Retail surgery: How can retailers work around the constraints associated with listed buildings when implementing PoS systems?

Listed buildings have resurfaced in recent years as coveted locations for retailers looking to incorporate impressive architectural features and grand interiors as part of a luxurious shopping experience. However, these buildings can often be a headache for retailers when deploying point-of-sale (PoS) materials, with much of the building off limits when it comes to fixtures and fittings.

Debra Jamieson, sales and marketing director at UK PoS, a manufacturer of PoS products, says that retailers must think outside the box when considering the small details around PoS.

She says: ”PoS materials often require an element of physical assembly that means they need to be attached to the walls, floors or ceilings. For listed buildings, however, this is almost always off limits, posing a challenge to retailers who need the shopfloor to remain a flexible space that can adapt in keeping with the efforts of the marketing team and, most importantly, the requirements of the customer.”

She adds: ”Ask yourself the following questions – are the fixtures flexible? Can they be attached in multiple ways? More than this, is the PoS in keeping with the style of the building and its environment?”

Jamieson adds it is not just high street retailers that face this problem – museum gift shops, for example, are often in listed buildings.

But by considering the individual requirements of the store and tailoring accordingly, brands will find the much-needed flexibility to adapt, keeping pace with seasonal campaigns and visual merchandising displays.