How Smart
Retail Design
Can Increase Your ROI
A well-executed architectural design can help retail brands supercharge growth.
WHAT THE WORLD’S BIGGEST RETAIL BRANDS UNDERSTAND
You know what it’s like to enter the retail hellscape of the no-name gas station convenience store. It’s crowded, undifferentiated, dirty, and brighter than an operating room. But compare that to a retail experience we at NewGround know well: Starbucks. When you see the green mermaid, you know what to expect: earthiness, warmth, and everyday luxury. You’ll breathe in a rich coffee aroma complemented by sights of wood, leather, and textured fabrics. And you’ll experience tasteful lighting augmented by as much natural light as the space can offer.
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”IN RETAIL DESIGN, FUNCTION COMES BEFORE FORM”
To paraphrase architect Drew Ranieri,
“If a plan works well, you can make it beautiful. But you can’t use aesthetics to make a bad plan work.”
He’s right. Your operations plan comes first.
Oil Changers came to us with a proven operational model, so we didn’t touch this side of their design. But Blue Nile was still translating their online store into an in-person experience and didn’t have an operational design. So, we asked Blue Nile’s operations team, “How do you want to sell your product?” They told us they needed:
- A variety of informal seating areas
- Ease of access to both sides of the jewelry counter (for employees)
- A build-your-own bar to customize jewelry
- Zones for different kinds of merchandise
- Private rooms for larger transactions