When a company chooses to use a slatwall system in their displays, they need to learn slatwall basics. A slatwall is a wall with raised slats or thin pieces of wood. These slats allow you to hang shelving, hooks and other accessories on the wall. A slatwall can drastically increase the display area in any store.

When searching for a slat wall, first decide what material the slatwall will be made of. There are four major types of slatwall material: mirrorplex or PVC, paint grade, laminate and wood veneer. Mirrorplex and PVC slatwalls are made of plastic-based materials. Paint grade slatwalls are able to be painted by the user to create their own look. Laminate slatwalls are available in different colors and prints. Wood veneer slatwalls look like polished wood and are generally made of fiberboard.

1. Use clear mirrorplex and PVC slatwall panels for lightweight products.

2. Paint your store's colors on slatwall with paint grade panels.

3. Buy durable, long-lasting laminate slatwalls.

4. Create a vintage feel with wood veneer slatwalls.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase clear Mirrorplex and PVC slatwall panels

These slat wall panels are lightweight and easy to clean. The plastic used on these panels withstands heavy loads and does not deteriorate over time.

I recommend: Fixture Depot supplies a wide variety of slatwalls made from many materials, including PVC. Slatwall Systems is a slatwall manufacturer that produces custom and stock slatwall panels. Find all types of slatwall panels at StoreFix.com.

Locate paint grade slatwall panels

Paint grade slatwalls are generally fiberboard walls that are treated and ready to be painted. Paint these slatwalls to match the decor of your retail location.

I recommend: Visit Spacewall International to find ready-to-paint slatwall fiberboard panels. National Slatwall carries paint grade slatwalls and slatwall fixtures. Purchase paint-ready slatwall panels and slatwall display shelves from Trio Display.

Choose laminate slatwall panels

Laminate slatwalls are the most durable of all available slatwalls. Laminate walls come in many colors and patterns.

I recommend: Locate high pressure and low pressure laminate slatwall panels at E System Sales. SlatwallDisplayStoreFixtures.com supplies all types of laminate slatwall panels and slatwall shelves.

Purchase slatwalls with a wood veneer

Wood veneer slatwalls are stylish and are available in many different wood grains and types. These slatwalls give a homemade feel to the walls.

I recommend: Visit the Slatwall website to find a variety of wood veneer slatwall panels and slatwall hooks. AAADisplays provides a wide selection of wood panels for slatwalls and wood veneer slatwall accessories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take precise measurements of the wall you want to place the slatwall panels on. Measure both the width and height of the wall.

Slatwall displays are a great way to showcase everything from sports gear to baby shoes, women's jewelry to tools. Just like the name implies, they are flat pieces of laminate or veneer with slats in them to allow for hooks and slatwall display shelves. Slatwall panels and accessories are an investment that will last your business a long time.

In this guide you'll learn how to:

1. Design slatwall fixtures in a cohesive way to display your goods and products
2. Choose quality slatwall display shelves
3. Make a statement with slatwall panels and displays

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Plan out your business displays

Imagine your retail display in your head. You can even draw out your store design. Not only do you need slatwall panels or floor fixtures, you need slatwall fixtures and slatwall accessories like slatwall hooks and baskets.

I recommend: KC Store Fixtures sells slatwall panels, slatwall pegs, slatwall shelves and more. National Slatwall sells three different types of slatwall ranging from low cost laminate panels to unfinished paintwall.

Decide if you want a mixture of slatwall panels and floor displays

Slatwall panels are attached to the walls around your business space. You can attached slatwall shelves and slatwall fixtures to them. In addition, you can buy slatwall floor fixtures that rotate, to show off your wares.

I recommend: Trio Displays sells slatwall fixtures to place around your business. Optional accessories include casters, logos, groove inserts, customized colors and finishes. Windmill Slatwall Projects sells custom slatwall panels that really make a statement.

Allow the slatwall to become part the look of your business

Slatwall comes in many finishes. You can buy birch or applewood slatwall, paintable slatwall or even customized color slatwall panels. With so many options, your slatwall display shelving will become a part of your business, instead of competing with your design.

I recommend: Check out a custom design created by MegaWall. It's a pink slatwall display that really stands out as being unique. FixtureDepot sells quality wood slatwall, as well as laminate slatwalls in colors like red, blue and yellow.

Get a quote for slatwall based on your business design plan

While you can buy slatwall and accessories online, you may want to get a quote so the cost doesn't get out of hand. Speaking with a slatwall manufacturer may also help you achieve your expectations.

I recommend: Storefix.com requires you to fill out a form to get a price quote. Check out Spacewall International's pricing page for a better idea of how much stalwall will run your company.

A slatwall is designed to add extra display area to a retail store or other business. Supplies for slatwall displays or panels are items used to place products on the wall. These slatwall supplies are easy to install and remove. The slatwall's design also allows you to create any layout you wish. All companies with slatwalls need supplies in order to use the slatwall effectively.

When purchasing supplies for slatwalls, consider these three types of supplies: baskets and bins, hooks and shelving. Baskets and bins are made from wire or plastic and hang on the wall to display products. Hooks are hung on the slat wall to display clothing or any other hanging product. Shelving is used to showcase items that can not be hung or placed in a bin.

1. Baskets and bins hold small items on a slatwall.

2. Hooks hang all types of products on a slatwall.

3. Shelving displays larger items and boxes on a slatwall.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase slatwall baskets and bins

Baskets and bins that are used on a slatwall are designed with special lips to hold them to the wall. These bins and baskets are perfect for displaying small items such as screws, bolts or any small, loose product.

I recommend: Locate slatwall accessories and hardware at Store Supply Warehouse. Find wire baskets and bins specifically for slatwalls at Gupta Permold. Allen Display supplies slatwall bins, baskets and shelving online.

Select appropriate hooks to hang products from the slatwall

Hooks can display almost any item on a slatwall. They are used for anything from clothing and electronics to pet supplies and hardware. Hooks are the most common accessory used on a slatwall.

I recommend: Locate slatwall hooks in a variety of sizes at Siegel Display Products. Discount Shelving and Displays carries bins, baskets and slatwall hooks. Deluxe Enterprise Operations provides slatwall hooks to hold a variety of products.

Display larger items with slatwall display shelving

Slatwall shelving is used in conjunction with slatwall panels to display boxes or folded clothing. Shelves are often used along with other supplies for slatwall to fully utilize the space.

I recommend: MANNE-KING carries a variety of wire slatwall display shelving. Purchase laminate and wire shelving for slatwalls at Carlson JPM Store Fixtures. Browse the wide selection of slatwall display shelves available at Displays2Go.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your slatwall fixtures supplier to make sure the slatwall you have works with all types of supplies. Most slatwalls are made with the same dimensions between the slats, but some custom or specialty walls may need specific brands of accessories.

If you have a retail business and are looking to display your merchandise in the best way possible, it's likely you'll turn to slatwall. Slatwall is simply grooved panels or boards that allows for a variety of display options. If you're in the market for slatwall, you'll benefit from learning slatwall key terms. From the different types of panels to the uses of inserts and even structural items, such as extrusions, you'll find there's plenty to learn about slatwall before you choose what's best for your store.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Inserts

Inserts are long aluminum or plastic strips that allow the grooves in slatwall panels to be filled. This is done to either add stability to the slatwall or for aesthetic purposes. Inserts also come in a variety of colors.

I recommend: American Retail Supply explains the use of inserts, the different kinds of inserts and also provides illustrations.

Panels

Slatwall comes in what is known as slatwall panels or slatboard panels. These panels come in horizontal and vertical configurations, and can be hung on the wall to display retail merchandise. They come in both standard and custom sizes.

I recommend: AAADisplays.com explains what slatwall panels are, what they are used for and provides photos of different styles of panels.

Gondolas

Slatwall does not come just in panels that attach to the wall. Free-standing slatwall displays are also available. One style is called gondolas, which are two- or four-sided slatwall panels on a free-standing base.

I recommend: Smart Fixtures gives a thorough explanation of display gondolas.

Wing walls

Wing walls are column-like accessories for slatwall displays that allow merchandisers to adjust the overall area of their displays. These walls move along the slatwall from left to right. Wings walls can be custom-made to fit specific needs.

I recommend: Find illustrations and a definition of wing walls at KC Store Fixtures.

Extrusions

To add strength to slatwall panels, extrusions can be added to grooves during the manufacture of panels. Extrusions are channels made of aluminum and are available in different colors.

I recommend: Gabriel Logan gives a detailed description of extrusions for slatwall panels.

CornerForms

CornerForms is a popular name for plastic slatwall panel connectors. CornerForms come in many styles that allow merchandisers to join together panels in different configurations.

I recommend: Carlson JPM Store Fixtures offers a thorough description of CornerForms, with illustrations of the many types of connectors.