Forget about slow spells or quiet Wednesdays. Your shop hasn’t just been going through a temporary or normal rough patch……it’s absolutely dead.
And you’re starting to worry. You can’t remember the last time you were queued out the door or what it feels like to be completely rushed off your feet. Which means your profits have also come to a standstill.
But what can you do to get people back through the door and the till ringing nonstop again?
A budget-friendly shop makeover could be just the thing to entice customers inside, plus it’s the perfect fresh start to get you feeling motivated again.
Here are five top tips that’ll help you transform your shop in record time. Check them out.
#1: give it a good spring clean
The first thing you need to do is treat your shop to a good spring clean. After a proper scrub and decent clear out of old stock, it’ll look and feel like a brand-new place.
Don’t just focus on customer-facing areas, either. Shake off the disastrous past few months by sorting out your office, safely filing important documents and throwing away everything else.
#2: save money and fly solo
Instead of hiring tradespeople, one of the easiest ways to save money during your shop makeover is to take care of the main work yourself. From gloss effect paint to spray adhesive, source only high-quality materials and you’ll be able to achieve a professional finish.
Another top tip is to order secondhand shop fixtures and fittings online (Gumtree always offers some storage and display gems, if you’re willing to look hard enough). It’s much cheaper than simply heading to IKEA.
#3: up the curb appeal
Use your newfound DIY confidence to revamp your shop’s exterior and give it a much-needed boost of curb appeal.
If you can’t afford a new sign, then at least freshen up the paintwork and buy some plants to add a pretty, welcoming touch to the entrance. A hanging basket and artificial flowers costs just £12 at Tesco, plus it’ll look good all year round.
#4: redesign your window display
Turn your shop window into your most effective form of advertisement by creating an eyecatching display of new or bestselling stock, looking online or to big department stores for some design inspiration.
And remember to change the display every two to three weeks, to keep it interesting and fresh enough to grab the attention of passers-by.
#5: shuffle stock around
Sometimes, just shuffling your stock around and slightly altering your floorplan is enough to transform your shop and convince customers that you’re offering something different from the last time they stopped by.
Whilst you’re reorganising, draw attention to high value or bestselling products by placing them near the front door and keeping shelves minimal.