The influences of physical environment of multi-brand fashion retail store on consumer's behavior

Abstract: The overall purpose of this research was to understand how consumers perceive physical environments from multi-brand fashion retail stores. According to Solomon and Rabolt (2008), a well-design of store environment can fulfill consumer’s shopping process with a pleasant, efficient and enjoyable experience. Since many researchers have proved that the store environment directs consumer’s shopping experience, by investigating consumer’s behavior with psychological and physical perceptions in a store is the approach for retailers to create more business opportunities in a competitive fashion industry today.Through literature review we know, the development of retail stores from eighteenth century until today, it changes by social, culture, economic factors as well as consumer behavior. From the history, it also illustrates how a multi-brand fashion retail store grows in today’s Swedish market. Customers’ interview is the important approach to know how consumers experience shopping and perceive the environment in the multi-brand fashion retail stores. Because of consumers’ demographic differences, the perceptions from the same store environment lead to either positive or negative feelings. By interviewing the store staffs, the companies’ management and store display strategies are provided and it is helpful to analyze and compare in parallel. The retailer applies appropriately store designing strategy to focus on a certain group of consumers is useful to find its target consumers as well as appealing to target consumer’s satisfaction with shopping experience. Based on the interview result, the perceptions both from consumers and retailers are discussed. According to the analysis of the results, recommendations are given for tangible and intangible improvements. In terms of visible improvements, the retailers may improve visual communication and lighting design in the store environment which enhances consumer’s attitude toward positive perception and exceptions. Sending positive knowledge is an invisible channel to influence consumer behavior, and it is sure that consumers are willing to learn what they are interested. Furthermore, improving visual merchandise management is an approach to compete increasing number of outlets in the market which could be achieved by professional employees and training processes.To design or create a better physical environment of multi-brand fashion retail store, it not only follows the retailer’s marketing strategy and company orientation, but also concerns for consumers’ needs toward positive influences. A consumer’s perception from a store environment decides his or her attitude and behavior. If consumers are satisfied with the store, they will tell an average of 5 other people, whereas disappointed consumers may talk to more people and never return to the store. (Hines and Bruce 2008) To develop a better physical environment of a multi-brand fashion retail store, it relies on interacting of influences between consumers and retailers.