Straight floor planThe straight floor plan is an excellent store layout for most any type of retail store. It makes use of the walls and fixtures to create small spaces within the retail store. The straight floor plan is one of the most economical store designs.

The diagonal floor plan is a good store layout for self-service types of retail stores. It offers excellent visibility for cashiers and customers. The diagonal floor plan invites movement and traffic flow to the retail store.

The angular floor plan is best used for high-end specialty stores. The curves and angles of fixtures and walls makes for a more expensive store design. However, the soft angles create better traffic flow throughout the retail store

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Shopco, madix, Royston, Lozier Shelving

Commercial Cabinets

A Well Designed Commercial Cabinet System helps to Project a positive store image for your customers with durable, well presented, well-organized fixtures.

• Keep your store looking new for many years • Create a clean and organized shopping environment • Achieve long-term durability • Withstand customer abuse • Prevent consistent messages across the storeSupermarket Services commercial wall cabinets support your brand or your image!Through striking color, texture, graphic and laminate combinations, our commercial cabinets leave a lasting impression on your customers - positioning your store brand, and the shopping experience, favorably in their minds.• Impress your customers • Retain good looking fixtures for a long time • Create customer loyalty and repeat visits

• Generate more traffic in your store • Achieve top of mind recognition among shoppers

We'll work to find you the right commercial cabinets at the right price. Guaranteed.

Gridwall gondolas, displays and grid merchandisers are lightweight, flexible fixtures. Generally available in black, white or chrome, grid fixtures allow retailers to display a larger volume of merchandise in a smaller space. Grid fixtures are mobile and offer a sleek look to modern retail stores. These highly functional pieces are great for window displays, on the sales floor, or even trade shows

this corner rack ties together several common store fixtures to create an attractive and functional checkout area

Gondola shelving units have been around for a very long time. The versatility makes gondolas easy to install and change on a frequent basis. The pegboard backing and shelving comes in several heights and depths. It is also available in a variety of colors, but the most common is almond. Gondola shelving can be used to create end caps, wall units or center aisles

One key way to attract and keep the attention of shoppers is to create an environment that is conducive to shopping – and one key way to do that is to use compelling, interchangeable store fixtures and retail display systems to keep your store fresh, interesting and appealing.

3) Design your space using retail display systems that make it easy for your customers to keep shopping. The BizEd article also pointed out how successfully some retailers lay out their stores using retail displays that allow and even encourage a customer to keep browsing. Nothing blocks the customers from this path. So, again, take a look at your own store. What store fixtures or other items make it difficult for your customers to continue to navigate through all of your products? Remember, too, that an average person's field of vision tends to be around 170 degrees. Keep that in mind as you design your retail space.

Finally, here is a fun quote from a 1924 publication about the psychology of clothes – and, really, it also relates to the way you lay out your retail displays! According to this publication, "dress has a tremendous influence upon individuals, upon both the wearer and the beholder. The consciousness of being becomingly and fittingly dressed for the occasion, whatever that occasion may be, strengthens and insures one's self-confidence tremendously, gives poise and self-command, encourages the brain to forge forward, emboldens the timid tongue, and quickens one's wits along the avenues of resourcefulness, inventiveness, graceful speech, and tact. In fact all of one's faculties are stimulated and inspired by the consciousness of being properly attired."

Yes, dress does have a tremendous psychological impact on the people wearing them – and the way in which you arrange your retail fixtures have a tremendous psychological impact upon the customers who walk inside your front door. Make your retail space a friendly welcoming place through the strategic use of contemporary compelling store fixtures today!

Key Responsibilities of a Retail Sales Merchandiser:

Rather than working for one particular retail company, a retail sales merchandiser is employed by a manufacturer of products to interface with a number of different retail outlets that carry the manufacturer’s merchandise. After a sales contract has been created, it is the responsibility of the retail sales merchandiser to provide service and maintain a good working relationship with retailers.

The goal of retail sales merchandisers is to help both the retailer and the manufacturer maximize sales and increase sales volume. This goal is accomplished through execution, education, and promotion.

Execution of Retail Sales Merchandising:

As a retail sales merchandiser, you will be ensuring that a proper level of stock is maintained, and that the merchandise is displayed appropriately with proper signage and favorable shelf

placement. This includes setup, plan-o-gram execution, as well as the stocking. fronting, facing, and rotating of the manufacturer’s products.

Audits will be performed regularly, and it is the responsibility of the retail sales merchandiser to resolve issues that may arise as a result of these audits, and solve problems at the store level in order to maintain the standards established in the initial sales agreement.

Training Responsibilities of a Retail Sales Merchandiser:

Training is key to the success of this position because store employees who have an awareness and appreciation of certain products are more likely to recommend them to customers. Maintaining a good rapport with employees at all levels is essential, and having effective communication with both employees and customers is critical to success.

Promotions Responsibilities for a Retail Sales Merchandiser:

People in this position will often execute special promotional campaigns created by the manufacturer to boost sales volume. The retail sales merchandiser will introduce the promotion, gain agreement and support from the store managers, secure preferred product placement, re-merchandise, place signage, and generate awareness and enthusiasm with employees prior to the launch of the promotion.

Monitoring sales volume, inspecting inventory levels, and maintaining in-store promotional materials are key tasks throughout the promotional period.

Reporting Responsibilities of a Retail Sales Merchandiser:

Retail or merchandising experience at the store level is preferred, but not always required to obtain a position as a retail sales merchandiser. Many positions where the ability to work independently, manage time effectively, multi-task, and problem solve are considered to be acceptable experience.

Prior experience with maintaining customer relationships or client accounts is usually required. A demonstrated ability to influence decision-makers is considered a plus. The reporting methods will vary for each employer, but basic computer proficiency and knowledge of software programs is usually necessary.

Physical Requirements for Retail Sales Merchandisers:

Because this position requires the constant handling of merchandise, retail sales merchandisers must be prepared to travel, drive, and engage in considerable physical activity. You will have to be willing and able to lift and move products in this job, and the use of proper safety practices and equipment will be essential.

Advanced Education Suggested or Required for Retail Sales Merchandisers:

A college degree is often desired, but not required for retail sales merchandisers. Retailing, marketing, or business degrees are preferred, but other degrees or even a high school diploma are often acceptable as well.

Compensation for Retail Sales Merchandisers:

Many retail sales merchandising positions are part-time, with an hourly wage of $12 - $15 per hour, without benefits. Full-time positions have an average base salary of $33,000, and sometimes include the opportunity for additional commissions or bonuses.

Depending on the size of the assigned territory, the retail sales merchandiser may also receive a company car, car allowance, and travel expense reimbursement.

planogram is a visual description, diagram or drawing of a store's layout to include placement of particular products and product categories. In order to optimize shelf layout and receive a return on investment, the planogram should be properly executed and maintained by staff. Here's how:Difficulty: EasyTime Required: > 30 MinutesHere's How:

1. Plan plenty of time to setup a new planogram without interruption.2. Gather cleaning supplies, additional shelving, peg hooks, signage, product, planograms

and any other items needed to begin working. Take these items to the workspace.3. Each new planogram should begin with a good cleaning of the shelves and fixtures. Don't

forget the base.4. Using the planogram, begin setting shelving and peg hooks in the required location. We

read planograms from left to right. Shelves should be worked from bottom to top, left to right. Pegs should be worked from top to bottom, left to right.

5. If necessary, use the actual product to help determine the exact distance needed between each facing and/or each SKU.

6. Once the planogram is set, fill each space with the correct product. Additional merchandise should be kept in the stock room as overstock.

7. Create current shelf labels, signage and any other pricing needed for the newly set section.

8. Zone the finished section by bringing all items forward with labels straight and facing the customer.

Tips:

1. Perform daily store recovery to keep shelves appearing neat and full.2. Replace any worn labels or signs immediately.3. Reorder empty spaces as soon as possible.4. Provide general housekeeping to keep shelves and product free from dust.

What You Need:

Clean rag or duster All-purpose cleaner Additional shelving or peg hooks Merchandise Price Labels, Signage

Industry Notes

Convenience stores offer quick and friendly service, handy locations, a variety of merchandise, and extended hours of operation. This factsheet focuses on starting an independent convenience store. However, many convenience stores are franchise operations.

Location

Choosing a location for your store may be your single most important decision. Do your research. In particular, consider these factors:

Population – If people have to travel more than a mile, they are more likely to go to a supermarket for a major shopping trip. Also check an area’s future development plans and projected growth rates.

Competition – Although a convenience store’s competition is mostly from other convenience stores, it can also come from supermarkets. Study all competitors to see if the local market can support another operation.

Traffic – Impulse purchases make up a good percentage of convenience store sales, so high volumes of pedestrian and vehicle traffic passing your store is critical. Try to:

Locate near schools, parks, sporting facilities and other businesses (especially in strip malls) to increase traffic.

Monitor seasonal traffic fluctuations in resort areas. Carefully determine whether summer earnings can sustain you during slower winter months.

LAYOUT

Before ordering or installing equipment, design your store’s layout. Keep it simple to keep costs down.

Reserve the most space for products you will sell the most. Place all products where customers can see and reach them. Position products with the highest profit margins at eye-level. Place high-demand products such as bread and milk at the back of the store to increase

traffic. This encourages impulse purchases which can make up to 70% of your sales.

ADVERTISING

Install a brightly-lit sign to attract drive-by traffic.

Create eye-catching window displays and point-of-purchase displays. Deliver or mail flyers to neighborhood homes and place ads in local newspapers. Stress

convenience, accessibility and extended hours. Consider offering additional convenience services such as fast food or healthy snacks,

postal services, lotteries, videos/DVD rentals, or installing a gas pump.

SELECTING INVENTORY

Your product mix depends on your location and your target market’s needs.For example, a convenience store in a resort area will likely stock a more complete line of goods. Wherever your location, you must be able to estimate product demand.

A typical convenience store product mix includes:

Category : Percentage of Overall Sales

Snacks/Food: 40-65% Beverages: 10-15% Milk/Dairy: 8-10% Confectionary: 5-8% Magazines/newspapers: 5-8% Tobacco: 4-5%

Keep ongoing, accurate inventory records in order to continually monitor the ratio between your stock and actual sales. This helps to minimize lost sales and money tied up in inventory, as well as determine the demand for different products.

PRICING

Prices should allow for sufficient gross profit to cover overhead expenses and a reasonable net profit. Choose one of two pricing methods–markup (based on cost) or margin (based on selling price). Convenience stores simply cannot buy in large volumes like superstores, so do not attempt to offer lower prices. Instead, stress service and convenience.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The ability to hire and keep excellent employees is essential. Educate yourself in all areas of human resources–how to recruit, interview, screen, motivate, train, evaluate and develop personnel policies (wages, pension plans, benefits). Promote continuous training and upgrading through related courses and programs.

SECURITY

Screen employees carefully. Check all references and work histories. Employee dishonesty can lead to cash register shortages, unauthorized discounts,

pilferage, and the distribution of merchandise to friends.

Deter shoplifting. Post warning signs, install mirrors to view all aisles and keep small items near the cashier. Train staff to watch for and apprehend shoplifters.

Deter robbery. Make daily cash receipt deposits and keep a minimum of cash on-site during night hours. Train staff in procedures in the event of robbery.

For retail owners these days, times are tough and getting customers to part with their money can be a real challenge. While the effects of the recession linger on, it can be that the future does not seem particularly bright and that less and less people are making the effort to visit stores and this is where products that can help to draw in customers and increase sales can really come in handy.

The reality is that there are many positive aspects of running a retail business. For a start, business owners have some great opportunities to increase their business, and to become successful in the long run. Of course, converting an unsuccessful business into a successful one is not an overnight process, so plenty of time, care and attention needs to go into the whole process.

One of the best ways to increase the amount of cash flow and profit that a retail business gets is to create some good store layouts using the likes of retail signs and point of sale material. Related Coverage

These materials will not just make the shop seem professional, but it will actually make people want to spend more in the store. If people are spending more cash in store, then this will obviously have a positive effect on the business as a whole.

The great thing about store layouts and retail signs is that there are no rules. Business owners can test a range of different layouts to see what really works for them. A layout in one shop simply might not work in another and some retail signs might put people off rather than make them intrigued, so it is important to understand how layouts and signs make people want to purchase products instantly.

The great thing is that there are resources online that can help business owners choose what signs and store layouts to use. By comparing the different types of products that are available online, business owners will be able to visualise exactly what is going to work in their particular store. Remember; trial and error is certainly the key here, so do not be happy with the first design that is chosen.

Here is some advice; ask regular customers for feedback. Ask them what they think of the layouts, what it makes them think and how they would change it if they were given the chance. Business owners will be surprised with the great store layout ideas that consumers will offer.