5 Signs Your Store Needs a Makeover + 4 More

How do you know when your store needs a makeover? Sadly, there isn't a magical answer like "once very 5 years" though that would be nice. No, it's more like "when any number of factors begin to occur." Vague, I know.

If you're trying to find where your store stands, Bob Phibbs adds some clarity with this RetailCustomerExperience.com piece titled, "5 signs your retail store needs a makeover." In it, he covers traffic patterns, design consistency, merchandise selection, and display layout, asking questions like "Does your merchandise scream sensory overload?" and "Does your store look old?"

After reading through the article, I immediately jotted down 4 more questions I would ask retailers pondering a redesign.

• Does your design still communicate your brand, products, and/or services? Things change over time and it's important that your store(s) continue to communicate the right message to consumers. Just take a look at Walmart and the transformation it's undergoing.
• Are your displays and decor out of shape? More than just looking dated (which is really what Mr. Phibbs meant by "old"), store components wear over time. Are your displays chipped, broken, etc.? Is your flooring past needing "just a good cleaning"? These are signs it's probably time to go out with the old and in with the new.
• Are you noticing a decline in sales? While this could be caused by a number of things, a lousy design could also be a contributing factor.
• What is the competition doing? Obviously you want to set your store(s) apart from the competition. However, if the industry is changing and upgrading, the last thing you want is to be caught in everyone else's dust.

I was really hoping to come up with a 5th, but my brain stopped short. Care to help me out? What would you add to round out the list?