Although online shopping is continuing to rise in popularity, physical retail spaces are still an important part of the shopping experience. If you have decided to launch your own retail venture and you’re looking for the ideal property, here are some helpful tips to help you choose the perfect place.

Set Your Budget

Before you start ringing up estate agents and viewing properties, it’s important to decide on a budget. You don’t want to burn through too much startup capital simply through renting or buying a retail space. Set a reasonable budget that still leaves you plenty of funds for everything else you will need, such as your stock, your décor, your utilities, and your advertising.

Once you have done this, you can begin viewing properties that fit within your budget and decide on the one that’s most suitable.

Make Sure It’s Easily Accessible

Speaking of suitability, in order to attract as many customers as possible, one of the most important qualities your new retail space should have is accessibility.

Ideally, it will be situated on a busy road or in a bustling town centre, with plenty of potential customers going by throughout the day. If your shop is tucked away down a quiet road, with no stand-out features, then you are not going to get as much business.

When thinking about accessibility, you should also consider parking. If possible, look for a property that has its own parking spots or that is located conveniently near a carpark, to make the shopping experience easier for your customers.

Think About Amenities

If you like the look of a particular property, you need to think about what it has to offer before you sign on the dotted line. For example, if you require a retail space that includes a changing area or bathroom facilities, and the property you like doesn’t have those amenities, it may be time to look elsewhere.

You also need to think about your capacity for renovations. If you have the budget for some minor renovations, but a particular property needs a lot of doing up, it’s probably not the right option for your business, no matter what other glowing features it may have.

Setting Up Shop

Once you have found the perfect retail property, it’s time to get it all set up. One of the first things you will need to focus on is the lighting, in order to show off your wares to their best advantage. Find a highly qualified commercial electrician with years of experience – and all the right certifications – and your new business should be brightly illuminated in no time.

Next, it’s time to decorate. There are plenty of ways to make a shop interior really ‘pop’ – from vibrantly coloured feature walls to artfully placed racks and shelving, clever use of mirrors, and perhaps even some indoor plants or quirky props to add some extra wow factor.

Prepare For Your Grand Opening

Once you have your new retail space all set up, there’s nothing left to do but unveil it to the public! Try and draw as much attention to your big opening day as possible, as first impressions are as important in retail as they are in your social life.

Spread the word on social media, advertise in local papers, put up signs and billboards, and hopefully you will have streams of people coming in on the big day to help you celebrate the launch of your exciting new venture.