However, in today’s competitive retail environment it is more important than ever to deliver an engaging and memorable shopping experience. Biophilic design is one of the new approaches gaining momentum. It’s easy enough to see how incorporating elements of nature into retail spaces can boost sales, promote well-being, and engage customers. This article investigates how biophilic design can be used effectively to implement store fixtures and retail displays.
What is Biophilic Design?
The concept of biophilia (the belief that humans have an inherent affinity to nature) forms the root of biophilic design. The philosophy behind this design focuses on designing spaces that encourage this connection, and weaving natural elements into the built environment. In retail, this can be embodied through the use of natural materials, or perhaps the integration of live plants, and natural light.
Beyond making spaces beautiful, studies show that nature touches can actually help relax one, provide inspiration and boost mood. This means for retailers better shopping atmosphere that can result in visiting longer and purchasing more.
Store Fixtures in Biophilic Design
Retail environment is a store fixture. Not only do they help set up product displays, they impact the shopping experience. Combining biophilic principles into store fixtures can enable retailers to create an immersive environment which speaks to consumers.
- Natural Materials
Natural materials can have a big impact on the biophilic aspect of the retail space, when used in store fixtures. Other great choices include wood, stone and bamboo; all of which provide a warm and real feeling. But as an example, a clothing retailer might choose to reuse reclaimed wood shelving that promotes a green message without detracting from product display. This is a choice that appeals to eco conscious spenders, and makes for a peaceful atmosphere.
- Living Greenery
Adding plantings into store fixtures transforms a retail environment. From vertical gardens, planters that sit on the shelving, to hanging greenery, some small pieces of nature can make a huge difference in creating a place of growth indoors. Not only does it add a bit of visual appeal, but it helps improve air quality as well as make one feel less agitated. In their retail displaysstore, a beauty retailer might use terrariums to support products in lush greenery, luring customers to roam, explore and spend time.
- Natural Lighting
Any retail design is a vital component, and that includes lighting. The advocates of biophilic design believe that wherever possible, natural light is to be maximized. Large windows, skylights, and light wells will bring in a lot of light that is welcoming and bright. Where natural lighting is restricted, retailers may copy natural lighting with warm, adjust LED lights that look like daylight. So in a furniture store, say, they will have the config of their layout such that they get maximum sunlight exposure to make their products more beautiful as well as add some uplift to the atmosphere.
Biophilic Design for Enhancing Customer Experience
By integrating biophilic design within retail settings, not only is the design aesthetically better but also it enhances that overall customer experience. Here are several ways that biophilic design can elevate shopping interactions:
- Emotional Connection
The natural elements can also bring emotional responses. Live plants displayed in retail display can be a warm and calming ambiance. So when customers are relaxed and at ease, they will be more open to engaging with products and spend their money. For retailers, using interactive biophilic elements such as touchable textures or scents from natural materials can help create spaces to encourage customer to explore.
- Storytelling
With biophilic design, retail brands can tell a story about their commitment towards nature and sustainability. One example is a store that sells only outdoor gear and can use fixtures built of recycled material to focus on their environmental responsibility. Differentiating a brand is one aspect that this storytelling can do, but it also resonates with consumers that now look for sustainability in what they purchase.
- Community Engagement
Biophilic design can walk hand in hand with retail spaces that can serve as community hubs. Retailers can build community engagement by hosting workshops, classes or eco-friendly living events around nature, like gardening, for example. Not only this, it brings foot traffic and also helps build brand loyalty as customers and brand love the store.
Biophilic Design in Store Fixtures
For retailers looking to implement biophilic design in their store fixtures, consider the following steps:
- Assess the Space
Think about your retail space and how you can add elements to it that would help make it biophilic. Think about layout, materials already on location and atmosphere you want to achieve. Determine natural elements that could add value, either entryways, product displays, or checkout areas, for example.
- Choose Materials Wisely
Avoid scratching the planet and buying some select materials in line with your brand’s ethos. If you must have it, seek it from a local source, or made from a recycled material. Natural textures, colors, and finishes can achieve better all-round design and communicate an ecofriendly message.
- Incorporate Plant Life
Select plants for your retail environment which can survive. When choosing plants take into consideration things like light levels and humidity. Use them in creative ways: planters built right into fixtures (shelves, for instance), hanging installations or living walls.
- Emphasize Lighting
Render your window placements and obstructions to the minimum and make the most of the natural light across the facade. If you don’t have natural light throughout your home, add lighting that mimics natural daylight to keep your place warm and inviting.
- Engage Customers
Guide your customers to interacting with your biophilic elements. Through workshops, informational display about plants, or interactive features such as allowing customers more information about sustainability, this can be done. Fostering a sense of community and connection, this makes you engage customers in this way.
Conclusion
Retail through the lens of biophilic design is a transformative approach to put spaces in conversation with consumers on multiple layers of engagement. Mixing natural materials, greenery, and good lighting on store fixtures and retail displays helps create a healthier environment, encourages buying, and supports trends around sustainability as more and more customers are looking for buying experiences that are healthy and sustainable. Standing out in a crowded marketplace is a very real possibility in the changing landscape of retail, and biophilic design may just be the answer.
However, besides enhancing the aesthetic aspect of retail spaces, incorporating these strategies also makes the bands’ emotional connection with consumers stronger. It is common to sidestep nature in the world of retail, but bringing it back to the center of it can bring greater customer satisfaction and long term loyalty.
