Retail design can be fun – it’s the part of running your business where you get to let your creativity run wild. After you’re done crunching numbers and pouring over timesheets, creating the design of your store can feel like a breath of fresh air. Away goes the paperwork and out comes the paint.
When it comes to retail design, there are few technical details you must work out before you can create a beautiful, inviting space. While these aren’t the most exciting things to think about, they are absolutely necessary. You’ll need to think about the size of your space, your wall material, how you plan on laying out the walking areas and how you’ll display your merchandise.
The technical aspects of retail design
Consider the overall atmosphere you wish to achieve. Racks placed close together could feel cozy, or they could make the customer claustrophobic. It depends on a number of other factors, such as lighting and paint color. An open floor plan will feel airier and free, but if you go too far it may just seem empty. To find the balance that works for your particular space, you’ll need to have a thorough knowledge of your floor plan, dimensions and building materials. After all, a brick wall can bear more weight than drywall, but brick is harder to mount a shelf onto. Once you have this information you can start purchasing wall display shelves and cases.
How much can your walls hold?
Let’s say you’d like to hang some of your displays from the walls – a smart call, as it adds visual depth and stimuli. But before you purchase wall display shelves, you need to know how much weight the wall can bear. You don’t want your merchandise to come crashing down or damage the wall.
Not all walls are created equal and neither are the hangers and fasteners that keep objects in place. The Natural Handyman noted that the same fastener may even hold different objects with greater or lesser success, depending on the angle at which the object pulls. For example, the fastener you use to hang a heavy picture, which pulls down, may not work for a cabinet, which pulls outward.
“Not all walls are created equal.”
If you’re working with drywall, you can use plastic anchors to secure light to medium weight objects – usually under 30 pounds. According to the Natural Handyman, you can use toggle wall bolts to support such objects, though the diameter of the toggle will vary depending on the thickness of the wall. Your landlord should be able to tell you the thickness of the drywall in your space. Molly bolts – screws with metal, expanding sleeves are another option for shelves holding under 40 pounds.
Hollow concrete walls can hold heavier objects. This Old House Magazine also recommended toggle bolts in this case. For objects heavier than 50 pounds, you will probably need to use concrete sleeve anchors, but they should be installed by someone with experience, and may require the help of a contractor.
Give us a call
Our customer service staff can help you find the store display solutions that are right for your needs. Once you know what kind of space and material you’re working with, we can assist you in picking out the right wall display shelves, racks and cases. With our help, you can get back to the fun parts of retail design.
