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Read tips and advice about display fixtures

Tips and advice can allow you to learn what has been done and what works. Reading advice about business fixtures is the most inexpensive way to make the most of your store fixtures.

I recommend: Find tips on making your store fixtures accessible to senior citizens and the disabled at Creative Leisure. Read advice on how to use retail store fixtures to create a powerful image at The Sideroad. Learn how to increase sales with retail store layout at Baby Shop.

View and create retail floor plans for store fixtures

Viewing exsisting floor plans of other retail stores can help you create your own retail store fixture layout or floor plan for your store. Creating a floor plan allows you to rearrange and set up store fixtures without moving anything.

I recommend: Create your own retail floor plains with SmartDraw. View retail floor plans at McCaffery Interests. Browse the online catalog of over 200 retail store fixture floor plans at Newood Display.

Locate a company for full store fixture design

Full store fixture designs include storefront signs, layout, dressing rooms, design of display fixtures, colors, flooring, ceilings, wall design, lighting, traffic flow and much more.

I recommend: Browse the online selection of full retail store designs at Smart Furniture. Barr Display helps retail stores use their used store fixtures effectively. Get professional store design advice for retail fixtures and slat walls at Trio Display.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Measure and mark off all the store fixtures locations with masking or electrical tape, so that all the pieces are placed correctly.

Guide to Finding Store Displays and Fixtures

Great resources to optimally display your merchandise

By Deborah Kurfiss, Principal, Kurfiss Connect

1. Your image. If you are selling handmade folk art you will choose very different displays than if you are selling electronics.
2. Optimum space and paths through the store to give your customers a comfortable buying experience and guide them efficiently through the store
3. Your budget. Buy what you need, but be creative in order to keep down your expenses.

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Project the right image

Consider what you want your store to say to customers. If you are selling expensive jewelry, you will want to highlight individual pieces with a lot of space, using velvet pedestals or displays rather than paper cards. If you are selling handicrafts, you will want to buy well-chosen wooden displays and furniture rather than the glass and chrome you might choose if you are selling computers.

I recommend: To learn more about branding before you set up your store, you may want to read a study from Dartmouth College that examines retail branding including store atmosphere.

Choose your displays

There are many, many vendors who sell store displays and equipment online, so no matter where you live, today it is easy to find good displays and equipment.

I recommend: For most of your store display needs from slatwall to showcases, check out Store Supply Warehouse, Grand and Benedicts and Daniels. You may also make some surprise finds of shelving at Ikea and The Container Store. If you are specifically looking for jewelry displays, take a look at Nile, Allen Display and Fetpak.

Lighting is critical

You can have the best displays and merchandise in the world, but if you don't light your merchandise properly, you won't reach your optimum selling potential.

I recommend: Try the retail lighting section of elights.com or Pegasus Associates. And remember, if you are selling fashion products, install flattering lighting.

Don't forget bags, boxes and packing materials

Keeping up with your bag and box needs doesn't have to be a chore. It pays to buy attractive bags printed with your logo, particularly if you are in a mall where customers carrying your bags from store to store provide on-the-spot advertising.

I recommend: You will find a good selection of bags and boxes at some of the sites listed in the Display section of this Guide. Also take a look at Bags on the Net and Uline.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wooden or other opaque shelves can throw shadows and even hide the merchandise below. Consider glass shelves that enable customers to better see your merchandise.
• •  Even if you have limited space, leave enough area to properly display your products so your customers can see it. Display your featured products at eye level.
• •  Avoid what is often called the 'butt brush'. A customer is examining an item, making a buying decision, and someone walks by and brushes her from behind because of the narrow aisles. This is death to an impulse buy.

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Use mannequins as display fixtures

Mannequins are good store displays because they present clothing and accessories on a form or a shape, instead of a hanger. These mannequins range in price and are made from a variety of different materials.

I recommend: Search the online catalog at OnlyMannequins for retail fixtures. Allen Display has a complete line of male and female mannequins.

Use grid and slat walls

Grid and slat walls allow the store owner to create and define the layout of the stores fixtures on the walls. Slat and grid walls can both hold shelving, hooks, bins and signs.

I recommend: Find a wide range of grid walls and other wall displays at Capitol Store Fixtures. Robert Ham Store Fixtures has a wide range of slat walls accessories and hooks. KC Store Fixtures is a leader in retail store fixtures, carrying a full line of slat wall panels and wall fixture items.

Locate standalone display fixtures

Stand alone display fixtures are items that can be placed anywhere throughout the store. These are items such as display cases, racks and 3- and 4-way display units.

I recommend: Browse through the online catalog for Anglia Jacs & Company, to find display cases and store fixture racks. Handy Store Fixtures has a wide range of store fixtures, including a 4-way standalone display unit. Locate new and used store fixtures at Alpha Store Fixtures.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always double check all measurements of retail store fixtures before purchasing. This allows you to be sure it will fit.

Guide to Store Fixture Key Terms

To choose the right store fixtures for your small business, learn store fixture terms

By Tai G., Writer

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Gridwall

Gridwall is a wall covering made out of strong wire grid. Once you attach it to the wall, you can add fixtures that are specifically designed for gridwalls.

I recommend: Gridwall has an extensive offering of gridwall fixtures and demonstrates the various ways in which gridwall fixtures can be utilized.

Slatwall

Slatwall is a wall covering with ridges to which you can attach various types of merchandising fixtures, such as hooks and brackets. Slatwall is available in a number of laminants and finishes.

I recommend: Display Warehouse features a FAQ section that further demonstrates how slatwall can be used in merchandising displays.

Riser

A unit that attaches to a store fixture to create tiers or multiple levels. A riser creates a multi-level visual that is appealing and adds dimension.

I recommend: M.F. Blouin sells risers for merchandising.

Hardware

This refers to all the solid accessories you can use in conjunction with slatwall, gridwall or other store fixture wall covering. The term includes hooks, hang rods and shelves.

I recommend: Store Fixture Supply gives a full listing of all types of hardware used for gridwall fixtures.

Merchandisers

These are store fixtures made up of a main body with various elements of hardware attached, so that the final display provides an attractive presentation of products for sale.

I recommend: Restaurant Store sells merchandisers for nachos, popcorn, pizza and pretzels. Barr Display showcases how several types of retail merchandisers are used in shops.

Binning or cubes

These are neatly arranged bins or cubes that hold folded items of clothing. Again, these are available in various materials, including those that fit into the gridwall or slatwall wall covering options.

I recommend: Newood demonstrates the various ways in which binning can be used to display or present product.