What you need to set up shop PART 1: FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
The ultimate guide to display and storage solutions for new retailers.
Contents About Shopfitting Warehouse........................Page 2 Getting Started With Your New Shop............ Page 2 Choosing Your Furniture................................ Page 3 Counters and Glass Display Cabinets............ Page 3 Shelving Units................................................ Page 4 Chrome Shelving............................................Page 4/5 Wall Fix and Cube.......................................... Page 5 Saving Space With Fixtures............................ Page 6 Slatwall........................................................... Page 6 Gridwall..........................................................Page 7 Cable Displays............................................... Page 7 Selecting The Right Fittings........................... Page 8 Visual Merchandising Tips And Tricks............ Page 9 Final Thoughts............................................... Page 10 Connect With Us............................................ Page 11 11 References & Resources.................................Page
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About Shopfitting Warehouse With over 130 years of experience, Shopfitting Warehouse by Drakes Display, provide all the equipment needed to set up your own shop – from shop fittings and display units, right through to compulsory retail accessories such as coat hangers and signage. Supplying to the UK and EU, they make the purchasing and delivery process simple, so that you can focus on making your business the best it can be. You can find Shopfitting Warehouse online at www.shopfittingwarehouse.co.uk or call the team based in Dorset, UK on 0800 834 782.
Getting Started With Your New Shop Whether this is your first shop or not, the empty shell can seem incredibly daunting – particularly if you have your merchandise lined up ready to be displayed without the means to do it. Store design is an art, but at its very core you must have your customers in mind. Brands that actively engage with shoppers tend to turn them into buyers (*1), and your displays are a great place to start. You need to start thinking about the best ways in which to show off your products, and how to create an atmosphere for your shoppers which makes it easy for them to browse through your items. This User Guide will explore the larger pieces of furniture, as well as the fixtures and fittings you will need in order for your shop to begin to take shape. The guide will also offer some tips on effective visual merchandising.
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Choosing Your Furniture Shop furniture will range from counters through to shelving units and gondolas. Depending on what you sell, you will want to consider the benefits of each different type of furniture in order to assess whether it is suitable. If you sell a lot of precious items, such as jewellery, you need to focus on a more secure counter or unit. In contrast, if you sell shoes or other clothing that your customers may wish to try on, it is recommended to opt for shelving or gondola units. Furnishings don’t stop at the sales floor. You will also need to think about what is needed for behind the scenes, such as stockroom shelving and packing benches. Let’s take a look at all of the options in more detail.
Counters and Glass Display Cabinets The till point is a crucial area for your store. When considering the purchase of a counter, you will need to think about its function. Is it just a space for your cash register to sit? Or maybe you want to use it as an additional form of merchandising by creating POS (point of sale) displays? Made with toughened glass and high quality MDF, glass top counters are great for displaying items, as well as keeping valuables stored safely and securely.
By using glass top counters, you can also capitalise on merchandising around the till space, encouraging further spend. Alternatively, you can opt for a glass-free counter of various sizes and styles to suit your store.
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There are also add-ons such as corner counters and dedicated till stands to choose from to build the ideal sales point area. Accurately measure the space your shop counters will take up to ensure enough space is available for customer queues and for staff to easily move behind the counter. Many retail accessories can be stored within the counter for easy access, whether it is further stock, such as jewellery and other valuable items, or tags and price stickers. Allow enough space to organise these neatly to avoid loss or damage. Beyond the shop counter, there is the option of having display cabinets around your store for expensive or delicate merchandise. These are best wall mounted, or placed on top of units so that they are at eye-level for browsers.
Shelving Units
Shop Counter, Glass Top, Storage
There are plenty of available options when it comes to choosing shop floor and stock room shelving for your products. When setting up, decide if it is important to you that your shelving is flexible in order to adjust to stock levels, as well as making the most of available space. Out front, you need your shelves to show off your products in a way that makes it easy for your customers to see and reach them, whilst out back you want to be able to keep stock organised and well supported. You don’t want shelves that are too weak to support the amount of stock you intend to store. Here are the options for the types of shelving available and their benefits.
Chrome Wire Chrome wire shelving is a great choice if you need a versatile display or storage solution. Chrome shelving can be adapted to changing stock and display as well as where it is placed.
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Chrome shelving units are very easy to assemble and disassemble. Shelf heights can be adjusted, additional shelves can be purchased as well as clothes rail accessories and castor wheels for when mobility of your shelving unit is required. Chrome wire shelving is surprisingly light yet has very strong shelves. Heavy duty chrome shelving can cope with loads up to 250kgs UDL (uniformly distributed load). The chrome wire has additional benefits such as enabling items to be hung from the wire and being less likely to catch dust. It is also easily cleaned making it very popular where hygiene is important.
6 Tier Chrome Shelving Unit
Wall Fix and Cube Wall fix shelving is commonly used in a home environment, but there’s no reason why you can’t utilise these in your shop to create a homely atmosphere and to show off promotional products. Floating shelves are easy to attach and have hidden brackets for a clean and modern look. Remember with these shelves to distribute weight evenly and keep them at a sensible height to avoid injury.
The Cube Display System comes from Germany, and offers a great solution for display or storage. The cubes can be combined in different ways to create almost endless shape and size possibilities. This is ideal for difficult spaces or for creating interesting displays. Each shelf can hold up to 15kgs, and works as a freestanding unit either against a wall or in the middle of the shop floor. If a contemporary, spacious looking store is what you are after, both of these options are a great choice.
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Stockroom and Industrial This style of shelving is incredibly beneficial for stockroom storage as the units are made up of galvanised steel and can take weights of up to 200kgs. What’s more, it provides the perfect solution if you are storing products in cold or outdoor environments, such as garden centres. No nuts or bolts are needed to build these units, and the centre beams keep them sturdy and upright with no need for wall fixings.
Saving Space With Fixtures Fixtures refer to equipment and furniture which is fixed permanently into position. Even though you might be tempted to stick to moveable items in order to make it easy to change the layout of your store when needed, fixtures are excellent space saving solutions and provide plenty of opportunities to customise your store through the variety of accessories available. By including fixtures as well as furniture, you avoid the risk of your shop looking messy and jumbled. Once again, you have a few options of fixtures to choose from.
Slatwall Slatwall is commonly used in retail due to its extensive customisable options, which include the panel shapes, colours and accessories. The accessories include arms for displaying clothes, as well as hooks for smaller items and baskets for articles that cannot be hung up. Use Slatwall around the walls and till spaces to save space for larger display units in the centre.
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Gridwall Gridwall panels are made from thick steel wire making them a popular display choice for a wide range of items using accessories such as hooks, baskets, shelves and display arms. These panels can be attached to the wall to save space whilst displaying a large number of products. Alternatively, you can purchase wheels or legs to attach to them. Use gridwall if you have plenty of stock and limited space to display it. Freestanding Gridwall with L-legs or T-legs is also a great solution for trade shows and events as it is easily dismantled and transported.
Gridwall Mesh Heavy Duty Stand with 2 Sloping Wire Shelves and Side Hanging Rail
Cable Displays Most commonly used at estate agencies for window displays, cable displays allow you to clearly showcase information about your current promotions. They are also great for displaying any posters or prints that you sell, with the acrylic keeping the inserts safe and protected from damage.
Wall Mounted Cable Display Set - A4 Portrait
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Selecting The Right Fittings Fittings include the display arms, prongs, hooks, baskets, brackets/shelves and other accessories required to piece together and customise your shop furniture and fixtures. Before purchasing any fittings, make sure that you are aware of the measurements required, and that you are opting for high quality pieces made of steel and chrome for long lasting strength. The types of products you wish to display will determine the types of fittings you need. Larger items that cannot be hung up will require shelves or baskets, clothing items are normally displayed using sloping or straight arms, and smaller items can use hooks. Also check your product packaging for what can be displayed on hooks. If your product packaging uses the Euro-hook slot then you can use Euro Hooks. If your packaging has no slot, you can purchase plastic slot tabs that stick to your packaging.
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Visual Merchandising Tips And Tricks Now you know about the furniture, fixtures and fittings that make up your store, it’s time to carefully plan how they are going to be positioned and used to maximise the space as well as encourage sales. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you along the way.
Draw the layout first, marking where the furniture and fixtures will go to ensure there will be no obstructions and that there is a natural flow of movement for your customers as they browse. It all starts from the shop window – you need to get this right to entice people into your store. Focus on creating a simplistic display which clearly reflects your brand and produce, and don’t fall into the trap of letting the display get too busy and jumbled. Keep your shelves well stocked – not only do low stock levels make your shop look empty, but also shoppers are not always likely to ask if a product is available if it’s not out on display.
Be creative – create a story and vary your displays where appropriate. Research from Brandon Gaille shows that 46% of shoppers are more likely to buy from retailers that personalise the shopping experience (*2). This includes the customer service experience, but also the atmosphere created by visual displays.
If you only have a small retail space, check that you are not creating multiple aisles that are difficult to navigate. Utilise the walls and till point areas instead to make room for your browsing customers. Use colours to create different moods and reflect seasons. Bright colours attract attention, but use them in moderation and avoid them if you are looking to create a more relaxed vibe in your store.
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Shoppers may feel embarrassed to ask the cost of something, so price your items and signpost any sale or promotional items clearly. Carefully consider the lighting. Whilst you do not want the light to be glaring, you will need to have it at a level where your products can be seen clearly. Try and utilise natural daylight as much as possible instead of relying on lamps and bulbs. Assess your product placement. Place the merchandise that you are looking to push at eye level and grab your customers’ attention with signage or decoration.
Don’t forget to plan your next seasonal display – if you do not prepare for changes, they don’t often get made. If you stick to the same display across seasons, the layout of your store can become stale.
Final Thoughts This guide has highlighted the larger, necessary items that you will need to set up your shop. There are several decisions to be made about what equipment is right for you, so make sure you carefully consider your options before purchase.
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Connect With Us If you want to keep up-to-date with Shopfitting Warehouse, why not follow us on our social media accounts? Facebook facebook.com/ShopfittingWarehouse Twitter twitter.com/ShopfittingWhs Pinterest pinterest.com/ShopfittingWhs You can also read our blog for further tips on setting up your shop.
References & Resources 1. Turning Shoppers Into Buyers http://www.wpp.com/~/media/sharedwpp/marketing%20insights/ reports%20and%20studies/turning_shoppers_into_buyers.pdf 2. 19 Retail In Store Signage Statistics And Techniques http://brandongaille.com/19-retail-store-signage-statistics-and-techniques/
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