Shopfitting refers to the process of fitting out a service shop, retail shop or other types of stores with the equipment necessary to enable it to excel in servicing clients. Shopfitting also includes refurbishing public buildings as well as offices. The exercise is undertaken by shopfitting companies such as Altran Project Management Pty Ltd, which is responsible for the entire process from planning and designing the store layout all the way to supplying and fitting the equipment as required. This article discusses the process involved in shopfitting.

Create a Shopfitting Design

Shopfitting starts with an evaluation of the available retail space. This step is either undertaken by an independent interior designer or the shopfitting company. In some smaller shops, the client may evaluate the space himself. By planning a shop layout at the onset, you will save time, money and effort. If the shop layout is not well thought out, changing it in future can prove costly.

In deciding the theme or branding of a retail store, you should first determine the expectations of the target customers. For instance, brighter colors appeal to youngsters more than they do to the older population. A jewelry store can project a feminine feel by utilizing a combination of materials and colors.

Decide on Shopfitting Deliverables

You need to agree with the contractor on the nature of work that will take place. For instance, you will have to make a decision on the kind of flooring to be installed, the positioning of the serving counter and the number of display systems required.

It will be easier to have a write up describing the full specifications of your requirements. Where possible, use numbers so as to avoid confusion as you relay the information to your shopfitting company.

Plan with Milestones in Mind

Before the project kicks off, you need to establish the milestones which will be used to measure performance at any one given time. The timescale should indicate when the work will commence, the length of time it will take and the phases that the project will have.

The importance of working with milestones is that you will be able to communicate accurate information to your customers regarding the expected completion time and the opening date.

In addition to the above steps, you also need to budget. Budgeting will help you to reconcile what you need with what you can afford. Agree beforehand with the shopfitting company on the costs involved and the billing schedule so as to avoid surprises halfway through the process. Communication is of utmost importance throughout the shopfitting exercise as it can help in averting issues before they arise.

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