How to Design Your Floor Space and Get Customers in the Mood to Shop

For a brick-and-mortar retail store, getting customers in that shopping mood is key. For some, "browser shoppers", shopping is entertainment. Browsing through stores, soaking in the new merchandise and hoping something strikes them as a "must have". These shoppers love whimsical product displays, winding floor plans, upbeat music and bright colors. They don't mind being distracted by new product displays or fun and funky decorations.

For others, "mission shoppers", shopping is purely a mission to purchase a specific item. They are searching for something in particular and most likely won't take the time to browse around the store. These customers like simple and straightforward product displays. They don't want to have to take a tour around the entire floor in order to find the product they are looking for. They also prefer not to get distracted from their shopping goal, so slow music, soft colors and little or no decorations is best to attract and please this type of customer.

With customers at such opposite ends of the spectrum, how on earth can a retailer cater to both types? Actually it's easy than you might think. Think about the types of products you carry and what kind of customers frequent your store. For instance, if you are a trendy gift shop that brings in a lot of "browser shoppers" but also has the occasional husband looking for a birthday or anniversary gift, then you can design your store to cater to both types. While the majority of the store can be fun, bright and funky, why not have a table or space near the front of the store with a sign that says "Perfect Gift Ideas for Someone Special". That will keep both customer types happy, without disrupting the other's shopping experience.

If you have a retail store where "mission shoppers" visit on weekdays but "browser shoppers" visit on the weekends, then you can keep an "easy to navigate" and subdued floor plan on weekdays. Then, come the weekends, you can turn on the fast-paced music, bring in some brightly-colored decorations and even move some product displays around. It might take some work, but these little changes can do wonders for repeat business and increased sales.

If your store sells a variety of merchandise and you find that certain types of products bring in "browser shoppers" and others, "mission shoppers", then you can design your store's floor plan around this. Divide your store into sections and give each section a feel that caters to its shopper type. There's no reason that the part of your store that sells sunglasses and hats can't be fun and funky, while the section that sells cameras can't be a bit more subdued.

Catering to different types of customers is crucial for most retail businesses. While your main target market might be "browser shoppers", there may also be a large group of "mission shoppers" who want to shop on their lunch break or purchase a gift for their favorite "browser shopper". Luckily, it's not difficult to please both types of customers, even if they are completely different. The key is to know your customers. If you understand the people who frequent your store, then you'll be in a much better position to give them what they are looking for.