You’ve probably never been in a convenience store that didn’t have some kind of countertop display with plastic containers. Countertop displays are important tools in convenience stores because they allow shop owners to store and showcase merchandise that might not work well elsewhere, such as small pieces of candy, gumballs, lollipops and suckers, and even non-edible merchandise.
Plastic containers work well in countertop displays because they’re sturdy and durable, they’re lightweight, and they’re versatile. Convenience stores tend to experience a lot of fast paced traffic, and these kinds of plastic and acrylic containers help ensure nothing gets broken and displays can easily be changed when necessary.
As you’re considering countertop displays for your convenience store, ask yourself the following three questions.
Question 1: What Kind of Merchandise Will The Containers Hold?
It’s likely the merchandise in your countertop display will be fairly small, but you have several sizes of containers to choose from. You can find mini plastic containers great for small pieces of candy or gumballs and you can find larger containers perfect for children’s toys. Choose container sizes that will work best with the items you plan to showcase.
Keep in mind you can find containers with lids for those food items that aren’t wrapped and need extra protection from dust and other debris. A convenience store’s countertop and register area experiences a lot of traffic, so make sure your merchandise is protected.
Question 2: How Much Countertop Space Do I Have To Work With?
The kind of countertop display you create (and the containers you use to create it) will largely depend on how much space you have to work with. If the area near your register is fairly sizeable, you’ll have quite a bit of freedom in terms of container sizes and how you place them on your countertop. However, if you have limited space, you might need to choose small containers and look into wire countertop racks to help you effectively and attractively stack and display them.
Question 3: How Can I Have Fun With The Containers And Display?
Keep in mind you aren’t limited to plain round or square containers. You can find containers in holiday-inspired shapes as well as universal shapes like stars and hearts. You also don’t have to choose just clear acrylic containers. You can find containers in virtually every color of the rainbow. You might want to purchase a few traditional clear fish bowl containers for safety, along with a few colored containers and containers in fun shapes to add some flair to your displays.
One of the great things about countertop displays is that they aren’t permanent – you can switch things around as often as you like! Aside from appearances, other points to keep in mind when you think about switching your displays around include visibility and convenience. Watch your customers’ reactions to your displays. Are they able to easily access the merchandise? Does it look like they’re avoiding the merchandise because they can’t reach it? Are you sure they can see all of the merchandise? Remember: Visibility and convenience must both come before attractiveness when you’re creating your countertop displays.