If you are serious about your retail business succeeding, I strongly recommend hiring a qualified Feng Shui Consultant. The tips I offer here are helpful, but each situation has unique factors that someone with a trained eye and knowledge can help you find the right solution for. But here are some things you can try now:

Become Your Customer

The best exercise to perform when evaluating your retail space from a feng shui perspective is to pretend that you are a customer. Walk out of your establishment, get a cup of coffee, or have a brisk walk away from your business. Clear your head. On your return, look at your space from the point of view of never having seen it before. Have a pen and a piece of paper handy. Jot down your answers to these questions:

How does it feel when you approach your establishment?

How does it feel when you enter?

Is it inviting?

What was your first impression?

The main thing you are looking to find to apply feng shui in retail are obvious issues such as clutter, bad placement of signs, or poor display of your products. Maybe you notice where you need some paint touch up or small repairs.

That is a good place to start. Do this when you feel business is slipping. That is a sign something is "stuck" in your store.

Lighting:

The other thing to keep in mind is lighting. You want people to see your products clearly, and you want the light to cast a favorable glow. Having good light will increase the energy of your store. It will also require you to keep your merchandise clean; the light will show off flaws as well as benefits!

The exception to this recommendation is regarding certain restaurants that wish to create an atmosphere with dim, romantic lighting.

One other recommendation is to apply scent and music to improve the environment. Be sure the music is appropriate for the clientele and don't overdo it on the scents. Subtle but pleasant is the right approach.

Once you've got all the customer's senses working for you, applying feng shui in retail environments is a snap. Just make certain the space is beautiful, nothing jars, there's room to move about, and your products are displayed attractively.

For more information about designing with Feng Shui, visit www.manobluedesign.com or email marie@manobludesign.com