Shop Front Design is a key aspect of a shop’s identity and helps to draw customers in. It is also a way to communicate the products and services offered by a business while establishing its reputation within a local area. It can be challenging to get the balance right between a unique, stand-out shop front and one that is in keeping with the surrounding buildings. However, if done correctly, it can provide a perfect foil for the building that it sits within.
Choosing the materials used in a shop front is just as important as deciding what type of façade it will be. The materials should be appropriate to the style of the building and the environment, as well as being cost-effective. For example, glass and metals can be a good choice for a modern High Street, while timber and stone are often used in historical areas. The materials also need to be durable, especially in a busy shopping area.
Many shops are not just selling physical objects; they’re also selling an experience. Shoppers go to bespoke shops looking for something more than just a generic product. They want to feel as if they’ve come to the right place and are connecting with tradition. You can play up that connection in your window displays and shopfront by adding vintage containers, shelving and signage using old-fashioned fonts.
Another important aspect of Shop Front Design is making sure it’s easy to see what’s on offer and if you have the space to do so, how to enter the premises. This will help to make it accessible for people with disabilities and those with pushchairs or wheelchairs. It’s a good idea to include this information in an access statement as part of the overall planning consent.
A successful shop front needs to grab the attention of a customer, entice them into the store and then convince them to spend money inside. A cramped shopfront that feels overwhelming is likely to be a turn off, so it’s worth investing in creative ideas and striking elements to attract potential customers.
The design of a shop front can also be enhanced by playing up the architectural features of the building. For example, if a building is symmetrical, the shop front should be designed to reflect that with an arrangement of windows and areas of walling that mirror each other. While this may not always be possible, it can create a sense of balance and harmony and is particularly effective in historic areas.
When a large number of frames or extrusions are required for a project, it’s essential to manage the pricing and manufacturing process efficiently. Soft Tech’s software allows for simple and quick quoting of large commercial and retail orders, by enabling users to work with multiple CAD Drawings and assign prices to different customer groups, applying rules based pricing discounts to the entire quotation process. The software also allows for storage of multi-currency pricing for components and extrusions and generating Bills of Materials to enable efficient manufacturing.