Are you planning to open a new restaurant, jewelry store, book store, furniture store, clothing store or any type of retail store in New York? Thinking about renovating an existing store location?
A general contractor with experience building retail space can help you create a warm and inviting shopping experience for your customers.
Here are a few tips on how to build a successful retail store that people will love to visit in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Long Island:
Pick the Right Location
Any experienced retail contractor (or remodeling contractor) will urge you to carefully select your retail location. Location is central to your success. It could actually make or break your business. When choosing a location, you’ll want to first conduct research, as well as walk and drive through the neighborhood to get a feel of the environment. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Ask yourself, “Will my audience enjoy shopping in this particular spot?”
You should also know if your business or neighborhood is appropriate for walking traffic or driving traffic. As a rule, your store location should be both traffic friendly and pedestrian friendly. There should also be easy access to parking close by.
Tip: Many store owners prefer a corner spot for optimum street visibility.
Understand Demographics
Understand the demographics of the neighborhood and make sure your products/services will attract your audience. A good retail contractor will advise you not to wait until you’re ready to launch your product or service to decide who you’re going to sell to – you should know beforehand. Researching demographics can help you figure out your target audience and who would actually want to buy your product/service. Common demographics include income, education, gender, age, environment etc.
Maximize Storefront Visibility
It’s not just your business that draws customers into a store and keeps them coming back – it’s the entire atmosphere of a store – right down to the exterior design. One way to capture people’s attention is to create large windows of glass in your storefront to make the store look lively and inviting. To accomplish this, you’ll need a general contractor with experience renovating retail space.
Another way to gain more visibility is to install modern and vibrant lighting inside and outside the store. This will help you get noticed from street traffic. Include a large and well lit sign to draw additional attention. If you have an existing store but are looking to refresh your storefront, you’ll find that retail space renovation is well worth the investment.
Align Décor to Your Customer’s Preferences
Remember, it’s not about what ‘you’ like. Your customer’s preferences should come first. After all, they are the ones who will be spending time (and money) at your store location.
So, first things first, know your customer–if you are selling women’s clothes, the store should be chic and modern with polished concrete floors, lively colors, and wide open ceilings. If you are selling books or creating a local “mom and pop” style store, your store should reflect that image in its design.
If you are building or remodeling a restaurant in NYC, the design should help differentiate you and it should be set up in a practical way to maximize service and aesthetic appeal to patrons.
Last, but not least, you should walk through and analyze the space before you consider signing a lease. Remember: Store design can directly impact your bottom-line. The key to retail success is to maximize your store’s appeal to your target customer and then deliver on your brand promise inside through the store experience.
Do you need help with retail construction or retail space renovation in the Brooklyn, Bronx or Queens area? Contact us or call a retail contractor today at: (516) 623-2945.
