Trends in Retail Design
Residents of Bellevue know why this area has been voted one of the top ten places to live in the United States. Big enough to be called a metropolis, yet small enough to be welcoming and friendly, Bellevue's many sites and opportunities afford residents and visitors alike some of the most livable conditions in the country. And nowhere can there be found better shopping than right here in this part of Washington. Retail stores abound in Bellevue and surrounding Seattle areas, with world-class malls, luxury boutiques, and everything in between. From the opulence of the Bellevue Collection to the charm of Old Bellevue, nowhere in the U.S. is the retail industry more abundant and enjoyable. That's why this year's trends in retail design are so important to the Bellevue area.
Nature
One of the biggest trends in retail design for 2014 is a move toward natural surroundings that create an authentic experience for shoppers. The processed looks of the past are happily being replaced by greener choices that create a fresher feeling and a more rustic charm. Consumers, quite frankly, are tired of unnatural furnishings and other processed elements in retail surroundings. They're looking for features that are organic, such as wood and glass, rather than the man-made fixtures, displays, and layouts of the past couple of decades.
Color
Nowhere is retail design trending bigger than in this year's color choices. Again, shoppers are looking for a more natural environment, which gives off a feeling of trustworthiness and credibility. Tints and tones that show up in natural surroundings are taking the place of some of the more man-made shades of last year. Bolder hues of nature are a major movement in color trends this year and beyond.
Illumination
Quite possibly the most important trend of the year, not just in retail design but in housing and other major architectural designs, is natural light. Huge windows with vast amounts of glass from the floor to the ceiling and across entire walls are replacing stuffy walls and closed-in feelings. As consumers opt for more connection to natural surroundings, so too are they looking for breathing space within retail stores that give a lighter, airier feel to their shopping activities. The influence of natural sunlight is showing up in every area of design in 2014, and along with extra windows has come a greater focus on lighting. Updated lighting fixtures that give stores an ambience of natural sunlight are vital to this year's retail designs. New and brighter means of illuminating all types of retail merchandise give off a more pleasing glow that creates liveliness and charm.
Food and fun
Shoppers are becoming more sophisticated as competition heats up and all retail industries grow. This is translating in 2014 into a major trend toward added amenities and services that attract more customers and keep them shopping for longer periods of time. Many retailers are finding that the old ways of doing business, such as offering only one or a few goods and services, aren't cutting it anymore in today's retail markets. That's why there's a huge movement toward offering mini-shops within large retail stores and even major chains, providing more options within one building. In addition, retail stores are beginning to provide more events within these mini-shops and kiosks, in an effort to add even more enjoyment to the experience of retail shopping.
Technology
One final trend that seems to be taking off big-time is the addition of booths for ordering merchandise. Shoppers are being drawn into retail stores in a big way with the inclusion of interactive kiosks where they can purchase such merchandise as cosmetic items in various brands. From there, sales associates collect purchasing information from these kiosks and their gather products. This makes for more efficient checkouts and less waiting in lines.
Shopping is one of the country's most treasured pass-times, and for good reason. Shopping has been known to be therapeutic. It's a social practice that brings friends and families together. And few things create more enjoyment than shopping in a retail store and finding an item that suits you or your home perfectly. That's why this year's retail design trends are so important ... because there's no denying that Americans love to shop.
Nature
One of the biggest trends in retail design for 2014 is a move toward natural surroundings that create an authentic experience for shoppers. The processed looks of the past are happily being replaced by greener choices that create a fresher feeling and a more rustic charm. Consumers, quite frankly, are tired of unnatural furnishings and other processed elements in retail surroundings. They're looking for features that are organic, such as wood and glass, rather than the man-made fixtures, displays, and layouts of the past couple of decades.
Color
Nowhere is retail design trending bigger than in this year's color choices. Again, shoppers are looking for a more natural environment, which gives off a feeling of trustworthiness and credibility. Tints and tones that show up in natural surroundings are taking the place of some of the more man-made shades of last year. Bolder hues of nature are a major movement in color trends this year and beyond.
Illumination
Quite possibly the most important trend of the year, not just in retail design but in housing and other major architectural designs, is natural light. Huge windows with vast amounts of glass from the floor to the ceiling and across entire walls are replacing stuffy walls and closed-in feelings. As consumers opt for more connection to natural surroundings, so too are they looking for breathing space within retail stores that give a lighter, airier feel to their shopping activities. The influence of natural sunlight is showing up in every area of design in 2014, and along with extra windows has come a greater focus on lighting. Updated lighting fixtures that give stores an ambience of natural sunlight are vital to this year's retail designs. New and brighter means of illuminating all types of retail merchandise give off a more pleasing glow that creates liveliness and charm.
Food and fun
Shoppers are becoming more sophisticated as competition heats up and all retail industries grow. This is translating in 2014 into a major trend toward added amenities and services that attract more customers and keep them shopping for longer periods of time. Many retailers are finding that the old ways of doing business, such as offering only one or a few goods and services, aren't cutting it anymore in today's retail markets. That's why there's a huge movement toward offering mini-shops within large retail stores and even major chains, providing more options within one building. In addition, retail stores are beginning to provide more events within these mini-shops and kiosks, in an effort to add even more enjoyment to the experience of retail shopping.
Technology
One final trend that seems to be taking off big-time is the addition of booths for ordering merchandise. Shoppers are being drawn into retail stores in a big way with the inclusion of interactive kiosks where they can purchase such merchandise as cosmetic items in various brands. From there, sales associates collect purchasing information from these kiosks and their gather products. This makes for more efficient checkouts and less waiting in lines.
Shopping is one of the country's most treasured pass-times, and for good reason. Shopping has been known to be therapeutic. It's a social practice that brings friends and families together. And few things create more enjoyment than shopping in a retail store and finding an item that suits you or your home perfectly. That's why this year's retail design trends are so important ... because there's no denying that Americans love to shop.