A properly selected shopfitting can make your store a true magnet for shoppers—one they want to return to and spend money in. The key is to consider every detail. After all, it is not just the way to make the most efficient use of store space. Shopfitting is a powerful tool for influencing product display, presentation, and promotion, as well as customer convenience and satisfaction, which, in turn, increases sales. 

The USTOR team has prepared a step-by-step handbook to help you choose functional and stylish shopfitting, adapted to your brand's goods. In this guide, you’ll find practical tips on how to choose an optimal solution for your retail space—from classical shelving to individual solutions according to your brandbook. 

The guide will be useful for all Ukrainian retailers looking for growth opportunities despite the wartime challenges. 

1. Store format—the first reference point

Retail is known for its variety of formats, each with its own requirements for shopfitting. While one solution may be suitable for small shops, large chains need a completely different one:  

• - supermarkets primarily use wall-standing or freestanding gondolas; 
• - boutiques and showrooms need displays, presentation tables, and functional racks;
• - the limited space of corners and pop-up points result in the need for compact and mobile structures. 

Therefore, before choosing commercial shopfitting, clearly define the format of your store. 

2. Wall-standing gondolas—the foundation of efficient display

Universal shopfitting for stores of any format that allows for the most efficient use of perimeter space. This is a practical choice for displaying a wide range of products — from clothing and food to household chemicals, power tools, kitchenware, and books. 

3. Checkout areas—an opportunity to increase the average check

It is here, while waiting in line in the last minutes of their visit, that customers notice small goods and often make impulsive decisions. That’s why this space is considered a profit zone. To encourage customers to make additional and unplanned purchases, promote products, and increase the average check, it is recommended to install slatwalls, racks, and tabletop mini-displays for products, as well as mini-baskets for showcasing promotional or small items in the checkout area.

4. Freestanding gondolas—for high foot traffic

Such displays are placed in the center of the retail space. Their location helps to zone the area and create focal points, thus drawing shoppers’ attention to specific goods. This is a great solution for highlighting promotional products, seasonal offers, new arrivals, or the most popular items in the assortment. Among the various shapes and sizes of freestanding gondolas, retailers can order shopfitting that matches the store’s needs and product specifics. 

5. Navigation—customers should know where to go

Effective navigation ensures maximum comfort for your customers. Thanks to clear and understandable signs, arrows, and information labels on shopfitting indicating size charts or store departments, visitors can easily find what they need and make quick purchasing decisions. A pleasant customer experience increases brand loyalty and, as a result, boosts sales. 

6. Presentation tables—for premium products

Elegant and stylish furniture creates a special visual accent on certain items. Presentation tables are ideal for demonstrating new products, exclusive collections, and premium goods that need to be highlighted. Such shopfitting can vary in height and shape, allowing you to choose the best option for any retail space.

7. Retail baskets—mobile flexibility

These creative solutions can be used to create an engaging display that catches customers’ attention. Retail baskets are easy to move and quickly set up in different areas of the store. This is a practical solution for seasonal sales, promotions, or highlighting specific products.

8. Tabletop displays—compact efficiency

Small displays take up minimal space and are extremely efficient in stimulating impulsive purchases. This shopfitting is ideal for placing at checkouts, showcases, and tables with cosmetics, accessories, or gifts. The main advantage of tabletop displays is their ability to draw attention to specific products that can be added to the main purchase. In addition, such shopfitting highlights discounted items or special offers and draws attention to new arrivals.

9. Branded displays—make your products stand ou

This is personalized shopfitting created according to your brand’s signature style. Using the brand’s color palette, logos, and fonts makes displays unique and easily recognizable. Such displays are a powerful tool for effectively presenting products, standing out from competitors, and increasing brand recognition. 

10. Custom elements based on the brand book—a chance to create unique shopfitting 

To ensure your store or products are truly memorable and stand out from the competition, it’s worth ordering shopfitting designed with your brand’s colors, fonts, and unique style in mind. Using displays in the corporate style is an effective marketing tool. Custom solutions attract consumer attention, offering them an original way to interact with the brand.

11. Strength and durability—long-term saving

When selecting shopfitting, pay special attention to the material. It must be strong and high-quality. Saving in this area may lead to high future costs for repairs or complete replacement. For example, metal is highly durable, wear-resistant, and withstands heavy loads. This makes metal shelving a good choice for a wide range of products, including heavy items: power tools, household appliances, kitchenware, welding equipment, etc. Additionally, metal is corrosion-resistant, easy to maintain, and retains a good appearance even with active use. 

12. Mobility and adaptivity—easily change the display

Modern retail tendencies demand flexibility and responsiveness. Module shopfitting can be adapted to new promotions, seasonal products, or changes in the assortment without major overhauls. Such displays are easy to transform. You can add or change hanging elements, baskets, and dividers, adjust the number and size of shelves according to your needs. 

Modular shelving also allows you to modify the retail space according to current needs. Installing such structures is quick and easy, requiring minimal time for assembly and disassembly even without outside help. If necessary, they can be quickly moved within the store to create new focal areas. Modular systems are an ideal solution for stores that frequently update their product displays, plan to expand, or anticipate a possible move in the future.

13. Tips for small business—smart start without extra costs

For small business, especially in the early stages of development, cost optimization is critical. Therefore, we recommend purchasing universal basic shopfitting—wall-standing gondolas, slatwalls, and checkout areas. Later, as the business grows, the retail space can be supplemented with presentation elements or branded displays. 

14. Professional approach = efficiency

Choosing shopfitting is a complicated and responsible process that requires consideration of many factors: store format, product assortment, budget, and space features. Contact specialists who will help you select the right displays, racks, and more based on your budget, store specifics, product type, and target audience. 

If you want to create a unique retail space and equip it with original and high-quality shopfitting, the USTOR team is ready to help. We manufacture orders on time at our own facility, deliver it across Ukraine, and install it at customer locations. Contact us for a free project estimate!