When Basket Express Upgraded with Prime House Interiors, Sales Soared
At Basket Express, a small but ambitious supermarket retail store in Nairobi, every day felt uninspiring. Customers came in but didn’t stay long. Products were good, prices fair, but baskets stayed half-empty. The owner knew something was wrong, but couldn’t name it.
That’s where Prime House Interiors stepped in. We don’t just decorate this retail store— we design retail supermarket interior design experiences that sell. This project became a textbook case of how retail store layout design and smart interiors can turn browsers into loyal buyers.
Designing for the right turn
Shoppers in Kenya, just like anywhere in the world, naturally turn right when they enter a store. At Basket Express, the entrance led directly into a stack of crates. It was a dead end. Customers stumbled instead of flowing.
We restructured the entry to include a decompression zone — a small, open space where shoppers could pause, adjust, and take in the environment. Shelves on the right now carried attractive fast-moving items, guiding the eye and rewarding the shopper’s first move.
Supermarket store shoppers now felt rewarded for entering — greeted with order and ease, instead of clutter.
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Creating flow, not frustration
One of the biggest mistakes in retail is ignoring customer flow. The old Basket Express layout trapped customers in narrow aisles where carts jammed and movement slowed. It made people want to leave quickly.
We redesigned the retail interior design with wider lanes and angled shelving. This allowed for smooth circulation, encouraging customers to explore instead of rushing out. Strategic breaks — benches, mid-aisle displays, and small resting points — made browsing less stressful.
The flow created feelings of calm and control. Shoppers began to associate Basket Express with comfort, not chaos.
Displays that increase sales
Basket Express windows used to show nothing but sun-faded posters. We introduced design window displays that told micro-stories: fresh produce arranged like a weekend market, imported cosmetics glowing under layered lights, snacks lined like jewels.
Inside, we avoided overloading shelves. Displaying the right amount of product makes goods look premium in supermarket interior design Kenya. Instead of fighting for attention, every item had room to breathe. That balance encouraged trust — customers no longer felt they were buying from a warehouse but from a curated shop.
Cross-merchandising
A mother buying cooking oil might also need rice, and the student picking snacks might consider juice. Prime House Interiors introduced cross-merchandising displays for My Basket Express where related items were placed side by side. Oils near spices, bread near spreads, cosmetics near mirrors.
This was not random — it was designed. Shoppers chose bigger baskets, and Basket Express enjoyed higher average sales.
Fixtures and fittings
Cheap wooden racks had been rotting from moisture. They not only looked bad but also risked hygiene violations. We installed moisture-resistant shelving with powder-coated finishes, adjustable heights, and modular sections. This made it easy to rearrange displays for promotions or seasonal items.
Leaving space around fixtures and fittings also mattered. Customers no longer felt trapped. Staff could restock quickly. The result? Efficiency improved, operations smoothed, and the shop began running like a modern supermarket instead of a crowded kiosk.
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The emotional side of retail
Supermarket interior design is not just about shelves — it’s about how people feel. Lighting played a crucial role. We created zones: warm lights over food, bright focused lights for cosmetics, and inviting glow near the checkout. Shoppers began to see themselves — and the products — in a flattering way.
Colors also spoke volumes. We chose a palette that made fruits look fresher, dairy feel cooler, and packaged goods pop. Customers now describe the shop as “cozy yet modern,” a memorable brand experience that kept them coming back.
The final results
The numbers tell the story. After interior design, Basket Express reported:
- Customers stayed longer inside the shop.
- Average basket size grew by over 30%.
- Staff finished stocking in half the time.
- Repeat visits increased — people now said they “enjoy shopping there.”
What once felt like survival became pride. The owner now stands at the counter with confidence, knowing his shop isn’t just competing — it’s leading.
Would you like us to help you with retail interior design in a similar way? Please call us at +254 721 502 251 to discuss your project.