Save time and money with these buildout hacks

You are ready to dive headfirst into opening the storefront of your dreams. You have a flawless visual in your mind and a Pinterest board full of ideas for the picture-perfect buildout. Then you start crunching the numbers and your dream buildout begins to feel a lot less dreamy and more on the overwhelming, unattainable side. I see you, and I get it. Because I’ve been in your shoes before. What if I told you that your buildout isn’t as unattainable as you think? These go-to buildout hacks from the Brick N’ Mortar team will relieve stress, help you get clarity around your buildout needs, and save your precious time and money. Regardless of where you are in the buildout process, these tactics can make a major difference in your startup success. Let’s dive in, friend. 

Start Simple, Get Fancy Later

It is so tempting when building out your location to go for the most high-end, luxurious build-out possible. Our golden rule is to start simple, and get fancy later. Let us be clear, that doesn’t mean slap a coat of paint up and use a fold-out table for your cash register, but the fancy $10,000 dollar waterfall can wait. The BIGGEST mistake you can make as a new business owner is overspending on your buildout when the money could be going towards marketing dollars to drive foot traffic to your location. Don’t worry, you can always add the fancy things in later once you start hitting your revenue goals. 

Buy Gently Used Items

Every time we do a buildout, Facebook Marketplace and second-hand shops become my best friends. You may be surprised that you can find new and barely used items at a fraction of the price. Plus the modern farmhouse, gently used look is all the rage now. So go ahead and channel your inner Chip and Joanna Gaines. It may take some time to search and locate items, but the savings are oh-so worth it. 

Do it Yourself (DIY)

Depending on the unit you are building out, consider dropping the general contractor and opting into doing the renovations yourself. I know I mentioned Facebook Marketplace and second hand-shops become my best friends in the buildout process, but Pinterest is a close third. From building beautiful, sheek sales counters to shelving and displays, you can find endless ideas and “how to’s” to design and build your store yourself. Grab your hard hat and consider where you can save with DIY projects. 

Paint

Listen close, here’s one of my best-kept secrets. **whisper* I paint everything. Okay, I’ll shout it from the rooftops. I PAINT EVERYTHING! We’re talking ceiling tiles, walls, tile floor, shelves, brick walls and more. It’s incredible what a fresh coat of paint can do. Instead of spending the big bucks on replacing tile floor or ceiling tiles, try a fresh coat of paint for a fraction of the cost. You will be amazed at how great it looks and the money you save. 

There you have it! These are our go-to buildout hacks for new business owners. I want to remind you that the biggest mistake you as a new business owner can make is blowing your entire budget on your buildout. If you follow the golden rule, “start simple, get fancy later”, then you are sure to be off to a successful start to a thriving brick-and-mortar business. If you are craving more tips from our team, check out the 5 Things We Wish We Knew Before We Opened a Brick-and-Mortar Business.