How to Maximize Boutique Clothing Space
The success of a business depends on efficient planning and organization. Because boutiques are usually quite limited, repurposing your usable space can help increase profit. Think about what you like to see when shopping. Customers prefer clothing displays that are visually appealing and easy to access, and won’t want to waste time dealing with confusing systems of organization.
What You’ll Need
- Area measurements of your shop space (floor plan and height, approximate is ok)
- Layout of existing furniture
- Pencils and graph paper
- Budget for shelving, displays, and furniture
Inventory
- Make a scale drawing of your floor space. Clearly mark doorways, walking paths, electrical outlets, and any other parts of the store you’ll need to work around. Leave extra space in high-traffic areas, such as exits, entryways, and near the cash register.
- If you already have clothing to sell, make a list of different items you’ll need to find space for. If you don’t yet have store inventory, write down what you’d like to carry. Include non-clothing items (accessories, “extras” and impulse items).
- In your drawing, mark any existing displays or storage areas. If there are pieces of furniture or sections you definitely want to keep where they are, draw them in as well. Use bolder lines, pen, or different colors to show things that aren’t going to move.
Brainstorm
- Draw out a few different ideas if you already have any in mind. Include representations of various kinds of displays and racks, just to get a feel of how they fit into your floor space. Write down some immediate ideas you have for additional hardware and furniture (shelves, racks of different shapes and sizes, mannequins, tables, etc). If you can, make notes of how many items each can hold.
- Visualize, and then sketch, different combinations of hardware into your scale drawing.
-How do different combinations look together?
-Does the furniture create a visual flow throughout your entire store?
-Will people be able to find (or be easily directed toward) specific items they’re looking for?
Clothing displays, such as mannequins, can be more useful to organization than they appear. If you have more than one of any item, they might even be able to save you a lot of space. For example, a mannequin only holds one outfit; but it also makes displaying the components of that outfit unnecessary. Consider what you might be able to display on a small scale, and how you could store and organize the remaining “duplicate” items.
Plan
- Make a list of what each combination would allow you to carry in the store. Plan to keep several items in each size. Whenever a display catches a customer’s eye, they should be able to find and sort through the components easily. If you plan to keep extra merchandise organized out of public view, make it clearly known that those items are available as well. You should be able to quickly help them find what they’re asking for, in any case.
- Create your budget. Look around for unique ways to organize and display your merchandise. While you shop around, keep your drawing and measurements with you. If your budget is tight, consider alternative uses for items and furniture you see on sale. If you’re willing to explore thrift stores, think about how you could modify or decorate furniture you find to fit your boutique’s style and merchandise.
- Don’t be afraid to change your mind (and furniture). As you set up your new space, keep evaluating it for stylishness, efficiency, and visual appeal. If something doesn’t look right to you, it probably won’t to your customers either. If you have any trouble finding things, rethink your organization.
Evolve
If you never change the layout of your boutique, you’ll find that its efficiency fluctuates. No matter how you choose to organize, demand for different clothes varies throughout the year. Consider moving around entire sections, so that articles and items most in demand are always the easiest to see and get to. If you have window displays, change them often. If customers see something different every time they pass by your boutique, they’re more likely to want to explore your new wares further.