In the ever-evolving world of retail design, much like fashion, staying current is not just a trend, but a necessity. As legendary fashion icon Coco Chanel once stated, ‘Fashion changes, but style endures.’ In the retail industry, ‘Design evolves, but innovation prevails.’ Embracing the design revolution, where savvy meets sustainable, stores can now showcase products and preserve the environment, with the help of cutting-edge retail space planning, accurate and precise retail floor layouts, retail store design, retail space design, design concept sketches, construction set drawings and design concept drawings. Retail spaces can now transform from a stage for a shopping experience to an arena that showcases the future.
Sustainable retail design refers to the key principles and strategies that merge smart and eco-friendly practices in retail design to create appealing and efficient retail spaces that minimise environmental degradation. Essential points include:
Adaptive Reuse Best Practices
Much can be done with what you already have. Structural engineers can help find opportunities to save time, money and headache by listening to what the building has to say.
- Structural engineers can determine if existing structures provide opportunities to update a design while being cost effective, sustainable and appealing.
- Respect the value of existing spaces by avoiding major disruption in structural and electrical modifications.
- Improve branding strategy by updating lighting supports.
- Use existing infrastructure, such as the proximity of existing roads, parking and open areas.
Energy Efficiency
Tips to reduce retail energy costs and lower carbon footprints include:
- Switching to LED lighting – LED lighting offers better quality and performance in terms of energy efficiency, helping cut energy consumption by up to 80%.
- Opting for Renewable Energy and Photovoltaic Self-Consumption – Commercial solar panels can provide free electricity for over 25 years. Self-consumption eliminates the effects of possible power cuts and can benefit from financial subsidies for professionals.
- Becoming Proactive – Retailers can propose their own energy efficiency plan, such as:
- Switching off lights when stores are closed
- Reducing light intensity during the day
- Turning off air exchange at night
- Using an Energy Management System (EMS) – Using this software allows retailers to identify areas to prioritise for energy-saving measures and analyse consumption data
Sustainable Materials
Store fixtures are usually considered sustainable due to these parameters:
- Origin of materials
- Reusable and recycled content
- Low VOC paint or adhesive
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood
- Manufacturers offer shelving, table sets, wood and chrome merchandise displays made from sustainable materials using cork or reclaimed wood.
- Recycled materials
- Glue-less biodegradable paper
- Options that greatly reduce packaging materials
Water Conservation
A wide range of technologies and measures can be introduced to save water and associated energy consumption, such as:
- Water-efficient plumbing fixtures (ultra-low-flow toilets and urinals, waterless urinals, low-flow and sensored sinks and water-efficient dishwashers)
- Irrigation and landscaping measures (water-efficient irrigation systems, irrigation control systems, low-flow sprinkler heads)
- Water recycling or reuse measures (Gray water and process recycling systems)
- Methods to reduce water use in HVAC systems
Multi-Functional Spaces
For thousands of businesses, the adaptation of spaces to current needs adds to the predisposition to multifunctional spaces. Multifunctional spaces in retail are shops that merge concepts and functions, retail and services. They optimise the functionality of the space, enhance the comfort of employees and customers and create an aesthetic that leaves a lasting impression with:
Minimalism
- Simplify design by reducing clutter and eliminating unnecessary elements.
- Focus on essential items and furniture that serve multiple purposes.
- Opt for sleek, streamlined designs that contribute to an open and airy feel.
- Select furniture and accessories that are essential and functional and serve multiple functions.
Strategic Space Planning
- Identify high-traffic areas and ensure they are unobstructed, creating open pathways and utilising multipurpose zones to maximise the usability of the space to encourage collaboration and interaction among employees and customers.
- Use vertical space with wall-mounted storage and shelving, freeing up floor space for additional storage and displays.
Optimised Lighting
- Maximise natural light by using large windows or skylights and complement it with well-designed artificial lighting, such as ambient lighting with slim and space-saving designs, pendant lights, track lighting, or recessed lighting options.
- Incorporate dimmers and adjustable lighting controls.
Mirrors
- Mirrors create an illusion of space, visually expanding the space and creating depth.
- Reflective surfaces, such as glossy finishes or metallic accents, help bounce light around for a bright and expansive feel.
Multi-functional Furniture & Storage
- Select furniture that serves multiple functions, modular seating arrangements with hidden compartments.
- Custom-built solutions maximise storage while enhancing the brand.
- Wall shelves, overhead cabinets, under-counter storage, ottomans and benches with hidden storage are efficient ways to keep the space organized and clutter-free.
Colours & Textures
- Light colours, such as whites, pastels and neutrals, create an illusion of space. Pops of bright colours add visual interest and create focal points.
- Varied textures add depth and dimension to the design. Mix and match smooth, textured and patterned surfaces.
- Play with textured wallpaper, fabrics or textured floors for added interest and variety, while maintaining brand characteristics.
Biophilic Design
- Greenery and biophilic design breathe life into small spaces. Utilise plants or vertical gardens. Biophilic design principles create a connection with nature and foster well-being, comfort and is welcoming.
- Low-maintenance plants that need minimal space and natural materials, such as wood or stone, create a sense of warmth.
Smart Technology
Key elements and technologies commonly associated with smart retail include:
- Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices and sensors integrated into shelves, products, shopping carts and the store gather real-time data for monitoring inventory levels, customer movement tracking and shopping pattern analysis.
- Mobile apps enable customers to access personalised offers, promotions and recommendations as they shop and make payments.
- Beacons are small Bluetooth devices that send signals to nearby smartphones. Placed around the store, they can push location-based notifications and offers to customer mobiles.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms help analyse data to understand customer behaviour and preferences for personalised marketing, inventory management and planning pricing strategies.
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) offer immersive and interactive shopping experiences. Customers can virtually try on clothes, visualise furniture in their homes or see the effect of makeup products on their faces.
- Big data analytics tools help analyse data from various sources for improved inventory management.
- Robotics and automation can help restock shelves, handle warehouse inventory and assist customers with information.
It is thus evident that retail design essentials today involve a host of strategies for retailers. To keep on top of things, many players in the retail industry are bringing on board trusted and valued design partners, 3D CAD drawing services and architectural draughtsman from overseas locations to help incorporate the above design principles, helping them stay savvy and sustainable.
Learn more about retail design & BIM . . .
XS CAD has valuable experience providing retail space planning and retail space design services for retailers and retail design companies. Our range of services for retailers across the world include retail building design, retail drawings, retail floor layouts, retail store design, design concept sketches, design concept drawings, construction set drawings, retail 3D modelling, retail 3D rendering and retail store 3D walk-throughs. We have proven to be a preferred retail design services provider, due to the high quality of our retail 3D visualisation services, created by using Revit, 3Ds Max, V-Ray, Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, Illustrator and BIM Collaboration Pro for cloud collaboration
