Go ahead. Get out from behind your counter.
Take a look at what your clients see. Does the experience enhance their opinion of your business? After all, your counter is probably more looked-at than anything else in your shop. What’s the lasting impression?
Then, consider the job of your counter. What should it do?
It should close the sale: make buyers happy with what they are purchasing. Does your sales counter enhance the experience of being a customer? Do they, simply by being helped at your counter, feel even more positive about the cleanliness, the stylishness, and the value of your offerings? Does their experience of being at your counter enhance the perceived value of your goods and make them feel even more positive about their experience in your shop?
It should build sales. Are there tempting, exciting little add-ons available and easily selected? Wouldn’t what they are purchasing be enhanced by an accessory of some sort, whether it’s a colorful necklace, pretty little candles, amusing little trinkets?
It should motivate return visits and word-of-mouth. Does your sales counter strengthen their perception of your shop? Do customers feel pampered and valued?Are you using your sales counter to cultivate the connection your client has with your shop?
What senses are appealed to at your counter? Touch, sight, smell and hearing… After all, how do you want your client to feel about your business when she leaves your counter?
Do you really intend to present her with an impression of chipped paint, smudged surfaces, clutter and disorganization? Of course not. So make sure that your counter shows that you are organized, focused on her, approachable and above all: clean, stylish and clutter-free.
And a nice big sign reinforcing your shop name can’t hurt, can it? That way, when they tell friends of the great shop they were just in, they will tell their friends the right name too.
Photo borrowed from visualstore.com
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Thinking of opening my own shop. Dreaming of what my counter will look like.
Be sure to look at what’s visible behind your counter from the front, also. If there’s a big pile of stuff on the shelf or counter behind, it tells the customer you’re not organized. We all become store blind sometimes so you have to get out and look at your store through a customer’s eye occasionally.
Love this!!! The first thing I am going to do this morning when u get to the store is walk up to the counter to see how it looks and what I can do to improve it!
Thanks Kate!!
When “I” get to the shop!
Well, I know I’d be delighted to visit and tell you how your counter looks 😉
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Great reminder of the importance of the counter! So often it gets treated more like the personal desk/workspace and gets cluttered. I love the picture you added!