Michael J. Knell —
Buddhist design philosophy can help retail environments

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Applying the principles of feng shui to your store will improve the bottom line, Mega Group members were told at their recent annual meeting here.

“Feng shui is a marriage of the practical and the divine,” said retail consultant and author Linda Cahan. She said the principles of 7,000-year-old Buddhist design philosophy can make most retail environments more enjoyable to work and shop in.

Good air circulation is one of feng shui’s most basic and critical applications. Stores should clean their heating and cooling systems regularly, and open doors and windows to let in fresh air. Stale air leads to tired staff and cranky customers.

Also important are good sight lines and ease of movement. Customers should be able to see where they’re going. Desks and service areas should be clean and accessible and the floor shouldn’t be cramped. Outdate merchandised should be cleared quickly.

“Price it so low that it just about kills you and blow it out of your store,” Cahan said. “Don’t stay emotionally attached to what you paid for each piece — it’s done, it didn’t sell, it was a bad buy: get over it. Buy better next time and you’ll make your money back easily and quickly.”

Lighting is another critical area, she said. Shadows and dark areas should be avoided as customers are more attracted to soft bright light.

Cleanliness also is key, since customers associate cleanliness with quality merchandise and think a dirty store sells junk.

According to feng shui, the non-selling spaces — such as the washroom, office and storage areas — are just as important as the selling floor. “Clearing the clutter from your office, stockroom, toilet and the entire store is a form of renovation,” Cahan said.

“Bringing in something from nature will make people more comfortable in your store,” she added, noting that silk plants are better than dried. “Dried is dead,” she said.

Most of all, the principles of feng shui should bring a sense of positive, freely flowing energy to the store.
Her book, “Feng Shui for Retailers,” will be published later this year.