A well-designed retail environment can prove beneficial for years to come.

Bona says that design is about bringing a brand to life and telling stories that connect the retailer’s mission and beliefs with the demands and desires of its guests.

“Retail environments must ultimately be planned and designed to promote operational performance, customer engagement and revenue growth,” he says. “In the end, good design almost needs to go unnoticed. The overall ambience and experience elevate the company’s reputation while not becoming the main area of focus.”

And with the labor shortage and fewer employees, it is more critical than ever that he branded retail environment speaks to the customer and tells a story.

“Customers are looking to align themselves with brands that echo their own values,” Geering says. “Brand storytelling in the physical store is a powerful strategy retailers are employing to differentiate from the competition, with large graphic brand walls as a typical canvas for their story.”