The retail industry has been undergoing constant evolution owing to factors including economic ones, consumer preferences, technological advancements and other things. As a result, retailers are often looking for flexible and cost-effective space solutions. Temporary buildings are one of the best options because these structures allow them to meet their changing needs quickly and efficiently.
Temporary buildings, in the form of small kiosks, mobile retail units and pop-up shops, as they are commonly referred to have become extremely popular. They are now widely used for a wide range of applications in the retail industry. In this article, we explore the use of temporary buildings in the retail industry including the various ways in which they are used, their key benefits and some common easily made mistakes to avoid when using these structures.
What Are The Common Uses Of Temporary Buildings In Retail?
Below are some of the common ways in which retailers use temporary structures:
Storage space
Most retailers need space to store their stock before it is placed on the shelves or elsewhere on the shop floor for customers to buy. However, space may be a challenge for most of the players in retail, and temporary buildings are some of the best options that retailers can turn to.
Retailers also use temporary buildings such as tents and steel buildings to store their excess stocks during peak periods when they need buffer stock. They may also buy stock in bulk when the prices are low to take advantage when they sell later at a good markup and make good profits. Temporary buildings are easy and fast to set up so they come in handy for retailers when they urgently need space.
Seasonal pop-up stores
Retailers often want to take advantage of seasonal events such as festivals, holidays, back-to-school and other things, and they can do this by setting up temporary shops that are also known as seasonal pop-up stores. These stores can take advantage of any increased demand during these seasons or events without needing retailers to invest too much.
Stores to test new markets
The business world is full of uncertainty and before immersing themselves into the retail market in some areas, retailers may want to test the market. Luckily, they can set up temporary buildings as their stores which they can use to test the market before investing heavily in setting up permanent stores. The temporary stores could be in the form of industrial tents or other temporary structures and can help the retailers gauge the competition and the market responsiveness.
Product launches
Brands often use temporary buildings to conduct launches of their new products. They can set up tents or other temporary structures so that potential customers can visit them and test their products. This way the companies can generate excitement among their customers and collect valuable feedback from them before they can decide to make long-term commitments.
Mobile retail units
Some retailers set up mobile shops to get closer to their customers, without having to invest heavily in permanent structures that are for short-term use. Thus, retailers can expand their markets into new locations and meet new audiences through mobile shops
Customer rest areas
Retailers can buy or hire temporary buildings such as tents from leading suppliers such as Smart-Space and use the structures as places for customers to sit—which can also be eating areas for food stores. Such eating and resting spaces can lead to more customers patronising a retail store and spending more money because they can eat and meet their friends there.
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Temporary Buildings To Retailers?
Retailers stand to benefit from temporary buildings in many ways, including:
Cost savings
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar buildings, temporary buildings are more cost-effective. The non-permanent structures require lower initial investment and are cheaper to maintain. In fact, retailers who want to use these structures for a short period can opt to hire them instead of buying saving costs.
Flexibility
Temporary buildings allow retailers to adapt quickly to changing customer needs, along with seasonal and market trends. Businesses can set up these structures in a relatively short timeframe and dismantle them after use without any damage or losses. This flexibility allows businesses to test new markets, concepts and other things with minimal commitment.
Portability
Some players in the retail industry may want to move their stores from one location to another, perhaps to take advantage of events or other factors. The good news is that temporary buildings are easily relocatable without any damage or losses so they are a good option for such retailers.
Scalability
Retail businesses have to deal with seasonal increases and decreases in demand. Temporary buildings are easy to scale up and down to enable the business to meet the demand at a given moment. Most importantly the scalability allows retailers to generate maximum revenue during special events, festivals and holidays, without having to invest in permanent structures that are costly.
Space optimisation
Temporary buildings can be erected almost anywhere, including between existing buildings, reserve spaces and others. This way, retailers can use any space available to set up tents, and other non-permanent structures so that they can take advantage of seasonal demands and other things.
Customisation
Retailers can customise temporary buildings to suit their needs. For example, they can customise steel buildings to be storage spaces. Also, they can erect temporary buildings and customise them to be customer waiting areas or for any other use. Businesses only need to specify their required features as they order their buildings and the suppliers can make structures that fit their use.
What Mistakes Should Retailers Avoid When Using Temporary Buildings?
Some mistakes retailers need to avoid when buying or hiring temporary buildings include:
· Not getting the right size of buildings
· Buying from unreliable vendors that cannot guarantee quality structures
· Ignoring the intended use of the buildings
· Not considering the planning requirements
Conclusion
Temporary buildings have a wide range of applications in the retail industry and offer retailers many benefits such as cost-savings, flexibility and portability. If you want non-permanent structures for your retail business, always buy or hire from reputable vendors so you can be sure of high-quality structures.
