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act specifications. A few even offer Computer Aided Design services to help dealers lay out their new displays. Many home improvement product manufacturers also offer product specific displays which incleasingly are emphasizing maximum product displayed in a minimum amount of square footage. Displays are often eyecatching, pofiable and able to act as an extra salesman, with informative headers, samples and "take home" literature.

Drawbacks for these include devoting too much space to a product and the disjointed look that may result from too many one-of-a-kind displays.

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RefixtuTing begins with an image .types of displays and racks now available how to position and select the proper fixtures.

Racking and fixture companies arc constantly intloducing entilely new systems and variations on industry standards such as cantilever racks, pallet racks, cantilever rack buildings, door frames, A frames, half-A-frames, bins and specialty racks, some custom designed and accessorized to your ex-

Refixturing a store begins with determining the store's image. Will you present the traditional "gondola store" or a "stock them high to watch them buy" home center? With the success of some of the giants, many stores are scrambling to tie into the home center image. But it's more than stocking everything on self service racks. You must be able to turn a profit on high volume and low margins, and you'll need an ample square footage, high roof facility to accommodate this.

To position the fixtures, look at an overhead view plan of the facility. Where are the structural members? Where arc the roll up and enfty doors? Make an intersection of lines across doors and between members to create natural naffic patterns. This allows you to identify where the racks do not be- long. You want to create an easy flow layout to get people through the store and even into the comers quickly.

Aisle sizes can be determined by considering what is to be stocked. Will it be hand-carried to the checkout or toted in a shopping cart? Do you need forklift access?

In actually selecting the best types of fixtures, one fixture representative recommends research. "There's a wealth of information out there," he says. "First ask your afhliated co-op." The majors all have helpful suggestions and sources for fixtures. Next. visit other stores both similar in size and location and different in size and location.

Finally, contact the frxture companies themselves. "We are constantly calling on dealers so we run into everything," he adds. "We have a lot of information available just for the asking. All you need is the initial idea."