How to choose the ideal counter furniture for your store?

Whether you have a delicatessen, a wine shop, a ready-to-wear store or any other type of business, the counter furniture represents a strategic element bringing added value to your store in terms of merchandising.

The counter is the centerpiece of the store, combining functionality and aesthetics, which makes it a real marketing tool. Its primary function is to help customers find their way as soon as they enter your store. On the other hand, it is aesthetic, with a wide variety of models available depending on your type of activity and the materials chosen. It is therefore natural to wonder how to choose the ideal counter for your store. In this article, we will explore the required features of a counter furniture, its ease of maintenance and its accessibility.

1. Counters adapted to your space

Today, a multitude of counters exist, with different sizes, designs and functionalities. If you have a small store, it will be interesting to favor a compact counter to avoid it taking up too much space. Therefore, you can opt for very practical corner counters: they accommodate the sales accessories essential to your business such as your cash register or your packaging, while taking up little space.

However, if your store is spacious, you can choose wider and more imposing counters. For example, the double-sided reception counter is ideal for welcoming your customers and its dimensions make it a piece of furniture with character that is immediately identifiable in your store.

The counter can vary depending on the sector of activity: if you are more focused on the sale of products, such as a delicatessen or wine merchant, you will favor counters with lockers or counters with shelves to highlight your promotional products. For florists, favor counters with zinc tops to display wet products such as cut flowers or even use your counter as a bouquet-making table.

2. Essential features for versatile counters

Much more than just an aesthetic aspect, counter furniture plays a particularly important role: it is multifunctional. Its primary role is to help customers find their way around your store. Indeed, as soon as they see a counter, they know that this is the place where they can obtain information on products or services. For this reason, the counter must be placed in a relevant way to effectively play its role as a landmark. On the seller's side, the counter helps to keep things well organized, in particular thanks to its drawers and other storage spaces that provide easy access to all the tools needed for your work.

Beyond the functional aspect, counter furniture serves as a marketing tool and in particular as a sales aid. A well-positioned counter will increase the visibility of your products, trigger impulse purchases and will be profitable for your business. You can also add communication on current promotions or possible competitions by putting up posters or flyers on upcoming events, for example.

Finally, the counter adds a professional touch to the image of your store by promoting your point of sale. To make the most of the aesthetics and added value that the counter brings to your store, opt for solid wood counters. Imposing and robust, they add a natural style to your store.

3. Invest in a durable counter

Investing in quality materials to ensure the durability of your layout is a winning strategy. Counters made of low-quality materials can be as expensive as quality materials, because they will need to be replaced quickly. Noble materials such as solid wood, in addition to ensuring superior durability, provide a neater and more professional appearance, allowing you to stand out from your competitors.

Solid wood is an excellent choice: it offers superior resistance and longevity, making this investment profitable in the long term. It will bring a natural and warm atmosphere and increase the attractiveness of your business. At TRADIS, we offer a range of durable solid wood furniture in three finishes: Bois Vieilli, Blanc Camarillo and Noir Charbonneux. By relying on these durable materials, you not only ensure the longevity of your store, but also a durable, solid and professional brand image.

4. Easy-to-maintain finishes

Counters are essential elements of your sales space, both for welcoming customers and for displaying your products. It is best to opt for durable and easy-to-maintain materials, such as solid wood or stainless steel.

Whether your furniture is made of solid wood, metal or any other material, it is important to regularly clean surfaces in contact with customers. For wooden surfaces, use a soft, slightly damp microfibre cloth to remove dust and small stains. For other materials, or if the wood is varnished, you can wash the surfaces with a little Marseille soap or black soap. Be sure to dry all surfaces thoroughly after cleaning to prevent moisture build-up.

5. Customer-accessible counters

Professional counters are designed with dimensions adapted for customers, but also for staff. Ensuring the accessibility of the counter is important for the comfort of all users. A counter that is too high or too low can make transactions and interactions more difficult, especially for people with reduced mobility. It is therefore essential to provide an ergonomic counter height, often between 75 cm and 120 cm, to facilitate access.

In addition, modular solutions can be considered to adapt the counter height to different uses. For example, store counters with a shelf, where part of the counter is lowered to accommodate customers in wheelchairs or children, while the other part is raised for standing transactions, are possible solutions. Shop furniture must also provide sufficient circulation spaces for people with reduced mobility, with a passage width of at least 90 cm.

Choosing the ideal counter furniture for your store should not be taken lightly. It is a central element of your sales space, which influences not only the organization and efficiency of your operations, but also the customer experience and brand image of your company. By considering industry adaptability, multiple features required, durability, ease of maintenance and accessibility, you will be able to choose a functional and aesthetic counter that can meet the specific needs of your store. Remember that the counter is often the first and last thing your customers see. Investing in a well-designed professional counter is therefore a strategic decision that can have a significant impact on your customer satisfaction and the success of your store. By taking inspiration from the layout examples and applying the advice presented in this article, you will be well equipped to make an informed choice.