Retail Shops
Shopfront Entry Materials and Finishes for Retail Shops
Select materials by where they will be installed, how they are cleaned and what can be repaired when one part wears.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Mark high-touch, wet and impact-prone surfaces separately before picking finishes.
- Compare
- Ask suppliers for care instructions, repair options and a full sample with exposed edges and joints.
- Before buying
- Price installation, replaceable pieces and long-term maintenance alongside the initial material cost.
Worked example
Rainwater and grit are routinely tracked into a townhouse entry with a pale timber floor.
Create a distinct, replaceable landing surface just inside the threshold and use a washable runner beyond it. Test the transition with wet shoes and verify the edge cannot catch a wheeled bag.
How to test it
Put the sample beside its adjoining materials and test the agreed cleaning method on a spare piece.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Keep the first few steps open and position the welcome display to one side of the natural entry path.
- Detail
- Use a durable threshold and lighting that makes the first merchandise zone distinct from the street.
- Trade-off
- A dense window story attracts attention but can obscure views into the store.
- View displays from across the street
- Walk in carrying a shopping bag
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
