You’ve decided to join the entrepreneurial ranks by starting a mall kiosk business. Smart move. Once you’ve chosen the right mall and the merchandise you want to sell, you’ll need to design your sales space. Bear in mind that mall kiosk design must be approved in advance, and because kiosks are in high-visibility areas, mall management companies can be picky. So here is some advice to get your mall kiosk design approved.

Read The Rules

Your mall management should provide you with written information that explains their criteria for kiosk design in terms of dimensions, appearance, and numerous other details. Read it thoroughly and make sure you understand the rules, so you don’t waste time and money creating a design that won’t be approved.

Want a better idea what mall kiosk design guidelines usually entail? Here are two examples from two of the largest national management companies:

• General Growth Properties
• Simon Property Group

These documents offer far more than a list of rules, requirements, and no-can-dos to get your kiosk design approved. There are plenty of details to help you think through what kind of kiosk you really want, and that will help you communicate more productively and cost-effectively with your mall kiosk manufacturer.

Meet With The Manufacturer

The smoothest way to get your mall kiosk design approved is by working with an experienced manufacturing company right from the start. Professionals know the ins and outs of mall kiosk design, and may well know your mall management personally. That ensures you can avoid common pitfalls and get on a faster path to design approval.  

Your objective is to create a kiosk that will generate maximum sales for you. But since your kiosk has to also meet the mall’s guidelines, an experienced manufacturer like Palmer Retail Solutions can help you achieve the best of both worlds. So, let them handle the approval process:

• Review mall-specific criteria, and work directly with your mall’s designated liaison.
• Suggest structural and aesthetic design details, including materials, finishes, etc. based on the mall criteria, the type of merchandise you plan to sell, your location, and your budget.
• Submit your kiosk design to the mall for approval.
• Obtain approval from your municipality, if necessary.  

There are many things to know about starting your kiosk business before you get to the design stage, but remember that your overall plans can affect your kiosk’s design. For instance, other than electricity for lighting, will you need utilities such as gas for cooking, or water? Is there a chance you may want to move your kiosk to another spot within the mall at a later date?

The sooner you consult with your kiosk manufacturer to begin this process, the more likely you are to be fully ready to open on your projected start date. Getting approval takes time, even with pros on your side to expedite things. And of course, once you secure approval, your kiosk will still need to be constructed, installed ,and tested before you can actually open for business. That typically takes several weeks.

So while you’re waiting for approval, you can continue the exciting process of creating your kiosk business by planning how you’ll display your merchandise.

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.