STORE LAYOUT
Store layout is the way merchandise is laid
out for inspection and accessed by consumers
It has two significant effects on the
consumer behavior & buying acti vi t y:
It determi nes the appearance of the store
It l i mi ts the way in which customers may
negoti ate their way round the st ore, which
affects cust omer traffic flow/circulation.
Types of st ore Lay out
The Grid
Free
flow
Bouti qu
e
Loop
Spine
THE GRID LAYOUT
The grid/gridiron pattern usually has main,
secondary & terti ary aisles & consumers are
exposed to all products.
Grid Layout is a type of store layout i n
which counters and fi xtures are placed in
long rows or runs, usually at right angles,
throughout the store.
Widel y used in supermarkets, vari ety
& discount stores
Advant ages
Uses space efficient l y
Low cost
Customer famili ari ty & allows more
customers
Merchandise exposure
Ease of cleaning
Simplified securi ty
Possi bi l i ty of self-service
Disadvant ages
Plain & un interesting
Li mi ted browsing
Stimulati on of rushed shopping
behavior
Increases securi t y risks
Makes displays rigid
Customers feels isolated
FREE FLOW LAYOUT
Free-Flow Layout is a type of store layout in
which fi xtures and merchandise are grouped
i nto free-flowing patterns on the sales floor.
Designed more unstructured flows of
store traffic &allows relaxed customer
shopping
Widel y used in depart ment & speci al ty
stores
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Advant ages
Flexibi l i ty in layout
Allowance for browsing and
wanderi ng freel y
Increased i mpulse purchases
Visual appeal
Cross aisles makes shopping easier
Disadvant ages
Expensive on space
requirements
Cost of fixt ures is higher
Waste of floor space
Possi bi l i ty of confusion
Difficul t y of cleaning
Disney's effecti ve free flow
layout
Boutique
Also known as concept pattern
It effectivel y adapt free flow system by
creati ng departments to sell related
merchandise. This is also known as associated
sales.
Widel y used in small specialist shop
& specialty areas in depart ment
st ores.
St orage, Receiving, Market ing
Underwear
Dressing Rooms
Checkout counter
Clearance It ems
Feature Feature
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Open Display Wi ndow Open Display Wi ndow
Advant ages
Create a sense of space withi n a
small area
Cust omer can easily see compl ete
range of merchandise
Cust omer can link i t ems in
different categories
Appears most appealing t o customers
Disadvantages
Cost of using space as cent er space is
left empt y
Boundaries b/w di fferent categories may
LOOP LAYOUT
Also known as Race Track.
Loop Layout is a type of store layout in which
a major customer aisle begins at the
entrance, loops t hrough the store, usually in
the shape of a circle, square, ar rectangle, and
then returns the customer the front of the
store.
It is useful for large stores
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Advant ages
It guides cust omer round a large area
It exposes large amount s of
merchandise
Disadvant ages
Cust omers cannot focus on
i ntended purchase
Need for int ernal walls/island screens
SPINE LAYOUT
Spine Layout is a type of store layout which
is si milar to that of loop layout except that
cust omer ret urns by same pat h .
It uses a central pat h way to access
various sections of the store wi th branch
lines
Spine layout can be used as the basis for
S shaped & Y shaped layout.
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Advant age
Retailer can utilize t he benefits of free
flow, gri d and loop systems.
Disadvantage
Retailer may need t o vary the shape of
cent ral walk way & increase expendi t ure
on fi xtures & fi t t ings
