Retail Display Basics
The design of a retail store is not a thoughtless decision. A retail store layout is carefully planned by industry experts who study the psychology of shoppers. The placement and use of displays is determined based on what shoppers are likely to do when they enter a store, browse, go to the register to pay and exit. Displays are even optimally placed to entice people as they try on items in the case of a clothing store. There are a few retail store basics you need to be aware of if you are planning to start this type of business.
-
Racks and Hanging Displays
-
When you are selling an item that hangs, you need to buy racks and other displays that can hold hangers. There are two-way and four-way racks with two or four handles that jut out to hold products. A round rack allows you to hang items onto the display unit in a circle. You should also consider a screened rack, like the ones you see on the walls of some retail clothing stores. You can hang clothes, hats and other items against the screen facing outward for customers.
Table Displays
-
Possibly the simplest displays you'll find in retail stores are the table displays. These are simple tables that contain folded or specially arranged items on top. Clothing stores and stores that sell inexpensive baubles tend to use many table displays, so customers can easily see and pick up the items for further examination.
Supermarket Displays
-
Supermarkets and discount chains have specialized displays that are installed when the store is built and designed. The displays are shelves and racks that are layered up to five or six shelves high to allow customers to browse products with ease (see Resources).
Point-of-Sale Displays
-
When a customer has gathered his items and is standing at the register to pay, there is usually a point-of-sale display located near the cashier. They can be tabletop displays, display cases, wired grids with hooks for hanging products or rotating units (like the ones used for sunglasses). These displays are small and compact, but they hold a lot of power. For instance, if the customer is buying clothes, he may find a matching belt as he's waiting in line. Supermarkets use these point-of-sale displays to sell candy and magazines to impulse buyers.
Overall Layout
-
If you walk through a mall and visit various retail stores, you will notice that most, if not all, of the stores are set up with the same general layout. There are a few front displays (usually tables) that show off the store's best goods at the moment. To the left and right of the entrance, there are hanging racks on both the floor and the walls, and at the registers, you will find point-of-sale displays. Most stores are symmetrical in the way the displays are set up for customers.
-
