Grocery Store Fixtures Central to Store Marketing

ST. LOUIS, MO – When it comes to grocery shopping, everybody has their own way of doing things. Some make a list before hand, determined to turn on the tunnel vision and focus only on the family’s predetermined “needs.” Others go up and down every aisle, sans a list, picking and choosing as they go. There are hundreds of strategies, but they all rely heavily on store layout to work.

In an ever competitive age with super stores popping up everywhere, it’s essential that independent grocery store owners consider their store fixtures and layout as a critical component of their marketing strategy.

“Grocery store fixtures and store layout are essentially the core of a grocer’s marketing,” Nu-Era’s Chris Weis said. “You can greet them at the door, have amazing service at the register, bag and even carry their groceries for them. But from the time they walk in, until they get to the register, they’re on their own.”

Weis’ company is a leading national provider of fixtures and supplies for all varieties of retailers. Nu-Era has an entire section of their website dedicated to fixtures and supplies for grocery stores, at www.nu-era.com.

Nobody has to be told why bread and milk are typically found in the opposite back corners of the store. They’re the two items people are most likely to “run in for.” So grocers have decided over the years that if you only want bread and milk, you’re going to have to walk past every other product in the store to get them.

According to Weis, grocers need to take a step back, and really get into the mindset of their typical customer. Think about what times of the day are peak hours for your store. Consider what times of day people do their heavy shopping, as well as when they are more likely to stop in for just a few items. All of these details are important, because they tell you who your audience is and what matters to them.

“Everybody’s doing the ‘back of the store’ thing,” Weis said. “But what if a retailer took the flip side approach, understanding that no matter where the bread and milk are, you’re eventually going to need to come in to do your heavy shopping. They have the opportunity to carve a niche as the convenient alternative.”

According to Weis, the logic isn’t just about bread and milk. It’s about using your fixtures to create a shopping experience that caters to your customers and sets you apart. It’s about creating memorable experiences for your customers and building your grocery store’s brand image in their mind.

Nu-Era and nu-era.com are services of The Nu-Era Group, LLC -the industry leader in store fixtures, supplies, and fulfillment. Nu-Era has been providing its customers with competitively priced quality products with customer-oriented service since 1949. For more information, visit them online at www.nu-era.com.