fixtures feature

Retail fixtures sell your products. They set the tone for your store and are the backdrop to your store. Selecting and buying fixtures can be confusing, expensive and stressful if you don’t know the basics. 

The basics

There are two types, stationary and flexible. 

Stationary fixtures include: Cash wrap/ checkout counters, flower tables, floating wall shelves. If it’s not something designed to move or your employees cannot move in under 10 minutes, it’s probably permanent. 

Flexible fixtures are: Impulse bins, end cap boosters, feature product tables, risers and some premade merch displays. If you’re looking for a small table or cart on wheels that can be moved on a saturday when you’re got lines out the door or an event, that’s a flexible fixture.  

Fixtures, like clothing, can be custom or off the rack. 

Custom. It is true that most custom built pieces will be more expensive than ready made fixtures. It is also true that you will be able to get exactly what you want in the perfect size and finish.  

Ready made fixtures will lock you into what is instock and what your timeline allows. You may have to sacrifice a wood tone to get the exact size you need or make other concessions to make them work. I have had clients purchase ready made fixtures (that were a bargain) and have their contractor refinish them onsite. This was only possible because the wood was actual solid wood and not a laminate. 

Things to look for~

Reputable sources. There are so many scam companies out there. Make sure they’ve got a legit address, customer reviews and shipping info prior to placing the order. Etsy can be a great place to visit and a horrible place to buy under the guise of a local business. Do your research and vet them personally. What is the vendor’s damage policy? Is there a warranty? Do you have any friends who have used them before? Adding to cart and purchasing in a rush is a terrible idea and will more times than not lead to massively expensive and time consuming mistakes. Do the work of vetting, interviewing and questioning on the front end prior to purchasing. 

Low maintenance. If you have to replace specialty light bulbs every few months, the fixture is not low maintenance. Things that go beyond general upkeep should be considered heavily. Do you need a service to maintain the live plants? Do you need more than general cleaning on any specific fixture? Can your employees really handle the added labor or is there another fixture that would be a better choice?

Before you buy~

Before you start looking for fixtures, you should have a solid floor plan and ideally elevations showing the fixture types, sizes and locations. The plan will also verify that fixtures have the right ADA clearances, for door openings, walking paths etc. You need this for your construction permits as well as millwork bids and installation estimates. 

Before ordering fixtures, an onsite measure must be done. A double check verification that the fixtures will fit and nothing has changed from the plan to the actual space. You’ve got to make sure that your air conditioning split or water pipe isn’t going to impede the fixtures. Your installer should be the one doing this measure. They should also double check your order before you place it. The more eyes you put on the order and details the better. 

Measure twice, order and install once. 

Ask for actual finish samples from the vendor to check against your general materials, like paint, flooring and metals. Making sure it is going to look exactly as you expect it prior to placing the order is so important. 

Custom orders rarely are returnable unless defective and difficult to alter once in place. Make sure you know what you’re getting!