Slatwall Display Options

Slatwall is a popular choice in retail stores for displaying items for merchandising. Slatwall can save a lot of floor space and minimize the number of floor displays that you need to utilize. Slatwall panels generally come in standard four foot by eight foot cuts, either vertical or horizontal. Displaying horizontally can cut down on the number of seams that are visible in your store. When choosing your slatwall, evaluate how much space you have to fill and order your slatwall displays accordingly.

Slatwall is available in a variety of wood grain and colors. Vinyl or aluminum inserts for the slats can increase the amount of weight that can be supported by each slat. In general, an aluminum slat insert can increase the weight capacity of a slatwall by about fifty percent. Slatwall panels are usually available with grooves every three or six inches.

Slatwall hardware varies greatly. Consider what you’ll be hanging from the slatwall and the appearance that you would like when choosing the hardware that is right for your store. Bars for hanging clothing are available in brushed metal, chrome and black. Matching shelves and hanging racks can help your wall look uniform and professional. Acrylic hardware is nice if you do not want the shelving and racks to take attention away from the actual product. If your merchandise is heavy, you may need to use metal hardware anyway. Hats, books, clothing, jewelry and a multitude of other items can be arranged and rearranged with ease once your slatwall is installed.

When you are ready to install your slatwall panels, you may choose to hire a professional contractor. They should know how to properly anchor each panel into studs, paneling or drywall. When installing slatwall yourself, there are a lot of things to consider. If you have a metal slatwall, you may need to drill your own holes before putting in the screws. The type of screws that you use will be different for metal than they are for wood. We recommend hiring a professional to make sure that your slatwall panels are properly installed and can’t be pulled down. You don’t want your shelving system to be a liability.

Once installed, the slatwall panels should provide you with endless opportunities to arrange your items. Promotions and merchandising can change often and slatwall offers your versatility where other systems don’t. For example, you may need lots of bars close together in the summer to display swimsuits and sunglasses. Then in the winter, you’ll need to display long coats and sweaters that take up considerably more room. If you’re promoting a new wall of baseball caps, then you can position them near the front of the store. If shoes haven’t been selling, you can move them to a new location.

Your slatwall system can be as much a part of your marketing plan as what you decide to sell. You can make the most of your space and create an inviting environment that urges people to come into your store. By merchandising and promoting correctly, you can move items that would otherwise have stayed hidden in a sea of racks. Choose the system that’s right for you and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading provider of retail store displays and store fixtures, including slatwall accessories, mannequins and more. For more information, please visit www.slstoredisplays.com.