Putting together a retail store that starts selling in the front windows and continues throughout the interior space is a complex business. It’s easy to become so focused on visual merchandising as it pertains to store décor, fixtures and the way you arrange items on those fixtures that your floor gets short shrift. But the right retail store flooring can make an enormous difference in customer experience.

There are many ways to create the right flooring for retail store installation.

That’s great news, because you want to choose flooring that enhances your branding and complements your store’s overall look. But it must also be eminently practical. After all, you’re hoping for lots of foot traffic, so durability is as important as good looks. Something low-maintenance would be best, too, for obvious reasons. And, of course, your budget may dictate your final choice.

• Wood is a perennial favorite. Depending on the type of wood and pattern you choose, you can give your floor a look of timeless beauty, a fancy parquet pattern or a very contemporary appearance. Wood is easy to maintain, but it can be scratched and the surface can become worn over time. But wood can be sanded and refinished, just as other types of flooring can be replaced at some point years from now.
• Carpet or carpet tile absorb sound, so they’re good choices for a more “hushed,” upscale atmosphere. The plush feeling underfoot reinforces that. A low, dense, loop pile type of carpet is the best choice for high-traffic areas.
• Vinyl flooring is affordable yet it’s durable and easy to maintain. It’s a great choice for malls or stores where foot traffic is especially high. Vinyl comes in lots of colors and patterns.
• Rubber flooring resists wear as well as stains, so it’s another excellent option for high-traffic areas. It also provides good traction to reduce risk of slip-and-falls and it absorbs sound. Rubber flooring is available in different colors and textures.
• Decorative concrete floors are a hot new trend with many types of retailers. Nothing says “tough and long-lasting” quite like concrete, and today’s high-tech concrete can be colorized and patterned in myriad ways from understated to flamboyant. Here are a few ideas for decorative concrete floors.

Depending on what you sell, your clientele, and the size of your store, you might want to consider an unconventional floor that is as unique as the rest of your brand. But while flooring can be simple or fun, don’t get carried away – it should never compete with your merchandise.

Of course, there’s no rule that says you can have only one type of floor for your retail store. You may want to use vinyl for your entryway and main aisles, and carpet to delineate merchandise sections and add a more comfortable footing that encourages browsing. As long as you consider the practicality factors and stay true to your brand, you’ll have a floor for retail store success.

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.