Because retail space is subject to such high demands, retail design is a highly specialized discipline. Retail spaces must be created with the goal of providing customers with an easy and pleasurable shopping experience, as stocking and selling products is their major function.

Retail locations, particularly those that are a part of a chain, need to be planned with the intention of luring customers in for in-store purchases.

The storefront serves as a billboard for the business, and to that end, it frequently has huge display windows that let customers view inside the store and the merchandise.
If a retail chain is involved, all of the spaces need to have a similar design.