Retail Décor & Design

Creating dynamic retail décor that sells

Our approach to each project begins with listening to the customer and carefully identifying the goals and objectives of the retail store interior design project. Once we understand and prioritize those objectives, we can get started with the design process to develop retail store design solutions that maximize brand impact, quality, and efficiency – and most of all, sales! A major part of this preliminary phase is working with the customer to develop an understanding of their budgetary needs for the project. Once we have a good understanding of the budgetary requirements, our designers are adept at working within those budgetary parameters to highlight selected focal points such as high return service and/or specialty departments. From an overall retail store design standpoint, our designers are always trying to achieve a well-orchestrated balance of high and low visual impacts to keep the shopper engaged in reinforcing the store’s merchandising philosophy rather than neutralizing it with too much visual noise. If all areas of the store have equal impact, it may appear visually stunning but can be confusing and not complementary to the merchandising displays. On the other hand, applying austerity equally throughout the store design can lead to visual monotony and disengage customers while they shop. Striking the right balance is the key to success. When designing retail décor, it’s helpful to organize the décor, displays, and signs into three levels of hierarchy in visual communication: High Level, Eye Level, and Buy Level.

High Level Signage

Examples of high level signs include brand identity signage (such as logo signage on exterior or interior wall of sales floor, grocery signage, retail store signage), primary departmental identification signage, secondary callouts (smaller signage in support of the primary departmental signage), and wayfinding (such as aisle directories, checkout lights, restroom signage, and customer service signage)

Eye Level Signage

Examples of eye level signs include menu boards, mission statement or core values signage, general operations signage (such as menu boards, store hours, return policies, smoking/alcohol policy signage), and end cap signage.

Buy Level Signage

Examples of buy level signs include product pricing signage, product attribute signage, shelf strips, door clings, shelf-mounted aisle invader or blade signs calling out commodities, and casetop outrigger signs with commodity plaques.

FAQs

What type of retail décor does CIP Retail design and manufacture?

CIP Retail is rooted in design. Whether it’s developing an extension of an existing identity or creating a new concept from the ground up, CIP’s talented designers can help turn your vision into reality or re-imagine your space in a totally new way. From supermarket design to small shops or large scale retail spaces, CIP can handle any challenge.

CIP’s award-winning design department is a unique mix of creative and engineering talent collaborating to create exciting and memorable retail décor solutions. Because our designers and engineers work in a manufacturing environment, they are rooted in understanding budgets, materials, and yield. They are highly collaborative in transitioning from concept to reality and involved throughout the décor manufacturing phase, from proofing to inspections. Our design services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Review area competition
Local demographic study
Identify target consumer
Field Surveys
Fixture Plan Surveys
Interior Elevation Surveys
Material Specifications
Store Design
Fixture Design
Lighting Design
Environmental Design
Flooring Design
Paint Plans
Ceramic Wall Tile Plans
Full Color Elevations
Full Color Perspective Renderings
Interior Construction Details
Installation Plans
Overhead Signage Plans
Design Control Documents
Value-Engineering Services
Menu Systems
Wall Vinyl/Murals
Banners
Wall Lettering
Product Pricing Kits
Large Format Imaging
Floor Graphics
Aisle Directories
Checkout Lights
Way-Finding Systems

At what point in the construction process does CIP Retail get involved?

Ideally, we want to be involved as early as possible. Whether the project is new store construction or a remodel of an existing space, our starting point is receiving an approved fixture plan / store layout from the customer. From there, we first work with you to develop an understanding of your project goals and budgetary requirements, along with an understanding of your store’s demographics and target customer. If we get involved early enough in the construction process, we can help design and develop interior construction details, section details and soffit details to be implemented into the architectural set, as well as bid-ready documentation such as paint plans and wall tile plans. The sooner we get involved, the more likely it is that CIP Retail can bring value and cost savings to your project.

What are ways we can personalize or localize our retail environment?

Through the years, CIP has worked with numerous customers to design various elements and ways to implement personalization and localization into their interior design. Depending on the retail sector, we can develop signage elements that personalize and localize your commitment to the community. In a world of globalization and generalization, your retail décor can set you apart from the crowd in communicating and connecting to your customer on a local and personal level. For instance, some retailers want to put the town’s history on display within their stores. Your local historical society is an excellent resource to find a treasure trove of historical photos. These historical photos can be implemented into the interior design, from simple framed pictures to a unique wall mural collage where you can blend the town’s historical photographs with the store’s or owner’s historical photos. This is a nice and impactful way that retail décor can reinforce the ownership’s commitment to the local community and the customers they serve. Local community boards on display in the vestibule or at the storefront are also a great way to signal your store as a committed integral part of the community.
How important are demographic studies when designing a supermarket?

How important are demographic studies when designing a supermarket?

Understanding your target customer is ultimately the most important way to achieve a successful interior design concept that connects with your customer while they shop, makes them feel comfortable, and ultimately creates an inviting and engaging space that maximizes sales. The appropriate design for retail décor and signage is not to be determined by an owner’s personal taste but rather by the consensus of the store’s customers. Of course, the store’s ownership or leadership team is often the best resource for making these décor and signage choices. And CIP’s designers make sure to do the necessary due diligence in understanding the local demography and the store’s target customer. Additionally, because we design, manufacture, and create for numerous retail customers throughout all 50 states, we constantly learn, evolve, and engage in the latest design trends on a local, regional, and national level.

My store needs an interior décor and signage remodel, but I have no architectural drawings. How can we get started?

No problem. This is very common. As-built surveys are our bread and butter. No project is too big or too small. We routinely perform site visits to develop the necessary architectural documentation in order to effectively design the interior space, including décor, interior elevations, reflected ceiling plans, fixture plans, and section details. This is a great way to achieve maximum efficiency with your project because we make sure to obtain the exact dimensions and locations of any and all obstructions that might interfere with the décor and signage package and develop engineered design solutions customized for each area.

What does the future hold for retail décor & design?

It’s no secret that brick and mortar retail is engaged in a high-stakes turf war with online retailing. Now more than ever, retailers must reinvest in their store environment and customer communication signage as a protection from competition. Today’s customer is a highly-sophisticated consumer. Like their parents and grandparents, they are seeking the lowest prices possible, but today’s shoppers are also highly aware of their shopping environment and looking for a bit of theater in their brick and mortar experience to keep their interest. As always, the overall costs of a well-executed update to your store’s interior décor and customer communication signage can be easily justified when you amortize the expected sales increase over the life span of the remodel. And the current competition within the industry makes such an endeavor all the more crucial.