Visual merchandising fixtures are the built pieces that present product in a store: walls, tables, gondolas, cases, risers and window displays. They affect how much product a store can show, how easily it can be restocked and re-merchandised, and how consistently the store presents the brand. This guide covers the main fixture types, what to decide before they are drawn, and when custom fixtures are worth the cost over catalogue ones. It is written by DNS Industries in Vaughan, where we build fixtures for single stores and for multi-location programs.

The main types of merchandising fixture

• Perimeter walls: usually the highest-capacity fixtures in a store, because they hold product without using floor space. Most are panel, slatwall or standard-and-bracket systems with shelves, faceouts and hang bars that can be moved as the assortment changes.
• Mid-floor tables: nesting tables, stepped tables and plinths for featured and seasonal product.
• Gondolas: freestanding shelving runs, usually double-sided, for higher-density categories, set up for the planogram’s shelf counts and heights.
• Display cases and showcases: locking glass cases with integrated lighting for high-value or controlled product.
• Cash wraps: the transaction counter, with POS equipment, storage and impulse display in one fixture.
• Window and feature displays: focal pieces for campaigns and storefronts.
• Shop-in-shop units: a brand’s fixture standard built for installation inside a host retailer’s store.

For how we build each of these, see custom display fixtures. For the principles behind them, see the five elements of visual merchandising.

Decide these before the fixture is drawn

Product, then fixture

Start from what the fixture has to hold: product dimensions and weights, how many facings, what is stocked behind. Choosing a shelf depth before the product list is known often leaves a new wall looking half empty or overloaded.

Adjustability

Fixed shelves are cheaper and stiffer; adjustable shelves survive assortment changes. Decide which shelves move, by what increment, and who moves them. Increments that suit the planogram make resets faster for the store team.

Lighting

Integrated LED puts light on the product, but it has to be designed in: wiring paths, driver locations, access for service and a dimming plan. In Canada, the electrical equipment in a lit fixture also needs recognized approval, through certified components or a field evaluation of the assembled fixture, so the route should be confirmed with the project’s electrical consultant before fabrication. Lighting added on site is harder to conceal and to keep even.

Durability where hands go

Edges, shelf fronts, counter tops and toe kicks take the most wear. Specify harder materials or protective edges there, and keep finer finishes for surfaces that are seen more than touched. Our AWI quality grades article explains how the specified grade affects materials, workmanship and cost.

Reconfiguration and shipping

Fixtures that come apart can be re-merchandised, moved and shipped. Fixtures that do not are usually cheaper to build once. For a rollout, design for knock-down shipping and repeatable assembly from the start.

Custom or catalogue?

Catalogue fixtures are fast and inexpensive for standard categories. Custom fixtures are worth the cost when the brand needs its own look, when product does not fit standard sizes, when the space is irregular, or when the same fixture will be built many times and the engineering can be spread across a program. Many stores mix both: custom feature pieces and cash wrap, standard systems on the perimeter. For budgeting, see what commercial millwork costs or the budget estimator.

Proving a fixture before it is repeated

For any fixture that will be built more than a handful of times, build one first and merchandise it with real product. A pilot or first-article unit catches shelf heights, lighting hot spots and reach problems that drawings do not show. It matters most on rollout programs; see retail rollout programs.

Frequently asked questions

What materials are visual merchandising fixtures made from?

Most combine several: wood or panel products for structure and finish, powder-coated metal for frames and brackets, glass or acrylic for cases and shelves, and LED for lighting. See materials and finishes.

How long do custom merchandising fixtures take?

Approval of drawings and finishes often takes longer than fabrication. See store fixture lead times.

Can you build fixtures to an existing brand standard?

Yes. We build from brand design manuals and reference stores, and can document an approved first store as the standard for later locations.

Planning a store or a fixture program? Send us your drawings or call 905-761-9568.