What’s the Importance of a Shop Floor Plan?

Stores with amazing window displays can be eye catching but an effective shop floor layout will get customers to step over the threshold. But it’s not just about displaying all you have to offer.

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Here are some other important factors for having a shop floor plan:

A Great First Impression
Create a Compelling “Power Wall”
Deter Thieves Easily
Design a Better Checkout Space
Optimise Buying Paths
Get the Most From Your Space

A Great First Impression

Shoppers decide whether they like your store within the first 15 seconds of entering and a threshold area is the very first space that prospective customers are greeted by.

Include only a few popular items in the threshold – just enough to entice them in and not overwhelm them.

The right shop floor plan will allow you to allocate enough space for a threshold, giving your shoppers a more relaxed entrance and a good first impression of your store. This means they are more likely to feel at ease whilst shopping, leading to more sales and a better customer experience.

Create a Compelling “Power Wall”

The first wall customers see is often referred to as a “power wall”. It acts as a high-impact showcase, so be sure to give it some attention in your shop floor plan.

Make the most of the entire wall, drawing customers in with colour psychology and dynamic lighting. It can be as easy as utilising light boxes or large format print to set the scene of your business and high-margin products.

Deter Thieves More Successfully

A shop floor plan can highlight potential flaws in your existing layout, whether that’s aisles being too narrow or an underutilised checkout area. It can even help you make better choices to deter thieves.

An open store layout makes it easier to spot suspicious individuals in your store. Here are some more golden rules to implement when creating your shop floor plan:

To eliminate blind spots in corners that shoplifters might use for hiding, make sure you install mirrors and ensure there’s adequate lighting in all areas.
Consider placing anti-theft signage by the door. Signs featuring eyes have been proven to increase compliance by almost double.
Keep your store organised, such as clear sections and investing in the right storage units, as not only will it keep your displays tidy but it can also actually help prevent theft. Plus it means your employees will be able to tell at a glance whether something is missing.

Design a Better Checkout Space

Your checkouts are typically where your customer’s store experience comes to an end. A shop floor plan can help you design a more effective space that isn’t just a pay point, but an opportunity for additional purchases.

When mapping out your layout, aim to place your most popular products as far as possible from the checkout. This means customers will pass by other products they might not have previously considered and pick up a few more items.

Don’t forget to utilise the space around the counter too. For example, by placing FSDU (floor standing display unit) and POP (point of purchase) displays that feature inexpensive and smaller items around the queuing area. This encourages impulse buys which can easily be added to their basket.

Optimise Buying Paths

One of the main reasons for a shop floor plan is to create a smooth and steady customer flow through the store. Customer flow patterns vary depending on the type of business, the size of the store and the customer themselves.

You can use your own observations or take some time to analyse video recordings of your store throughout the day. A shop floor plan can help you identify customer flow patterns and optimise the way they navigate your store.

Helps You Get the Most From Your Space

A shop floor plan can help you maximise your space and your advertising. Instead of placing FSDUs, signage and displays all around the store, you can determine where they’ll be most effective. Not only does this mean a more aesthetically pleasing space for customers but less money spent on these materials.

If space is limited, the right shop floor plan for you could consist of graphics and decals on the floor of a herringbone layout.

Video analysis from consumer marketing expert Ebster showed fewer customers entering narrow aisles in a store compared to the more wider, accessible walkways. These aisles send positive signals to shoppers and positively impact customer flow and engagement.

Now you know the importance of a shop floor plan, it’s the ideal time to learn more about layouts and which one is right for you. Whether your store would benefit from a simplistic yet effective grid layout or a more creative free-flow approach, you can profit from implementing a shop floor plan.

Start Realising the Importance of a Shop Floor Plan by Utilising These Templates

The correct shop layout for your business can increase visitor interaction, encourage sales and be an extension of your brand if done right. If you’re finding it challenging to create a floor plan or you just want to optimise what you currently have, then you’re in the right place.

It’s exactly why we’ve created our ‘Library Of Floor Plan Templates’. It features everything you need to know about effective floor plans for retail stores, hospitality and more. Download your templates below.