Don’t forget the covered walkway when designing garden centres

We all like to spend time in garden centres, but those which don’t have a covered walkway are likely to lose customers on days when the sun goes into hiding and the rainclouds take over. Nobody likes to receive a thorough soaking, especially when we are doing something enjoyable, so if you are involved in garden centre design you should be thinking about ways to keep customers dry. If you manage to do that, the centre will play host to a greater number of customers, and the end result will be more revenue and further commercial success. It really is a win-win situation for all concerned.

As well as providing adequate cover for end users, a covered walkway is also an attractive asset that adds to the aesthetic value of any business. It provides a natural entryway for consumers, and it sends a clear message that visitors are welcome whenever the site is open for business. In the case of garden centres, it enables men, women and children to browse the plants, ornaments, outdoor furniture items and bags of soil and fertiliser in comfort. In effect, it says ‘welcome to our store, stay as long as you want’.

It goes without saying that such an asset isn’t just restricted to garden centres. Major supermarkets often feature covered walkways in their design, sometimes right outside the store and sometimes even in the car parks to help users negotiate their way safely to the front entrance. If you have ever waited outside a large supermarket in the past for a bus or a taxi in order to get your groceries home, you will know how unpleasant it can be if the wind is howling and the heavy rain is starting to fall.

Large do it yourself stores, especially those out of town megastores that we all use on a regular basis, also play host to a walkway or two in some cases. In general, shopping in the United Kingdom has changed dramatically in recent times, with more and more shop designers and owners working hard to provide the ideal customer experience. In their eyes, of course, the ideal customer experience is one that makes people come back over and over again. Because of this, the use of a covered walkway can be an important factor in making consumers want to keep returning.

A covered walkway is a boon to travellers

It may not be easy to keep people dry at all times, of course, but when it comes to railway stations, airports and bus terminals it can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of the journey. Covered walkways are a great help for people who have arrived at an airport, for example, and who need to get to the railway station in order to continue their journey. Having spent a few hours on a plane, nestled in a cramped but comfortable cocoon, the last thing you need is a thorough soaking as you try to get to your train.

Needless to say, those who are charged with the design of our stores and public spaces may not be in a position to afford a covered walkway wherever they would like to have them placed. We all know that tight budgets can be a hindrance when looking into the design of just about anything, but you have to strike something of a balance with this complex subject. A walkway may not be cheap – although it is usually cheaper than most people would imagine – but it does bring with it the dual benefits of being both attractive and practical.

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Certainly in the case of covered walkways in garden centres, such an addition would help customers to stay longer in order to browse the various tempting wares that are on sale. This would therefore mean more money will be spent during the experience, resulting in greater revenue and higher profits for the retailer. Perhaps more crucially than that, however, would be the fact that shoppers enjoyed their day, were not inconvenienced by the weather and would as a result be inclined to come back to the same place the next time they wish to buy garden related products.

If you are involved in the design of supermarkets, garden centres, large out of town superstores or even public transport facilities, you will no doubt want to provide the best end user experience. Here in the UK, and indeed in many other countries around the world, the weather can spoil a day with ease, so providing a degree of protection will be very welcome indeed. A covered walkway is the perfect addition to any design, in that it protects the people who use the location and it adds to the attractiveness of the visual design. No wonder so many designers are looking into covered walkways and what they can do.