Waitaki District Council placemaking lead Cyndi Christensen and project co-ordinator Beth Strickland ran the breakfast talk at the Ō Hub, in the former Trade Aid Shop on Thames St, for Ropo initiatives to revitalise the CBD.
For the breakfast session they focused on colour and design tips and advice to attract customers in store.
Mrs Christensen told the group a retail space should "tell a story" and "draw you in".
She reflected on her past retail experience in the United States to highlight proven retail tips for success.
"At JC Penney we had a standard, or a rule to change things, so windows were changed every two weeks and merchandise was moved around.
"Retail is very scientific, it’s about how people behave and how you’re getting the most out of their wallets, by aligning to that behaviour," Mrs Christensen said.
"Even in my own store I moved my merchandise around every six months ... And I changed my window every two weeks."
Ms Strickland focused on how simple changes, including "colour psychology" with a re-paint and ways to rework a business space could make a "huge difference".
This included making changes with "no or minimal cost" to give business owners a new perspective.
"It’s a really good start to walk down the street [and] stand in front of your store, as if you are looking at that space for the first time.
"Look at the basics — is it clean, is the shop front looking respectable?
"Are you spilling out on to the street? Do you have ways to draw people in from what you’ve got out on the pavement? You start telling a story about what you do."
An audience question about "encroachment licences", involving how much street space businesses could take up, prompted Mrs Christensen to direct them to the Waitaki District Council for more information.
One business owner raised a laugh as he said "funnily enough, I have to leave now because I’ve got someone coming to wash my windows".
Mrs Christensen said having "lights on" certainly helped to highlight a business and its brand, while also helping street safety.
Ms Strickland said lighting was often "underestimated".
"You’ve got to keep the lights on in front, it’s got to be bright. What are people seeing when they drive by at night?
"You can hear nice stories from the florist down the road, who says every time I change my window front, people walk past on Sunday and they come and buy something out of the window on Monday."
