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Bank of America shows trends in retail store layout

February 23, 2010 by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

I have banked with Bank of America for a long time for my business. The branch I opened the account at was always friendly and efficient.  In preparing pictures for my new book, the Retail Doctor’s Guide to Growing Your Business, I revisited these pictures which show how the banking sector is learning from the best retail and hospitality businesses.  I thought a blog based on these would illustrate where I think retail is going:

1) The first thing you notice is the space to move.  You can quickly see the organization of the space and won’t feel squeezed by people or tables.

Open floorplan

2) Realizing not everyone wants to stand and knowing boomers are aging, they’ve added seating at various places. Smart retailers would do the same, not just at the woman’s dressing room for the husbands but for everyone.

Ample seating

3) The information tables are at optimum height, small, circular so as not to poke unsuspecting passersby. Smart retailers will realize that the optimum height of a table isn’t 24″-30″ but 32″-36″; displays lower than this are not nearly as effective and those below the knees virtually worthless for anything other than cheap commodities people will stoop to pickup.

Small circular 36" tables

4) When waiting for other customers or a bank agent, they have a lobby with HGTV.  So many retailers add plasma TVs with mindless news programs belching out bad things.  Smart retailers will realize we want to be insulated from the real world, not made fearful when spending our hard-earned cash at their establishment.

Lobby area

These are by no means all the ways store design trends are changing the way we navigate a shop, hotel lobby, restaurant, but Bank of America clearly understands how to differentiate themselves at this location.  Tomorow: dealing with the castle. Stay tuned.

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