Part 2 : How to lay out your fitting rooms?
Follow these golden rules
11. Take care of your fitting rooms. In a fashion boutique, 70% of purchase decisions are made in this area!
12. To be genuinely comfortable, each fitting room should measure at least 1 metre by 1.2 metres.
13. Create a light environment that is effective and puts customers at ease. Choose soft, front-on lighting, or indirect lighting using LED strips behind or next to the mirror. Avoid ceiling spotlights: they’ll do nothing to flatter your customers’ figures.
14. The mirror inside the fitting room must be large enough for customers to see themselves from head to toe.
15. If your selling point is personal shopping, place a mirror outside the fitting rooms, but make sure it is sheltered from prying eyes. This will mean that customers have to leave the fitting room to see themselves, presenting you with an opportunity to build a rapport and offer advice.
16. Choose a neutral colour for the doors or curtains, which will not alter the appearance of the clothes being tried on.
17. Of course, your fitting rooms must be immaculately clean. Both your shop’s reputation, and the basic rules of hygiene are at stake.
Little extras can make a big difference
18. Make sure to provide a sufficient number of small hooks inside the fitting room. These must be firmly attached, to support the weight of heavy items such as a bulky handbag.
19. Provide a chair or stool, where customers can sit down to put on and take off their shoes, or leave their bag. A small wall shelf, where they can put down their glasses or phone, is a bonus.
20. Make sure your customers don’t get cold feet when they are in the fitting rooms, especially if your floors are tiled. A small rug is always welcome.
21. Provide a “children’s corner” if possible. This is not always necessary, but can be very useful, for example if you sell products that require long explanations, during which children can become bored! An area with a sofa or armchair and a coffee table will do the trick, if you have space. Note: for safety reasons, the children’s corner should be located as far as possible from the entrance door.
