“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
The saying is common enough, but still, book publishers invest thousands of dollars in premium cover artists for a reason. Your liquor store is no different: Your product catalog, store processes, and friendly staff all matter… but the looks of your store matter, too.
You can tell the difference between a Whole Foods and a Walmart store from the instant you walk in the door. The layout, the design choices, and the way their products are displayed all communicate the store’s energy — and those choices are designed to welcome the specific type of customer that store hopes to target.
You can use these same tricks for your liquor store promotion!
In this post, we’ll examine three different liquor store design ideas you can use to decide on the perfect layout and design to help you maximize sales and traffic for your store.
Can Liquor Store Design Ideas Help Sales?
We’ve all heard that looks aren’t everything. So, can your liquor store’s design move the needle for sales?
Design alone can’t make or break your store, but it can impact your sales and overall profitability. When you take the time to carefully consider your store’s design, you can make it easier for customers to navigate your store, put them in the right mood to buy from you, and encourage them to take their time and browse.
Related Read: Liquor Store Profit 101: Sell More Products With 5 Easy Tips
Conversely, if your store design is poor, you can make customers feel overwhelmed or confused, which can prevent them from making a purchase or discourage them from returning to your store in the future.
All retail stores should consider layout and design, but liquor stores face unique challenges.
Firstly, liquor stores must put a greater emphasis on security than other types of retail stores. You may want to consider keeping high-value items in areas that are easier for staff to monitor, even if it impacts the accessibility of these items for your customers.
Related Read: Alcohol Marketing Strategies: 5 Expert Tips To Help You Sell More
Additionally, liquor stores may need to consider security integration with their point of sale (POS) systems to help prevent theft and ensure that the store is adequately protected.
By taking these challenges in stride and putting the right systems in place, you can design a store that meets your customers' needs, while also ensuring security — helping you drive sales and build a successful business.
1. Use Repurposed Materials
(Photo source: WineRacks.com)
Do you want your store to have a rustic, down-to-earth feel? If your store is a casual shop in an area with customers looking to feel at home, you may want to consider repurposing materials like pallets or wine or whisky barrels. Using these items for displays saves you money on shelving and gives your store an earthy, relaxed energy.
This type of design can help customers feel more comfortable and cozy in your store. This play is particularly effective in a casual or traditional-style liquor store.
Related Read: How Much Does it Cost to Open a Liquor Store?
(Photo source: Old Liquors Magazine)
2. Consider Spacing
(Photo Credit: Pinterest)
Regardless of the design style you choose for your liquor store, make sure you consider the spacing of your products and displays. Spacing can impact the feel of your store. For example, if you want your store to have a modern, high-end feel, consider displaying your products with more spacing, like the image above.
Even if your store has a more traditional feel, you should consider spacing your products. It can be tempting to cram as much variety as you can fit onto your shelves, but that approach is not the right fit for every store.
How can you tell if it’s the right choice for you? Simple: Ask your customers. Research your market to see what kind of layout or display your target customers gravitate toward.
At this stage of your design process, you’ll also want to consider the types of promotions you’ll run for your store. Do you plan to offer tastings or host in-store events? If so, make sure you leave space for tables or other gathering places in your floor plan.
(Photo credit: Pinterest)
3. Maximize Endcap Displays
Lastly, do not underestimate the power of the endcap display! Endcap displays are critical for any store. For your liquor store, consider pairing items that are currently purchased together, such as tequila and triple sec or whisky and cola, to boost sales of top-selling items and increase convenience for your shoppers.
You can also combine your endcap displays with your marketing efforts for your store. For example, you can put together a custom drink recipe for customers to try, then combine all the ingredients with recipe cards on your endcaps.
You might also steer more customers toward a higher-end liquor by placing it in a prime location. The customer may have come looking for Jim Beam, but if the Maker’s Mark is front and center, they may just grab that instead.
Lastly, consider crafting custom endcap displays to tie into holidays, events, or promotions for your store to maximize sales around these events.
(Image source: DisplayMax)
3 Design Details For Your Store
Sometimes, the details are what really matters! Let’s take a look at three rapidfire design details you may want to consider including in your store:
- Interactive Touchscreens: Install interactive touchscreens that provide customers with product information, tasting notes, and recommended pairings.
- Suspended Bottle Display: Suspend bottles from the ceiling using transparent wires or ropes, creating a visually striking and memorable display.
- Cultural Sections: Organize products by country or region, allowing customers to take a "trip around the world" while browsing your store.
Getting the Most From These Liquor Store Design Ideas
Setting up your liquor store design to maximize sales, communicate your store’s brand, and draw in the right kind of customer is essential to your store’s success.
However, design is just one piece of the puzzle.
To maximize the success of your store and get the most out of your design choices, you need to leverage customer and sales data.
Utilize a robust point of sale solution, like Bottle POS, to get a handle on customer behavior, sales trends, and more. This data can help you guide promotional decisions, manage stock effectively, and more.
To see how Bottle POS can help you level up your store, check out a demo of our solution today!
