May 24, 2016
![5 natural retail design trends 5 natural retail design trends](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt86ef884842868b12/64ff219637bf516e6d1a83d7/Common_20spaces.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Classrooms are becoming a “must-have,” Cornwall said. That can be difficult in stores with limited square footage, but it’s important as more and more customers look for (and more stores offer) education and demonstrations. Providing a space with tables and chairs for customers who want to eat their grab-n-go items is also a plus.
It’s no surprise that retailers increasingly want to allow natural light to enter the store—but it’s happening both for shoppers and for employees-only sections of the store. And while it boosts happiness for both parties, natural light has also been shown to boost sales and can offset energy costs as well.
Following on the natural light provision, Cornwall has noticed a shift toward designing more broadly with employee health in mind—providing break rooms and sometimes even green spaces where employees can go to decompress.
Cornwall said stores have been building delis so that the staff members working them are facing the rest of the store—and can interact with or just be facing customers, rather than have their backs turned to them.
Retailers are increasingly designing their interiors to have the feel of, say, a farmer’s market, using bright designs and lots of color. The goal is to help customers enjoy the act of shopping, rather than approach it like a chore they want to get over with—perhaps to differentiate themselves from some bigger chains that have sleek, but not personable, interiors.
Retailers are increasingly designing their interiors to have the feel of, say, a farmer’s market, using bright designs and lots of color. The goal is to help customers enjoy the act of shopping, rather than approach it like a chore they want to get over with—perhaps to differentiate themselves from some bigger chains that have sleek, but not personable, interiors.
LHB Architects has had such consistent experience designing and building for natural foods co-ops in Minnesota, we thought we’d get their take on what retailers are looking for these days when they embark on a new space. Bruce Cornwall, director of design and campus planning for LHB, gave some insights on the latest trends in natural retail.
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