Blog

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Management

In our first installment in this series, we discussed why you should open an independent pharmacy. Today, we will focus on finding the ideal location for your new store. The most important aspect of any retail store, not just a pharmacy, is location. You can offer the best products and services in the world, but if customers can’t find the store, you will fail. There are a few things to keep in mind when you select your location. Research the Demographics Look into the demographics of the area wh... read more.

• October 03, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in News

Everyone here at Handy Store Fixtures is excited to be attending the 2012 NACS show in Las Vegas, NV. We’ll be at the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 8th through the 10th. If you’re attending the convention, you can find us at booth 1345. We would love for you to stop by and say hello. We will be exhibiting innovative new solutions in convenience store fixtures. The trend in convenience stores has been moving more and more towards food preparation. Many convenience stores serve food at all hours... read more.

• October 02, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Management

If you work for a large pharmacy chain, there is a good chance that you have fantasized about striking out and opening your own shop. You might have day dreamed about the charming neighborhood store you would run. You can probably picture it: a clean, quaint but modern pharmacy dedicated to serving the needs of your community. Make your dreams come true. The time to strike out on your own is now. There are many reasons why this is a great time to open your own store. Aging Baby Boomers Are Pushing Deman... read more.

• September 26, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Fixtures

Sometimes we design a store fixture for a particular function only to discover that our customers use it in entirely different ways. We often love this. Innovation helps keep store displays fresh and helps us discover new capabilities for our store fixtures. As the name suggests, bakery shelves were originally designed to store and display baked goods. These include breads, rolls, cupcakes, donuts, and other pastries. Many customers use bakery shelves in this manner. However, many of our industrious c... read more.

• August 28, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Fixtures

Maximizing your pet litter and bedding sales requires the proper shelving and display of pet substrates. This is not an easy task. Bags of litter are bulky and heavy. They do not lend themselves to effective displays. Laying them flat is an efficient use of space, but customers are not drawn to the brightly designed packaging and are unable to read the product descriptions. If your customers cannot read product descriptions, they will not understand the advantages of more expensive brands. Despite this,... read more.

• August 14, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Fixtures

Sometimes your retail space can limit the amount of product you can carry and display. Maybe your business is outgrowing your current space, but you are not yet ready to move. You restock your shelves as fast as product moves to make sure they are full, but you would really like to add more space for more effective storage and displays. You are already utilizing every square inch of floor space as efficiently as possible. There is no way you can squeeze in one more gondola, counter, or any other store fixtu... read more.

• July 31, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Fixtures

A window display makes the first impression for your retail store and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Window displays can be as effective as a billboard or other advertising, and have the advantage of being essentially free. So, why do so many retailers seem to put so little thought into them? Your window displays should be clean, uncluttered, and, most importantly, eye-catching. They give your customers a good idea of the products you have featured in your store. Remember to lo... read more.

• July 18, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Design

If you walk through any successful retail store, you may notice how carefully the colors and store design have been chosen to work together as a unified whole. The store has been “branded” so that shoppers are always aware of which store they are currently in. This branding can be seen prominently in larger national chains, but it is something all retailers, even stores with only a single location, need to do. The design, colors, layout, and shelving chosen for your store need to be carefully planned. It... read more.

• July 11, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Design

If you’re a pet store owner, you know how difficult it can be to display all of your pet medicine. You want your customers to see that you carry a full line of medicine such as Frontline and K9 Advantix, but the product is too expensive and small to display on shelves normally. You can keep the medicine behind the counter, but this has its limitations. Customers may have a hard time seeing the merchandise. If they cannot see it, they are not likely to buy it. Also, your checkout counters may not be conduciv... read more.

• July 02, 2012

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in News

Handy Store Fixtures has been in business for more than 50 years. In that time, we have made a commitment to providing our clients with high-quality products and services to help their retail businesses grow and prosper. We are truly privileged to be here today as a successful business and that is why we love to give back whenever possible. With that in mind, our President, Richard Kurland, and Marketing Manager, Steven Di Orio, took part in a golf outing May 9, 2012 in Philipsburg, NJ to benefit the Boy... read more.

• June 01, 2012