Are shop fittings a current asset?

Everyone is online these days, making high streets and shopping malls a much quieter place to be and reducing the need for shopfitting supplies. Many companies have chosen to be online only, decreasing their overheads and taking advantage of social internet tools. However, the most innovative businesses have a presence both online and on the high street, ensuring they generate profits from every possible angle.

However, these businesses recognise that the high street is a more challenging environment to operate in now, which is why they go the extra mile to attract passing trade and create a welcoming, attractive store. The right shop fittings can make a business, while a lack of them can break it. What do you need to create a stand-out store? Read on to find out!

What Are Shop Fittings?

Shop fittings include everything in your store that you do not intend to sell. This includes your shelving, clothing rails, display tables, hangers, baskets, mannequins, and any other items in your retail space. The process of shop fitting even includes the design and layout of your store. Quite simply, it is impossible to have a shop without fittings. Unless you have an empty room and display items for sale inside it, even then, you’ll probably need a way to accept cash and hand out change, so this would count as a shop fitting.

According to Crown Display, “Shopfitting (or ‘shop fitting’) is the profession involved with the fitting out of retail and commercial outlets with their business-specific equipment, fixtures and fittings.” They go on to say that it is not just how a store looks that is important, but how user-friendly it is. Customers should be able to navigate the aisles with ease and find exactly what they are looking for without having to push other things out of the way.

This is a challenging issue in clothes shops with longer rails and charity shops which sell bric-a-brac. That is why a good service, offering high-quality shop fitting supplies and expert advice, is essential at this time.

What Shop Fittings Do All Stores Need?

While the exact shop fittings you need will vary depending on the size of your shop, the nature of your products, and your budget, there are a few basics that will be the same for everyone. These include:

• Disabled Access: This doesn’t sound like a shop fitting, does it?! Well, it’s one of the most important, as it’s required by law. And it will affect the type of physical shop fittings that you buy. This means that it should be easy for a wheelchair to access and navigate your store. If you have stairs, you’ll need to provide alternative ways for wheelchairs to access the other floors, such as a ramp or lift. And you might want to consider lower counters and shelving (or at least plenty of staff on hand to help when someone can’t reach them). You should also make sure there is never anything blocking access.
• Lighting: Of course, you’ll need lighting so that customers know your shop is open and can see your goods. But, used well, lighting can highlight key areas of your store. Add colour and texture to the space with different shades and strengths, helping to create the atmosphere that best suits your brand. However, ensure that your items are still visible in the best possible light.
• Shelving: Almost all stores will require some shelving. Whether you are a homeware store looking to display rows of mugs and glasses or a clothing store that needs a place to stack jeans, your shelving should never be too high or overfull. Certain items might need sloping shelves rather than traditional straight ones. For example, items like bedding and anything in boxes, such as chocolates, will be more eye-catching when displayed full-size rather than stacked high.

Another thing to note about shelving is that you probably want to invest in fixtures that allow you to adjust the shelves. This means you have room to adapt or to create the space you need for larger or smaller products in the future.

And don’t forget warehouse shelving. This doesn’t have to be beautiful, but it does have to be accessible and easy to find what you need when replenishing the shelves in your primary store area.

• Counter and EPOS systems: You probably want your customers to pay for the items they like, so you’ll need a well-signposted counter area with an EPOS system. Ensure it is easily accessible in your store so that customers don’t end up putting an item back on the shelf, or worse, taking it without paying.

As already mentioned, you should have a counter that is low enough to serve anyone in a wheelchair. Or at least a section of your counter that allows you to do so.

And your till needs to be able to make quick transactions. Bear in mind that most shoppers now expect to be able to pay with cash or by card, and some even do it on their phone, so you should have the facilities available to accommodate any option.

• Labelling Systems: How will you inform customers of the prices for everything? Will you stick labels on every individual item, or do you need signage on your shelving to save some time? Even if you own the type of shop where everything is the same price (i.e., a Pound store), you’ll need labels to tell people what things are.
• Security Systems: You’ll need some sort of theft deterrent, such as CCTV, angled mirrors, and alarms by the front door. Or perhaps you intend to hire a security guard if your store is located in a more remote area. You’ll also need a secure place to store your takings at the end of the day. And perhaps a coded lock on your storeroom to stop bigger-scale theft.

What Other Shop Fitting Supplies Do You Need?

Those are the non-negotiables when it comes to shopfitting supplies. However, to remain relevant in today’s times, this is not nearly enough to entice customers to buy from you. The additional shop fittings you’ll need will depend on your products, but they could include:

• Exterior signage: Let customers know you are open and encourage them inside with a well-placed A-board.
• Brochure stands/racks: These can be used to sell cards and gifts, or as an informational point to boost online sales or encourage shoppers to take another helpful action for your business.
• Carrier bags: Although they have become a contentious issue since the introduction of the new compulsory charge, they are still vital for multiple purchases.
• Clothes rails and hangers: You can’t have a clothing store without them!
• Lockers: These are ideal if you have a large staff and no convenient and safe place for them to store their belongings.
• Mannequins: Put your wares on full display and maximise your profits!
• Poster boards: The best signs are the biggest ones! Use these shop fittings to draw attention to special deals or to provide important information.
• Baskets and trolleys: The easier you make it for customers to carry multiple items, the more likely they are to make additional purchases.

And finally, make sure your window display stands out in a crowd by adding bright and colourful accessories and demonstrating the products you have for sale.

Where is the Best Place to Buy Shop Fitting Supplies?

We all know the answer to that one – Valentino’s Displays, of course!

Keeping up to date with current shopfitting trends isn’t just about whether you need them. You also need to purchase high-quality products that match the atmosphere you are trying to create in your store. The items you sell are only half the battle. You need to sell a lifestyle, and that can be done incredibly effectively in a physical store.

Therefore, you’ll want to ensure that your supplier is one you can trust to provide high-quality products and valuable advice. At Valentino’s Displays, we do both! Are you unsure about what you need for your shop? Give us a call, and we’ll walk you through all your options – including those that aren’t visible online. And if you have an idea for something unique, we’d love to hear it. We can either source it for you or manufacture it ourselves.

Let Valentino’s supply your fixtures and fittings

As the best UK shop fitting suppliers, we strive to ensure that our customers continue to choose us. That means your success is as important to us as it is to you. We stay ahead of the latest trends and insider business knowledge to provide you with the best advice. Give us a call or send us an email to find out more!