Retail Design Lessons, Indiana Jones Style

Admittedly, I have never seen an entire Indiana Jones movie, but even I know that there’s a new one coming out. It seems like ad campaigns, movie trailers, and Harrison Ford’s face are everywhere I turn; so it really shouldn’t surprise me that I would find an article titled “Unearth Your Inner Indy” as I was clicking through Entrepener.com this morning. Wanting to see how I could be more like the whip-toting, Holy Grail-finding adventurer, I checked it out. And just like how Bruce Springsteen taught us a thing or two about store design, turns out the brown fedora-clad Indy can teach us a couple lessons himself.

In his article, author Justin Petruccelli relates 6 qualities Mr. Jones possess that all entrepreneurs need to be successful. Let’s take a look at 4 of them and how they pertain to the retail design arena.

“The Book is Mightier Than the Whip”
For a design to be successful, you need to do your homework. Retailers need to have a clear idea of who is going to be shopping their stores and how they will be doing so. And designers need to understand the retailers they are designing for and the brands they are helping to build. Without either, you could end up with an unrecognizable store that no one really likes to shop in.

“Think Outside the Ark”
No matter how well you plan, hiccups do occur. Chances are your competition is coming across the same obstacles. Using a little ingenuity to tackle challenges can set you apart from the rest. It might not be the easy way, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

“Never Forget Your Hat”
Indy has his ratty brown fedora, you have your logo, brand colors, and other identifying characteristics. Utilize these at every opportunity, so your customers can find you even when they are away from home.

And finally, don’t become too complacent. Even though you’ve reached one goal, there are always more to reach for. Retail isn’t a static industry. Trends change. Demands change. Be ready to change with them or get left behind.

Thought of other lessons Indiana Jones –or any other movie character for that matter- can teach us? We’d love to hear them.