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
0
0
0
0
0
oo
0
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
J
e
a
n
s

C
a
s
u
a
l

W
e
a
r

S
t
o
c
k
i
n
g
s

A
c
c
e
s
s
o
r
i
e
s

P
a
n
t
s

T
o
p
s

T
o
p
s

S
k
i
r
t
s

a
n
d

D
r
e
s
s
e
s

H
a
t
s

a
n
d

H
a
n
d
b
a
g
s

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

. . . . . - - - - - - - - t
\ I
. . . , . . . . .
. . . . . . . - - - - - - 1 1 - - - - - -
_ /
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.
I Rat
f
' =" I
_...
Q O 0
I I
I I
I I
I I
0
oog
I 1
0
0
I I
I I
I I
I
I
I I
I I
D o I
V 1 1 0 0
.iii
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