Design Trends You Must Have For Your Shopfront in 2021
Retail shopping has undergone notable changes over the last few years. That said, changes in retail have been rapidly amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shoppers were already turning to online stores, enjoying the added convenience and ease of accessibility. Online shopping became the ultimate retail experience for many shoppers during lockdowns. Since the opening up of the world again, many people still retain the same habits they had during lockdown - including their shopping habits. This is why the design of the physical retail store is more important now than it ever has been.
With the reopening of the economy, shoppers are still after a brick and mortar retail experience, where they can physically see what they are buying. However, to keep our customers coming back, the bar for physical retail store design has been set even higher. There are an array of key current design trends that have emerged in 2021 that are fast becoming a must for any brick and mortar store looking to stay relevant. Read on to learn about these trends, and how you can apply them to your retail store.
Tell your brand story through your store
The interactive nature of physical stores is one of its key benefits over online shopping. Investing in, and communicating your brand story, has become more important than ever before.
With digital sign-ins and limits on people in-store, customers are more hesitant to step foot into your shop. The retail experience has become more complicated recently, so you need to tell a story and make it clear why people should visit.
One of the major design trends that has emerged in 2021 is communicating a brand’s values; and communicating their brand story. Telling their brand story is one of the most powerful ways retailers can maintain existing customers, and draw in new ones.
Visual queues in the store can play a significant role in communicating a brand’s story. Artwork, creative signage and videos can all be included within the store as interactive ways to communicate the core message of your brand. More and more retail stores in 2021 have been installing full-length glass for their shopfront. This allows customers a full view of the inside of the store, drawing them in and encouraging them to enter. If you have invested in beautiful visual merchandising, frameless retail entry doors and full-length glass windows are an incredibly striking way to draw in new and existing customers.
Immersive Experiences In Retail
Unique and immersive experiences are becoming more and more relevant in 2021 retail. Visual merchandising and the overall physical design of your store needs to be highly appealing, engaging - and strategic. This will play into the likelihood of customers entering your store, and their motivation to not leave within 5 minutes.
It’s important for retailers to foster a sense of safety, security and comfort in their stores. At the same time, visual merchandisers must craft an engaging, enjoyable shopping experience that will appeal to all segments of their market. To create immersive displays, many retailers choose to showcase an array of related products in glass casings. This draws the eye to the display, while also preventing customers from accidentally messing up your visual merchandising.
Technology in the Retail Industry
Technology is the perfect combination of convenience and excitement in 2021. In many ways, it has become a basic necessity in retail - checking in via a QR code has well and truly become the new normal. But QR codes have been around for a while, and there are plenty more engaging and exciting ways retail stores have been using them in 2021. Retailers may choose to use QR codes for competitions and giveaways, feedback surveys, discount codes, and anything they can think of!
Security & Retail
Security has always been important in retail, and more and more retail stores are taking their security measures even more seriously than before. One way this has been done is by installing high-quality structural glass laminate. This type of glass is strategically designed so it does not shatter into pieces. Rather, glass that has been impacted enough to break remains intact, creating a spider web effect, preventing dangerous shards from escaping.
This incredibly strong glass is routinely applied in a range of retail settings, including shopfront glass installation, frameless retail entry doors, store splashbacks, ceiling glazing and more.
Natural Lighting in Retail
Natural lighting makes us instantly feel calmer, happier, and just a little more content. Unsurprisingly, natural lighting has become a major design trend in the wake of turbulent times. If space permits, it’s best to flood the retail space with as much natural light as possible. Not only does natural light boost our mood, it also enhances the appeal of products.
Of course, the best way to do this is by installing high quality, structural glass laminate throughout the entire store - for your windows, doors, and even as skylights.
Instagrammable Spaces
What is an Instagrammable space? Well, an Instagrammable space simply means a space that has been designed with the intention to motivate people to take their photo and share it on social media. This is an excellent marketing tool you can use to gain earned media from your customers.
Natural light is of course one of the best ways to create an Instagrammable space. But in 2021, there are even more ways retailers can craft highly Instagrammable spaces in their retail stores. Products on the shelves are more consistently being merchandised in a way that is as visually appealing as possible. But crafting the perfect Instagrammable moment doesn't stop there. Retailers may install eye-catching floor or wall installations in appealing patterns. Another hot tip is to pop catchy phrases that will resonate with your target audience on your walls, and couple these phrases with intriguing artwork or displays. This will encourage your customers to snap a photo, and post it! You may even couple this with a CTA like, “Be sure to tag [business name] for your chance to be featured on our socials!”.
Get Your Store Noticed With PTG Commercial Glazing
There are so many emerging design trends at play in 2021, it can be a tad overwhelming! Luckily PTG Commercial Glazing has you covered for all your retail glass installation needs. We routinely install shopfront glass, mirrors, doors, splashbacks, ceiling glazing and more. If you need high quality, durable glass installed by professionals you can trust, be sure to contact the PTG team here.