Setting up a high street store can be more complicated than it seems. Above everything you need a well structured plan of action. Assuming that you have a good plan of action and have done all the researching and have the funding needed to set up your shop here is a check list that will aid you with one of the most important sections of your shop, the shop fittings and display units.
After premises and stock buying, shop fittings represent one of the biggest slices in the expenditure pie when setting up a new high street shop. The check list below will help you avoid some common mistakes as well as choose the right fixtures for your shop.
1. Have I found a premise?
First and foremost you need a well located premise for your shop. No good setting up a stunning shop where nobody can see it or find it. I know that establishments in very busy streets have high rental prices but that will be money well spent.
2. Do I have existing floor plans?
Now that you found the ideal place for your shop it is time to make you floor plan. Where will be the counter be, aisles, shelves displays, etc. Might be a good idea to ask for professional help here, like hiring an interior designer or decorator specialised in stores and shop interior designs.
3. What will the shops branding / colours be?
Choose the style and colours of your shop fittings based on the colours of you brand/shop. There are many shop fixture manufacturers these days that can create fittings and displays according to your requirements. Some of the most popular shop fittings manufacturers are Tegometall, CAEM and KLEEREX and you can find them on all major shop fittings suppliers across the country.
4. What work needs to be conducted to the shop front?
Again depending on the type of shop that you are setting up, you will need to make some changes to the shop front. Sports shops need to reflect action and movement, a beds shop needs to pass calm and tranquillity and so on, you got the picture, right?
5. Will I need to alter the shop usage?
Once again depending on the type of shop you will have to alter its usage but there is one rule that suits all shop, accessibility. A shop needs to have easy access for your target audience as well as for disabled people. Displays settings also should be considered when thinking of your shop’s usage.
6. What display shop fittings will I require?
I hate to sound repetitive but, this is also related to the type of shop you are setting up.
7. What is my budget?
The biggest villain in all start ups, the budget. With money everything is made easy but how to start up a good shop with a tight budget? As afore mentioned shop fittings represent a big slice in the expenditure pie of a shop so make sure you reserve some extra cash for it.
8. What are my timescales for the shop fit?
This is entirely up to you and your shop fitter to decide.
9. Where to find good shop fitters?
Ask your shop fitting supplier or use this site www.findashopfitter.co.uk/ here you can find shop fitters for just about any major city in the UK.
10. Have I got a quote from a shop fittings company?
Like mentioned in check list number 7, before you go out buying shop fittings left right and centre, do some research to compare prices. Get a quote from at least two shop fittings companies and suppliers.
Once you have the answers for all those questions you are on the clear to start your new shop.
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If you are going to work with a shopfitter, then it will do you good to understand the general skills a good shopfitter will have.
The largest aspect of shop fittings is project management. This comprises of three main areas; deliverables, the budget and a timescale.
The deliverables - usually made up of a specification which details exactly what work needs to be carried out. This should be as specific as possible detailing each phase of the shop fitting process.
The budget - speaks for itself! This specifies how much each aspect of the shop fit out will cost. Ideally broken down to show shopfitter labour, material costs, shop display fittings cost, etc.
The timescale - specifies the duration of each phase and the completion date.
The entire shopfitter process will be a compromise on each of these.
Design - CAD design allowing you to visualise the layout of your shop early on with your shopfitter. Planning and designing the shop layout early prevents expensive shop alterations later.
Joinery - nearly all shopfitters will have skilled joiners and a joinery as part of their work shop. Either to manufacture bespoke furniture, shop display units and shop counters, or to fit equipment in the shop.
Metal work - used in a similar fashion as the joinery, only in metal. For example specialist staircases within shops.
Electrical and plumbing - this may be something that a shopfitter will subcontract out to local plumbers and electricians. Only larger shop fitting companies are likely to have in house plumbers and electricians.
Signage - it is important that the shopfitter has the capability to produce good quality signage for your shopfront. This is what will draw passing customers in, so it should be good!
Security - the nature of your shop will dictate the amount of resources you will dedicate to security. If you have a jewellery shop then you’ll need a secure shopfront. If your shop sells vegetables then shop security will be less of a priority.
Maintenance - a lot of shopfitters will also carry out maintenance works, both internally and to the exterior of your shop. you should keep on top of this. A poorly maintained shop looks tatty and small maintenance works when left develop in large maintenance works, which will cost you more!
Shop fittings - your shopfitter will be able to fit any shop fittings you have. They may also be able to purchase them for you. Sometimes shopfitters have deals setup with display shop fittings companies which allow them to purchase at reduced prices.
These are the core trades and skills that are utilised by shopfitters. As you go into more specialist types of shops then of course more skills are required!
Findashopfitter.co.uk provides a free service - putting you in touch with the right shopfitter for the job.
You’ll also find lots of useful information on shopfitters and how they operate.
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It is no news that the credit crunch affected us all and everybody is facing new challenges to recover from one of the worst economic downturns in history, especially for those trying to start a new business.
Lets take the example of someone trying to open a new shop, no matter what type of shop it is, this will need shelves, counters, slatwalls and other types of shop fittings depending on the business.
Shop fittings are probably one of the most costly things when setting up a new shop, especially on a tight budget. Remember that the first impression is the one that counts, so the design and quality of the shop fittings will be extremely important.
Buying all the shelves, displays, counters, etc, could drain a good part your budget. So why not lease your shop fittings?
For years there have been companies offering leasing solutions for shopfittings and shop refits for opticians, chemists, mini markets, supermarkets and even department stores. In fact almost every type of retail outlet has benefited from this type of leasing.
How to Lease Shopfittings?
As mentioned above these companies specialised in it. What these companies do is use comparison websites to find the best quotes for what you need. In some cases you provide them with a quote for your shopfitting needs and they will try to obtain a lower quote, saving you precious time to focus on other areas of your new shop.
Often costs of shop fits tend to balloon when unforeseen problems or snags occur, and the original budget is suddenly out of the window. That is where the expertise and experience of a leasing company can help. The company should assist you not to overspend and tailor a budget to meet your necessities and keep your shop fit on track.
Leasing shopliftings conserves valuable working capital by not having to pay cash up front; the cost is spread to cover the working life of the equipment so you get the benefit of immediate usage of the equipment without the capital outlay.
The total cost of the leasing rentals is fully tax allowable. Furthermore, rentals do not rise with inflation or interest rates. It also keeps your valuable banking credit lines free for more profitable use elsewhere in your business.
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The prices of goods leaving UK factory gates rose at their fastest in 14 months in the year to February and at more than double their average rate than over the past decade, according to official figures published on Friday.
The Office of National Statistics reported that manufactured output prices as measured by its producer price index rose by 4.1% in the year to February, up 0.3% points from an inflation rate of 3.8% in January.
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Sterling made some brief gains yesterday but traded fairly flat throughout the day. The European Central bank held their current interest rates at 1% which was expected. Whilst the Bank of England left their base rate at 0.5% for the 12th month in a row, and also held its asset purchase programme at £200bn, again as expected.
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Sterling was under attack from all angles yesterday morning as traders and investors sold off the pound as if it was due to become worthless. Two main factors lead to sterling at one point approaching its biggest one day drop in over a year.
Firstly, a report over the weekend in the Sunday Times suggested the existing Government may win more seats in parliament even if the Conservative Party win more of the popular vote. The talk of a potential hung parliament returned to the forefront of trading floor gossip. With the election getting closer, the implications of a hung parliament would make it nearly impossible to pass controversial or unpopular plans to cut the ballooning budget deficit. Decisions that would usually have been decided during cabinet meetings could potentially take weeks, if not more, to pass through the House of Commons.
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Sterling was under pressure from the start of yesterday’s session after comments from BoE Governor Mervyn King weighed on Sterling. King’s testimony to the Treasury Select committee undermined sterling when he expressed concerns about the fragility of the recovery and left the
door open to further quantitative easing if the need arose. When asked whether further Quantitative Easing would be needed, King said, “We’ll have to see how things pan out. My particular concerns at present derive from the state of the world economy, and we stand to do whatever seems appropriate”.
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Sterling started Monday morning on the back foot but made slight gains throughout the day’s trading despite recent weak economic data, poor public finances and more talk of a hung parliament in May.
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IN THE UK
· Sterling hits 9 month low vs. dollar
· UK Retail sales figures come in at the worst level in 18 months
· GBP/EUR drops below 1.1370
IN THE US
· Dollar rises broadly on Fed discount rate rise
· Crude oil slips due to Fed rate hike
IN THE EU
· EUR/USD drops down from 1.3530
· Euro-zone output grows at a steady pace in Feb
· Survey in Holland suggests majority want Greece out of Europe due to debt problem
· Euro zone lines up €22bn Greek bailout package
At 9.00am this morning the pound was at $1.5467, €1.1373, 11.8490 ZAR, 141.689 JPY, 1.6074 CAD, 1.6639 CHF 11.18 SEK and AU$1.7212. The euro was at $1.3595 against the US dollar.
Today’s key levels of support and resistance are:
GBPUSD Support: 1.5362 1.5251 1.5158 Resistance: 1.5566 1.5659 1.5770
GBPEUR Support: 1.1323 1.1281 1.1201 Resistance: 1.1445 1.1525 1.1567
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IN THE UK
UK unemployment data rises by the largest amount since July 2009
BoE minutes show unanimous decision to keep rates on hold and pause quantitative easing.
Sterling gains against the euro recovering to over 1.15 level
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