Visual Merchandising

Visual Merchandising is the activity of promoting the sale of goods, especially by their presentation in retail outlets. It is a merchandising technique which effectively utilises the design of an environment by visual communications, lighting, colours and music to stimulate customers perceptual and emotional response, and ultimately to affect their purchase behaviour. According to research by Dunne and Lusch (2005), store environment is an important element in retailing given that 70% of purchase was an impulse buy or unplanned purchase. 

In terms of your store, the presentation and feel of the store plays a key factor regarding buying activity, so you could use themes to vary the feel of your store periodically. Tempting as it is, try not to limit your themes to the four seasonal ones, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, but instead try and think outside the box to implement some more original ideas. For example, you could use Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, making these work for you depending on your target audience. Practically, this means using good display equipment to create your displays with your promotional products showing in the best light they can. Adding a promotional gondola unit at the end of a bay or near a till point is a great way to get extra sales from customers. In particular, a promotional gondola unit placed at the front of a till point will encourage customers to purchase extra impulse buys as they capture the customer's attention while they are waiting to pay, a purchase that requires no effort to pick up.

Variation on your theme will keep your store looking fresh, with updated displays meaning customers will come back to your shop again and again for a new browsing experience each time. It is easy to use and Shelving4Shops wide range of display equipment can help create those displays that push for those extra purchases from customers. 

Making The Most Of Summer Sales

Like everyone else, at Shelving4Shops, we are keen on making the most of the summer! Summer means long, hazy days, lying in the sunshine and the summer sales! 

Summer is the favourite time of year for many, people spend more time outdoors meaning they also end up spending more time in the shops! Summer is an ideal time to revamp the look of your store and create the ultimate summer look to invite people in and encourage them to buy your products. 

Shelving4Shops understands the need for shops to change their look, which is why we supply units with adjustable shelves, leaving you free to amend your store's look as and when necessary. A store that often updates and amends it's displays and layout will create a different browsing experience for customers. They will find the store more interesting and spend more time in it, and ultimately more money! 

A fresh, airy display with products that aren't crammed closely together is going to be a lot more enticing than one that seems dark and over crowded. People are a lot more likely to respond positively to a store that they feel at ease in, where they are relaxed and can take their time to browse. Summer is a great time to make the most of a revamp to entice people to wander into your shop!

Ultimate Convenience.

When it comes to food shopping, one of the biggest factors that the majority of customers will want is convenience. They don't want to have to work when shopping, they want an easy experience where finding things is quick and simple. 

Convenience is something which every store design needs to take into consideration. Product display needs to be concise, clear and easy so that customers can find what they want. To make things easier for the buyers, it’s vital that you have the right shelving and display equipment. For example, Shelving4Shops has a range of shelving that you can tilt to certain angles, ideal for displaying confectionary. Pegboard backing on a unit means you can put lots of products together, keeping everything related in one place.

Our magazine shelving means you can put out lots of different products in a way that makes it easy for the customer to quickly find the specific one they are looking for. People are more likely to be put off if they have to spend a lot of time searching for a product. 

Obviously it is also important that if you are displaying fresh, frozen or refrigerated items, that you have a chiller. Shelving4Shops can offer advice on selecting and placing the right one, as it's such a vital piece of equipment and not a decision you want to make lightly. 

All of this equipment really does add up, so Shelving4Shops also stock second hand and used equipment for food stores. Visit our website www.shelving4shops.co.uk to view our range of shop shelving and accessories range. 

Are your shelves ready for summer?

The sun is out, it’s nice and warm and the days are finally longer, which can only mean one thing: summer is here! Summer is one of the key seasons within the retail industry. It’s the season that often marks a revamp within stores across the UK, which begs the question- are your shelves ready for summer? 

Ensuring that your shelves are summer ready couldn’t be easier. Here at Shelving4Shops we have a versatile range of shelving units available for you to choose from. Revamping your store layout in time for summer will give your store a fresh new look, encouraging customers to come into your store and have a look around. According to recent reports, customers are more likely to visit a store that changes its layout on a regular basis, as it offers a new browsing experience every time they visit. Shelving4Shops can offer you and your customers just that.

Shelving shouldn’t just be used as a storage solution- they give you the opportunity to create aisles and pathways within your store, giving you a whole new store layout completely. Shelving gives you the chance to display merchandise to the best possible standard, allowing your customers to enjoy a simple yet effective shopping experience. 

To learn more about our versatile range of shelving, visit our website: www.shelving4shops.co.uk/. 

Stress Free Shelving

Shelving can be many things, but stressful shouldn’t be one of them. We strongly believe that shelving should be simple, efficient and easy, as well as being adaptable to your requirements. Here at Shelving4Shops, we pride ourselves on having a versatile range of shelving units for you to browse through and choose from. Our shelving units can accommodate a variety of store requirements, so you’ll be sure to find the shelving solution to suit you best. 

If you find that choosing the perfect shelving unit for you can be a bit daunting, then our friendly and experienced team will be happy to help. Just simply give us a call and we’ll do our best to find the perfect shelving requirement that suits you, your store and your customers. With over 15 years worth of experience within the retail shelving sector, we’ll be sure advise you on the most efficient and cost effective way to help organise your stores shelving. 

To search through our wide range of shelving units, you can visit our website www.shelving4shops.co.uk, or come and visit us at our Leicestershire showroom, where you can browse through a variety of new and used shelving units, giving you a better glimpse of your store’s potential.

Finding The Perfect Shelving Balance

If you work in retail, then you’re fully aware that competition between stores has never been higher. Stores left, right and centre are striving to compete for customers’ attention and to get them to shop at their store instead of their competitors’, which is why it’s important to ensure that your store is in prime condition.

Ensuring that your store stands out from the crowd can be tricky. More and more stores are coming up with different ways to grab potential customers attention, however a stand out store starts with stand out shelving.

It’s important to find the right balance between providing an easy customer shopping experience, combined with a unique store layout. The majority of our shelving units are adjustable, allowing you to adapt them into your store. Try not to over complicate your layout though, there’s a fine line in looking different from your competitors and creating a complex store layout. Of course, you don’t want it to be too mundane either, as customers will then travel elsewhere for a more unique shopping experience. Finding the right balance between the two can be tough, which is why our friendly sales team are always happy to help you find the right shelving solutions for your store. Just give us an idea of your store layout and what you’re after. We’ll do our best to find you the perfect solution to suit your requirements.  

Large Store Shelving

Shelving isn’t just about displaying and holding products. It’s about making the most out of what space and merchandise are available and help establish a good customer reputation and shopping experience. 

Large stores can be quite daunting for customers to shop/browse in. Sometimes the customer simply has no idea where to start, so it’s important to make sure it’s as easy as possible for them to navigate through. This helps provide a more efficient shopping experience for the customer, and helps provide you with a positive customer reputation. 

However we understand that sometimes it can be difficult to make such a large space look full and complete. Spare spaces and empty looking shelves don’t quite give off the ideal impression towards customers. It can make the store appear as if it’s unmanned, or as if it's going out of business. It also makes shopping more difficult for customers to find what they’re looking for. 

Large amounts of stock tend to come with large stores, so it can be tempting to just dump as much stock as possible to fill up an empty void. Many people don’t bother using such a large space to its best capabilities. They tend to just see a generous amount of space and fill it up with as much stock as they possibly can with no strategy behind it whatsoever. This isn’t in the best interests of the store, or for the customer in that matter. Displaying as much stock as possible isn’t the best tactic, it can look messy, dishevelled and can actually counteract sales altogether as it’s harder for the customer to shop and navigate through. 

Shelving units that are deep allow you to have displays that are full with merchandise, giving off the impression of a well established company and business. Of course, it entirely depends on how much stock and merchandise you have in the first place. If you have large amounts of stock it can be easy to fill up the shelving units, however when you have low amounts of stock, it’s best to make the most out of what you have. 

Gondolas are useful for creating aisles, which fit perfectly within large store spaces. Sometimes large store spaces can appear to be baffling, and can sometimes dishearten customers from shopping. Customers don’t want to have to make an effort to shop, they want to be navigated and directed through to what they want. Aisles are a great way of ensuring easy navigation and encourage customer traffic flow. 

For more information on our range of retail shelving products you can email us direct on sales@shelving4shops.co.uk or call on 01455 221512.

Used Shelving Equipment

Here at Shelving4Shops, not only do we provide new shelving equipment, such as gondolas, wall racking and shelving accessories, we also buy and sell used shop shelving and equipment. 

Purchasing used shelving equipment is ideal if you’re simply looking to refit your store on a tight budget, or perhaps your new store layout means that you no longer require the shelving units you originally had in place, either way, we can certainly help you find the ideal shelving units you’re after for your store. 

As well as specialising in providing a large variety of new shelving equipment, we also specialise in removing large quantities of used shop equipment from some of the larger well known supermarkets, as well as smaller convenience stores located around the country.  If you find that you’re in the position to sell shelving units, but don’t have the time or capability to remove them, we have a highly experienced team on standby to dismantle and remove shelving fixtures quickly, efficiently and safely in a time scale that best suits you. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a large supermarket with a tight time scale, or just a small convenience store, we promise we will work and communicate with you every step of the way. 

If you have large amounts of shelving units just sitting in your warehouse collecting dust, it might be worth considering selling them. Here at Shelving4Shops, not only do we sell used shelving equipment, we also buy it. Getting rid of shelving units that you no longer require will open up more storage space in the warehouse.

At Shelving4Shops we supply a large range of brand new and used supermarket shelving, as well as second hand shop fittings from our large warehouse facility located in the Midlands. 

Don’t forget that we also sell new shop shelving equipment, as we are direct suppliers and hold large stocks of shelving, meaning we can pass on the fantastic savings on to you. 

If you’re still unsure, or perhaps you prefer to view things in person, you’re welcome to come and visit our showroom of shelving in Leicestershire. 

Delivery and collection is available, we can arrange delivery across the whole of the UK from London. 

Magazine Shelving

There’s a lot more to shelving than meets the eye. Many people assume that shelves are solely for displaying products, and tend to just leave it as it is. These type of people are content as long as the product is out on the shop floor. They don’t tend to care about how the store, or the product itself actually looks on the shelf. Although it may not be obvious, there are different types of shelves for different types of merchandise, and implementing the best type of shelving for your store and products, can only be a positive factor.

Magazines and newspapers are a great example, as these don’t tend to sit that well on your basic flat shelving unit. If this type of product is placed inaccurately on a shelf, it can provide an inefficient shopping/browsing experience for the customer, and can damage your store’s reputation altogether. 

Magazine units offer a more efficient way of displaying magazine/newspaper products effectively. Similar to all our wall shelving products, they can be adjusted to suit your requirements. Our magazine units can also be integrated and connected with other shop shelving units, which help establish consistency within your store. Consistency is an important aspect from a customers perspective. It helps provides a stable and comfortable shopping experience, and can sometimes even produce more in the way of sales. Our magazine shelving units are available in three different heights: 1.8m, 2.1m, and 2.4m. Each unit has 8 tiers of angled magazine shelving, as well as a 470mm shelf base that’s standard for newspaper stacking, which can also be changed to any size required. 

Here at Shelving4Shops, we’re proud to state that all of our wall shelving is sturdy and durable, and can help you create numerous display options for a variety of different products. We have over 15 years of experience within the retail shelving industry, and are always happy to help you with whatever questions you may have about our products. 

Shelving4Shops Leicestershire Showroom

Here at Shelving4Shops, we want to ensure that you make the most out of your store. However, we understand that sometimes it can get a little frustrating trying to develop and visualise a layout that appeals to customers, and fits within a budget. Our shelving show room located in Leicestershire can help you do just that. We have an extensive range of shelving units for you to browse through, and allow you to choose the best shelving and racking units to help you make the most out of your retail space. 

Whether you’re opening a completely brand new store, replacing certain units or just looking to freshen up your store, our friendly expert sales team will always be happy to help you find your ideal fit and ensure you make the best use of your shop floor space.  

If you’re struggling to visualise a shop layout that best suits you, our shop fitting showroom in Leicestershire holds a large variety of assorted shelving units and styles, in various depths and heights. We also stock and sell used racking which can be easily integrated into your current store layout. Ideal if you’re looking for a new look on a tight budget. 

At Shelving4Shops, we understand the importance of finding that ideal shelving or racking unit. Height and depth are major elements to consider when choosing new units. Having a unit thats too deep in depth create the illusion of a cramped and confined store. Merchandise can become hidden, and your customers browsing experience can be affected. Units that are too tall in height hide customers, and can pose a security threat concerning shoplifting. 

If you’re struggling to find certain shelving units to suit you, or just need some friendly advice, our shop fitting showroom in Leicestershire will enable you to visualise your ideal retail space. If you’re interested in visiting us, our showroom is located in Wolvey, Leicestershire, just off the M69. Or if you just need some quick and friendly advice on planning your shop, you can call us on 01455 221512, and our expert design team will be happy to help you create that perfect plan.  

Shelving for Events

Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Christmas are just few of the big holidays that the retail industry prepares for months in advance. A lot of effort and development goes into creating areas in the store that are just dedicated to these holidays alone. However, adding a promotional Gondola unit or end bay at a till point is a great way of encouraging those extra impulse buys from customers. 

According to recent reports, almost 90% of customers impulse buy, and end up going home with products that they did not intend to purchase. This is due to either the product being on offer, or simply the lack of effort required to add that product to their basket. 

A promotional bay or an end bay is a great way of displaying products that are associated with the upcoming holiday, or even just products that are on promotion or are fast selling lines. Implementing upcoming holidays and events into a promotional or end bay is a good way of subtlety reminding customers about the holiday, and could encourage them to make that additional purchase. 

Gondola units are usually placed at the front of the till points, so whilst customers are queuing they can browse through products that come across as a great deal, or related products to what they’re purchasing. The placement of these gondolas usually leads to an increase in impulse buys from customers. The products look desirable at a cheap price, and it requires almost no effort to pick up that extra product. Having additional promotional bays and end bays displaying products make a worthwhile addition to the end of a till point. They capture the customers’ attention, and also gives them something to contemplate and look at whilst waiting to pay. 

Even if a customer has already bought something for Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, Christmas Day etc, if they see something that captures their attention and is on a great offer, there’s a very strong chance they’ll add it to their basket, even if it’s something that they don’t actually need. 

Having a promotional bay at the till points creates an easy shopping opportunity for customers. It makes it so easy for them t to pick up that extra product and add it to their basket. It’s hassle free and simple to do, and the customer feels as if they have gotten a great deal from your store. 

Wire Stacking Baskets & Wire Shelving

Even when you’ve developed the ideal shop floor plan and layout, you still might find a few empty awkward spaces here and there. Wire Stacking Baskets and Shelving are ideal for filling up that extra space, ensuring that you make the most out of your store layout. 

Our wire stacking baskets are extremely versatile and come as individual units. They can easily be stacked on top of each other or fitted together to make the most out of your store space. These units are ideal if you want to shift excess merchandise, or continue to promote a fast selling product. Placing these at the till points will encourage customers to put items in their basket whilst waiting to pay. 

According to recent reports, around 90% of people are prone to impulse buying. This is when customers purchase items that weren’t originally on their shopping list. This is either due to the item being on offer, or just the ease of adding the item to their basket. Customers tend to not want to go out of their way to reach for products, they want to shop for items that require as little effort as possible, which is where wire stacking baskets and wire shelving come into place. 

Our freestanding wire shelving units are perfect for when you have an empty wall space; a wire shelving unit can temporarily fill out that space, as emptiness within a store can give the impression of an under developed store. 

Here at Shelving4Shops we understand the importance of keeping the store layout ‘fresh’ for prospective customers. Our lightweight wire stacking baskets and shelving units are ideal for temporary solutions, or for just swiftly changing the dynamics of the store layout without making any drastic changes. 

We also understand that within the retail sector, temporary changes to promotional lines and layouts are a common occurrence and are often last minute. Wire stacking baskets, dump bins and shelving units are excellent temporary solutions.  

What makes Gondola Racking different?

Chances are we’ve walked past and around Gondola Racking units numerous times without even realising when we’re browsing through a store. Gondola Racking is a subtle way of making the most out of spare and empty floor space, and can make a great addition to your store layout. 

Gondola Racking units have shelves on both sides of the unit, meaning that one side of a unit no longer has to be impractical, completely counterproductive and empty. Gondola Racking helps develop a stable shopping layout for customers. Aisles are created, therefore enforcing a steady and stable customer traffic flow, creating a positive customer experience. 

Gondola racking units also allow merchandise to be displayed and exhibited to the full extent. Customers are fully exposed to merchandise, and Gondola Racking allows them to browse more easily and effectively. Customers that are able to browse more efficiently are more likely to make purchases within your store. 

Having a continuous flow of merchandise provides an easier browsing experience for customers. Gondola Racking allows products that are related to each other to be grouped together, this then leads to additional purchases from customers, also known as impulse buys. 

Here at Shelving4 Shops, we understand that within the retail industry it’s important to ensure that the store is kept looking fresh for customers. That’s why our Gondola Racking units are also versatile and interchangeable, meaning you can easily change components, and move the units to another location, creating a fresh new look for your store. 

Edgy Shelves

Accessorise your shelves! We’re not talking about adding sparkly bits and bobs to your shelving units. Instead, think about implementing shelf barkers into your store; this will prove to be far more effective for you, and for your customers. 

Just a single shelf edge strip can improve a customers shopping experience and loyalty to your store dramatically. It can save them valuable shopping time by allowing them to quickly identify the product and the price. It may not seem that much of a big deal if a customer is having trouble identifying a certain product, as surely they can easily just ask one of your friendly members of staff for assistance? True, but if your store gets busy, having a shelf edge strip will save the customer time, and allow you to spend more valuable time with other customers who require assistance. 

These days, people lead such busy and hectic lifestyles, they want their shopping experience to be over and done with as quickly and efficiently as possible. Their patience will most likely be tested if they can’t find a product within a minute of entering a store. Applying shelf edge barkers in front of products around the store will help ensure that customers can identify certain products a lot easier. It can also help them compare prices between similar products. Instead of inspecting the product for a small price label, all the customer has to do is scan along the shelf edge barker, allowing them to make a quick snap judgment on whether that product is going in their basket or not. 

Shelf edge barkers also allow for offers to stand out more clearly, and effectively catch the customers eye. At the end of they day, you honestly have nothing to lose by implementing shelf edge barkers into your store - it can only make your customers’, and your life easier. 

Keep Clean!

You may have spent a lot of time and effort to ensure that your store is displaying merchandise perfectly, but the effort shouldn’t stop there. Keeping your shelves and units dust and dirt free also plays a major key role in maintaining a favourable customer reputation. 

It’s extremely easy to forget to keep your shelves clean and tidy. But neglecting them can have a detrimental effect on your store’s valued reputation, as well as your customer credibility. Keeping shelves dust free ensures shelves look presentable and customer friendly. Sleek looking shelves allows customers to easily approach them and shop for a product, without being totally disgusted by the uncleanliness of the shelf that the product sits on. Having a filthy shelf also gives off the impression of unprofessionalism in the store as well as the company, and that can quickly establish a negative reputation amongst the store’s potential and existing customers. It also implies the product is unpopular as the assumption is that a product which is selling well wouldn’t have time to let dust build up on the shelf.

Remember that Health and Safety can either make or break a store. If a customer was to report poor standards to Health and Safety, then the chances are it will become publicly noted, and destroy what took years to build up a valued customer reputation. 

If you can put the time and effort into a store layout, you can surely find the time to do a quick dust down on the shelves and units. It almost counteracts the beautiful display you’ve put together if they end up filthy within a few weeks time. A few minutes every couple of days can ensure your shop stays reputable, as well as ensuring continuous customer loyalty, which is always a bonus. 

The Power of Height

Shop shelving may seem like a simple concept, and the majority of people just think you place a product on a shelf and be done with it. However, in order to move and sell products more effectively, it depends entirely on how you choose to display merchandise. When merchandise is presented inefficiently, it can severely devalue customer experience. Luckily, our shelves have the ability to provide variety and diversity to your products and business.

It may seem quite straightforward, but don’t underestimate the power of height. Height can help display products more effectively and efficiently for the customer. There’s no point in trying to stock as much product as possible on four shelves if they’re all crammed together, as this then makes it difficult for the customer to examine and learn more about the product. Ensure that the shelves are equally distributed between one another, as uneven shelf displays can look a little distorted, and can make a customer’s shopping experience much more complex than needed.

It, of course, doesn’t hurt to experiment with different height levels, but it’s important to remember that the display as a whole must come across as neat, tidy and accessible to the customer. Mirroring shelves have been proven to provide a much more pleasant shopping experience, it also comes across as orderly and easy to understand to the customer. 

It’s no secret that it’s getting tougher and tougher for shops to turn over a profit, which is why it’s getting more and more important that shops ensure that their products are displayed in the best possible manner for customers, and to make their shopping experience easier for them, and more effective for the company. 

Creating a Fresh Looking Store on a Budget

How important is the appearance of your shop shelving? Well, have you ever walked into a store just to turn around and walk straight back out again? If a store looks tired and shabby, people are far less likely to buy, or even stick around to see what's on offer. After all, if you don’t pay attention to your shelving, it makes customers wonder if you pay attention to your stock, too.

In the current financial climate, it can be hard to find the funds for a full store refit, but many store owners are saving some cash by buying component parts to replace those that have worn out or broken, updating their store without breaking their budget. 

Epos strips, for example, are a cheap and effective way to put the life back into your store. At around £1.20 per metre, this is an easy way to create a newer looking store for very little money. It’s also a great way to show customers where your seasonal or special offers are by using a contrasting Epos and drawing attention a particular shelving unit or end bay.

Old and broken EPOS strip 

New EPOS Strip

Shelving can also get damaged over time but you don’t necessarily need to replace the whole gondola or wall bay, simply buy one of our shelf packs from £12.00 per meter and get all of the Epos and brackets included.

Shelf packs - updating your shop shelving doesn't have to cost the earth

New shelving suitable for wall bays or gondola units 

If you have started stocking new lines such as batteries, hair accessories or even ice scrapers that you need to display on a peg board unit, you can save money on a while new unit by simply replacing the back panel of an existing shelving unit. This cheap and temporary method allows you to replace your shelves when you are not using the peg board display.

Peg board display with hooks 

There are many ways to update your store without spending a fortune, such as new shopping baskets or investing in some dump bins for special offers. There are all sorts of shelving accessories you can add to your store to give it a fresh feel and keep your stock looking neat and tidy.

Add a basket stacker to keep your baskets clean and tidy 

Wire Dump Bins - at just £24.00 plus VAT a great way to add detail to your store 

Update your shopping baskets to get customers picking one up as they come through the door at just £4.35 plus VAT!

Alongside all of the products mentioned, Shelving4Shops holds large quantities of new and used shop shelving and accessories, in black, grey and cream including:

·     Gondola shelving - This is a popular shelving choice in many stores, use gondola units to create aisles throughout your store or use them in conjunction with other units we offer to create seamless shelving throughout your store

·     Wall shelving - This shelving can be used around the perimeter of your shop floor to maximise your floor space and provide ample room for displaying items.

·     Wire shopping trolleys - Placing trolleys at the front of the store where customers first walk in can be a great way to encourage customers to purchase more items and larger items. However, make sure your store is large enough for trolleys and that you have enough space in your aisles to comfortably fit a trolley and still allow someone to walk past them. 

·     Wire stacking baskets - These are an excellent way, like dump bins, to display impulse purchase items and sale items throughout the store. As these are freestanding they can be used to fill empty space in your store and can be easily moved to create new interesting displays.

·     Corner shelving - Utilise every inch of floor space you have by using specialist corner shelving to bring life back into an overlooked corner of your store.

Why not visit our website at www.shelving4shops.co.uk and take a look at what we have to offer? And for second hand shop shelving and accessories, please visit our showroom just off the M69 in Hinckley or call us 01455 221512.