Intense competition in the retail industry drives higher levels of performance across the board, and a key driver for success in this industry is the visual appeal and functionality of retail outlets. Detailed and attractive 3D-rendered images, or computer-generated images (CGI), especially those created with the help of Building Information Modeling (BIM), can have a remarkable impact on customers, sales, and marketing. Retail design drawings that achieve stunning photorealistic views and effective 3D rendering services can help drive profits and save costs.

To better understand the importance of rendering for the retail industry, let’s see what rendering is. In 3D graphic design, rendering is the process of adding shading, color, and lamination to a 2D or 3D wireframe to produce realistic digital images. Rendering allows the creation of images or animations that show the design features of a proposed space. Both designers and clients benefit from rendered views. Although various techniques and software (Autodesk’s popular 3ds Max, VRay, SketchUp, Maya, and Mental Ray) can be used to create CG renderings, the goal remains the same: to enhance presentations, support marketing, and create views of design for analysis. Clients can understand renders better than architectural drawings, and therefore renders are generally more effective at communicating design intent. Accurate renderings can effectively represent spatial constraints and possibilities and, as a result, reach a larger audience.

Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in rendering creates greater accuracy in the rendered image. BIM models can specify the number of cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, countertops, legs, handles, grommets, drawer pulls, equipment mounts, and other details. A great deal of detail is built into a BIM model, which can be used to generate accurate and detailed rendered images, showing how various elements in a space fit in relation to one another. BIM models are especially useful for space analysis in large commercial spaces, such as department stores or shopping malls. Square footage and department listings of fixtures and furnishings can be represented in display areas, with corresponding dimensions. This means that with the use of retail BIM modeling, a 3D view can be created showing how potential objects interact. Commercial space displayed in 3D can also include paint, laminate, and wall coverings, so 3D viewing is a close representation of what the actual space may look like.

Rendered images are important to retail businesses in a number of ways. The benefits of 3D renderings include:

• Realistic representation of spaces.

• Allows executives to view and approve new sites

• Ease and speed of creation.

• Useful for marketing and project approvals.

• Language barriers are minimized

• Renders look clean and attractive compared to 2D elevations

High-quality, photorealistic renderings are as good as photos Renderings also provide flexibility, as elements can be quickly and easily modified. Some of the precise characteristics of the commercial spaces that are represented can predict the experience of the store. For example, a well-designed store entrance should create expectation and offer options. High-quality renders help achieve this. Renders can show lighting, signage, and displays. The retailer’s image can be communicated through the type of flooring and shelving used. For example, glass shelves and accessories can suggest elegance. Smart lighting can improve the way merchandise is displayed, thus helping to increase sales. The walls can be used to store and display messages, and the windows can be used to display the type of merchandise and market the image of the store.

A useful application of rendered images is to display store layouts. Customers can be shown the basic layout of a retail space through 3D visualization so they can opt for a layout that allows for a specific path for their customers. Essential design indicators for effective design include the width of aisles, wide enough for shopping carts (if needed), and also wide enough for people to walk without bumping into each other. There are three basic types of retail layouts, and all can be communicated through representations: grid layout, racetrack layout, and freeform layout.

• Grid layout involves parallel aisles with display items on shelves on both sides, often used for bakeries, display of fruits, vegetables, clothing, electrical and electronic products.

• The racetrack, or loop, design involves a main walkway that loops around the retail space to guide customers on a prescribed route.

• A free-form layout organizes shelves, fixtures, and aisles asymmetrically, and is primarily used in smaller stores, specialty stores, or sections within department stores.

Client approvals for design can be significantly influenced by detailed and effective rendering. The representation of the commercial space can display shelves for the benefit of each client. Shelves and displays should be free of clutter and in such a way that customers can easily locate items. Details of furniture in retail areas such as cash counters, shelves, storage spaces, display counters and their placement are key factors influencing sales, and showing these details through rendering can be useful for customer approvals.

Another key feature of retail space that influences sales is lighting. The location and rendering of light for lighting at different times of the day and night can influence merchandise display locations, and 3D rendering can show the differences in effect that various types of lighting and lighting can have. its reflections in the same space in the same merchandise.

Renders can also be used as planograms. Planograms are images/maps created by retailers to decide where to place merchandise for maximum benefit, taking into account lighting and shelving. The space must be visually appealing to increase customer purchases. These planograms can be easily created, tested, and modified in the virtual environment provided by the renderer.

Approvals and decision making

The use of 3D rendering services can also be helpful in getting executive approvals for new sites and in decision making. This is why:

Competitive advantage

When competition is fierce, a 3D visualization of a project is almost as effective as a business card as it represents and translates the uniqueness of the project. The presentation of work, past, ongoing and future, is a powerful tool. High quality window design representation and enhances reputation.

High Quality Promotional Material

Promoting design intent is crucial for retail clients. Well-crafted computer-generated images can represent interiors more clearly, influencing decisions about the placement and dimensions of furniture, flooring, and wall finishes and coverings. Renderings that promote the brand can be included in brochures, flyers, and other promotional material.

Multiple Views

Multiple views of the same space across renders can help show the full picture and support decision making.

Economic

It costs much less to create a render than physical models, and since the renders are virtual, they can be sent to a broader customer base.

easy changes

Customers frequently change their minds and rendered images can be quickly edited to suit customer requirements. 3D renderings can be sent to the customer for quick approvals and changes.

Focus on key USPs

Renderings display accurate and realistic renderings and can simultaneously highlight the key unique selling points of the merchandise.

With a variety of benefits, photorealistic 3D rendered images can be a valuable asset to retail success. Using BIM to create detailed rendered views of retail space with walls, lighting, furniture, shelving, and layout options provides an added advantage in obtaining approvals and in the sales and marketing fields. Changes are easy to execute and multiple views can be generated to enable more informed decision making. Therefore, rendering is of paramount importance in the retail industry.