Handbook

In designing the interior of a grocery store, both novice and veteran designers face a complex challenge. This task demands a comprehensive application of design project skills, including zoning, color and lighting choices, furniture and accessory selection, and effective product placement, all while considering marketing techniques. In essence, designing a grocery store’s interior is a true test of a designer’s professional competence. Let’s delve deeper into these aspects.

 

Zoning in the Store

 

As with other retail spaces, three primary zones are identified in the layout of a grocery store:

• Entrance Area: This section typically showcases “daily specials” or promotional items, along with various signs, advertising posters, and seasonal products.
• Main Shopping Area: Here, the main flow of customers moves, highlighted visually with lighting and color, and strategically placed products.
• Checkout Area: This is the “hottest” zone where many impulse purchases occur. Therefore, items like chocolates, candies, coffee, gum, and other small goods are placed near the checkout counters.

With this zoning strategy, customers begin to pick up advantageous products right from the entrance and, by the time they reach the checkout, they find that they’ve made many unplanned but necessary purchases, and might even grab something extra at the checkout!

The goal is to create a sense of satisfaction from the purchases made. Proper and effective store zoning, where bright, quality, and affordable products visually “jump out” at customers, acts as a key to achieving this feeling.

 

Color Choices and Lighting

 

This aspect is the second “key”. While it might seem trivial at first, the choice of colors and lighting significantly influences sales.

Serious consideration should be given to the color scheme of grocery sections. Some important recommendations include:

• Ensure products visually stand out against their surroundings.
• Limit display areas to two main tones, with variations of these colors.
• Use bright and “provocative” colors in combination with calmer tones, and consider an overall store design in yellow-orange-ocher shades.

The lighting has been covered in previous materials, so it won’t be elaborated on here.

 

Materials Used in Store Finishing

 

For bread and bakery as well as grocery sections, wood is preferable for shelving. In contrast, materials like ceramic tiles, glass, and stainless steel are suitable for fish and meat sections.

In general, a combination of wood, ceramic tiles, and simply painted walls and ceilings is recommended, ensuring these materials harmonize with the equipment and look perfect.

 

Presence of Signage and POS Materials

 

The more informative signage, price tags, labels, brochures, etc., a grocery store has, providing detailed information about prices, production dates, compositions, and manufacturers of products, the more frequently customers are likely to shop there. This is because you provide maximum useful information.

However, don’t overdo it, as your grocery store could risk resembling a pharmacy.

 

Style of Displays and the Entire Shopping Area

 

No matter how elite and expensive your products are, remember, it’s a grocery store, not a boutique. Strive for simplicity and succinctness in design. Overly elaborate and pretentious styling will not add uniqueness or charm to your store; in fact, it may do the opposite, deterring people from entering.

 

Stimulating Appetite

 

And not just visually through strategic placement and lighting. The right selection of scents can also play a significant role.

For example, the bakery section can use the aroma of vanilla, while the fruit section might have the scent of ripe apples or citrus. Or consider baking bread on-site to delight customers with the smell of fresh baking each morning.

I hope this information on designing a grocery store is sufficient. If you own a grocery store and are planning a profitable redesign, feel free to reach out to me, interior designer Olesya Blashchenko, for a comprehensive design project.