When you need to update any retail environment there will be one thing that both staff and customers dislike: disruption. Unfortunately, there is no getting around the fact that shoppers are likely to be dissatisfied for a while at least. However, if you choose to never update your store and to continue as things are, then you will soon get left behind by competitors. This is especially the case if you run a fast-moving business, like fashion retail, where your shop's look needs to be constantly updated and reinvented in order to appear fresh. It is better to go for it with a shop refit despite the disruption they cause. Here's how you should go about it.

Downtime

By far the best way of conducting a shop refit is when there is a down period which means you can shut the store entirely. If you do so, then you will lose some turnover of course, but it means you can do the refit in full without having shoppers and workmen occupying the same space as works are conducted. Christmas periods and other holidays are the ideal time for these sorts of jobs to be done, but you will have to pay a premium for tradespeople at this time. Another option is to start works on a Saturday evening and work throughout the night and the following day – perhaps being ready for a grand reopening on the next trading day if you work fast.

Partitioning

If you cannot close your store while refitting works are being carried out, then you must partition off the area you are working in to minimise the disruption to shoppers whilst you work. It will also mean that things like sawdust don't get transferred on to your stock. Just roping off an area is not sufficient – you need a floor-to-ceiling temporary partition which seals a space off fully. When the refit is completed on one side, reopen that part of the shop and get to work on the other side of the partition.

Tidy Up

Needless to say, clearing up after the disruption of a shop refit is essential. This often requires more than a once over with a broom and a duster, however. Therefore, you should employ the services of a professional cleaning contractor to conduct a thorough builders clean. Shoppers will soon notice if a refit has not been subject to an exit clean, like this, and it can have a knock-on effect on your reputation if you choose to skimp on cleaning.