Retail Space Must Haves in 2020

The shifts in the retail industry can be complicated and the changes occur quickly. How you meet those new challenges will determine your business’ success. Consumer behavior changes over time and your brand or company needs to change with it. It’s partly about staying relevant, but also about surviving, making it necessary to know what’s on-trend when developing your retail strategies. Your retail space must have certain things in 2020 for success. 

Restaurants Need Outdoor Space

If you haven’t already created an outdoor space attached to your restaurant, now is the time to add one. This is a great way to expand your dining space and minimize crowding on the inside of the restaurant and long waits before being seated. It is possible to attract more customers, especially those who are directly interested in outdoor dining, enjoying the weather, or having their dog along. An outdoor space can help to create a different vibe from the inside seating area. Whether you want to create a party vibe with twinkle lights or a garden-style with gorgeous potted plants, you can create an atmosphere that’s simply impossible to achieve indoors. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, an outdoor space is ideal for airflow and social distancing requirements. 

ADA Compliance

Every retail space should endeavor to meet the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements properly, making accessibility available to all customers and in the process being ADA compliant, thereby avoiding costly lawsuits. There are a number of areas that you must meet ADA requirements, including but not limited to parking lots, doors and entrances, curbs, stairways and ramps, doors at shelves, aisles, checkouts, and service counters, and restrooms. Simple things such as redesigning your business’ website for easy navigation on assisted devices, arranging items by weight, creating larger dressing rooms to accommodate people with wheelchairs and designing easy-to-read signage are things you can do in your retail space to meet compliance.  

Location is Key

If you want your retail business to grow and succeed, you have to establish your presence in a prime location. Whether your business is large, medium, or small in size, location is key to establish presence, traffic, and generating income. Your choice in location can either break or make your business. Factors to consider include accessibility, competition proximity, foot traffic and target customers. Do your homework and create a business and marketing plan that can help you decide on the perfect retail location.

Retail is constantly evolving and if your business is to survive, you have to keep up with the trends and changes needed for success. You don’t have the luxury of being complacent. Always seek ways to improve and grow your business. Whether it’s creating an outdoor space, becoming ADA compliant or moving to a new location, you must do what it requires for your retail store to succeed in 2020 and beyond. Contact Quinn & Associates today to learn more and see our current listings.