Gondola Shelving Explained

First impressions are crucial when customers enter your retail space. Gondola shelving is the foundation of your merchandising display, serving as a backdrop for your products. It is a versatile and popular storage solution for retail stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other commercial establishments. Gondola shelving systems offer excellent flexibility and versatility with store layout and product arrangement, allowing you to easily configure the units to meet specific display and storage needs. We'll go over everything you need to know about gondola shelving so you can choose the best system for your retail space.

What Is Gondola Shelving?

Gondola shelving is a versatile and popular choice for retailers looking to optimize their display space. These shelving units are designed to maximize floor space and create a seamless shopping experience for customers. With their flexibility and functionality, gondola shelving units are an essential fixture in commercial retail settings.

As the name suggests, gondola shelving units resemble the shape of a gondola boat, with upright posts and horizontal shelves. The main advantage of gondola shelving is its ability to be placed anywhere on the shop floor. This allows retailers to create customized layouts and adapt their displays to meet changing demands.

Benefits of Gondola Shelving

Gondola shelving is a popular choice for retail stores, supermarkets, and other commercial establishments. Its versatile design and numerous benefits make it an essential fixture for organizing and displaying products. In this section, we will explore the various advantages of using gondola shelving in your business.

 Benefits of Gondola Shelving

  1. Versatility: Gondola shelving units are available in various sizes, styles, and configurations, allowing you to customize them to fit your specific needs. Whether you need wide shelves for bulk items or narrow shelves for smaller products, gondola shelving can be easily adjusted to accommodate your inventory.
  2. Space optimization: Gondola shelving is designed to maximize storage space, making it ideal for businesses with limited floor space. With its vertical design and adjustable shelves, you can make the most out of your available space and create an organized and visually appealing display. This not only helps to attract customers but also ensures efficient use of your store's layout.
  3. Easy accessibility: Gondola shelving provides easy access to products, allowing customers to browse and select items with ease. The open design of these shelves enables customers to view products from different angles, promoting better visibility and increasing the chances of making a purchase. Additionally, the adjustable shelves make it convenient for store employees to restock and rearrange products as needed.
  4. Durability and stability: Constructed from high-quality materials such as steel or heavy-duty plastics, these systems are designed to withstand the weight of various products without bending or sagging. The sturdy construction ensures that your shelving units will last for years, even in high-traffic areas.
  5. Flexibility: Another advantage of gondola shelving is its flexibility in terms of product display. These shelves can be fitted with a wide range of accessories such as hooks, baskets, and signage, allowing you to showcase different types of merchandise effectively. Whether you need to display clothing, electronics, or even fresh produce, gondola shelving can be easily adapted to suit your specific product requirements.
  6. Cost-effective: Investing in gondola shelving is a cost-effective solution for retailers. These shelving units offer long-term durability, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Moreover, the ability to customize and reconfigure gondola shelving allows businesses to adapt to changing product needs without incurring significant costs.

Types of Gondolas

There are three basic types of gondola shelving: starter gondolas, add-on gondolas, and end cap gondolas. Each type serves a specific purpose and can be used to create a customized shelving solution for your commercial space.

Restaurant Equipment

Starter Gondolas

Starter gondolas are the foundation of any gondola shelving system. They are stand-alone units that can be placed anywhere in your store or establishment. These gondolas typically come with a base and two legs, and sometimes a selection of shelves and accessories. Starter gondolas are ideal for creating the main shelving layout in your space and can be used to display a wide range of products.

Restaurant Equipment

Add-On Gondolas

As the name suggests, add-on gondolas are designed to be added onto starter gondolas. They will be the same configuration and styles as the starter gondola, but they only feature one leg as one side attaches to the leg of the previous unit. Add-on gondolas are a cost-effective way to expand your shelving space without purchasing additional starter units. They are perfect for extending the shelving layout in your store and creating shopping aisles.

Restaurant Equipment

End Cap Gondolas

End cap gondolas are specifically designed for placement at the end of shopping aisles or the entrance of your store. These gondolas have a single-sided design, with two legs and brackets at either side that can be easily attached to an existing starter or add-on gondola. They can also be used as a freestanding display. End cap gondolas are great for creating eye-catching displays or showcasing promotional items. They provide an excellent opportunity to draw attention to specific products and drive sales.

Pegboard vs Slatwall Gondolas

Gondola merchandisers come in two main display styles: pegboard and slatwall. Both shelving systems offer unique advantages, so it's important to understand their differences when choosing between them.

Restaurant Equipment

Pegboard Gondolas

Pegboard gondolas are a versatile and widely used shelving option in various retail environments. One of the key benefits of pegboard gondolas is their adaptability. With evenly spaced holes or perforations, these gondolas allow for easy customization and flexibility when displaying products. The pegboard design enables you to easily rearrange shelves, hooks, and accessories to accommodate different merchandise sizes and shapes.

These units are particularly suitable for businesses that frequently change their product displays or need to showcase a wide range of merchandise. Whether you're running a candy store, hardware store, or boutique, pegboard gondolas offer you the freedom to create eye-catching displays that maximize product visibility.

Restaurant Equipment

Slatwall Gondolas

Unlike pegboard gondolas, slatwall gondolas feature horizontal grooves or slots that can accommodate shelves and various accessories, such as shelves, hooks, and brackets. They are the most traditional type of gondola display and can be individually standing or stacked end-to-end to create shop aisles.

Slatwall gondolas provide ample storage space. The horizontal slots cover the entire length of the gondola, maximizing the display area and providing ample room for showcasing a variety of products. This is especially beneficial for businesses that deal with a wide range of merchandise sizes or have a high volume of products to display.

Common Gondola Shelving Layouts

When setting up your gondola shelving layout, it's important to consider factors such as the size of your store, the type of products you sell, and the flow of customer traffic. There are two popular layouts to consider, the race track layout and the power aisle layout, with both offering unique advantages that can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Remember to comply with local regulations and ADA requirements when setting up your gondola shelving. We'll discuss the two common layouts below so you can decide which is best for your business.

Race Track Layout

The race track layout involves placing the shelving units in a continuous loop, creating a path for customers to follow as they navigate through the store. The race track layout maximizes aisle space and maximizes the flow of traffic.

In this layout, the gondola shelving units are positioned back-to-back, with the shelving facing outward on both sides. This creates a central aisle where customers can walk through the store. The shelving units can be arranged in a straight line or curved to create a more dynamic layout. There is also the opportunity to create standalone or feature displays within this layout. The race track layout is ideal for stores with a high volume of products and foot traffic.

Power Aisle Layout

The power aisle layout involves creating a central aisle that runs perpendicular to the rest of the shelving units. The power aisle is typically wider than the other aisles and serves as a focal point for displaying featured or high-margin products.

With the power aisle layout, the gondola shelving units are positioned in rows on either side of the power aisle. This configuration allows for easy access to products from both sides and provides a clear line of sight for customers as they walk down the main aisle. The power aisle layout is commonly used in grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retail environments where product promotion and visibility are key.

Gondola Accessories

Gondola shelving accessories are essential to enhancing the functionality and organization of your shelving system. These accessories optimize the use of space and provide efficient storage solutions for commercial establishments. Let's take a closer look at some common gondola shelving accessories:

 Gondola Accessories

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