Shelf management is not a new concept to retail small business owners. At its most basic level, it’s the practice of managing existing shelf space to more efficiently stock products. However, shelf-management systems involve merchandising and inventory tactics paired with the right system hardware to organize, stock and display your products to help boost sales.
A good shelf-management system is easy to implement and great for business. A well-thought-out design can dramatically improve visual merchandising — not only driving foot traffic and maximizing sales per linear foot, but giving your store a competitive advantage.
Shelf-management systems are key to making the most of your store layout and retail displays. Shelf management ensures your shelf space is used to maximum efficiency — that means stock is well organized with associated products grouped next to each other. A clean and tidy separation of products helps customers locate items quickly and browse additional related products, which can lead to more purchases in less time.
For retailers who carry smaller products or non-bulk items, like health and beauty products, hardware parts, beverages or pre-packaged food, shelf-management systems are essential. Small, easy to handle items are prone to hands-on customer browsing and often get rearranged on the shelf. A shelf-management system will help you keep your inventory organized and save you time from cleaning up your displays.
Shelf-management systems also help with inventory management. They make it easy to see what products are selling faster — or which are mysteriously disappearing from your shelves. When shelves are organized, missing or randomly placed products stand out. While employees need to have an overall awareness of inventory placement and stock, this visual trigger is a quick alert that they need to replenish inventory or there are potential security issues.
Shelf-management systems can also help reduce the risk of product damage or waste. Shelf-management hardware helps to securely store and dispense your products, reducing the risk your inventory will be knocked over or off the shelf. Investing in hardware up-front will save you time and money from replacing damaged inventory later.
Hardware is extremely important for a shelf-management system. Here are some of the best pieces of shelf-management hardware you should invest in:
Shelf-management systems work wonders for your store — from appearance and organization to inventory and sales. Set up a system that’s easy to implement and uses the right hardware, and before long, you’ll see results.