If you run a business, you’ll know how important your storefront is in enticing new customers. No matter what you’re selling, drawing people in is, in large part, about catching their eye, and the best way to do that is to maximise the aesthetic of the outside of your building so that people want to enter. There’s much more to this than simply creating an attractive exterior, though, and that’s what you’ll learn about today. You’ll discover the 6 aesthetic changes that make the most impact so that you can redesign your storefront to appeal to anyone walking by.
By Team Savant
Image: Rick Govic
Updating Doors and Windows
One of the most important changes you can make to a tired-looking storefront is replacing the doors and windows. Very old glass can have a worn look to it, no matter how well you clean it, and as for doors, they’re how your customers initially interact with your business – it’s key to have something that both looks great and is easy to open and close to leave a good first impression.
There are many designs you could go with, and it all depends on the sort of business you run and what vibe you’d like to go for. If you want a cute, rustic appeal, oak fittings are a great bet, whereas if you’re looking for something sleeker, an aluminium door and window set works a treat.
New Signage
Many will argue that your signage is the most important element of your store, and it’s hard to disagree. Whether the potential customer is close up or viewing your place from a distance, your signage conveys a lot in one go: first and foremost, it tells your customers what you’re selling, but also key is its ability to convey style and make the building stand out amongst its neighbours.
You could go for classic, hand-painted designs that have an especially luxurious feel, or if catching the eye in the evening is of most importance to you, you may want to go with customised illuminated signage.
On Lighting
Lighting is a very important yet often overlooked element of creating an appealing storefront, and both exterior and interior lighting matter.
Naturally, lighting is especially important in the evening. You’ll want appropriate spotlights on both your store and signage (if your sign isn’t illuminated already), and once you catch people’s gaze, you’ll need the interior lighting to entice them to walk through the door.
You can have a lot of fun with lighting – it can make a huge difference to the vibe you create, so test out some different types to find the perfect fit.
The Entrance and Walkway
First impressions are everything, and once a customer actually makes their way into your store, the entrance and walkway play a huge part in their wish to browse and spend time there.
First and foremost, your entrance should remain clean and free of clutter – it should feel inviting, and you’ll need to figure out what mixture of smells, sounds, and visuals you’ll need to make it work.
Window Displays
Window displays can be a tricky element of your storefront to get right, but they’re also one of the best ways to generate interest and increase footfall.
If you’re stuck on how to arrange things, simply consider your best products. You don’t necessarily need anything fancy: a minimalist set-up can work great – just make sure you rotate your stock semi-regularly to keep people intrigued.
You could also consider adding themed backgrounds and special offer advertisements to generate interest.
Colour Schemes and Branding
Finally, it may be time to consider a total rebranding, of which your store front plays a huge part in.
Branding encompasses many different elements, from your logo to the colour pallet of the place. A rebrand will require a careful analysis of your target market to determine what’s working and what’s not, after which the aesthetic of your storefront and all the elements discussed above will play a central part in showcasing the new look and feel to the world.
Wrapping Up
You should now have a good idea of where to start with improving your storefront.
Remember: making worthwhile changes will take time. Unless you’re going for a full brand revamp, it’s best to start slow and change one thing at a time, as you want to reduce disruption to existing footfall as much as possible. If you think carefully and create a plan with the above steps in mind, though, you’ll have a great-looking exterior in no time.