This sounds like one of the most cryptic blog titles you’ll ever come across. The secret to retail store success lies in the senses – what on earth does that mean? Is it code for something? Have I gone completely mad?
No, and no. In reality, it’s a very straightforward concept to break apart. If you want your retail store to succeed, you need to focus on the human senses. We’ve been taught from a young age that we have five main senses: touch, taste, hearing, smell, and sight.
Those last two senses are the most critical when it comes to your retail business. When designing your store, you need to do things that target and appeal to a person’s sense of sight and smell. Again, this might sound a little bit weird and confusing, but the more you think about it, the more sense it makes (no pun intended).
Below, we’ll look at each sense and explain how and why you need to target them in your retail store.
Sight
Sight – or vision – is so important to retail businesses. Think about it, you need to lure people into your store. The only way this is possible is by catching their attention when they walk by. So, you need to have a visually appealing storefront that makes people double-take and slow down.
There should be a great shop window displaying some of your best products and offers. It draws customers in as they stop to look at the offers and think about wandering inside. Moreover, having an attractive storefront makes your business look better and more professional. A nice sign and clean windows make you stand out from the crowd.
Inside your store, you need to make it visually appealing too. Customers should be able to find their way around as the layout is simple and you have clear signage directing them to different areas depending on what they’re looking for. Again, everything should look clean, pristine, and modern; it has a huge impact on the way people perceive your store. You’re more likely to make sales when the inside and outside of your retail store look impressive, allowing your business to grow.
Smell
A lot of retail store owners neglect the sense of smell when designing things. Did you know there’s something called scent marketing that helps you promote your business and connect to customers?
It’s built around the idea of using nice smells to draw people in and keep them around for longer. They’ll want to stay in your store because it smells so nice. This can be from the smell of freshly baked goods or a particular scent in the air.
Make your retail store smell nice and it will keep people in there. Again, it also sets you apart from your rivals and makes your business seem much better. People will want to keep coming back because they love the overall experience you provide; your store looks awesome and smells amazing!
Target these two senses when designing your retail store to ensure it’s as successful as possible. A visually impressive storefront draws people in while great layouts, visuals, and nice smells keep them in your store for longer.
