Tips for Designing a Clothing Boutique   by Ramona Barnes

in Business    (submitted 2012-02-08)

Manipulating the space of your clothing boutique sets the tone for your space and can even contribute to the success or failure of your business. It's important to choose décor that represents your brand and layout that provides a positive shopping experience. The positioning of a particular table, where you place garment racks and the location of top-selling and sales items can affect whether or not a customer will want to make a purchase. You'll also want to make sure that the space is conducive for running a business. Don't forget that your space will have to accommodate business-management details such as daily cleaning and restocking.

Ask yourself the following questions as your start to design and decorate your boutique:

Does my décor represent my brand and create the right atmosphere?
Furniture, rugs and art that match your brand enhances the appeal of your merchandise. Your goal is to improve the mood of your customer and make them feel welcome and comfortable enough to make a purchase. Encourage a social atmosphere by incorporating furniture to sit on and offer complimentary refreshments. You want your shoppers to feel like they're valued and being taken care of. Also, install the proper lighting and utilize natural sunlight. Chandeliers, floor lamps and stylish track lighting are excellent solutions for designing a fashionable shopping space.

Can the space be easily re-arranged?
You want your furnishings and displays to be easy to rearrange. Changing the layout of your boutique is a great way to keep shoppers intrigued and returning, especially for seasonal trends and holiday collections. Easy-to-maneuver and mobile furniture also helps accommodate daily cleaning, weekly shipments, unpacking and displaying new merchandise. Make sure your garment racks have caster wheels so they can be rolled to new hot spots. You can even attach caster wheels to display tables and shelving to easily and quickly make over your boutique to showcase different items at different times.

Does my store encourage sales?
When shoppers enter your store, the experience should encompass more than just looking at merchandise. Customers want to feel like walking into your store is an experience. Your space should be appealing, attractive and distinct, which elicits a positive response from customers. Showcase pieces in a way that makes shoppers feel as if they're finding unique, one-of-a-kind items. Another question to ask is: does my store deter people from shopping? Walk throughout your store through the eyes of a customer. Is it cluttered? Are pieces hard to see and reach? Are there natural pathways for shopping? Does it look dirty? Design a store that makes it easy and exciting for you to shop at!

About the Author

Ramona Barnes is a professional residential and commercial interior designer and wedding planner. She creates upscale interior spaces for homes, restaurants, hotels and resorts. She's recently included wedding planning and design services as part of her independent business. She has experience in designing various types of wedding ceremonies and receptions of any size.