Five Quick Waiting Area Ideas

Criteria To Think About and Waiting Areas That Work

“What is the importance of a jewelry store waiting area?” My advice is that creating this space needs to make the customer feel relaxed, comfortable, and warm. By creating a proper waiting area, it allows customers and their significant others to experience a stress-free and enjoyable environment.

See the waiting area picture at The Diamond Center, Janesville, WI, below, where there is a built-in small refrigerator, with drinks and food displayed beautifully on top of the cabinet.

One of my favorite design elements I like to suggest in the waiting area is to incorporate electric fireplaces within the space. I design the fireplace walls as a focal point in the area. I make sure it reflects the design style of the overall store. Each stone or tile fits the overall design of the space.

In the Williams Jewelers waiting area, top image at right, I chose rough ledger stone to go with the Colorado design look of the store.

The other electronic element is to have a TV in the area for customers to watch while they wait. I tell my clients to have

Five Quick Waiting Area Ideas Before Developing or Remodeling

1. Pay close attention to the traffic flow for optimizing its location.

2. Choose comfortable furniture along with upholstery and finishes that coordinate with the entire store.

3. Create a relaxing design décor in the waiting area. For example, set the mood of the area with lamps, chandeliers, and layered lighting.

4. Use technology and make sure there is WI-FI. Also, most of your customers will have devices with them to plug in while waiting.

5. Refreshments. Have a beautiful beverage cart, or a cabinet that could offer a selection of coffee, tea, fresh fruit, cold drinks, nutrition bars, small bags of packaged nuts, etc.

a loop of their advertising or specials they have going on for the month before the general education shows that are on the TV. Many times I place the TV above the fireplaces.

I also like to use area rugs in the waiting areas to convey a residential feel and a welcoming image. My favorite area rug that I designed for Crocker’s Fine Jewelry, Texarkana, TX, shown on Page 38, is a super thick and vey textural rug under the cocktail table. This gives the space a contemporary look like the store’s design.

If your store is large enough and your demographics are young families with children, it could be nice to add a children’s waiting or play area while their parents shop. It is important in the placement of that room that the children can see their parents and vice-versa. An example of children’s waiting area below at Crocker’s Fine Jewelry, bottom image at right.

As a business owner, you have the power to make your customer’s waiting experience stress-free and even enjoyable. Sit in your store’s waiting area and feel and see what your customers are experiencing. What would you do differently to make that area just right?