How to install shelving, refrigeration, and counters

Getting your shop fittings right is how you turn an empty room into a real store. Your main job is to plan a layout that guides customers smoothly through the space, then purchase and install the three core elements: retail shelving, refrigeration units, and a sales counter. A well-planned layout not only looks professional but can directly influence what and how much your customers buy.

Plan Your Layout First

Before you buy anything, grab a tape measure and sketch a simple floor plan of your shop. Think about the 'customer journey' from the moment they walk in. You want to create a clear path, often in a loop, that exposes them to as many products as possible. This is known as customer flow.

A classic retail tactic is to place essential, high-demand items like milk and bread at the very back of the store. This encourages customers to walk past all your other shelves and special offers to get to what they need, increasing the chance of them picking up extra items along the way.

Choosing Your Shelving

Retail shelving, often called 'gondola shelving', is the backbone of your product display. You will likely need a combination of units:

• Wall units: Single-sided shelves that sit against your walls.
• Aisle units: Double-sided shelves that create the aisles in the centre of your shop.

Consider the weight of the products you'll be stocking (e.g., heavy bottles of wine vs. light bags of crisps) when choosing. While new shelving offers a clean, uniform look, you can save a significant amount of money by sourcing good-quality second-hand shelving from specialist suppliers or from shops that are closing down.

Selecting Refrigeration

Display fridges and freezers are among your most expensive and important purchases. They are also your biggest energy consumers, so pay close attention to the energy efficiency rating on any unit you consider. A more efficient chiller will save you a lot of money on your electricity bills in the long run.

Think carefully about what you need. This could include multi-deck chillers for drinks and sandwiches, chest freezers for ice cream, or upright freezers for frozen foods. Before installation, ensure you have the correct electrical sockets and enough ventilation space around each unit for it to run efficiently.

The Sales Counter

Your counter is the main point of interaction with your customers. It needs to be durable, welcoming, and, most importantly, practical. Make sure there is enough space for your till or EPOS system, card machine, and any other equipment you plan to have, like a lottery terminal or parcel scanner. It's also the prime location for 'impulse buys' like sweets, chocolate, and magazines, so plan for some display space at the front.

Top Tip: Measure everything twice before you place an order. Check the dimensions of the units, your door frames, and your floor space to ensure everything will fit comfortably and can be brought into the building without any issues.