3 Ways to Put a Big Customer Experience Into a Small Retail Space

Looking for innovative ways to repurpose your retail space for engaging customer experiences? Think small. That’s the approach Chick-fil-A took to create a meaningful play experience in just 64 square feet.

Attendees at this year’s International Retail Design Conference, Oct. 9-10, will take a deep dive to explore Chick-fil-A’s successful process in a session moderated by Michael Trenary, Brand Strategy & Design, Arcadis and featuring Halle Hannaford, Principal Design Lead, Environments, Chick-fil-A and Jennifer Abernathy-Felix, Senior Principal Design Lead – Strategy & Research, Chick-fil-A. This must-attend session is just one of the highlights of the conference’s packed agenda.

But don’t wait for the conference! Get started today on creating a small footprint space with big engagement areas with one of these three easy-to-implement ideas:

Interactive product demo station

Transform a corner of your retail space into a try-before-you-buy station. From kitchen items to beauty products, tech gadgets to home goods, this hands-on experience encourages customers to engage with your products and ask questions – and can increase the likelihood of purchase.

Mini pop-up shop for local artisans

Interacting with local artisans is one of the hottest trends in retail this year! Dedicate a small space to a rotating mini pop-up shop featuring local artisans or brands that complement your own offerings. In addition to helping you build positive community connections, this gives customers a reason to keep coming back to see what’s new.

Themed message hub

Create a station for customers to write quick notes on cards and post them on a wall – these could be in response to a question you pose or simply brief cards of connection or caring for local people in need. What you do with the cards depends on your brand, but you’ll have instant inspiration for social media posts!

For even more interactive, high-touch customer engagement ideas, make sure to attend IRDC 2024 – if you’re like most of our attendees, you’ll also want to keep coming back for more.