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January 3, 2026
8 min read

10 Best Practices for Designing Your Store Locator

10 Best Practices for Designing Your Store Locator

10 Best Practices for Designing Your Store Locator

A store locator is often the bridge between your online presence and your physical locations. Get the design right, and you'll drive more foot traffic. Get it wrong, and potential customers will go to your competitors.

Here are 10 best practices for creating a store locator that converts.

1. Make It Prominent and Easy to Find

The Problem: Many websites bury their store locator in the footer or behind multiple menu layers.

The Solution:

  • Add a clear "Find a Store" or "Locations" button in your main navigation
  • Use contrasting colors that stand out
  • Consider a prominent button in your homepage hero section

    • Example: "73% of users who can't find a store locator within 3 clicks will leave your site" - UX Study 2025

    2. Design for Mobile First

    Over 60% of store locator searches happen on mobile devices—often while people are already out and actively looking for your location.

    Mobile-First Checklist:

  • Large, touch-friendly buttons (minimum 44x44 pixels)
  • Simple, uncluttered interface
  • One-tap to call or get directions
  • Fast loading (under 2 seconds)
  • Geolocation enabled by default

    • 3. Use Clear, Branded Pin Icons

    Generic red pins are boring and forgettable. Your map pins are prime branding real estate.

    Pin Design Tips:

  • Use your brand colors
  • Include your logo in the pin design
  • Different pin colors for different location types (retail, warehouse, pop-up)
  • Ensure pins are visible at various zoom levels
  • Test pins against different map styles (light, dark, satellite)

    • Mapify offers custom pin design in our visual editor—no graphic design skills required.

    4. Show Real-Time Status Information

    Nothing frustrates customers more than driving to a closed store.

    Essential Status Information:

  • Current open/closed status with visual indicators (green = open, red = closed)
  • Today's opening hours prominently displayed
  • Full weekly schedule
  • Special hours for holidays
  • Temporary closures or reduced hours

    • 5. Provide Multiple Search Options

    Different users search in different ways. Support all of them:

  • **Address search** - "123 Main Street, Boston"
  • **City/Zip search** - "02108" or "Downtown Boston"
  • **Current location** - Automatic geolocation with permission
  • **Landmark search** - "Near Fenway Park"
  • **Store features** - "24-hour locations" or "Drive-thru available"

    • 6. Display Distance Clearly

    Users need to know how far each location is from them.

    Best Practices:

  • Show distance in both miles and minutes
  • Update distances as users search different locations
  • Sort results by distance automatically
  • Include driving/walking time estimates
  • Show distance on both the list and map view

    • 7. Include Rich Location Details

    Go beyond just address and phone number. Provide everything a customer needs:

  • **Contact Information**

    • - Phone number (click to call on mobile)

    - Email address

    - Store manager name

  • **Services Available**

    • - In-store pickup

    - Curbside delivery

    - Returns accepted

    - Special services (alterations, installations, etc.)

  • **Amenities**

    • - Parking availability

    - Wheelchair accessible

    - WiFi available

    - Public transportation nearby

  • **Visual Elements**

    • - Store photos

    - Team photos

    - Interior shots

    8. Optimize Map Style for Your Brand

    The map itself should complement your brand, not compete with it.

    Map Style Considerations:

  • **Light maps** for bright, clean brands
  • **Dark maps** for modern, tech-focused brands
  • **Minimal maps** to emphasize your locations over geography
  • **Satellite view** for outdoor/nature brands
  • **Custom color schemes** that match your brand palette

    • Mapify includes dozens of pre-designed map themes plus full customization options.

    9. Add Smart Filters

    Help users find exactly what they're looking for:

  • Location type (store, warehouse, outlet)
  • Services offered (installation, returns, repairs)
  • Amenities (parking, wheelchair access, WiFi)
  • Open now / Open 24 hours
  • New locations / Coming soon

    • UX Tip: Default to showing all locations, but make filters obvious and easy to use.

    10. Include Clear Calls-to-Action

    Every location listing should make the next step obvious:

  • **Get Directions** - Opens in Google Maps/Apple Maps
  • **Call Now** - Direct phone link
  • **Visit Website** - Store-specific landing page
  • **Book Appointment** - If applicable
  • **Check Inventory** - For retail stores
  • **View Menu** - For restaurants

    • Use contrasting button colors and clear, action-oriented text.

    Bonus: Test Your Store Locator

    Before launching, test your store locator with real users:

  • Can they find a location in under 30 seconds?
  • Does it work well on mobile?
  • Are the calls-to-action clear?
  • Does it load quickly?
  • Is the information accurate?

    • Implementing These Best Practices with Mapify

    Every best practice mentioned in this article is built into Mapify:

    ✅ Mobile-optimized responsive design

    ✅ Custom pin design and colors

    ✅ Real-time open/closed status

    ✅ Multiple search methods

    ✅ Rich location details support

    ✅ Distance calculations

    ✅ Dozens of map themes

    ✅ Smart filtering options

    ✅ Clear CTAs on every location

    ✅ Performance optimized

    Transform your Wix website with a professionally designed store locator in minutes, not days.

    Start your free trial of Mapify today—no credit card required.

    Ready to transform your Wix website?

    Add a professional store locator to your site in under 30 seconds. No API key required.

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