No/Low Alcohol Market Continues to Rise Though at a Slower Rate According to Alcohol Industry Trends Research
May 27, 2024
Bank of Canada Announces First Interest Rate Cut Since 2020: Sets Key Interest Rate at 4.75%
June 14, 2024
Liquor store layouts require a lot of consideration, especially when you’re starting a liquor store. You shouldn’t think of a layout as something that is “etched in stone,” though. If you’ve had the same floor plan for a few years and sales are down or stagnating, it might mean your layout is ineffective and needs to be reworked.
There are several studies of a layout’s influence on consumer behaviour, including:
- “Store layout design and consumer response: a behavioural and EEG study”, Saleh Kalantari, Jesus Cruz-Garza, Tong Bill Xu, Armin Mostafavi, Elita Gao, Department of Human Centered Design, Cornell University (April 2023)
- “Retail facility layout considering shopper path”, Sagarkumar Hirpara, Pratik J. Parikhdf, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Louisville (October 2020)
- “The effects of in-store layout and shelf designs on consumer behaviour”
Tijmen Elbers, Wageningen University & Research (January 2016)
How liquor store layouts are similar to other retail layouts:
Traffic flow
A retailer’s goal is to create a smooth traffic flow that enhances the customer’s shopping experience while increasing sales.
Product placement
Strategic placement of high-margin items at eye level is a common practice.
Promotional areas
Both types of stores use end caps and special sections for promotional items.
Signage
Clear signage is crucial for guiding customers and highlighting deals.
Checkouts are optimized
Checkout layouts are well-designed to minimize wait times and maximize impulse purchases.
How liquor store layouts differ from other retail layouts:
Security
Higher security measures are necessary due to the high-value nature of the products.
Product display
Liquor stores often use glass cases or locked displays for premium products.
Liquor store licensing requirements
Stores must comply with licensing requirements of provincial and local governments.
Sampling areas
Most liquor stores designate an area for sampling, so that customers can try, then buy, new products.
Main Types of Retail Layouts
The four main types of layouts used by liquor stores and other retailers are: grid, racetrack, free-flow, and herring-bone, though there are several other popular layouts. Read the Shopify article “Retail Store Layout: 10 Ideas, Examples & Tips” for retail floor plan drawings and detailed descriptions of each type.
Modularize Liquor Store Layouts So You Can Pivot to a Different Floor Plan
A modular floor plan makes it possible to change a liquor store floor plan more easily.
Modular layout ideas:
- Mobile shelving instead of fixed shelving
- Modular displays and display fixtures that can be moved or expanded easily
- Flexible lighting instead of fixed lighting (e.g. track lighting vs. fluorescent tube ceiling fixtures)
- Mobile signage that can be easily relocated in the store
- Cash desks and checkouts that can be easily moved or expanded
- Temporary walls and partitions that can be used for quick reconfiguration
- Moveable promotional displays and aisle endcaps
- Mobile digital signage that can be easily moved and changed
Further Reading
The following websites are valuable resources for retail layout ideas and strategies:
Need Help with Your Liquor Store Layout?
Whether you are starting a retail liquor business or have been in business for several years, talk to Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors about liquor store floor plans. We can guide you to more profitable layouts or assess the effectiveness of your current layout.
