Retail space planning is the process of designing the internal layout of retail stores to guide customers smoothly around the premises, ensuring the best shopping experience for them while also increasing sales of the products on display.

The benefits of retail space planning

A well planned retail store layout will affect whether your store attracts customers, how long they stay in your store, which of your products sell the best and whether your customers will return.

When you get the retail space plan right within your retail store it can have a huge effect on the profitability of your store because a well-planned retail store layout lets you really maximise the sales for each square metre of the selling space within your store. 

NOTE: contrary to popular belief, greater square footage in a retail store does not always equate to greater sales. However a well planned and executed store layout will definitely provide a better shopping experience for your costumes while also increasing your sales per square metre.

The difference between macro and micro retail space planning

Macro retail space planning is all about the overall layout of your store, planning where the shelving and other display units will be located on your floor plan and the way your customers will move within your store.

Micro retail space planning is used to work out exactly how your products will be positioned on your shelving and other display units, ensuring you maximise the visibility of your product range.

Macro and micro retail space planning usually occur at the same time to ensure an optimum flow of categories across bays, ‘run lengths’ and fixtures and the ideal assortment of products on the shelves.

How a retail design manager can help you to maximise your retail space with retail space planning

As retail design managers, we work closely with designers and shopfitters to maximise the use of your retail space with our macro and micro retail space planning services that include:

• Designing a retail store layout in a way that guides customers easily around the premises 
• Integrating the fixtures and fittings of your retail store within the physical restrictions of the shopping centre or building
• Adhering to shop fitting standards, health and safety guidelines and other regulations
• Working within your existing brand guidelines, including use of logos and brand colours 
• Planning product category management and selection to define the range and assortment on your shelves

These are the four main types of retail floor plans we use in macro retail space planning.

Grid layout

Grid layouts have wide aisles laid out in a uniform set of grids and they are the most common type of floor plan in retail and are most often seen in large shops such as supermarkets and DIY stores. 

The ends of the aisles created by grid layouts are prime real estate and ideal for placing impulse purchase items.

✔ Ideal for stores with lots of varied merchandise

✔ Can accommodate high levels of foot traffic 

✔ Allow customers to move through a central path to find the aisles they need easily

Looped or racetrack layout

A looped or racetrack layout creates a deliberately closed loop that leads customers in a predetermined path from the front of the store to the checkout.

This layout takes customers past every bit of merchandise, allowing them to see all the products on the perimeter walls from any point in the store, with smaller displays in the centre of the store.

✔ Maximises wall space in store premises

✔ Creates a predictable traffic pattern which makes it the easiest layout for promotional product placement

✔ Ensures all products are seen

Free-flow layout

A free-flow store layout has no set flow of traffic and does not attempt to force customers through predictable traffic patterns. In this floor plan wandering is encouraged and it uses highly visible displays with product groupings and colour accents to attract shoppers.

This retail floor plan encourages creativity and is often used by boutiques and high end retailers.

✔ Useful for irregularly shaped stores or smaller retail spaces

✔ Great way to highlight specific product ranges

✔ Creates more space between product displays

Straight spine layout

A straight spine layout has a single aisle going from the front to the back of the store with shelving on either side. This layout encourages customers’ movement, especially in department stores for accessibility between floors. 

Straight spine layouts work well for fresh food markets and department stores that use the spine as a main aisle to connect the various sections on each floor. 

✔ Customers are more likely to make it to the back of the store, increases sales of merchandise that wouldn’t be seen in other floor layouts

✔ Easy to navigate, it also creates space for customers to browse the products

✔ Suitable for stores with a wide range of products

Maximise both your retail space and your sales

If you’re considering opening a new retail shop or redesigning an existing one, an experienced retail design manager will help you to create a store design that works for your space. 

By taking into account the physical shape and location of your store, the browsing and shopping preferences of your ideal customers and the types of products you sell, we can help you to create a retail store layout that helps you to maximise your retail space and your sales!