Part 1 : How to optimise your till area?

Where to put your till ? 

1. Put your till counter or welcome desk in a so-called “cold” area, that generates a low volume of sales, such as the rear of the shop, rather than a top-selling area such as the space to the right of the entrance. This also forces customers to cross the whole shop, discovering as much of your range as possible.

2. An exception to the rule: if you mainly sell small items, place the till near the entrance, so a member of staff is always in the area. This strategy can discourage potential shoplifters!

3. Make sure your till is easy for customers to spot and clearly identifiable. For example, you could hang a “Till” sign above it, r use neon lettering to ensure that it is visible from all areas of the shop.

4. The route to the till and the space surrounding it must be unobstructed.

How to make your till area profitable? 

5. Make the most of your till area; it is the ideal place to encourage impulse buys. Even if the items displayed in this area are inexpensive, they can contribute significantly to your turnover! Placed in bins or display units, these items must be within easy reach of your customers. 

 

What kind of counter to choose? 

6. A key area for communicating directly with your customers, your till should not be too imposing. The depth of the counter should allow for friendly and comfortable contact. A disproportionately large counter can create symbolic distance.

7. The counter itself can be very simple. You can even build one yourself if you have the skills.

8. A counter salvaged from another shop, or a pretty restored and/or customised second hand table does the job perfectly well! There’s no point spending huge sums of money on this unit. 

A pretty, second hand table will give your shop individual charm

9. When considering materials, choose wood! As it comes from a renewable source, unlike plastic, steel or aluminium, wood is generally considered to be a sustainable material. 

10. But how should you select timber, and how can you be sure of its origin? 

• Choose Belgian and European producers. Even if it comes from a sustainably managed forest, a wooden object that has travelled thousands of kilometres has a larger environmental footprint than its “plastic” alternative. It is therefore worth checking where the product was manufactured, if possible. Avoid exotic timbers!
• Choose solid wood furniture treated with natural products.
• Opt for solid wood rather than composites such as MDF or OSB (oriented strand board), which are difficult to recycle. 

To find out more, visit Ecoconso.be