Question

which facility layout is best to describe a grocery store?

Answer 1

A good retail store layout starts on paper, where there are list of characteristics such as building specs, customer traffic flow, product placement and more that are to be determined.

Step 1 : Decide on a retail store floor plan:

There are three basic types of retail store layouts. They are – Grid Floor Plans, Loop Floor Plans, Free Flow Floor Plans

Grid floor plan store layout:

This is also called as straight layout and it is a very efficient use of both of floor and wall space. Grid layouts are easy for customers to navigate and for store owners to categorize. Additionally, they offer plenty of endcap and feature wall exposure for promotional items and seasonal products.

Loop floor plan store layout:

A loop floor plan, sometimes called a racetrack layout, creates the most guided shopping experience of the three. A loop store layout features a defined pathway throughout the store, which exposes customers to every item on display.

In a loop floor plan, the perimeter walls are highly visible and can feature all types of wall and shelving displays. A loop floor plan works well for most types of small retail stores such as apparel and accessories, toy, homeware, kitchenware, personal care, and specialty products.

Free Flow Floor Plan Store Layout:

A free-flow retail store layout is the favourite of many specialty retailers because it allows maximum creativity and is easily changed and updated. The open look of a free-flow layout is ideal for all types of boutiques and upscale stores. It also works well for stores with smaller inventories since it’s designed to highlight product groupings rather than store goods in quantity.

Step 2: Put Your Floor Plan Down on Paper:

If you haven’t settled on your store layout, or even if you have, the first thing you need to do is work your plan out on paper. But before you start, remember! Many small retailers find that a mix of floor plans and layout styles works best. For example, you might start with a loop, then combine grid-style shelving aisles and free-flow displays in the center section. Or if your sales floor isn’t a standard shape, as shown below, you might create a loop or grid in one section and use a free-flow layout in another.

Step 3: Consider Traffic flow and customer behaviours in your store layout:

Whichever store layout we choose, we need to arrange the store’s pathways, aisles, and display fixtures with traffic flow in mind. To do this, we must understand three key customer behaviours:

1. Customers need transition space as they enter a store. This is what experts call the decompression zone.
2. Customers browse and shop the way they drive. In the US, that means customers usually turn to the right when they enter a store.
3. Customers need personal space when shopping. They don’t like to be crowded, jostled, or so close that their bottoms brush when passing

Step 4: Position Products for Maximum Exposure:

According to store design experts, this is the part of the process where store owners tend to put the cart before the horse. Once the floor plan is sketched out, store owners are quick to purchase and install fixtures, then fill them with product.