What would you say is the most valuable piece of real estate in your store? Is it the first product display that comes into view when someone enters the shop? What about the signage that alerts shoppers to new sales? Could it be your counter space? For many retailers, it’s all about the counter space. It’s where customers complete their purchases, interact with staff and make last-minute buying decisions.
What can you do to optimize your counter space for a better retail experience?
Keep it clutter-free.
Has it ever hurt anyone to be clean and organized? Avoid overwhelming customers with excessive signage, unnecessary equipment or too many small items. Instead, focus on essential tools. Keep your counter space simple with just your payment terminal and a small selection of impulse-buy items. It’s a good idea to regularly assess what’s on your counter. Remove anything that doesn’t serve a functional or sales-driven purpose.
“At most, you can include some small items that customers might want to purchase last minute; but make sure your customers aren’t being inundated with choices or face a messy, cluttered display on the counter,” advises Street Corner Urban Market, “Have them end their experience at your store on a positive note, with an impression of efficient courtesy and no clutter.”
Use vertical space.
Think upwards! This is an especially vital task when you have limited counter space. Shelving, hooks and small display stands can help you showcase products without taking up too much surface area. Place small shelves or risers behind the counter. Use them to display gift cards, loyalty program details or small add-on products like keychains and lip balms. This will help you to increase impulse buys while keeping the area nice and neat.
“A smaller retail space requires a well-designed layout for a positive shopping experience,” insists Retail Insider, “The layout should be functional, inviting, and in line with your brand identity...Using shelving and wall displays to maximize vertical space is an effective way to save floor space and enhance product visibility. This approach ensures that your products are easily accessible and attractively displayed.”
Go digital with signage.
Printed signs take up space. They can make counters look messy. A digital screen, on the other hand, can display promotions, store policies or loyalty programs while saving space. Digital signage is also well known for engaging customers. A small tablet on a stand can rotate through promotional content and encourage customers to sign up for discounts or special offers.
SpeedPro Canada also notes that with digital signage, you can save money on production and print costs. “With traditional methods like print advertisements, you have to pay for each ad separately,” notes their site, “However, with digital signage, you only have to pay for the initial investment of the hardware and software.”
Accept payments with the Ingenico Desk/5000!
The Ingenico Desk/5000 is a robust POS solution for demanding payment environments. With versatile payment methods and seamless integration with our PIN pads range, it optimizes counter space while ensuring efficient transactions. User-friendly yet secure, the Desk/5000 is your scalable answer to adaptable payment processing. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email info@unitypayments.ca.
