January and February are often slow traffic months for many seaside retailers. The timing is perfect for a store “refresh.” If your budget permits, hiring a designer to help with a refresh is ideal.
If you’re on a tight budget, here are ideas that don’t have to cost a lot but will make big impacts.
Start with paint
Walls, doors and trim getting fresh coats of paint can really help to freshen your store. Repaint areas that accentuate your products and the ambiance of the store.
My favorite colors for stores in tropical locations include the following from Sherwin Williams:
- SW 8917 Shell White
- SW 6529 Scanda
- SW 6772 Cay
- SW 6478 Watery
- SW 6204 Sea Salt
Good colors for stores in more nautical locations (Northeast) include the following from Sherwin Williams:
- SW 7014 Eider White
- SW 6871 Positive Red
- SW 6811 Honorable Blue
Wallpaper wows
Wallpaper can make for another great wall finish. You can buy simple peel-and-stick or pre-pasted if you don’t have much experience.
"Walls, doors and trim getting fresh coats of paint can really help to
freshen your store."
There are also some wonderful and budget-conscious custom murals that you can design/order online that can create dramatic backdrops for a sense of place.
Hovia.com or Eazywallz.com both have some wonderful tropical designs — all you need to do is select one and enter the size of the wall. You can select traditional wallpaper backing or peel-and-stick.
Cleaning up
If your fixtures or furniture need refreshing, repainting fixtures (if applicable) or even thorough cleaning, can do the trick.
I had a client in Santa Barbara, California, who had a retail store with dark wood cabinetry. It was cost prohibitive to refinish the cabinetry, but we found an inexpensive linen-look printed self-adhesive vinyl (contact paper) that we lined the back of each cabinet with. It brightened each cabinet and made the merchandise really pop.
Whatever you decide to do, any updates to your space, big or small, will help prepare you to be ready for the busy season ahead. If your budget permits, feel free to reach out and we can help point you in the right direction.
