A Brief Guide to Retail Store Layouts

A student at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, Madison Leigh Gerhard is pursuing a bachelor of science in psychology with a planned graduation date of 2022. Madison Leigh Gerhard previously worked as a retail sales associate and fashion consultant at The Bee Boutique in Sea Girt, New Jersey, where she assisted customers and stocked shelves according to store merchandising layouts.

Whatever the product, from high-end clothing to auto parts, retail stores can organize merchandise in a way that makes the shopping experience comfortable and intuitive. First, retailers should consider customer flow. How many people are typically in the store at the same time, and how do they naturally move through the store? Research shows that people prefer scanning shelves from left to right and that most turn right upon entering a store.

Retailers should set up the store to guide customers while maximizing exposure to key products. This might be done with a familiar grid layout, with a pattern of long aisles that customers can walk up and down. Alternately, a loop layout or a straight line layout can optimize the space. Customers should be able to see the most appealing merchandise immediately upon entering the store, but the area just inside the door, known as the decompression space, should remain empty. Leave sufficient space between products and shelves to avoid creating a cramped feeling, and update displays regularly.