A custom display case combines millwork, glass, lock hardware and lighting in one shop-built unit. Display-case problems usually trace back to details that were not resolved in the shop drawings: where the wires run, how the doors lock, how the glass is held, how the lights are serviced. This guide lists what to specify before a case is drawn. It comes from DNS Industries’ work on display casework for cannabis retail, beauty, appliance and specialty stores, engineered and assembled in Vaughan, Ontario.

1. Product and capacity

• Product dimensions, weight and how many facings per shelf.
• Shelf count and whether shelves adjust, and by what increment.
• Storage below the display: open, drawers or locking cabinets.

2. Glass and glazing

• Glass type: tempered glass is commonly specified for shelves and doors, subject to loading and code requirements; laminated glass holds together when broken and resists penetration better, which suits high-value or controlled product.
• Edges and joints: polished edges, UV-bonded joints for a frameless look, or a metal or wood frame where the glass needs edge protection, support or easy replacement.
• Doors: sliding or pivoting, with the opening on the staff side, the customer side or both.
• Low-iron glass where colour accuracy matters, since standard glass has a green tint, most noticeable on edges and thicker panels.

3. Locks and security

• Lock type and keying: keyed alike across a store, keyed differently by case, or master-keyed.
• Requirements from the regulator or insurer. Cannabis retail in particular has provincial rules on secure storage, staff-only access and sensory displays, and they change; confirm the current requirements with your licensing advisor before the drawings are final. See cannabis dispensary fixtures.
• Whether the case should be anchored to the floor or wall.

4. Lighting

• Where the light sits: top-down, shelf-edge, back-lit or a combination.
• Colour temperature (CCT) and colour rendering (CRI), chosen for the product and kept consistent from case to case.
• Where the drivers live, how a failed strip is replaced, and where power enters the case.
• Heat: LED strips and drivers both give off heat, so a closed cabinet needs enough air space or ventilation to keep them within their rated temperatures.
• Electrical approval: in Canada the electrical equipment in a lit case needs approval acceptable to the provincial electrical authority, shown by a certification or field-evaluation mark; confirm the approval route with the project’s electrical consultant before fabrication.

Lighting designed into the case conceals wiring and channels that are hard to hide when lighting is added on site.

5. Structure and finish

• Base construction and leveling for real store floors.
• Finishes for the touch zones (counter edges, toe kicks) versus the view zones.
• Materials: veneer, laminate, paint, solid surface or powder-coated metal. See materials and finishes.
• Quality grade for the millwork. Our AWI quality grades article explains where Custom grade is enough and where Premium is worth it.

6. Delivery and install

• Maximum assembly sizes for the store’s doors, elevators and loading route.
• Whether glass ships installed or separately.
• Who connects power on site.

Approve a first article before production

If the case will appear in more than a few stores, build a first-article unit and load it with real product. That shows up problems with shelf heights, glare and lighting hot spots before production starts. Once approved, the same case can be produced for every store in the program; DNS has supplied fixture and millwork packages for more than 350 cannabis retail locations and built the BSH / Bosch appliance display program inside Best Buy, Home Depot, Rona and Sleep Country. See rollout programs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a custom display case cost?

It depends most on size, glass type, lighting and finish, and on quantity, since engineering is spread across every unit in a program. See what commercial millwork costs, or send us a drawing for pricing.

How long does a custom display case take to build?

Drawing approval and lead times for glass, locks and lighting components usually take longer than fabrication. See store fixture lead times.

Can you match an existing case design?

Yes. We can work from a brand standard, a reference unit or a photograph of a design you own, and engineer the details in shop drawings for your approval.

See all custom display fixtures, or call 905-761-9568.