One Shop = Eight Shops

[Raven]

I decided to make a shop.  I planned it out.  It would need to be such-and-such size, and shaped just-so.  I would use these windows; and I would need those shelves.  The cashier would be situated here, and here would be the main shop display.  A perfect shop.

Then I wondered who ever had a perfect shop.  I supposed that those individuals or high street chains that were rich enough to build their own shop, or to totally remodel and refit an existing building, they would have a perfect shop.  But everyone else had to make do with the size and structure of the building they bought or rented.  Especially if they rented the building.  What if one had to try and fit one's shop layout into a rented building?

I changed my mind about creating a perfect shop.  Instead I built a shop building to rent.



I put blue posts on the middle floor to make it less attractive, and to mess up any colour schemes.  I also made a couple of rules about what could and couldn't be changed in the shop.

It would be a challenge.  Would I be able to make a variety of shops within this building?

The shop would be rented out to eight different types of traders, and become:

- a Fashion Boutique
- a DIY Store
- an Outdoor Shop
- a Toy Shop
- a Pet Shop
- a Flower Shop
- a Food Market
- and a Secondhand Shop.

Could I do it?

1.  The Fashion Boutique





Out of all the shops, this one was the easiest one to create, because so many appropriate items had come with the Shopping Mall anyway.



Though if I hadn't created a bag-and-luggage floor, I don't think I would have had enough to fill the entire shop.







I also needed to add a Perfume section, because I had nothing else to go here.







I didn't have enough smart hats, either, so I filled in the spaces with decorative items.



All-in-all, the Fashion Boutique was OK, but it wasn't very satisfying to create.  It felt too much like I was just opening the relevant storage containers and then plonking things down in the shop.

The DIY Store



The 'Coming Event' poster, 'New', and 'Sale!' sign used in this shop are from here:

http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/USIM4531/mycustompage0003.htm

And all other signs were gratefully obtained from:

www.sparklebox.co.uk
© 2005-2014, SparkleBox Teacher Resources Limited

where their many resources are available full-size for classroom and personal use.













The paintpots are covered flowerpots!

Up until this point, I was quite enjoying myself making the DIY Store.  But when I came to the top floor, the floor layout, and the 'wrong' shelves in the 'wrong' places seemed quite an obstacle.

I wasn't really happy with my tool display:



And I think this looks a bit 'thrown together':



But, of course, one can always cheer oneself up by buying a toolbox, a screwdriver, and - of course - a new bucket!!



Continued tomorrow with the Outdoor Shop, and Toy Shop.

[Birdie]

Can I just say... I'm SO happy you're back     

The building with the big windows might be more appropriate for a boutique, but I think the higglety-pigglety look of the DIY store is spot-on and it clashes with the building in a good way.
You're not happy with the tool display? I think it's ingenius 

[Jitka]

Love the details - especially those in the DIY Store .
Thanks for Sharing. I am very curious about the other stores.

[playmofire]

Great work, Raven, especially the DIY store.  As Birdie says, you've hit the target bang on with the higgledy-piggledy layout, and the tool display is just what I used to see on the DIY market stalls in the small city where we used to live.

I like the detail of the man sitting outside the changing rooms in the boutique - been there, done that!

[Tiermann]

These are great, and I really like the tool display in the curved space. It's a difficult area and you've done really well with it. I am looking forward to seeing your other shop solutions.

[Salamander]

Wow, these are both great!! 

Love the BBQs as holders for flip flops!

I thought the fans and bottles fit in very well with the hat display.

Your wall of paints looks wonderful!

[skypurr]

Love these, especially the DIY store.   
Can't wait to see what else you create.

[bonniebeth]

Very well done! I really like the way you put the curved clothing rod into the curved window area in the clothing store. Looks very nice there.

[Klickteryx]

The thing with the tool section is that tools tend to be on shelves or racks. Even screwdrivers come in sleeves or some sort of hook on them to hang from a rack/peg. Tools in bins tends to be something you see in second hand shops. It's still a very good hardware shop and I like the safety section. Maybe include a couple of fire extinguishers if room allows.
In the picture with the dust sheets and rope, where does that nice yellow rope at the top come from?

[Raven]

^ The yellow rope isn't Playmobil; it turned up with a secondhand farm set.  It's flat on the other side, with a purple lump where it has been broken off something, and klickies can't hold it - but it looks alright hung on a wall!


3.  The Outdoor Shop





I wanted to make my shops as realistic as possible, so naturally there are unicorns in the neighbourhood.





A problem with this building, I think, is that items tend to look a bit spread out.





Only the smallest of the tents would fit into the available space.







Nothing spectacular, but it was quite fun to do.

4.  The Toy Shop



I was looking forward to making this one.







There's still the 'a bit too spread out' problem, of course.







I had to do a whole floor dedicated to Playmobil!









Continued tomorrow with the Pet Shop and Flower Shop.