A Growing Marketplace: Retail Design For Kids

Luxury retail stores specailizing in children’s wear has become a growing trend over past few years. According to Business of Fashion, by 2020, the Asain Pacific children’s wear retail marketplace is expected to grow by 32%. As millenials continue to have children, their shopping habits indicate that they are willing to spend more on their children for higher end products. There are different design elements that must be taken into account for both the parents, and the children. Common trends in 2017 for children’s retail design China include, having a family focus, technology integration, and gender neutrality.

Cognitive Interests in Kids

The cognitive interest of children plays a role in the design elements chosen for a children’s retail store. Children 3 – 5 years of age are very curious, and learn how and why things work through tacticle sensations. Children 6 – 10 years of age have a stronger memory and are more coordinated. They like to solve problems deductivley, through reading and reasoning. Taking these interests into account help designers develop captivating displays and incorporate interactive brand elements into a store’s design to attract kids into the retail store.

Interactive Branding

Interactive branding is an essential part of a kids retail store. Integrating technology into the brand attracts tech savvy youngsters, and allows them to discover a brand through a familiar outlet. A recent study done by the ASP Group, used eye tracking software to discover that people were 77% more likely to engage in displays that involve movement. Jou Jou Toy Store in Salt Lake City, Utah-USA, takes interactive branding to the next level with a digital design concept where monsters can interchange between pictures leaving kids with a fun and interactive experience.

Design trends

The most important thing in a child’s life is family. Having family oriented designs for both younger and older children is a primary goal in many retail design concepts. Many design concepts include bright inviting colors such as yellow and green, as well as whimsical concepts like sketched shops, or fairytale-like designs with a playground feel. The Candy Room in Melbourne Australia uses a cartoon design concept in colors of black and white to play into children’s imagination while also drawing attention to the fun colored packaging of the candy.

Depending on the size of the retail design space, a design can include a large space for a play area, or a smaller space to make the child feel like they are in a secret hideout. Kids Republic store design in Beijing China creates the feeling of a fun board game, designed for children to climb and follow various pathways, while also incorporating fun nooks for children to crawl inside and read their favorite book, thus appealing to the cognitive interests of all age groups.

Keeping millennial parents in mind for the design concept, gender neutrality seems to be a growing trend in 2017. As the race for gender equality continues, stores everywhere continue to add gender inclusive elements and colors into children retail store design concepts to put less of a focus on ‘who’ the product is for and more a focus on ‘what’ product will work for the child. Harrods Toy Kingdom in London England uses a gender neutral color scheme and removes labels of ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ from toy sections throughout. The store provides plenty of places for children to try new toys and explore through creative brand elements. The growth in children’s retail is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. 5 Star Plus Retail Design understands the expectations and considerations that must be taken into account when designing a children’s retail store in China. It’s important to consider the cognitive interests of different age groups to allow children to discover the brand story through interactive displays and digital features. We also prioritize the creation of a store that is appealing to the parents who do the shopping as well as the children who will accompany them.