Store Advice Part 1 – The Basics

Opening a store can be a tricky business, particularly if it is your first store. Shelving4Shops is here to help every step of the way - from designing and planning to the supply of your retail shelving.

We know that ensuring customers have a great experience in your store means repeat business, and it's these regular clients that keep a store going through the good and the bad. In a series of blog posts we're going to look at some useful tips on setting up and maintaining a successful shop. Here's part 1 - the basics:

1) The Entrance – It might seem obvious but simple things like making the entrance to your store free from clutter is vital. Your entrance also needs to make it easy for pushchairs or wheelchair users to access the store. Shopping baskets should be located close to the front entrance and should be kept clean and in good order so that customers will want to collect one as they pass. Do you need to upgrade your shopping baskets, perhaps purchase some with wheels? Would shopping trolleys be required for your store? These are all questions that you should ask yourself when opening your doors for the first time.

2) The Walk Round – Take a walk around your store and look at things from a customer's perspective. Are the aisles wide enough for disabled customers? Will that box or pillar stop pushchairs getting through? When planning your shop it is easy to forget details like pillars and awkward corners, so if you have a complicated space make a real life floor plan. Spending half a day doing this can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. At Shelving4Shops we're more than happy to go over your floor plan with you to help you choose the perfect shop fittings and shelving to suit your requirements. Once the store is set up keep the floor free from obstructions and make sure your stock is placed neatly on your shop shelving so that nothing protrudes out into the aisle.

3) Lighting – A flickering overhead light is very distracting and can make your store look unmaintained. If you have faulty or blown tubes or lamps make sure you replace them as soon as possible. Be aware that insects can sometimes get trapped in your lighting, so make it part of your cleaning routine to remove these regularly. Good lighting is essential - a dark and gloomy store is not inviting so make sure you use all of the natural light available and keep your overhead and wall lights well maintained. Lighting can also be used to draw attention to your retail shelving or display stands if you have any special offers.

Old and Tired Lighting

New Bright and Clean Lighting 

4) Smell and Cleanliness – You know the trick of increasing the chance of selling your house by brewing coffee or baking bread or biscuits to make it inviting? Well the same applies to your store. The smell of a store really depends on what you are selling - for instance, a convenience store might have the smell of freshly baked bread or fresh fruit and vegetables as soon as you walk in the door, and a café would do well to have the aroma of fresh coffee and cakes. Bad smells, on the other hand, can put customers off before they even reach the door. Make sure your store is clean and tidy, from the shop window to the store room. Nothing will damage your business more than a bad reputation and this can come from something as small as being untidy and badly smelling. 

5) Maintaining Standards – So many times we have seen stores open and be fitted out with brand new gondola shelving and magazine racks only to go back three years later and see a tired looking store with broken EPOS and grubby plastic strips, and, on occasion, dented or missing shelving. These things are of course likely to happen in a busy store, which is why Shelving4Shops not only sells complete shelving units but also their component parts, so if you're in need of a new shop shelf, brackets, or back panels just give us a call and we can help.

Old Worn Out EPOS

New Clean EPOS

At Shelving4Shops we pride ourselves on our all-encompassing services. We offer a planning service to all of our customers and will gladly advise you on store layouts. We also stock a large range of shelving in cream, black and grey finishes including:

• Wall Shelving
• High Gondolas
• Magazine Units
• Shelves and Accessories
• Low End Bays
• Corner Shelving
• Peg Board Shelving

If you need any retail shelving, magazine shelving, components, counters or other

accessories please visit our website, www.shelving4shops.co.uk or call us on 01455

221512.

Shop Shelving Display Tips to Boost Sales

Use your shop shelving and displays to boost sales! The way your shop is laid out makes a huge difference to how well certain products sell - customers are influenced by the layout and displays within your store and the way you arrange your shop shelving can encourage more impulse buys and increased interest in carefully displayed products.

Visual merchandising and the positioning of your retail shelving drives traffic around your store, directing them to the products they want (and the products they didn't realise they wanted until right that moment!) so it's important to take some time to effectively market your products. 

First of all, your shop should be clean, tidy and easy to navigate - provide customers with as much space to move between aisles as possible, including those who are in wheelchairs or pushing buggies and pushchairs. Narrow aisles and difficulty moving around a store can be a real turn-off for customers. Keep your shelving well stocked and presented in an aesthetically pleasing way, ensuring that any signage is clear, accurate and relevant. Place complementary items together to make it even easier for customers to find what they need and encourage 'add on' sales.

First impressions count, so make sure that promotional product displays are in clear view as soon as a customer enters the store. Other promotional offers and seasonal products can be displayed on shop shelving that can be seen through the front window or on end bays at the ends of aisles. Make use of awkward areas and corners by placing impulse buys on corner bays and in dump bins so that no space is wasted.

For help with planning your store layout to maximise efficiency and sales, get in touch with us at Shelving4Shops where we stock a huge range of new and used shop shelving, including:

• Gondola shelving - A classic choice in many stores, gondola shelving is a truly versatile shelving option, we offer 4 heights and 4 widths to ensure you can find the correct size shelving for your store.
• Wall shelving - Use wall shelving to save space and utilise that back wall, this shelving sits against the wall optimising the floor space you have available and allowing you to have aisles that accommodate pushchairs and trolleys.
• Promotional end bays - The best place to put sale items is in the direct eye line of customers, not all customers are going to walk up every aisle but they will walk past the end of them to reach other sections of the store or to get to the checkout. Utilise this prime space in your store by putting sale/promotional items in end bays and use clear signage to highlight these great savings.
• Corner shelving bays - Corners are often a dead space in many stores that use classic shelving but the simple addition of corner shelving can open up that forgotten space and optimise the floor space you have.
• Magazine shelving - One of the biggest selling points of magazines are the front covers, by using magazine shelving you can clearly see the front cover and attract customers. These units can also be used to sell other paper goods where it is important to be able to see the front, like greeting cards.
• Retail shelving - Displaying retail items and making them easily accessible to customers is the making or breaking point of many stores, customers will not wait around for staff to find items for them.
• Supermarket shelving - Similar to retail shelving, customers want to be able to walk into a store with a list, grab all the items and leave. They will not wait around for someone to walk by and then wait for them to get items for them. Having items clearly displayed and easily accessible is vital in any store.
• Pegboard shelving - Some items do not work well on a flat shelf, pegboard shelving allows you to hang items allowing them to be viewed better. If you no longer need hanging space, shelves can be fixed to pegboard shelving to ensure you always have the best display options for your store.
• Dump bins and wire baskets - Using dump bins and wire baskets around the store are a great way to encourage impulse purchases or to promote sale items. This style of display can utilise a dead space of the store or can be used to create a section near the checkout so people know where to queue. 
• Shelving accessories - Customise your shelves to your store, from coloured EPOS strips to shelf dividers you can take any shelving and make it work perfectly for your store.

To view all of the products mentioned and to see our full range of products visit our website or for advice on what would work best for you and your store contact our team on 01455 221512.

Dump Bins and Stacking Wire Baskets

Fitting out a retail store isn't just about the wall shelving - there are plenty of shop accessories like dump bins and baskets that can make your store more efficient and provide you with additional storage and display space. 

Dump bins are a handy and adaptable addition to your shop shelving that can fit in corners and alcoves that previously were wasting space. Placed at the end of aisles or by the shop counter, dump bins and baskets also encourage spontaneous impulse buying, and are ideal for displaying end of stock items or promotional and seasonal products, or items that are not easily stacked on a shelf.

Our standard dump bin comes in durable chrome and measures 800mm by 480mm with an adjustable base which can be placed at the height that suits your products. All our dump bins come flat packed for easy transport and can be taken apart and easily stored if you need extra space. At just £20, dump bins are a useful and effective way of creating an extra display within your store without sacrificing on space.

As well as dump bins, we stock a variety of stacking baskets and wire shelving units. Stacking baskets are perfect for fresh produce and making the most of difficult spaces within your store, while providing several tiers of shelving. Choose from 3 or 5 tiered wire basket shelving, in horizontal or vertical arrangements, or a free-standing 5 tier wire shelving unit for larger spaces. Costing from just £18, wire baskets are a very affordable option for valuable additional shelving space.

It is also important to consider how you are going to provide product information and display prices to customers in the various forms of display units. Often, dump bins or stacking baskets hold impulse purchase items so you want customers to quickly and easily see the price and product information to allow them to quickly pick something up on their way past.

For standard shelving like gondola bays and end bays EPOS shelf edge strips are a quick and effective way to display information. All of our bays are compatible with EPOS strips and can add a pop of colour to your shelving or be used in a similar colour scheme as the rest of your store creating a flow of colour throughout. If you are using dump bins or stacking baskets then EPOS strips will not be the best option for you, instead why not use other points of sale like individual product stickers, these can be really useful if customers pick up items and place them elsewhere in the store as each item has the price on it. Alternatively, pricing clips work perfectly with basket storage as they can easily be clipped onto the front or side of the basket and display all of the information a customer could need.  

To view all of the products mentioned and to see our full range of shelving and accessories visit our website Shelving4shops or give our team a call on 01455 221513.

A fresh look at shop shelving for the new year

Starting a new business can mean long hours, late nights and substantial outlay. With this in mind, there is often a tendency to cut corners to try to save a few pennies. We've all been guilty of this at some point when trying to lower costs, but rather than sacrificing on quality, there are ways to find decent shop fittings at affordable prices.

When you're setting up a new shop, you may be able to reduce costs by sourcing used materials and carrying out some of the work yourself if you feel confident enough. Of course, there's no point in doing this without the right skills - it always costs more to have something put right rather than hiring someone to do it properly the first time!

When Jim from Derby visited our showroom to buy some shop shelving and shop fittings for his new store, he told us he was on a tight budget and was interested in looking at the used shop shelving we had available. This is something we hear quite a lot, especially for business owners just starting out.

New and used shop shelving warehouse

Shopfittings and shelving warehouse

With Jim's low budget in mind, we sat down and drew up a plan of his shop, taking into consideration the position of the counter and pillars in the centre of the floor as these often cause problems when trying to position your gondola shelving. (You can almost guarantee there will always be at least one pillar in the way!) After about twenty minutes and a walk around our warehouse, Jim was satisfied we were able to supply him with what he needed and we agreed to deliver the shelving and assemble it for him. We just had one final question for him: was the floor flat? He assured us that it was (but might be a "little springy" at points, as it was a wooden floor), and that since his budget didn't stretch to a new floor it would be staying... or at least that's what he thought!

Old floor in need of repair

Carpeted floor before refit

The next day we loaded up the van and off we went... When entering the shop we couldn't help noticing a six foot deep hole in the floor which looked like someone had fallen through the day before. Jim assured us he would get it fixed and suggested we start putting up the shelving. We had our doubts but got started...

Cutting corners on something as important as the floor is never a good move, even if you are on a tight budget. Not only does an uneven floor look bad, but it makes it extremely difficult to keep the shop shelving straight, and this gives a tired and messy appearance to your shop. A floor in bad condition can also be a tripping hazard and will be costly to repair at a later date, when your shop is open and fully stocked.

Luckily, however, it didn't get to this stage. After putting up all the gondola shelving and having a few days over Christmas to think about it, Jim decided to take it all down again and have the whole floor relaid. And what a transformation it made! Jim replaced all the old rotten flooring and out of date carpet with a fresh, bright-looking laminate which has given the shop a new, clean look.

New floor after refit

A brighter, cleaner looking store!

We wish Jim all the best with his new shop and look forward to seeing him again in the future as his business expands. 


As well as used shop shelving we stock a full range of new shelving including:

- Wall Shelving,

- Low Gondolas,

- High Gondolas,

- Magazine Units,

- Shelves and Accessories,

- Low End Bays,

- High End Bays,

- Corner Shelving,

- Peg Board Wall Shelving,

- Peg Board Gondola Shelving,

- Peg Board Ends.

For any more information on new and used shop shelving and shopfittings, or advice on how best to fit out your store, please call Shelving4Shops on 01455 221512.

Refrigerated Retail Shelving

Having a refrigerated shelving unit in your retail store can be a great way to increase sales as more and more customers opt for fresh produce and goods. The positioning of a refrigerated shelving unit can actually influence shopping behaviour and increase impulse buys, too! By placing your refrigerated shelving at the very back of the store, customers will have to walk all the way through the shop to get to it - this means passing several other shelves or aisles of goods, exposing them to other potential purchases they may have not realised they wanted beforehand.

Having the option of a chiller in your store greatly increases the variety of produce you can stock, also - from drinks to dairy products, fresh fruit, meat products, snacks and ready meals, frozen food and ice cream. You may decide that alongside your refrigerated unit you may want a coffee making machine or additional fresh produce such as baked goods. Research has shown that the appearance of fresh products greatly improves the customer's opinion of a store, and by making fresh stock available, you will potentially increase your sales.

It's important to think about space and budget when looking at chillers, however, as they take up a significant space within your store and will also affect your electrical bills as they require constant power. It's always best to choose a refrigerated shelving unit with a good eco rating to help keep bills low. If you're not sure how a chiller will fit within your existing shop shelving configuration, give us a call or pay us a visit and one of our experienced staff will be able to talk you through your options. We have a long relationship with Platinum Cooling for our clients who need refrigerated shelving, chillers or freezers for their retail shelving, and between us we will be able to find the right option for your retail needs.

At Shelving4shops we have a wide range of shop shelving perfect for storing non-perishable items. Our range of gondola shelving comes in 4 heights and 4 widths ensuring that we have the perfect size shelving for you and your store. We have also recently expanded our shelving range to include black and grey finishes to our most popular options:

- Wall Shelving,

- Low Gondolas,

- High Gondolas,

- Magazine Units,

- Shelves and Accessories,

- Low End Bays,

- High End Bays,

- Corner Shelving,

- Peg Board Wall Shelving,

- Peg Board Gondola Shelving,

- Peg Board Ends.

To view our full range of shop shelving visit our website or give our team a call on 01455 221512 to find out how best to fit out your store.

What is Gondola Shelving?

A question we get asked all the time is: "What is gondola shelving?" Many of our customers want to know:

• Is it a make of shelving?
• Is it a design of shelving?
• Do I need gondola shelving?

A gondola is a double-sided bay with retail shelves on each side. Gondola units are free-standing, designed to merchandise the centre of the shop floor. Gondola shelving units are made from heavy duty steel components which are interchangeable so that you can create any number of shelving configurations according to your needs. A standard backing for gondola shelves is plain back panelling, but peg board backing could also be used depending on the unit.

All retail shelves can be tilted at an angle - this is most commonly used when displaying confectioner goods or fruit and vegetables. Shelf risers can also be added to the shelves to keep products in place and stop goods sliding out.

Another advantage of using gondola shelving is that they maximise floor space and divide the store, creating aisles and giving a direction to traffic flow. This encourages shoppers to explore parts of the shop they might normally have missed, helping to increase impulse buys and additional purchases.

Promotional bays can be placed at either end of a gondola run. This will give a clean look to the store and add impact to promotional displays, giving a striking first impression to shoppers as they enter the store. An end bay can be used with shelves or can be fitted with peg board backing. Alternatively, wire stacking baskets can be added or placed on the base shelf of the unit to display crisps or hardware items.

We now offer our quality gondola shelving in a modern black or grey finish alongside the standard cream often found in stores. The black or grey is a great way to add a more modern touch to your store and to stand out as something a little different to your average store. We offer the following items in the black and grey finish:

- Wall Shelving

- Low Gondolas

- High Gondolas

- Magazine Units

- Shelves and Accessories

- Low End Bays

- High End Bays

- Corner Shelving

- Peg Board Wall Shelving

- Peg Board Gondola Shelving

- Peg Board Ends.

If you would like to view our full range visit our website or contact Shelving4Shops on 01455 221512 for expert advice and help planning your store update or refit. You can also visit our shop fitting showroom Asfare business park, Wolvey, Leicestershire, lE10 3JG.

An Alternative to Used Shop Shelving

Shelving4Shops is a part of Shoptek UK - one of the UK's leading companies sourcing and selling used supermarket shelving and shop equipment. We have over 15 years of experience in the retail shelving industry, and we noticed a real need for an alternative to used shop shelving as some customers were unable to find the specific units they were after.

Shelving4Shops was created to fill that gap, and we provide a range of shopfittings and shop shelving, including:

• peg board shelving and peg board gondola units
• high and low gondola shelving
• high and low end bays
• wall shelving
• magazine shelving units
• shelving accessories
• refrigeration
• dump bins

Of course, we also offer used shelving as well, and if you have very specific needs, or can't find what you're looking for on our website or in our showroom, we'll do our very best to source the perfect shop shelving for you.

If you're looking for an alternative to used and second hand shop shelving, visit us at Shelving4Shops.co.uk, give us a call on 01455 221 512 or email sales@shelving4shops.co.uk for a quote!

Exciting times and a new venture for a young couple in Coventry

Starting a new business can be scary, but not if you choose the right location and product. And that's just what a young couple have done in the heart of the student area in central Coventry - the perfect location for a stationery shop. With high footfall on a busy street, their new venture is sure to be a winner.

After visiting our showroom they decided to go for one 7m long gondola shelving unit to be positioned down the centre of the store. Choosing high gondola shelving enabled them to display extra stock, and as the counter was located at the opposite end of the shop, they were able to see clearly down both sides of the unit.

The walls were already fitted with slatwall panels, which they decided to leave for hanging goods on. And, of course, as the business grows, additional wall shelving and other shopfittings can always be added to their store, for example peg board shelving, magazine racks, corner shelving units and shelving accessories that help with displaying and organising products.

As the shop is situated just 20 minutes from our showroom we quickly loaded up the van and dropped it off at their door. And as they asked so nicely (and gave me lots of coffee) I stayed an extra 20 minutes to assemble the shelving for them!

Shelving4Shops wishes them all the best with their new stationery store!

Visit our Shop Shelving Showroom in Leicester!

Have you been to our shop shelving and shopfittings warehouse yet? We're based in Wolvey, Leicestershire, and our warehouse is open 6 days a week. You're more than welcome to pop in for a wander round and a cup of tea while you discuss your shop shelving requirements with one of our experienced team.

We stock gondola shelving, peg board shelving, and wall shelving units, as well as all the extras and accessories you need to fit out your store. We're more than happy to advise on what kind of configurations are possible for your particular space and needs, and we can also source second hand and used shop shelving to help keep costs down.

If you're looking to add to an existing set of shelving units, we have extensive knowledge of all the major brands of shop shelving and shopfittings, and can help to identify and match your existing system.

You can order online, by phone, or in person at the showroom, and all deliveries are dispatched within 24 hours on weekdays, and 48 hours on weekends. The units we sell are transported in components for easy delivery, and we can help you assemble them once they're delivered, or simply provide you with instructions and leave you to it! It's up to you. (And if you get stuck, we're always on the end of the phone to offer extra help!)

Come and see us at the showroom and let us help you to improve your store!

Help With Shop Shelving and Shopfittings from Start to Finish

At Shelving4Shops we don't just sell shelves. Oh no. We really do provide help with your shopfittings and shop shelving from start to finish. That means:

• We'll be on hand to discuss your shelving requirements and work with you to create the best layout for your needs (and budget!).

• We'll advise you on the right kind of shelving for your products and space, whether that's gondola shelving, peg board shelving, or magazine racks!

• We'll source the best matching shelving units possible, if you need to add to existing shelving.

• We'll find you used and second hand shop shelving units if that's what you need, too.

• We'll give you an all-inclusive quote, with no hidden extras or charges.

• We'll deliver your shop shelving to your door and help you assemble it if you need us to.

• We'll provide you with all the shopfittings and extras you need to complete your store, such as wire shelf dividers and risers, Epos ticket strips and dump bins.

Below are just a few of the shelving options that we carry at Shelving4shops many of which are now available in black or grey:

- Wall Shelving -

- Gondolas - These are a classic choice of shelving for many stores, they can be used in stores that sell a range of products and we have them available in 4 heights and 4 widths to ensure that we have the perfect fit for your store.

- Magazine Units - By having magazines and other paper goods front covers clearly visible you increase the odds of people picking them up and purchasing them. Using purpose-built magazine units you can ensure the best display option for your store.

- Shelves and Accessories - Ensure that your shelves are fully customised to you and your store's needs. The simple addition of shelf dividers means that your products remain in the correct place and are neatly behind the product information on the shelf.

- End Bays - Not everyone walks up and down every aisle in a store but often they walk past the end of an aisle to get around the store or to get to the checkout. An end bay is a perfect place to put promotional offers or impulse purchase items to encourage shoppers to pick up extra items.

- Corner Shelving - Due to the shape of popular shelving, often the corner of a store gets left empty, the simple addition of a corner shelving unit gives you extra display room and ensures there is not an unkempt corner of the store.

- Peg Board Gondola Shelving - Not all products sit well on a traditional flat shelf, pegboard gives you the option to add hooks to allow you to hang items. Do not worry, if you run out of hanging items you can add shelves to pegboard shelving to ensure you never lose display space.

Whether your business is just starting out or you're planning a full store refit, get in touch for experienced, down-to-earth help with all your shop shelving and shopfittings needs.