Retail renovations are an essential part of a brand’s presence on the high street. In addition to allowing shop spaces to repair faults and adapt to new store furniture and seasonal products, renovations are also an opportunity to refresh a brand’s identity, attracting new customers and remaining competitive among other businesses in the area.
Before a shop embarks on such a renovation, however, there are a few considerations that should be made. Renovations can be costly, especially if they run into issues, and it is in the best interest of retailers to be as prepared as possible, with well-established plans even helping to reduce the time and cost associated with refreshing a store’s interior.
Consult Teams
There is a tendency to approach renovations with a top-down approach, driven by operational staff or managers moving forward with the designs they see as appropriate. If other teams are left out of a high street retailer’s redesign, certain key perspectives can be missed, leading to simple oversights during the renovation process.
Sales staff, for example, can offer insights into daily tasks that might influence decision-making in the redesign process, while a marketing team would have appropriate expertise to ensure a redesign is optimised for current initiatives. As such, it is in the interest of a brand for those leading design changes to consult all teams.
Expert Suppliers
Making contact with a reputable supplier prior to a retail renovation can be a great way to establish a better plan for the work ahead. Depending on a brand’s needs, shop furniture suppliers will be able to advise on appropriate and high-quality products and sign fittings, as well as any options for custom-made pieces, that would better suit a retailer’s intended aesthetic.
Retail suppliers will also be able to give a quote on costs and estimated times too, helping retailers to formulate a clear schedule for the renovation process.
Set A Deadline
Once goals have been clearly defined, it is essential that deadlines are set. This is not only important for those involved with the renovation process, helping suppliers and contractors to make the necessary arrangements for their work, but also for estimated costs and customer awareness.
Renovations typically involve store closure, preventing a site from generating income during renovation. Be sure to advertise such closure to both customers and staff to ensure they are able to manage their own schedules and expectations.
Open Anew
A part of the renovation plan should include relaunching a brand. This opportunity is a great way to draw in customers and alert them to a new and improved high street venue. Depending on the extent of your store’s redesign, it can even be worth alerting local media who wish to cover the development.
Social media remains a useful way to encourage customers, old and new, to visit the store, so be sure to advertise your upcoming relaunch and even combine it with an event or offer to garner a great deal of attention!
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