Assuming you have a good plan of action, and have done the research and have the funding needed to set up your shop, here's a checklist to aid you with one of the most important sections, the shop fittings and display units.
After premises and stock buying, shop fittings represent one of the biggest slices in the expenditure pie when setting up a new high-street shop. The checklist below will help you avoid some common mistakes as well as choose the right fixtures for your shop.
1. Have I found premises?
First and foremost you need well-located premises for your shop. It's no good setting up a stunning shop where nobody can see it or find it. I know that establishments in very busy streets have high rental prices but that will be money well spent.
Sports shops need to reflect action and movement, a bed shop needs to convey calm and tranquillity and so on
2. Do I have existing floor plans?
Now that you have found the ideal place for your shop it is time to make your floor plan. Where will the counter, aisles, shelves, displays and so on go? Might be a good idea to ask for professional help here, like hiring an interior designer or decorator specialising in stores and shop interior designs.
3. What will the shop's branding/colours be?
Choose the style and colours of your shop fittings based on the colours of you brand/shop. There are many shop fixture manufacturers these days that can create fittings and displays according to your requirements. Some of the most popular shop fittings manufacturers are Tegometall, CAEM and KLEEREX and you can find them on all major shop fittings suppliers across the country.
4. What needs to be done to the shop front?
Again depending on the type of shop that you are setting up, you will need to make some changes to the shop front. Sports shops need to reflect action and movement, a bed shop needs to convey calm and tranquillity and so on. You've got the picture, right?
5. Will I need to alter the shop usage?
Once again, depending on the type of shop, you will have to alter its usage, but one consideration above all matters: accessibility. A shop needs to provide easy access for its target audience as well as for disabled people. Display settings also should be considered when thinking of your shop’s usage.
6. What display shop fittings will I require?
I hate to sound repetitive but this is also related to the type of shop you are setting up.
7. What is my budget?
The biggest villain in all start-ups, the budget. With money everything is made easy, but how to start up a good shop with a tight budget? As aforementioned shop fittings represent a big slice in the expenditure pie of a shop so make sure you reserve some extra cash for it.
8. What are my timescales for the shop fit?
This is entirely up to you and your shop fitter to decide.
9. Where to find good shop fitters?
Ask your shop fitting supplier or use www.findashopfitter.co.uk where you can find shop fitters for just about any major city in the UK.
10. Have I got a quote from a shop-fittings company?
As mentioned in number seven, before you go out buying shop fittings left, right and centre, do some research to compare prices. Get a quote from at least two shop-fitting companies and suppliers.
Once you have the answers for all those questions you are ready to start your new shop.
