It is no secret that modern retail stores face some challenges. The rapid shift to e-commerce, the rising cost of raw materials, and ongoing staffing shortages are just a few factors putting a strain on the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping experience.
With that said, great challenges present great opportunities. One such area to stand out in a competitive environment is by creating next-level retail facilities. By enhancing the energy efficiency, safety, and comfort of modern retail spaces, businesses give themselves a great chance for gaining a leg up on the competition. Keep reading as we explore some of the construction essentials in designing a successful retail store.
Leverage Passive Design Concepts
Passive design involves using the building site for as much natural heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation as possible. It can do wonders for helping save on utility bills and enhancing biophilic sensibilities.
Proper building orientation is one of the top considerations in passive design. It helps ensure that sunlight is being used most advantageously. Natural daylight can make the store brighter and more inviting while reducing reliance on artificial lighting sources.
It can also be helpful to align the short axis of the building parallel to prevailing wind patterns. When windows are open, this will maximize breeze for natural cooling. On particularly hot days–or days when the wind is a bit too strong for comfort–look into commercial grade ceiling fans as an alternative to increased A/C usage. The best fans allow you to keep the thermostat set several degrees higher, which can provide energy savings of 10% or more for your retail store.
Don’t Scrimp on Insulation
When it comes to energy efficiency, proper insulation may be even more important than strategic orientation. The best thermal insulation materials will increase the R-value of the store’s building envelope, limiting unwanted air transfer into and out of the structure.
While there are dozens of insulation products that can improve R-value, more and more facilities are choosing sustainable insulation materials.
These are products that not only provide outstanding insulation, but are mindfully sourced, have low embodied energy, and pose no toxic threat when exposed to extreme temperatures. Some of the most trending sustainable insulation materials for commercial spaces include hemp, recycled denim, and sheep’s wool.
Keep Customization in Mind
The modern economy evolves at breakneck speed. Hot business concepts arrive, mature, and die out in a fraction of the time of decades gone by.
To help ensure that your retail business does not go the way of the dodo bird prematurely, it is crucial to design a customizable retail space that can adapt with ever-changing business needs.
Opt for open interiors that allow for the free movement of shelving and merchandise throughout the space. Get creative with tempered glass wall panels to help create defined areas and privacy on an as-need basis without compromising the prevailing open floor plan.
Prioritize durability. Choose features such as epoxy terrazzo floors that can readily withstand regular design reconfiguration. Look at steel framing and metal b-decking for roofs to help facilitate additions/renovations without requiring major investments in increasing load-bearing capacity.
Ensure Elite Safety Features
There is no way to set a retail store back faster than having a lawsuit.
It’s not just product liability that is cause for concern.
Having a customer or employee injured on the premises is potentially catastrophic. In addition, opening a facility that is not ADA compliant is another way to leave the business exposed.
As such, prioritize safety and security from the earliest design phases. Choose hard flooring with non-slip coatings to facilitate traction and promote ease of cleaning. Study ada railing requirements to guarantee that all stairs, walkways, and restroom facilities are compliant with the latest standards. Keep the interior of the store open, leaving sight lines unobstructed for quick surveillance of suspicious activity. Use the latest security cameras and safety doors to stay one step ahead of breaches.
Source Energy Efficient Options
In case you haven’t noticed, energy efficiency is kind of important in modern retail design. Not only does it help buildings reduce their utility costs, but modern customers increasingly choose to support only those enterprises that align with their sustainability beliefs. Many people are even willing to pay a premium if they know that the business is doing its part to achieve net-zero operations.
In addition to passive design and comprehensive insulation, there are many energy-efficient final touches that can help take the store’s sustainability to the next level. Look into motion-detected LED lighting for restrooms and any other area of the store that does not receive natural daylight. Consider a convenience store cooler for efficient, custom-designed cooling needs for food and beverage stores. Research switchable smart glass windows, as they are an innovative solution for transmitting light when desired and providing shading when temperatures become too intense.
Use Smart Construction Practices and Create a Thriving Retail Store
Despite the challenges facing modern retail businesses, one key area that presents an opportunity is via next-level store design. From enhanced energy efficiency to elite safety features, consider any of the design ideas listed above when constructing a successful retail store. For more of the latest real estate trends shaping southeast Texas, explore the content at The Katy News for the leading market insights!