One of the most important, yet most often overlooked items of shop furniture is the humble chair, providing tired shoppers with somewhere to rest their weary legs after a long day pacing the mall or town centre.
In his book Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, retail insight specialist Paco Underhill said putting a chair in your shop is one of the single best things you can do in order to increase sales and customer satisfaction - and while several years have passed since the book was first published, the tip still holds strong.
For instance, chairs provide shoppers in clothing stores with somewhere to sit to try on shoes, or simply to steady themselves while in fitting rooms or trying on outerwear on the shop floor.
Tub chairs placed outside the fitting rooms also allow shoppers' companions to relax comfortably until they are needed for a second opinion on the style or fit of a particular garment - and individual tub chairs ensure people do not feel as though their personal space is being invaded, compared with seating with no clear division between individual seats.
But even a single seat placed anywhere can help to make shoppers feel more welcome, and keep them in your store for longer - ultimately making it more likely that they might choose to make a purchase.
Of course, December is a crucial time for retailers, and with the high street competing with out-of-town shopping malls and online shopping, bricks-and-mortar stores in any location must be as attractive as possible to keep physical shopper footfall coming through the door.
But even as Christmas passes by, there is still the New Year period to look ahead to - and again, making the retail environment as welcoming as possible with the addition of items of shop furniture like a chair or two could prove to be the final factor in clinching that competitive edge.
During the January sales and beyond, this relatively small investment as part of a commitment to unparalleled customer service may be the differentiating factor between retailers who see their sales pick up simply due to the lower prices, and those that become a true destination for advocate shoppers.