This document discusses store design strategies observed across different retail stores. It notes that Barnes & Noble tries to make customers feel at home with features like a fireplace, tables, and coffee shop. This particular B&N location stands out visually. The store also uses green accents and natural light to create a calm atmosphere conducive to relaxation. While books are the main product, B&N is trying to diversify with products like the Nook e-reader. Customers at this store spent a long time discussing the Nook with a representative. Grocery stores like Safeway organize products row by row, resembling a maze, while replicating a kitchen-like environment through colors and smells. Stores strive to diversify

1. Store Design

2.  A bookstore that tries to make you feel at
homer.

4. When you walk up.
When you walk up there is a
fireplace outside, with
tables, chairs and a walk up
order window to order coffee
or food.
It invites you to come
in, relax, and spend some time.
.

5.  This particular Barnes and Noble, which is
located in Emeryville, CA, right next to the
bay calls out to people who drive by with
unique architecture, lots of windows, and a
huge sign that is visible from the street as you
drive by.

7. Barnes and Noble
Green
The green themed accents of
the store make it calm and
relaxing. The café brings the
smell of coffee. The store is
packed with volumes of books
that call to you, along with the
color and smell, the sit down
and relax.
There are lots of windows to
give plenty of natural light. You
can’t help but want to sit and
relax and enjoy your shopping
experience while you look and
decide what you want to buy.

8.  This is an excellent question for such a diverse
store. However, books are the theme, but there is
a strong emphasis that they push whenever you
walk in…

9.  While the appearance says books, they
clearly are trying to diversify their inventory. I
think number one on their list is the Nook.

10. The Nook
The Nook is a tablet-like device
that is supposed to compete
with the Ipad. It specializes in
some unique reading features
and an online store linked to
Barnes and Noble.
My customer service centered
on explaining this device and all
the variations it has to
accommodate a market with
diverse tastes.
The posters are
everywhere, and the display
tables are numerous and
interactive upon walking into
the store.

11. Special Displays
New Arrivals and sale items are
usually displayed on central
tables like this one, directly in
line with both entrances, or on
the way to the cash registers.
Displays are neat and orderly
and fairly colorful.

12.  Customers were not too numerous at the
time I was in the store, but it was somewhat
busy, with adequate staff to the number of
people shopping.

13.  The most memorable part of the shopping
this day was the long time that I had to talk
with a store representative. She was very
enthusiastic about the new Nook coming out
that would have Micrsoft Office as a piece of
software included, or at least
compatible, with the item. She was working
hard at trying to generate interest in the new
item. She also answered some of my
questions about my survey.

14.  The rep that I spoke with said she felt about
half of the customers that come in the store
usually buy something and that the café was
immensely popular with people coming just
to study and have something to eat or
drink, or just hang out. My estimate is that
the café generates a huge amount of
business and brings people in who might not
usually shop in a bookstore, but enjoy the
ambience.

15. Grocery Store Shopping

17.  When I walk into a grocery store I feel like I
am being pushed in a certain direction…like a
maze that takes you to see the WHOLE store!

18. Row After Row
When going through this
store, and most any other
grocery store, a person has to
hunt row by row to find that
one item.
Then they have to do it all over
again when the look for the
next item.

19. The Environment
What struck me is that this
store does its best to remind
you of your kitchen. The color
schemes, smells, and design all
work to make me feel like I am
in a kitchen, getting ready to
cook.
This image of the dairy section
doing a good job of showing
that kitchenesque design feel.

20.  In a grocery store, when compared to another
store – like a clothing store – it is extremely
hard to get someone to say anything to you.
You won’t get anyone talking to you until you
go to check out. Most people are busy
tending to some kind of task.

21.  Customers are usually on a mission. Groceries
are a necessity, not a luxury item. Almost
everyone in a grocery store is buying
something.

22. Diversifying
One of the things I really
noticed is that stores, no
matter what they are, really try
to diversify so they can bring in
more interested buyers for
different products. If they
specialize, it seems to be bad.
This greeting card section
being a perfect example of
trying to diversify inventory.

23.  I went to a clothing store, Old Navy, as well as
an arts and craft store, Michael’s. Michaels
was perhaps the busiest store with a
monumental variety of inventory to cover all
of the different craft and art possibilities. One
the other hand, Old Navy specialized in
clothes only. Most stores strive for orderly
organization so they appear friendly to the
customer.

24.  I noticed stores that cater to more of the
necessities, strive to make shopping efficient
and easy to do, while maximizing exposure to
special offers. (Safeway and Old Navy)
 Michael’s and Barnes and Noble draw you in
by trying to appeal to your sense of spending
time shopping. Their stores are encouraging a
more leisurely shopping experience, and this
coincides with the fact that these stores focus
on non-essentials.