You put so much time into creating and sourcing the goods or services your retail space offers, so why not put that energy into creating a retail space that will inspire the same amount of wonder and intrigue? Reconsider the shapes and lighting styles that many retail spaces use, and consider how these shapes guide a customer through a space. In Lisbon, Portugal, Ventura + Partners were able to create spaces for Deloitte Digital that feel like a customer is walking through an art piece. This frames how customers view the company and inspires them to feel impressed and wowed before even seeing your products.
Although you should be sure to use windows that are safe and match the style of your building, like historic storm windows for a building from the early 1900s: you should get more use out of them than simply allowing them to let light pass through.
Gorgeous glass walls, and the use of windows, can inspire customers to feel like there's no barrier between them and the interior of your retail space.
Clever use of glass and making your displays interesting through lighting and color selection can invite customers to shop with you before they even know what your business does. Some of the best award-winning designs are popular because of their ability to blur the lines between indoors and out, so don't be afraid to lean into them for your retail space.
LED lights have been a game-changer in recent years, but many businesses still aren't getting the most out of them that they can. These light strips can be used for so much more than split lighting or lighting shelves. Instead, consider using LEDs to guide customers' eyes and also guide them physically through a store. Clever use of LED lights in the flooring, ceiling, and other parts of your retail space can help inspire customers to walk through and look at the portions of the business you want them to see.
Ventura + Partners put this to use in their store design for Optimum. By guiding customers’ eyes, they give them a better chance of seeing value in the store and are more likely to inspire a purchase.
Update every portion of your retail space to ensure customers feel like they're walking into an entirely different company, even after you've been open for years. This means anything from updating insulated roof panels to getting durable good-looking floors and shelving. The attention to detail matters here, more than anywhere else, because it can change everything about how your customers interact with your retail space and how long this space lasts before you have to pause business to update it again.
Changes continue to happen every single year, and as you run your business, it's vital that you're able to go with the flow and roll with the changes. Customer-aware updates are popular in 2022 because they're like a superpower that can inspire far more people to purchase and buy.
Keep a keen eye out for what parts of your building customers mention, or interact with, the most: and consider leaning into it. Every market is different and full of customers who may want something different from anywhere else in the world: so get to know your customer base above all else.
Noise is an important part of retail spaces. If there's too much sound and loud noise, customers will be driven away or try to spend as little time in a space as possible. Keep them from getting scared away by using products with a high NRC rating that can absorb as much sound as possible. This will allow every customer's experience to feel unique to them and will keep out the sound of a busy shopping center on the exterior of your building or whatever traffic your city may deal with. Use sound within your shop to guide customers and welcome them in.
Technology is rapidly changing, and many companies in 2022 are realizing this and leaning into how they can interact with customers. Although you don't have to create a self-checkout experience, you can use technology to shift how the building interacts with your customers.
Taking a tip from how Ventura + Partners designed the space for SFR in Paris, France, you can learn a lot about how customer interactions can be improved by the space they’re in. This can mean anything from screens that are interactive to show customers how your products and services work, to motion sensored music or lighting that will welcome or guide customers into specific parts of larger showrooms. Think about how your customers experience the space and push it further so they feel inspired and wowed by your store.
Although there are plenty of options available, and every business has its own needs: it's vital that you work to keep your retail space above the rest in 2022. Consider some of these interior retail projects to create a space that will excite customers.
Roger Marx is a contributor to the Innovative Building Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and home renovation. Roger is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value and improve sustainability.