Inside the Briefcase
5 Online Store Plan Mistakes That Can Cost Your Business Heavily
July 27, 2023 No Commentsby Tonisha Parra
While managing a brick-and-mortar store, one may encounter challenges that seem difficult to overcome.
From your store’s location to the range of products in your inventory, everything determines the footfall and business for your store. And another important factor that can make or break your store’s growth is its store plan.
While a smartly designed store can create optimum results for your business, store plan mistakes can distract customers from your products and negatively impact sales. In this blog, we are sharing five such mistakes that can cost your business heavily.
1. Poor traffic direction
One of the most significant mistakes in store planning is a lack of attention to traffic flow.
If your store’s layout is unable to guide customers smoothly through the aisles, your customers may find it difficult to navigate through the store. This drop in experience can negatively affect sales.
To ensure optimum traffic flow, store managers should avoid cramped spaces, cluttered aisles, and confusing pathways that make navigating difficult. Instead, a logical and intuitive layout can help manage high footfall without affecting business—no wonder successful retail stores employ professional store planners to ensure optimum in-store navigation.
To make in-store navigation easier, mall planners can use a reliable mapping solution for retail stores like MappedIn.
2. Ineffective product placement
Product placement is an art that can significantly impact your sales.
Placing popular and high-margin items at eye level can help encourage impulse purchases. Conversely, burying them deep within the store or using inadequate signage can result in missed sales opportunities.
For this reason, it’s important that store managers analyze customer behavior and preferences to strategically position products, maximizing visibility and sales.
3. Inadequate lighting
Lighting sets the tone and ambiance for your store.
With the right lighting, store managers can build an aesthetically pleasing perception of their products in the minds of their customers. On the other hand, dim or inadequate lighting can make it difficult for customers to carefully assess the product(s), resulting in a negative shopping experience and potential loss of sales. Similarly, harsh lights should also be avoided in stores.
The aim is to create a well-lit environment with a balance of natural and artificial lighting that doubles the appeal of your products and showcases them in the best possible way. This is one of the best ways to make your store a family-friendly space.
4. Not using attention signage
Effective signage helps guide customers and promotes products and promotions.
With poorly designed and unclear signs, your customers may feel confused or frustrated while in your store. Plus, it may make it difficult for them to find the products they are looking for. To avoid these challenges, make sure to invest in clear, visually appealing, and informative signage that directs your customers to different sections of your store.
5. Ignoring the checkout area
The checkout area is often your store’s final touchpoint with customers. It represents an opportunity to drive additional sales.
Ignoring the potential of this space can turn out to be a missed opportunity for retail businesses.
Inadequate checkout lines, slow service, or a lack of impulse-buy items near the cash register may make customers feel frustrated and less likely to return. Optimize your checkout area by ensuring efficient queuing systems and training staff to provide fast and friendly service.
The aim is to strategically place small, affordable, and attractive items near the register to encourage last-minute purchases.
Wrapping up
Store planning is a critical aspect of running a successful retail business.
By avoiding common mistakes such as poor traffic flow, ineffective product placement, inadequate lighting, lack of attention to signage, and ignoring the checkout area, you can create a shopping environment that enhances customer experience and maximizes sales potential. In this blog, we discussed these mistakes in brief.
Hopefully, this was helpful.
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