Large retail chains can be overwhelming to update. The good news is that to make this kind of shift fast and easy, there is a solution: having the right fixtures. Choosing the right fixture strategy, like modular, fully custom, or a hybrid approach, is super important in having a consistent brand. It affects your rollout speed, your budget, and ultimately, how customers perceive your brand. Read more on what fixture could be right for your retail space and how to scale up.
Modular Fixtures: Speed and Scalability
Modular fixtures are great for retailers that like to make a lot of changes. They have interchangeable parts and are most known as the building blocks of retail design. Because of this, retailers love to use them for rapid rollouts or seasonal changes where you need to be flexible on the fly. Also, modular fixtures are more affordable than custom fixtures. If you’re looking for fixtures that are just used for basic shelving or racking, then these are the way to go.
Custom Fixtures: Brand Power and Precision
Now, custom fixtures are where things get more interesting. If you have a specific brand theme, color, or overall feel, you may want to go this route. Custom fixtures are designed from scratch to meet specific merchandising needs and aesthetic goals. They are unique to your brand DNA. While often associated with luxury boutiques, they play a massive role in large retail chains, particularly in high-impact zones.
Custom fixtures are also known for being durable and worth the investment. If you have high-traffic retail environments, these kinds of fixtures and displays are best because they tend to outlast any other standard option.
A Hybrid Approach: The Sweet Spot
The hybrid approach is where you use a little bit of both kinds of retail fixtures. We like to call this “The sweet spot.” Retailers looking over large retail chains don’t have to be limited. The smartest strategy you can take into the new year is being open-minded to any and all kinds of changes, including retail fixture types. The hybrid strategy leverages the best of both worlds to maximize budget and impact.
Related Article: What is Customer Experiential Retail?
How the Hybrid Model Works
Imagine a large apparel chain.
- The Perimeter (Modular): The walls are lined with modular slotted standards. They are efficient, hold a massive amount of inventory, and are relatively invisible to the shopper.
- The Focal Points (Custom): The center-store tables, the nesting tables at the entrance, and the point-of-purchase (POP) displays are fully custom. These are the "hero" fixtures that shoppers interact with first.
This strategy creates a memorable experience without the high price per square foot. You spend your budget where it counts and save money on high-capacity storage areas.
Summary
There’s no perfect fixture out there for one specific retail chain or brand. Every retail space is different, and every space calls for certain kinds of fixtures. S-Cube Fixtures thinks your best decision to make is to consider combining different types of fixtures within your larger retail chain. With this method, you’re going against the norm, sticking out for uniqueness while also creating an engaging shopping experience. If you’re sold on this, contact us at S-Cube Fixtures today to discuss how we can engineer fixtures for your brand, no matter what.
