Start with the entry

From the front windows to the doors themselves, the entry is your first impression. Accessible displays let customers get their hands on what they see right away. Glass dividers behind them offer views into the store, enticing customers inside to what's beyond.

I recommend: Put your checkout counter in the back so "paying" isn't what hits the customer first. Get inspiration from designers like Design Forum, Quest Service Group and Vinick Associates.

Create a fluid floor plan

Narrow aisles and boxy configurations give a discount-store feeling. Roomy, open floor plans with a curvilinear sensibility encourage shoppers to linger and move around the store.

I recommend: Software like SmartDraw makes easy work of floor plans. To play with different shelving display designs, try Smart Furniture's free "design your own" feature.

Make a difference with details

Brighter, louder color combinations can suggest either bargain items or fun, trendy products. Subtler blues, grays, greens and blacks evoke high-fashion, upscale collections.

I recommend: A combination of lighting — pendants, track, fluorescent — will make the most of your merchandise. Neutral tones may be great for a spa, but retail venues need more pizzazz. Retail Element illustrates several trends in action. Visual Store offers several resources for retail design. Energy Design Resources provides details on lighting design and energy savings.

Choose functional, creative displays

Incorporate a tactile experience. Experiment with interactive displays. Allow customers to handle all but the most valuable products.

I recommend: Modular displays like Smart Furniture's can be reconfigured without tools to meet your changing needs. Trio's free store-planning primer and Displays2Go show different display styles. Display & Design Ideas' resource library features dozens of product examples and catalogs.