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Let’s Talk Jewelry Store Design: 5 Quick Waiting Area Ideas May 01, 2021 (0 comments)
West Bloomfield, MI--My clients always ask me during the initial consultation: “What is the importance of the waiting area for my jewelry store?"
My advice is that creating this space needs to make the customer feel relaxed, comfortable, and warm. By creating a proper waiting area, it allows customers and their significant others to experience a stress-free and enjoyable environment.
Here are five quick ideas to think about prior to developing or remodeling your waiting area.
- Pay close attention to the traffic flow for optimizing its location.
- Choose comfortable furniture along with upholstery and finishes that coordinate with the entire store.
- Create a relaxing design décor in the waiting area. For example, set the mood of the area with lamps, chandeliers, and layered lighting.
- Use technology and make sure there is WI-FI. Also, most of your customers will have devices with them to plug in while waiting.
- Have a beautiful beverage cart, or a cabinet that could offer a selection of coffee, tea, fresh fruit, cold drinks, nutrition bars, small bags of packaged nuts, etc.
See the waiting area picture at Crocker’s Fine Jewelry, Texarkana, TX, below, where there is a built-in small refrigerator below, and drinks and food displayed beautifully on top of the cabinet.
One of my favorite design elements I like to suggest in the waiting area is to incorporate electric fireplaces within the space. I design the fireplace walls as a focal point in the area. I make sure it reflects the design style of the overall store. Each stone or tile fits the overall design of the space.
In the Williams Jewelers waiting area, shown below, I chose rough ledger stone to go with the Colorado design look of the store.
The other electronic element is to have a TV in the area for customers to watch while they wait. I tell my clients to have a loop of their advertising or specials they have going on for the month before the general education shows that are on the TV. Many times I place the TV above the fireplaces.
I also like to use area rugs in the waiting areas to convey a residential feel and a welcoming image. My favorite area rug that I designed for The Diamond Center in Janesville, WI (shown below) is a super thick and vey textural rug under the cocktail table. This gives the space a contemporary looks like the store’s design.
If your store is large enough and your demographics are young families with children, it could be nice to add a children’s waiting or play area while their parents shop. It is important in the placement of that room that the children can see their parents and vice-versa.
Example of children’s waiting area below at Crocker’s Fine Jewelry.
As a business owner, you have the power to make your customer’s waiting experience stress-free and even enjoyable. Sit in your store’s waiting area and feel and see what your customers are experiencing. What would you do differently to make that area just right?
About the Author: Leslie McGwire™ has over 35 years in business development, interior design, equipment, furniture sales and marketing services in retail and jewelry-based businesses. Leslie has won 25 national design awards, including the prestigious Salon Today and INSTORE Jewelry Store awards. Leslie has a true passion for business, design for the jewelry and retail industries. Visit lesliemcgwire.com for more information