Laying out a shop

[Tigerhair]

I know I should be reading about business rates and tax and law, but I am more interested in the colours and layout of my shop (if I get that far!!)...

What is the best way for laying out a shop!!!??? How do you display jewellery along with other arts and crafts?! How do I decide? :playball:

[Poppy4lee]

I have never set out a shop and really wouldn't know where to start but I'm sure it's true about putting things in customers' eyeline, I'm sure people do tend to pay more attention to what's in front of them (like supermarkets put the stuff that they're not so bothered about selling on the bottom shelves).

A friend of mine had a bric-a-brac shop many years ago and she said that a lot of her customers liked to 'rummage', so, she tended to put a selection of bits and bobs to one side of the counter for people to look through (they didn't like to be overlooked whilst rummaging). She would also move stock around, so when 'regulars' came in the displays looked fresh & it would bring items to their attention that they'd missed before.

One shop that I love looking in & find inspirational, is Bennetts in Derby, they manage to set out a wide variety of merchandise in such a way that it all works & 'comes together' somehow (I've not explained that very well but don't know how else to put it).

Sorry I've not been of much help!

Good luck:)

[JBJB]

I think I saw somewhere that most shoppers turn left as soon as they enter a shop, and this is where to put items that you really want to sell.

[nattynetty]

I think I saw somewhere that most shoppers turn left as soon as they enter a shop, and this is where to put items that you really want to sell.

Yep I heard that too. Also put those less expensive impulse items near the counter so customers will pick them up while waiting.

One piece of advice I was given is to not just have your baskets at the entrance - put some at the back of the shop so those who came in to browse can easily get a basket when they see something they want to buy....they'll only buy one or two things if they have to hold them but once they put them in that handily placed basket they're more likely to go on and buy more.

[icecreamgirl]

I hate going into a shop and not seeing the price of things clearly.
If i have to ask the price, i don't bother.
I know there's the saying that 'if you have to ask then you can't aford it' but if the customer thinks that too then they won't ask.

[swirlyarts]

Have a look on Flickr for ideas - not just in the shops section but in photo's of peoples house too - you will get an idea of which things work together and it will give you loads of inspiration!

[michelleC]

I think I saw somewhere that most shoppers turn left as soon as they enter a shop, and this is where to put items that you really want to sell.


Great little tip.

Cheers!!!!!!!

[Tigerhair]

Put things there I really want to sell?! I want to sell everything!!! LOL But great tip.

I agree with you on the price thing. I'm not sure about the rummage bins - I want to be able to keep an eye on people as they look around.

Thanks for all the ideas - they are really great. Any more?

[JBJB]

Depending on the value of your jewellery, I know lots of places put their jewellery in those glass shelf units with doors that you can get from Ikea. That way, they're still out on display, and a bit harder to pinch!

I went into the scrummiest shop yesterday to try and get them to stock my products. It was all sanded floorboards, beams, white walls, home-made soaps making it smell lovely, and to get in you had to open the vintage-looking half-stable door. It was like something in a magazine ... proper rustic and vintage-y rather than "staged"

[Tigerhair]

Ohh sounds lovely - what did they display stuff on?

[JBJB]

I've got a feeling it was a couple of welsh-dressers and a big pine table, but they may just be me romanticising it now! She said she would place an order with me at the end of July (here's hoping....!) and if she does sell my stuff I will take a photo of the shop to add it to my website.

[Tigerhair]

Thanks - I had the idea to use that kind of stuff too... I want to ensure that it's high enough to see but out of the reach of little hands - if only my sons hands!!

[Beadsage]

Put things there I really want to sell?! I want to sell everything!!! LOL But great tip.

I agree with you on the price thing. I'm not sure about the rummage bins - I want to be able to keep an eye on people as they look around.

Thanks for all the ideas - they are really great. Any more?
Yes, go and see the business manager at your bank, they know all about this stuff, and will probably emphasise the millions of other priorities over the colour and layout of the shop. ;)

[Daisy]

There is a beautiful shop near me too that lay out their jewellery in glass cases. They have stuff hanging from the walls on hooks in nooks in the walls and on big farmhouse wooden kitchen tables. It took me ages to look around everything but it was an experience (one that I liked for once!).

[Tigerhair]

Did you buy anything, Claire?

[heavenlygirl]

Put things there I really want to sell?! I want to sell everything!!! LOL But great tip.

I agree with you on the price thing. I'm not sure about the rummage bins - I want to be able to keep an eye on people as they look around.

Thanks for all the ideas - they are really great. Any more?
I keep the most expensive things near to the till in my shop as i have noticed theft of reasonably expensive tools in the last couple of weeks. These wer some of the things i wanted my customers to see first when they walked in shop, but somebody has been helping themselves. Opportunist theives go for what is closet to the door I havefound.

[Tigerhair]

I certainly think cabinets are the way to go, however, who thinks they can put people off - especially if the owner of the shop is serving someone else - do you wait?

[Daisy]

Did you buy anything, Claire?

No but I wanted to buy lots!!!!

I will defo go back and buy, they were reasonable, had unsual stuff that would make brilliant gifts.

[Tigerhair]

Yep, that's what I want - nice stuff, quirky stuff and decent prices. I have been told that the shop in Ashbourne (which is LARGE) has a rental price of 17,000 pa and rates of 5,000 pa.

Does anyone think that this is achievable with an arts and crafts shop?

[BillyBeadThornton]

Hi Tigerhair, just some general retail layout points:

Eye Level - Not a huge secret, but eye level can be used in a lot of important ways. Putting products at eye level with a higher premium or higher margin can reap you benefits, or you use it for featuring special offer or promotional products. With mass merchandisers, eye level will typically generate at least 100% stock turn in terms of value versus higher or lower shelves, although I'm not sure how that would apply to a smaller retail space.

Triangular Balance - This works on the principle that as human beings we have certain ways of looking at the world and this is directed by an internal pattern seeking device in our heads which likes to form grids. From grids we then find logic and order. What this means for shoppers is that they will come in a automatically focus on the centre of an object. Form a triangle somehow around whatever you're selling and watch them home in on the centre like uh bees to a bargain.

Comfort - I don't think you'll need any advice on this one, but shops that we welcoming see customers stick around longer. Modern techniques employ colours and scents to good advantage here. Don't have too dark a shop either.

Organisation - Is key. Having a flow to the shop's products also helps improve link selling so when they pick up one piece, they see a complimentary item winking up at them from right next door. Make sure sections are clearly divided and organised using the eye level principle.

Anyway, hope that's of some help and I didn't go on too much.:)
Chris

ps put a barrel of lollipops by the door. This works wonders.

[amareke]

why not have a look round your favourite shops with a view to looking at what you find appealing. maybe the floorboard one was appealing as it signifies a coastal warm sunny lifestyle?
there are tons of articles on the psychology of shopping- one i just looked at says women like textures so put them nearest the door to draw them in!