A well-planned retail store layout is crucial – it allows a retailer to maximise sales for each square foot of selling space within the shop.

A good store layout should consider the size and location of each department, any permanent structures, such as displays or counter, where such fixtures are located as well as customer traffic patterns. Consumer comfort while shopping is even more important than the selection of goods available, so retailers should be sure that the store is designed to allow adequate space between aisles and keep walkways free. Cramped spaces can spoil a shopping experience and alienate customers.

The ideal floor plan for any given shop will of course depend on the type of products sold, the building location as well as budget available for the overall store design.

Depending on the size of your shop and the types of products on sale, some basic but tried and tested shop layouts to choose from are:

The straight floor plan  - works well for almost any type of retail store. It makes use of the walls and fixtures to create small spaces within the shop and is also one of the most economical store designs.

The diagonal floor plan  - a good store layout for the self-service type of retail shop as it gives excellent visibility for cashiers and customers alike, as well as floor plan facilitating movement and traffic flow within the store.

The angular floor plan - best used for more expensive, specialty stores. The curves and angles of fixtures and walls can be costly to install initially, although ultimately the soft angles create better traffic flow throughout the shop.

The geometric floor plan - this is a suitable store design for clothing and apparel shops. It uses racks and fixtures to create an interesting layout without a high cost.