Build Business with Bulk Products

Buying in bulk remains a popular strategy for consumers seeking to save money and reduce packaging waste. At the same time, bulk inventory presents special challenges for retailers. Key among these are ensuring the safety of customers around bulk item displays, effectively merchandising all product — even when the product takes up a significant amount of space — and accommodating product lines historically sold outside stores without sacrificing visual appeal.

Plan for Bulk Product Sales

Bulk product, especially when displayed at eye level, requires an especially sturdy display foundation. Look for retail display shelving designed specifically for heavy applications, such as those for beer caves. Consider placing bulk product out of the main flow of traffic to minimize congestion and reduce the possibility of product slipping from the hands of customers.

Manage Display Look & Appeal

By their nature, bulk products take up more space with fewer units. To offer a customary selection of bulk products, retailers need to get creative with how the products are displayed, and what engineering tricks can increase visibility. Aim for display shelves that use cantilevered systems to improve visibility while still maintaining strength and stability.

Leverage Outdoor Displays

Many bulk products historically have been displayed outside the primary store space. This adds useful inventory, yet it can come at the cost of easy customer access and awareness. Intentionally creating an out-of-doors display space not only cost-effectively adds to the retail footprint, but also can improve the aesthetics of the store overall. Contained, managed displays also can improve loss prevention and inventory management.

Add Liquor to Tobacco Back Bars

The tobacco display is always changing. Whether it’s adjusting for new regulations or rearranging for new products, it’s important to maximize this space for optimal profitability. With a portion of cigarette shelving being uncontracted space, retailers are trending toward utilizing these areas for product beyond the tobacco category.