like keeping everything well-lit, which makes it seem like you have nothing to hide. Also, keeping everything clean makes it clear you take pride in your appearance and good design means that customers will be able to find their way around more easily, making for a more pleasant shopping experience.

4. Drive

This ties into the previous point. Drive aisles are a part of any good shop design – they are created by arranging your shop fittings in such a way as to send customers to parts of the store you want them to be in, or to aid in helping them find their way around. Think of a department store – they arrange lots of their best deals along either side of the store’s main aisles to attract your attention, making it easier to find what you want.

5. Character

Injecting character is a great way to separate yourself from competitors because it makes you memorable. Simple things like amusing signage or interesting stock arrangements stick in the minds of your customers and if they like what you’re doing, then they’ll definitely be back. You mustn’t be intrusive or obnoxious with it though – that’s a turn-off and may do you more harm than good.

There are so many facets to finding a look that’s right for your store, but these fundamentals will allow you to build trust and rapport with your customers before they even step through the doors. And getting them through the door is half the battle. Dressing your store for success will go a long way to building a customer base and generating repeat business. What draws you into a store? What turns you off? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.