One of the most exciting steps to opening your own book shop is the process of designing and setting up the store. When designing the store's floor plan, keep the needs of your customers in mind. Take your time in visualizing how you want your store to look; create a blueprint of the shop before making any furniture or stock purchases to ensure that you're creating an attractive and functional floor plan for your shop. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Paint the book shop walls a color consistent with the mood of your store. Make this decision based on the type of books you plan to sell. According to color theory, color affects mood and conveys certain meanings. For example, if you plan to primarily sell books about nature and the environment, green is the best color. If you want a happy and optimistic color for your store, consider yellow. Blue represents peace and tranquility, so if you want your guests to relax while visiting consider this shade. Select a trim color that complements the main wall color.
2. Install commercial carpeting that absorbs sound to help keep the shop quiet for book browsers. Choose a dark neutral color that will hide dirt and stains (since a book shop is a high-traffic area), like a shade of gray, green or brown.
3. Place a book display unit in the front of the store where you'll display popular books or featured books that you've just gotten into the store. Put a tablecloth on the base of your window display and place featured books on individual display stands.
4. Line the shop's walls with your book display shelves. Fill in the rest of the floor plan with your free-standing book shelving units and tables. Allow for at least two feet of space between each shelving unit.
5. Place a few armchairs, coffee tables and rugs if you have room in the shop to create areas where customers can relax and read magazines if you wish. Convert this area to a book signing location by replacing the chairs with a table and set of folding chairs for guests.
6. Purchase large floor display stands for posters that you can use at the front of your store to publicize new book releases and upcoming book signings.
7. Create a kids' area in the store if you plan to sell children's books. Place a colorful rug and a few children-sized chairs in the area, along with a small table with a selection of children's book titles displayed.
Tags: your store, book shop, floor plan, book display, color that, display stands, featured books