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FENG SHUI FOR RETAILERS

Written by: Linda Cahan

Article Overview: Feng Shui is an ancient practice that continues to be relevant today. It is more than finding the right place for objects or, hanging a wind chime in the right place. Feng Shui combines how energy flows in a space, the balance of fluid and geometric, yin and yang, the balance of natural elements and the intention of the person who owns, rents or uses the space to achieve success, health and balance in their life. This article introduces Feng Shui for retailers in an easy-to-understand manner.

FENG SHUI FOR RETAILERS

The Donald is doing it, your cat does it naturally but are you using it in your store? Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that can help you and your customers feel more comfortable in your store. Added comfort often leads to added sales. Feng Shui is the marriage between the physical and the metaphysical, the practical and the divine. It was developed thousands of years ago as a way for the Chinese to honor their ancestors through a proper and respectful burial.

Today, Feng Shui is used to improve the overall feeling of a space to support the people who live and work in those spaces. It is based on the concept of Yin and Yang - the balance of everything in nature. Yin is feminine, dark, soft and intuitive while Yang is masculine, light, hard-edged and fact based. A balanced store has equal parts of Yin and Yang. Balance is also vital in the materials used in the store.

There are five elements in Feng Shui - water, wood, fire, earth and metal.

They must all be represented and exist in balance for harmony to occur. A store with sheetrock, chrome fixtures, suspended ceiling tiles and mystery material floor tiles does not have balanced elements. It also drains energy from a store. Strive to represent all the elements by bringing in wood, glass, metal, fabrics, stonework and water.

A fountain or small water feature can be inviting and help circulate chi (energy) in the entryway of the store or near the cash register. Make sure thewater flows towards the inside of the store or towards the register- not out to the street.

Plants also symbolize growth and are terrific for blunting the sharp edges or poison arrows of some fixtures. Try to use round leaf plants rather than pointed leaves.

Here are five things you can do right now to create better Feng Shui energy in your store.

1. Make sure people can come into your store easily with no blocking fixtures or clutter.

2. Dead, stagnant air kills sales. Make sure your HVAC system is working or, add fans - even in the winter!

3. Light up your entryway and your back walls. Lead customers through your store with good lighting.

4. If your front door and back door are aligned, put a large fixture with a great display 3' or 4' in front of your stockroom door to prevent the positive entrance energy from flowing out the back door.

5. Angle your fixtures so they draw customers into your store.

Many retailers are looking for ways to improve their luck and by that, increase their sales. One of the most important aspects of Feng Shui is figuring out your intention. Intention means what you have in mind to do or achieve. It's another word for purpose, aim, goal or plan.

What you intend or want to occur in your store or in your life will only happen if you take the physical action to make it so. Just wishing or praying without any action has some power - but not nearly as much as putting your own energy into the action of making some changes.

Have the intention to bring balance into your store. Start with looking at how the energy and your customers flow through your space. Move any blocking fixtures or clutter. Make sure your aisle plan is welcoming and introduces them to as many interesting merchandise presentations as possible. Use angles to lead your customers around the store and delight them at each turn. Next, look at the balance of Yin and Yang in your store.

Upgrade your lighting if necessary and, if it makes sense, dim lights that seem too bright. Get rid of the sharp corners that can make people feel uncomfortable and add some soft surfaces if all yours are hard. Think about how you can create a balance in the natural elements in your store. If all your fixtures are wood add some glass, metal or mirrors.

Your intention to succeed and grow is very powerful. Make it even more powerful with action!

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Article Tags: balance, Feng Shui, Retail, Retail success, Store Design, Visual Merchandising



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