Candy Concepts Inc.- Candy Racks/Candy Containers

Use Jelly Beans to Increase Your Store’s Profit and Have Fun with Displays

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:13:00 +0000

Jelly Beans are classic candies that span the ages, and creating a Jelly Bean display in your store is a great way to increase your profit while having some fun!

The even better news is that Jelly Bean displays work well in nearly every kind of store. Candy stores, grocery stores, bookstores, toy stores, gas stations and convenience stores – they all have room for Jelly Bean displays.

Before you become too excited, however, you need to make a few preparations; namely, you need to choose where in your store you want to create the display, what kinds of candy containers you want to use to display the candy, and exactly what kinds of Jelly Beans you want to include.

Step #1: Choose Your Display Space

You don’t want to order your Jelly Beans and then just throw up a display anywhere you can find room. To make help increase your store’s profit, you need to display your Jelly Beans somewhere where customers can easily see and access them, and ideally near similar kinds of candy.

Do you want to create a countertop display? A floor display? A wall display? Do you want your Jelly Bean display to be modest or large? These are the kinds of questions you need to answer before you can move on to the next step: Choosing the acrylic containers you’ll use to display the Jelly Beans.

Step #2: Choose Acrylic Bins to Display Jelly Beans

Acrylic containers are usually the best choice for displaying unwrapped candy, and for some storeowners it’s the only choice: Many state health departments require them to display unwrapped candy in acrylic containers.

Fortunately, there are plenty of fun acrylic bins to choose from. Consider acrylic round face bins and acrylic mini bins, great for both countertop and table displays and complete with acrylic scoops to help your customers access the Jelly Beans they want. You might want to check out acrylic gravity bins, which help you save space and help keep the candy untouched, or you might want to add some flair to your displays with acrylic candy towers or gumball machines.

Step #3: Choose Your Jelly Beans

Now that you know how and where you want to situate your Jelly Bean display, it’s time to order the actual Jelly Beans!

Naturally, you’ll want to order the candy from a wholesaler, but before you submit an order form with the first company you run across, be sure to shop around. Ordering from a candy wholesaler helps you get the most bang for your buck, but shopping around for the company that offers exactly what you need at the best price for your budget helps stretch your dollar even further.

Candy Store Owners: Attractively Display Your Jelly Belly Candy

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:00 +0000

Whether you're opening your first store or you've been in the retail business for a while, you might not realize there's a difference between plastic candy containers and acrylic candy containers. For some, this misunderstanding isn't a big deal; for others, however, it is. Some candy stores are required by their state health departments to display unwrapped candy, like Jelly Belly candy, with acrylic containers.

Fortunately, there are plenty of attractive, functional, and convenient acrylic containers to choose from!

Acrylic Round Face Bins

Just as the name suggests, acrylic round face bins have a round “face” that’s actually a hinged lid customers can roll to open and that keeps your candy fresh and safe from dust and debris. Most of these kinds of bins come with a side slot designed to hold an acrylic, plastic, or metal scoop so customers can access the candy and retrieve the amount they want without contaminating the rest of it.

To add even more convenience, acrylic round face bins are available in versions designed to sit on your countertop or table display and versions designed to hang from your slatwall fixtures.

Acrylic Mini Bins

Acrylic mini bins are similar to round face bins with two differences: Their hinged lids aren’t round and, true to their name, they’re much smaller. Mini bins are perfect for displaying Jelly Belly candy in stores that aren’t dedicated to selling only candy, or for stores that want to create a small candy display in limited space.

Like round face bins, most mini bins are complete with slots to hold candy scoops.

Acrylic Candy Towers

Acrylic candy towers make creating a candy display fun! These kinds of “tubed” candy bins are available in a variety of heights as well in half-round and full-round models, which give you the freedom to mix and match and create your own look.

Acrylic candy towers work best for countertop candy displays or displays situated on any other kind of sturdy, flat surface.

Acrylic Gravity Bins

Acrylic gravity bins are amazing space savers. Like round face bins, you can find them in both countertop display and wall display versions.

If you’re not quite sure what an acrylic gravity bin is, think of the kinds of bins stores, hotels, and restaurants use to display food products like coffee beans and grinds, cereal, and trail mix – the kinds of bins that release the product when you turn a lever. (Generally, these kinds of gravity bins don’t require candy scoops).

Of course, those aren’t the only kinds of gravity bins – some don’t require levers. Instead, gravity works to keep the base of the container full. These kinds of gravity bins work best with scoops.

Choosing Merchandise for Antique Wicker Basket Display Racks

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Antique wicker basket display racks are excellent display fixtures for store managers and owners who want a display fixture that will not only be functional and convenient for customers but also one that will add a bit of charm and rustic elegance to their store’s appearance, and choosing merchandise for these kinds of basket display racks is similar to choosing merchandise for any other display fixture: You must think about the kinds of merchandise your store sells, the size of your fixtures, and the location of your display.

Think About the Kinds of Merchandise Your Store Sells

The first thing you must do as you’re choosing which merchandise to display in your antique wicker basket display racks is think about the kinds of merchandise your store sells.

Wicker baskets are fairly sturdy, but it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry; therefore, you should make sure you display fairly small and relatively lightweight items. Some stores and businesses won’t have any trouble; convenience stores, for example, can display anything from food items like small bags of chips and candy bars and other sweet treats to nonfood items like matchbooks, lighters, key chains, travel-sized containers of hygiene products, and other convenience items like eyeglass repair kits. Bookstores, on the other hand, might have to dig a little deeper to find small enough and lightweight enough items such as bookmarks and paperback novels on sale or clearance.

Think About the Size of Your Wicker Baskets and Merchandise

As noted above, small and lightweight merchandise tends to work best with antique wicker basket display racks; however, there are many different styles of these racks, and the amount and kind of merchandise you display will depend on the style of your display racks.

For example, if your rack includes one or two wicker baskets, you might want to create a simple display of sweet treats or other snacks in your store’s point-of-purchase, or POP, display area that your customers can grab on their way through the checkout aisle. If your rack includes three or four wicker baskets, you might want to create a produce display showcasing various fruits and vegetables.

Think About the Location of Your Display

The location of your display will play an important role as you choose merchandise for your antique wicker basket display racks.

For example, if you choose to situate your display in your store’s POP display area near the checkout counter and register, then you’ll want to choose common kinds of POP merchandise. Such merchandise includes small, convenient items that your customers might not pick up as they’re making their way through their store, but might be interested in as they’re standing in your checkout aisle. These kinds of items include bubble gum and chewing gum, candy bars and other sweet treats, and convenience or novelty items like matchbooks, lighter, key chains, or small children’s toys.

However, you might also want to consider situating your racks somewhere else on your store’s main floor. For example, you can place them in your store’s food section and fill them with fresh produce or small bags of snacks, or you can place them in your store’s footwear section and fill them with socks, eggs of pantyhose or knee-highs, or shoe inserts. Depending on the kind of merchandise your store sells, the possibilities nearly reach the sky!

Adding Charm to Your Store With Antique Wicker Basket Display Racks

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:58:00 +0000

When it comes to display fixtures for retail stores, restaurants, and various other business establishments, the pickings are anything but slim. Business owners and managers can choose from simple, yet effective, stand-alone fixtures like plastic containers and bucket display racks, as well as more elaborate displays like pre-filled candy racks and wooden display tables.

No matter what kind of business you manage, if you want to add a little charm to your merchandise displays, consider using antique wicker basket display racks. These racks are designed to be both functional and convenient, and they add a rustic elegance to your merchandise displays that other traditional fixtures can’t pull off.

Choose a Display Space That Offers Your Customers’ Convenience

Before you choose your antique wicker basket display racks, you must decide where you’re going to situate the racks.

Obviously, you must choose a space that’s going to be convenient for your customers, but you might also want to consider how these displays can help further increase your sales. For example, small versions of the wicker display racks situate nicely in point-of-purchase, or POP, display areas near your store’s checkout counter.

Decide Which Merchandise to Display With the Antique Wicker Basket Display Racks

Antique wicker basket display racks are excellent fixtures for displaying everything from convenience items to produce, and because you can find them with as few as one basket and as many as four baskets, it’s easy to showcase as much, or as little, merchandise as you want.

Grocery stores might want to use these baskets and racks to display fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, or they might want to situate them in their bakery sections to display packages of fresh bread and other baked goods. Specialty food shops like bakeries can use these racks to display individual or bulk packages of bread items like rolls or biscuits, or treats like muffins or brownies.

Of course, establishments that don’t necessarily specialize in, but still sell, food products can use these wicker display racks, too. Hotels and motels, for example, can use them in their dining areas to offer their guests packages of food items, while convenience stores can use them to display both food products like candy bars and small bags of chips and nonfood products like key chains, lighters, matchbooks, and travel-sized containers of hygiene products.

Retail establishments that don’t specialize in food can use these fixtures to display nearly any kind of lightweight merchandise item. For example, craft and hobby stores might use them to display small vials and packages of beads, glitter, sequins, or glue, while bookstores might use them to display bookmarks or small boxes containing reading lights.

Get Familiar With the Different Kinds of Antique Wicker Basket Display Racks

Whether you want to situate your display somewhere on your store’s main floor or closer to your store’s checkout counter in the POP display area, various wholesalers and other vendors offer a wide variety of antique wicker basket display racks perfect for you – all you have to do is choose the types that will work best with your display space and your merchandise!

Turning Traditional Display Fixtures Into Art Supply Holders

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Because there are various kinds of display fixtures specifically designed to showcase art supplies, it’s pretty easy for a store manager or owner to find the display fixture or fixtures perfect for showcasing almost any kind of art supply. For example, mobile scrapbook racks and slot paper racks are designed with scrapbooking and other art and hobby supplies in mind.

However, display tools specifically designed for showcasing a particular art supply aren’t always necessary. There are numerous kinds of fixtures out there that can hold a wide variety of merchandise types – these fixtures wear many hats, so to speak.

If you’re just now starting an art supply display in your store, check out the six display fixtures below. Chances are, you might already have several of them on hand – and if you don’t, ordering them means you can use them later for other kinds of displays!

Plastic Containers

You probably already know that plastic containers are some of the most common – and popular – retail display fixtures around. This is because plastic containers are durable, versatile, and convenient, and they’re available in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and even in both clear and colored versions.

Plastic containers work well to hold small kinds of art supplies, such as small paint brushes and writing utensils, rolls of stickers, packets of glitter and sequins, and even small tubes of paint and glue.

Acrylic Round Face Bins

Acrylic round face bins are a version of plastic containers, but pack enough extra punch to get a category of their own. These acrylic bins include hinged lids and attached scoops, and while they’re generally used as display fixtures for food products like unwrapped candy, yogurt and ice cream toppings, and gumballs, they’re great for displaying and allowing your customers easy access to art supplies like loose beads.

Bucket Display Racks

Bucket display racks actually combine two different display fixtures – plastic buckets for holding merchandise and display racks for holding the buckets!

You can use bucket display racks as art supply display fixtures much the same way you can use plastic containers. Small kinds of art supplies work best with these fixtures, and the racks allow you to situate the display nearly anywhere in your store where there’s space enough for the rack.

Pegboard Display Racks and Accessories

Pegboard display racks and their accessories, such as pegboard hooks, trays, and bins and buckets, work in similar ways to bucket display racks in that they provide both the fixtures to hold the art supplies and the means to hold those fixtures.

Because of the wide variety of accessories that work with pegboard display racks, there are plenty of options when it comes to which art supplies to display. Pegboard hooks allow you to display merchandise designed to (or included in packaging designed to) hang, while the trays and bins allow you to display small and moderately sized art supplies that need to “sit” in a container.

Wooden and Wicker Baskets and Racks

Think of wooden and wicker baskets and racks as the charming cousin of the bucket display rack. These fixtures, which are available in both fixed-position and rotating versions, can hold fairly sizeable art supplies and add charm to your store at the same time!

Table Displays

Table displays are excellent choices when you plan to use stand-alone fixtures such as plastic containers and acrylic round face bins. These tables are usually available with two or three tabletops and in a variety of “wood” colors, which also helps them add as much charm and visual appeal to your art supply display as wooden or wicker baskets and racks.

How to Choose Scrapbook Display Racks for Your Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:59:00 +0000

If you own or manage a store that sells art supplies, or you’re getting ready to open a store that will sell such supplies, chances are you might want to include scrapbook supplies in your inventory. Scrapbooking is an extremely popular hobby among people of all ages, and it only makes sense to deliver what those customers need.

However, figuring out HOW to create a scrapbook supply display might be a bit tougher than just deciding you WANT to create one.

Below are five steps to help you create a scrapbook display with the right supplies and racks for you.

Step One: Get Familiar With Your Scrapbook Supplies

Before you can do anything else, you must get familiar with your store’s scrapbook merchandise. What do you already sell? What do you want to start selling? The answers to these questions will help you when it’s time to choose your display racks.

Step Two: Take Inventory of Your Store’s Other Art Supplies

Note that your store might already have art supplies that, while they aren’t specifically targeted at scrapbookers, are still appropriate for scrapbooking purposes. Such supplies might include vials of glitter, small rolls of decorated tape or stickers, sheets of stencils, glue, scissors, rulers, and markers, colored pencils, and other writing utensils. Making use of the art supplies your store already has is a great way to expand your scrapbook display – and, if your store doesn’t focus solely on art supplies and doesn’t have any of these kinds of items, it might be time to go ahead and invest in them.

Step Three: Choose Your Scrapbook Display Space

Now that you know which supplies you want to display, it’s time to choose where in your store you want to create the display. It’s easier to select the scrapbook display racks you need (and want) when you know exactly how much space you have to work with.

Once you choose your display space, a good way to get familiar with it is to physically situate yourself in the space. Take measurements, block off the area that will represent the display racks, and then walk around to see if your customers will have enough space to comfortably move around.

Step Four: Shop Around for Scrapbook Display Racks

The best way to shop around for scrapbook display racks is to treat the situation like you would when you shop around for anything – find several sellers and spend some time comparing their products and prices.

Of course, you should also keep in mind that while there are fixtures out there specifically labeled as “scrapbook display racks,” there are plenty of other fixtures that also work well to showcase scrapbooking materials. Bucket display racks, for example, are great for organizing and displaying small items like tubes of glitter or rolls of stickers.

Step Five: Order Only the Display Racks You Know You Need

This step should come as no surprise, but if you’re searching for advice on how to choose scrapbook display racks for your store, chances are you’re new to the scrapbooking business and you might get a bit overzealous (or feel you need to be overprepared) when it’s time to order your racks.

While it’s generally better to be “overdressed” than “underdressed,” in this situation – when your money is on the line – it’s best to order only the display racks you know for sure you’ll need. Once you create your display and spend some time gauging your customers’ responses and demands, you can always expand!

Understanding the Different Kinds of Scrapbook Display Racks

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Scrapbooking is an extremely popular hobby among a wide variety of people, and numerous kinds of stores – from large chain retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target to smaller chain and even mom-and-pop art supply stores – make sure they cater to customers’ needs for this pastime.

If you’re establishment sells scrapbook materials (or art supplies that can double as scrapbook materials), or you’re thinking of incorporating them, get familiar with the various kinds of display racks you can use so you’ll be aware of the kinds of fixtures you can use that will work well with both the amount of display space you have and the amount of merchandise you’re selling.

Note that this isn’t a comprehensive list of scrapbook display racks – there are many varieties out there, as well as many common display fixtures that can work to display scrapbook materials. However, these are a few of the most convenient tools for displaying scrapbook materials to help get you started.

Slot Paper Shelves and Racks

Slot Paper Shelves

Slot paper shelves are designed to work with slot paper racks (see below) to organize and display various kinds of paper or sheets of other kinds of scrapbook supplies (such as stencils or stickers) in a way that’s convenient for both you and your customers. You can find slot paper shelves that include as few as one or as many as three “slots” of various sizes for holding paper, which makes it easy for you to create a scrapbook supply display no matter how many supplies your store sells.

Slot Paper Racks

Slot paper racks are the display racks designed to hold slot paper shelves. Just like you can with the shelves, you can find slot paper racks in various sizes as well as in both floor or “tower” models and countertop models.

Mobile Scrapbook Centers

You can almost think of mobile scrapbook centers as your customers’ one-stop shop for scrapbook supplies.

These kinds of display fixtures include on-roll shelves that allow you to display rolls of merchandise such as stickers; slot paper shelves for organizing and displaying sheets of paper, stickers, or stencils; sturdier flat metal racks for showcasing heavier items such as entire packs of paper or the books themselves; and “catch all” baskets designed to hold nearly any item the other fixtures can’t easily display such as tubes of clue or containers of glitter or sequins.

Bucket Display Racks

Because of how versatile and convenient they are, bucket display racks are actually found in many different kinds of retail establishments. It’s also for those reasons that bucket displays work so well to showcase scrapbook materials.

You can find bucket displays in a variety of styles and sizes, including racks designed specifically for floor or countertop displays, and with a wide range of bucket numbers. You can use bucket displays to organize and display many kinds of scrapbook items such as rolls of stickers, tubes of glue and glitter, markers and other writing utensils, and even small packets of stencils or stickers.

5 Art Supply Containers and Racks for Your Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Whether you already own or manage an art supply store or you’re looking to open one, or even if you own or are opening a store that will sell items similar to those found in art supply stores, you must make sure you have the right kinds of art supply containers and racks to display your merchandise.

Below are five kinds of art supply containers and racks to get you started.

1. Clear Plastic Containers

Because of their versatility and durability, and the convenience they offer both storeowners and customers, it’s no surprise to see clear plastic containers listed as an ideal display container for art supplies. Art supply store managers and owners can use clear plastic containers to display everything from small tubes or packets of glitter and sequins to buttons, beads, and other baubles. These kinds of containers are also great for holding loose paint brushes and drawing pencils and pens.

Of course, clear plastic containers also work great as storage containers. You or your associates can keep them under your countertops or in your stockrooms to organize anything from work-related tools such as rolls of sales stickers to thumbtacks for hanging wall posters.

2. Acrylic Round Face Bins With Scoops

Similar to clear plastic containers, acrylic round face bins with scoops work well to organize and display loose kinds of art supplies like beads. The round face design of these bins add visual appeal to displays while the scoops make it easy for customers to retrieve the amount of product they want.

Also similar to clear plastic containers, acrylic round face bins with scoops also work well as storage bins.

3. Slot Paper Shelves and Racks

Slot paper shelves work with slot paper racks (see below) and are designed to hold paper or similar art supplies. You can find slot paper shelves in various sizes and with one, two, or three slots and you can use them to hold everything from regular paper and construction paper to sheets of stickers and stencils.

Slot paper racks are designed to hold slot paper shelves and art supply store managers and owners can find these display racks in both floor and countertop models.

4. Bucket Display Racks

Like clear plastic containers, bucket display racks are found in a variety of retail establishments because they work so well to organize, store, and display various kinds of merchandise. You can use bucket display racks to organize and display everything from small art supplies like packets of glitter and small tubes of paint to larger items like loose paint brushes, rulers, scissors, and art pens and pencils.

5. Mobile Scrapbook Centers

Mobile scrapbook centers are crucial for art supply stores that sell scrapbooking tools. These display racks are complete with display fixtures such as slot paper racks for holding sheets of scrapbook paper as well as flat metal racks for holding heavier items and on-roll shelves for conveniently displaying rolls of stickers.

Mobile scrapbook centers also work well for any kind of store that doesn’t necessarily sell scrapbook supplies but does sell similar items such as sheets or packets of paper and stencils as well as rolls of stickers.

3 Tips to Help You Create Bulk Displays for Your Candy Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Because they have the capacity to display such large amounts of candy, candy store bulk displays work wonders for storeowners who experience high volumes of traffic and might not have much time to dedicate to frequently restocking their candy displays.

Before you decide you’re going to create such a display (or two) for your store, however, check out the three tips listed below, which are designed to both help you determine whether such displays are right for your store and, if they are, how to get started creating them.

Tip #1: Be sure you sell the right candy for your bulk display.

The first tip to consider when you want to create bulk candy displays is to make sure you have the right kind of candy for the display. Actually, whether or not you CAN create a bulk display depends on the kinds of candy you sell. Bulk displays are designed to showcase a large quantity or product, and if you don’t receive enough traffic in your store to quickly sell that product, it’s best to choose candy that will stay fresh for long periods of time.

As the owner or manager of a candy store, chances are high that you sell at least one or two kinds of candy that would work well as part of a bulk display. Take inventory of those products, and use that knowledge to help you decide which kinds of bulk display fixtures would work best for your displays and how many of those fixtures you’ll need. (See below)

Tip #2: Browse the varieties of candy store bulk fixtures.

In order to create bulk candy displays, you need to obtain candy fixtures in bulk. Without bulk fixtures, how else can you display bulk products?

You’re probably already well aware of the numerous kinds of merchandise display fixtures available; they task is to find the ones that will work best with your store and your product. It’s best to shop around with a variety of wholesalers to get a good sense of the kinds of fixtures available to you, and perhaps even find special prices you can take advantage of.

Tip #3: Pay attention to your customers’ reactions.

As with any kind of merchandise display, it’s important to pay attention to your customers’ reactions to your bulk candy displays.

Such things to look for include how convenient the displays are for your customers (do your customers seem to be able to access the candy easily?), how the display’s location affects your customers’ accessibility (do they seem to have to inconveniently maneuver around other displays just to get to the bulk display?), and how quickly the merchandise sells (do your customers seem to enjoy the products in the display, or do they ignore the candy in favor of other showcases?).

Because your customers’ satisfaction is the most important thing (without it, you’d make no sales and have no business!), it’s crucial to pay attention to their reactions to any kind of product or display and respond accordingly.

5 Tips to Help You Create Candy Store Displays

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Whether you’re just now starting a candy store or you’ve managed one for years, you can always use a few tips on how to create – and improve – your candy store displays.

Tip #1: Choose candy containers that work well with your merchandise.

Perhaps the most obvious tip within this list is the tip to make sure you choose candy containers and other fixtures that will attractively and conveniently display your merchandise.

Certain kinds of fixtures work best with certain kinds of candy. For example, you wouldn’t want to display lollipops in a gravity bin. As you’re browsing around for fixtures and other display tools, pay attention to the kinds of examples the wholesalers provide within the descriptions of their fixtures.

Tip #2: Choose candy containers that work well with your display space.

In addition to choosing containers that attractively and conveniently showcase your candy, you need to choose fixtures that you can attractively and conveniently situate in your display space.

Before you begin browsing for fixtures, get familiar with your display space. How much room do you have to work with? Once the fixture is set up, how much space will be left for your customers?

Tip #3: Work smart – not hard!

Obviously there will come times when you’ll need to restock your candy displays, but you can prolong those times by choosing display fixtures that hold bulk amounts of candy. Candy store bulk fixtures allow you display large quantities of product and, depending on how long your particular candy stays fresh, cut back on the amount of time you spent refilling the fixtures.

You can also make things a bit easier on yourself when you choose pre-filled candy displays. Such examples include gumball machines and lollipop trees, but you can also find pre-filled bucket racks designed to rotate or remain stationary – whichever model is most convenient for your customers.

Tip #4: Select display fixtures that will catch each customer’s eye.

Many kinds of display fixtures – such as plastic, acrylic, and glass containers, jars, and bins – are available in different colors, shapes, and styles. Don’t be afraid to give these fixtures a try in your store!

Tip #5: Always think about safety.

This last tip is perhaps the most important: As you’re planning your candy store display, think about the safety risks the display fixtures and the overall setup might create for your customers.

For example, if your store typically experiences a high volume of traffic – or caters mostly to families with young children – and you need simple containers to hold your candy, opt for acrylic bins and plastic containers and fish bowls over glass jars and fish bowls. The acrylic and plastic varieties work just as well as their glass cousins, but don’t impose the same level of risk should a customer accidentally bump into or drop one. And, if it does happen to break, pieces of acrylic or plastic aren’t as likely as pieces of glass to harm a customer.

You must also carefully think about how you plan to set up your displays. Whether your store is large and roomy or small and cozy, and whether it experiences high or low volumes of traffic at any given point during business hours, it’s important that you make sure all of your display fixtures are sturdy enough to hold your containers and merchandise and that you’ve properly assembled them and situated them in places throughout your store that won’t increase the chances they’ll be bumped into or cause a customer any inconvenience.

The 2 Wholesale Store Supplies You Don’t Want to Overlook

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

While this isn’t exactly news to veteran retail store owners, those of you just getting started or even just considering opening a store of some sort should become familiar with wholesale store supplies.

Generally, buying wholesale store supplies is a great way to save money, and sometimes you can even increase the amount of money you save when you buy wholesale in bulk. Also, it should come as no surprise that the two kinds of items storeowners most commonly purchase from wholesalers are the very two items that help make the stores exist in the first place: The store’s merchandise and the store’s display fixtures.

1. Merchandise

“Merchandise” is a generic term that covers all the items you (or other store’s) sell. You might manage a candy store that only sells sweets, a bookstore that focuses on printed literature but also offers audio books, or a convenience store that sells everything from snacks to paperback novels. No matter what you sell, it’s considered “merchandise.”

Regardless of the kinds of merchandise you sell, it’s generally best to purchase wholesale. Buying wholesale often gives you the best bang for your buck – especially when you buy in bulk – and oftentimes you can even find companies that offer special deals on their wholesale store supplies.

2. Display Fixtures

Like “merchandise,” “display fixtures” is a pretty generic, all-encompassing term. From clear plastic containers and acrylic bins to wire display racks and wooden display racks, here is such a wide variety of fixtures out there designed to help you attractively and conveniently display your merchandise that it would be nearly impossible (at the very least, extremely time consuming!) to list them anywhere except in a wholesale store supplies company catalog or on a wholesale store supplies website.

Also like merchandise, it’s best to purchase wholesale display fixtures for your retail establishment or restaurant. Buying wholesale helps you get the most product for the best price. However, because there are so many different kinds of display fixtures to choose from, and because there are so many different wholesalers to choose from, the task of selecting the right fixtures from the right wholesaler might seem daunting.

Consider these tips to make the job more manageable:

Consider your display space. Display fixtures come in many different sizes, shapes, and styles, and the amount of display space you have to work with – as well as where in your store that space is located – will help you determine which kinds of fixtures would work best for you. Try narrowing each search down to just floor displays, countertop displays, or wall displays, and then moving on to the next category (if there is one) once you’ve made that decision.
Decide what merchandise you want to display. Your fixtures have to be able to attractively and conveniently display your merchandise, but you won’t know if they’re able to do that until you know what merchandise you want to showcase. Once you decide what to showcase, you can search for fixtures that will work best with those items.
Shop around with a few wholesalers. No matter who you are or what you’re looking to buy, it’s always best to shop around with several different merchants before you make a decision. Compare the variety and prices of fixtures offered by several different wholesalers before you choose the one for you.

How to Create Countertop Displays for Every Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

You might think creating a countertop display is simple: Just choose your merchandise and situate it on the countertop in question, right?

Well, sort of – but creating a countertop display actually takes a bit more planning than that. You need to understand the amount of space you have to work with, choose the right merchandise to showcase, and find fixtures that will both work with the space and the merchandise to attractively and conveniently showcase your products.

Step One: Analyze Your Countertop Space

The first step to creating countertop displays is to analyze your countertop space. You have to be familiar with how much space you have to work with before you can move on to the second and third steps; after all, how are you supposed to know what kinds of merchandise and what kinds of display fixtures will fit on your countertop if you’re not sure how much space you have?

There are two ways to analyze your countertop space: You can “eyeball” it, which might work for some folks, or you can actually measure it, which works best in all situations. When you’re ready to order your display fixtures, you’ll see what sizes they’re available in and it will be easier to choose the ones right for your countertop if you know exactly how big or small your countertop is.

Step Two: Decide What Merchandise to Display

Now that you know how much countertop space you have to work with, it’s time to decide what merchandise you want to display.

Generally, the merchandise you showcase will depend on the kind of store you manage. If you manage a candy store, for example, you’ll probably want to create a candy display. If you manage a gas station or convenience store, you might want to showcase convenience items like lighters or key chains.

No matter what kind of merchandise you sell or choose for your countertop display, make sure it’s the appropriate size for the amount of space you have to work with (see above) and will comfortably fit in whatever display fixtures you choose (see below).

Step Three: Consider Your Display Fixture Options

The third step might actually be the trickiest – or, rather, the most time consuming – of all the steps. Why? Because there are so many different kinds of display fixtures to choose from!

Companies that sell wholesale store supplies generally have many different kinds of display fixtures to choose from – no matter what kind of merchandise you’re display or where you want to situate your display. When you combine one company’s many options with the many options of all the other companies out there that sell wholesale store supplies, your possibilities seem endless!

In order to avoid overwhelming yourself, make sure you choose display fixtures that work well with the amount of countertop space you have as well as both attractively and conveniently displays your merchandise.

Keep in mind that you can also supplement your countertop space by making use of the space near your countertop. For example, gumball machines, lollipop trees, and wire display racks designed to hold clear plastic containers and other display fixtures work well to showcase additional merchandise near your countertop (in your POP area, for example) without actually taking up extra countertop space.

How to Keep Your Candy Displays Fresh and Unique

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Regardless of what they sell, most retail stores change their displays from time to time. Whether you manage a candy store, or a grocery store, bookstore, toy store, or gas station, if your establishment sells candy, below are five ways you can make sure you keep your candy displays fresh and unique.

Tip #1: Mix and Match Various Candy Store Displays

When you showcase your candy, you don’t have to keep your displays to one or two of a certain kind of fixture. There are numerous kinds of fixtures at your fingertips, and it’s easy to keep your displays fresh and unique when you mix and match a few of them.

If you’re creating a point-of-purchase display, or POP display, for example, you could mix clear plastic containers or colored acrylic bins to hold small pieces of wrapped candy or gumballs with pre-filled lollipop trees or gumball machines.

Tip #2: Update Your Candy Display With the Changing Seasons

This is perhaps the most fun tip when it comes to keeping your showcases fresh and unique. It’s easy to find both display fixtures and candy in holiday themes and colors, and it’s easy to use existing fixtures and candy to create showcases with a holiday flare.

For example, during Halloween you could create a gumball display using orange and black gumballs. You could do the same during Christmas using red and green gumballs. Colored acrylic bins are easy to find, and you could choose red and clear for Valentine’s Day displays, or pastels for spring and Easter.

Note that this tip also works well if your store is located in a city with a high school, college, or professional sports team. Showcase your candy in containers of the team’s colors!

Tip #3: Keep Your Eyes Open for New Candy Store Display Fixtures

Traditional candy display fixtures have survived the test of time because they’re functional and reliable; when it comes to clear plastic containers and colored acrylic bins, for example, there’s definitely no reason to fix what isn’t broken.

However, wholesalers and retailers that specialize in display fixtures are always coming out with new kinds of candy store display fixtures, and it’s wise for you to keep your eyes peeled for these releases. Trying out new fixtures isn’t “fixing what isn’t broken”; rather, it’s adding visual appeal and new convenience to your displays – and customers always appreciate that!

Tip #4: Reuse Old Candy Display Fixtures in New Ways

Depending on the kind of store you manage, you might have old display fixtures lying around that – while they weren’t originally used for, or maybe not even intended for, candy displays – would work well to showcase various kinds of sweet treats.

Tip #5: Don’t Confuse Your Customers!

In an effort to keep things fresh and unique, you might be tempted to rearrange your store or reposition your candy displays from time to time. Keep in mind that while rearranging your store and repositioning your displays every now and then is fine, and sometimes necessary, doing it often will only confuse and frustrate your regular customers.

You want to give your customers a sense of familiarity and comfort when they visit your store, and that’s tough to do when your constant changes make them feel as if they’re in a completely different store every time they visit. Unless it’s absolutely time to rearrange or reposition things, keep your steps to keeping your displays fresh and unique to the above four tips.

6 Businesses In Need Of Rolling Jelly Belly Racks

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

No matter what kind of retail business they manage, store and other business owners all look for pretty much the same kinds of features and qualities when it comes to display fixtures. They want tools that will attractively showcase their products while offering convenience to their customers, as well as tools that will be both versatile and convenient for them.

Mobile display racks are excellent choices – they offer attractiveness, convenience, and versatility. When you use mobile racks, you can position and reposition them as many times and anywhere you want as long as you have space. This freedom allows you many more choices when it comes to creating displays, and it also allows you to adjust your displays when factors like traffic flow and special sales or clearances call for adjustment.

Rolling Jelly Belly racks are fantastic display fixtures in those capacities. Despite their name, rolling Jelly Belly racks can be used display much more than just Jelly Belly candy. Store and other business owners can use these fixtures to display any kind of wrapped or unwrapped candies, and you can find them with four or six shelves, complete with 12 or 18 acrylic round face bins.

If you’re having trouble determining whether your store or other business would benefit from rolling Jelly Belly racks, check out the six kinds of establishments for which they’re suitable for listed below. Even if you don’t see your business, chances are you’ll see a similar one!

1. Candy Stores

Because rolling Jelly Belly racks work best with any kind of candy or small treat, they’re an obvious choice of display fixtures for candy stores!

2. Convenience Stores and Gas Stations

Most convenience stores and gas stations sell candy and other kinds of small, edible merchandise, and rolling Jelly Belly racks are excellent display fixtures for showcasing those items.

3. Grocery Stores

If you manage a grocery store, you can use rolling Jelly Belly racks to display and keep fresh unwrapped candy as well as other treats like peanuts or trail mix. Using mobile fixtures helps you create displays that work best with your store’s layout and traffic flow, and can even help you create point-of-purchase, or POP, displays near your store’s checkout counter without blocking your customers’ path.

4. Hotels and Motels

Rolling Jelly Belly racks work exceptionally well for hotels and motels with dining areas, because the when the time of day changes, the kind of food served also changes, and mobile display racks like rolling Jelly Belly racks allow you to easily move the displays and the food wherever you need to in order to restock.

5. Arcades

Arcades are great places to sell candy and other treats, and mobile display fixtures such as rolling Jelly Belly racks work well to help you resituate the displays in places that will work best for the traffic flow your arcade experiences on each particular day or during a certain time of each day.

6. Carnivals, Amusement Parks, and Other Festivals

Many carnivals, amusement parks, and other festivals are temporary and always on the go. Having easily transferable display fixtures is crucial!

Top 3 Display Fixtures for Pet Stores

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Aside from the fact that they sell pets, pet stores aren’t that much different from any other kind of retail store. Pet stores sell plenty of other kinds of merchandise – merchandise that needs display fixtures – and below are the top three display fixtures that every pet store can use.

1. Clear Plastic Containers

If you’ve spent any amount of time at all in the retail business, you’re probably already well aware of how useful clear plastic containers are. These containers are sturdy and durable, available in numerous shapes, sizes, and styles, and can be used as both display tools and storage tools.

You can use clear plastic containers to organize and display small pet toys, sample packs of pet food or treats, and even collars, rolled up leashes, or cute “hair accessories” for pets!

Note that clear isn’t your only option when it comes to plastic containers – you can find them in a wide variety of colors that are translucent enough to allow you and your customers to easily see what’s inside. Colored plastic containers are great ways to spice up your merchandise displays or organize the merchandise you’re display.

2. Acrylic Gravity Bins

If you’re not quite sure what acrylic gravity bins are, think of the kinds of bins you see attached to counter tops and walls that hold food merchandise like dry cereal, coffee, and treats like trail mix or peanuts.

Acrylic gravity bins are excellent display fixtures for pet stores for the same reasons they’re great for other kinds of stores that sell edible merchandise – they present attractive and convenient solutions for display edible items while keeping them fresh and safe from dust and other debris.

You can use acrylic gravity bins in your pet store to display and keep fresh products like small dog or cat treats, bird feed, or food pellets for hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs. Note that if you choose to do this, of course, you need to also provide some sort of container or baggie so your customers can transfer the food or treats from the bin to the checkout counter, and from the checkout counter to their homes!

3. Display Racks

You’re probably not at all surprised to see display racks listed as one of the top three display fixtures for pet stores – or any kind of store, for that matter. Unless your store is full of table and counter tops (which would make things a bit awkward for your customers!), you need fixtures on which you can situate your merchandise. Display racks are perfect.

There are many different kinds of display racks you can choose from for your merchandise displays, and the kinds you choose will depend largely on the amount of display space you have to work with, the kind of merchandise you want to display, and the overall decor or theme of your store. You can find traditional stationary convenience store racks with shelves, fixed-position wire display racks with shelves or with mesh containers, fixed-position or rotating bucket racks, and even wooden display racks with baskets.

How to Save Money on Merchandise Display Fixtures

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

In today's struggling economic times, every storeowner - whether he's just getting started or is simply in the market for new display tools - can benefit from saving money on merchandise display fixtures.

If this sounds like you, check out the five steps that will help you find versatile, attractive, and affordable display fixtures listed below!

1. Buy Merchandise Display Fixtures in Bulk

Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on merchandise display tools, but ONLY if your store is large enough to necessitate that many display fixtures or if you know you’ll need that many of one kind of display fixture (no matter how small your store is).

Examples of display fixtures commonly purchased in bulk include clear plastic containers. These tools are extremely versatile (see below) and nearly every store or business can use them for many reasons, making purchasing clear plastic containers in bulk a wise move.

2. Focus on Versatility

Every tip listed here is an excellent way to save money on merchandise display fixtures, but this tip is perhaps the most excellent of them all. Why? Because this is the tip that keeps on giving!

When you purchase versatile fixtures – fixtures that you can use over and over again in different ways – you continue to save money because these display tools prevent you from having to purchase new items each time you want to create a new display, rearrange your store, or showcase a new kind of item.

3. Keep Your Eyes Open for Secondhand Fixtures

You’ve undoubtedly heard the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!” While this adage is usually attached to garage sales and flea markets, it’s also true in the retail business.

There are several ways you can get your hands on secondhand fixtures. For example, you can keep your eyes open for local shops that are going out of business, redecorating, or moving locations and are looking to either sell or donate their old fixtures. You can also simply talk with friends in similar businesses who are either able to sell or donate a few fixtures or who know another storeowner who can.

NOTE: While purchasing secondhand fixtures and accepting donations are both great ways to save money, be sure the tools you purchase or accept are in decent condition. Cracked plastic containers, wire display racks with broken shelves, and acrylic trays with broken corners most likely aren’t worth the time. Sometimes, one man’s trash is another man’s trash, too!

4. Shop Around for Sales, Clearances, and Discounts

No matter what the retailers and wholesalers call them – whether they’re sales, clearances, or discounts – purchasing display fixtures that have been marked down is obviously a great way to save money!

5. Take Advantage of Start Up Specials

Many companies offer start up specials for stores and other businesses just getting off the ground. Of course, it doesn’t really matter if you’re just getting started or you’re simply browsing the market for affordable display fixtures, purchasing start up specials is a great way to save money and score versatile display tools you can use again and again.

3 Different Ways to Use Merchandise Display Fixtures

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

As a store owner, you already know how important it is to have the perfect display fixtures for showcasing your merchandise; however, do you know what to do with those fixtures once they’re no longer of use to you?

If you ever find yourself with display fixtures you can no longer use or no longer want to use for showcasing merchandise, consider the three solutions listed below.

1. Make the Most of Your Display Fixtures’ Versatility

There are many different kinds of display tools with more uses than one. When you think your fixtures have reached the end of their line, stop and think about the other kinds of merchandise you can display in them.

For example, you can use mini bin display racks attached to your slatwall fixture or on your countertop. Gumball machines are great for holding gumballs, but you can also fill them with other snacks like trail mix or with small children’s toys like bouncy balls. Clear plastic containers you once used to hold unwrapped candy are also great for holding travel-sized hygiene products or small convenience items like miniature sewing kits or eyeglass repair kits.

2. Turn Your Display Fixtures Into Storage Fixtures

Once you no longer need your display fixtures to showcase merchandise, you can use them to organize and store items behind the scenes.

For example:

Use clear plastic containers and acrylic bins to organize and store small items like sale price stickers, pens and markers, and other small display tools like rolls of tape, screws, bolts, and tacks.
Use fixed-position or rolling display racks to store clothes items that need to hang but aren’t ready for floor display yet, or for holding containers you’re using as storage tools. (How you use your display racks depends entirely on the kind of racks you have and the kinds of merchandise you sell.)

3. Donate Your Display Fixtures

If you no longer need your display fixtures (for example, if you’re remodeling or redecorating your store, or you’re moving locations and need to lighten your load), and you’ve decided there are no other uses for them within your establishment, the next best thing to do is donate or sell your fixtures to other businesses or organizations.

Consider these ideas:

If you know of any new businesses in the area, or have heard there will be a new start up business coming soon, contact the owner and find out if he or she is looking for a few discount (or free!) display fixtures.
If your store has a large window area, consider moving your display fixtures close to the windows and placing “For Sale” signs on them.
If your store has a sizeable enough sidewalk area, dedicate an evening to holding a sale.
Contact local charities or other nonprofit organizations to ask if they need any display fixtures. This works out especially well for organizations such as the Salvation Army and churches that frequently sell or donate items to people in need and need ways to display them.

Donating or selling your old display tools not only helps out other businesses and organizations, but it also helps keep these items out of landfills, which is great for the environment!

5 Ways to Save Money When You Open a Candy Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:01:00 +0000

These days, nearly everyone’s feeling the pinch of today’s economy, and this pinch has many aspiring entrepreneurs – such as new candy shop owners – wondering whether or not they should move forward with their new business ideas.

Fortunately, there are ways to pinch pennies and still get quality results. Listed below are five ways to save money when you open a candy store.

1. Buy your candy in bulk.

For businesses that sell a lot of one kind of product (such as candy), it only make financial sense to buy in bulk and save money.

Keep in mind that it’s important to have a plan for your candy before you actually order it. How many display fixtures will you have? Where will they be located? What special considerations should you make for the candy (unwrapped candy needs more protection than wrapped candy)? These are the kinds of questions you should know the answers to before you purchase bulk candy.

2. Buy versatile display fixtures in bulk.

As mentioned above, buying in bulk helps you save money; however, buying versatile display fixtures – those that you can use for a variety of purposes – in bulk helps you save even more money.

For example, jumbo mini bins – which are already fairly inexpensive – are fantastic acrylic bins for showcasing a variety of items.

3. Sometimes, secondhand display fixtures are your friends.

Generally, the best way to get your hands on secondhand display fixtures is to keep your eyes open for owners of similar businesses who might be relocating and looking to lighten their loads or who are redecorating and need to get rid of their old, but useable, display fixtures.

Keep in mind that “inexpensive” doesn’t always mean “good deal.” You’re trying to save money, but you’re also trying to make a good impression. If the display fixtures are noticeably worn (for example, the clear plastic containers have so many scratches you can’t really describe them as “clear” anymore) or not easily repairable (for example, the rolling display racks are missing wheels you’d have to spend a significant amount of time hunting for before you could replace them), you’d be better off paying for new fixtures.

4. Look for wholesalers offering special start up deals.

Many companies that sell bulk candy and bulk display tools also offer special deals for owners of new candy stores. Talk with owners of similar businesses as well as search the Internet to gather a list of such companies, and then compare their start up specials and prices.

5. Don’t go overboard with advertising.

Adverting is crucial, and it’s especially important when you’re first getting started; however, many new candy shop owners discover that when they’re first getting started is when their budgets are the tightest.

Instead of sinking money into several different advertising areas, consider just a few big hitters. For example:

Newspaper advertisements and radio mentions (as opposed to separate, lengthy radio commercials) are often fairly inexpensive and reach a broad audience.
If you create your own graphics and write your own copy, as well as shop around for printing services that offer the best prices, you’ll find that fliers can be quite inexpensive forms of advertising.
Many community news stations and newspapers provide a community events feature to their viewers and readers. Oftentimes, getting your announcement (in this case, your candy store opening) listed in these segments or sections is completely free. You might even want to talk with reporters about a brief feature announcing the upcoming opening of your new candy store.

NOTE: These days, it’s almost unheard of for a business to lack a website. Not only are websites constant forms of advertisement, but they’re also incredibly convenient for your customers. You might think it’d be best for you to wait until your new candy store has been up and running for a while before you create a website, but it’s actually ideal to have a website up and running BEFORE your store opens – that way, when customers see and hear your advertisements for the shop’s opening day, they can visit your website to check out your store!

How to Create Holiday-Inspired Merchandise Displays

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The holidays are a busy time for nearly every kind of store and other business owner, and if your business sells any kind of merchandise – whether it’s the kind you wear, play with, read, or eat! – it only makes sense for you to spice up your displays to reflect the season.

However, because the holidays are a busy time, not every store and business owner is going to have much time to dedicate to rearranging his or her merchandise displays. Before it starts to feel like there’s no solution, though, check out the three simple steps below designed to help you turn your usual merchandise displays into festive arrangements in no time!

Step One: Choose Your Display Fixtures

Fortunately, because of their neutral designs, most merchandise display fixtures lend themselves to holiday-inspired displays. You won’t necessarily have to purchase new display fixtures to create holiday-inspired displays – chances are, the ones you already use will work just fine (especially when you follow the second and third steps, below).

Of course, you can also choose display fixtures that are designed with the holidays specifically in mind. For example, you can find plastic containers shaped like Christmas trees and Santa Claus boots! Plus, you can choose certain kinds of plastic containers and acrylic bins in holiday colors like red and green. If you already have these, you’re in luck; if not, you can find them at reasonable bulk prices from a variety of wholesalers.

Step Two: Manipulate Your Merchandise

This step isn’t actually as sneaky as it sounds.

When you “manipulate your merchandise” – for purposes of this goal – you choose merchandise that is either already holiday-related or merchandise that you can make “look” holiday related.

For example, if you manage a convenience store, you might choose to create a display using merchandise with holiday-related “themes,” such as lighters, key chains, or pens with holiday pictures printed on them. Or, if you manage a candy store, you could create a gumball display using only red and green gumballs. If you manage a specialty restaurant such as a bakery, you could create displays that showcase holiday-themed baked goods like cookies shaped like gingerbread men, Christmas tress, and Santa Claus.

Step Three: Don’t Forget to Accessorize

Keep in mind that not every part of your display has to be either a piece of merchandise or a fixture. You can use additional items purely for decoration.

For example, if you create merchandise display on tables or counters not holding your cash register, you might want to cover them in red, green, blue, silver, or gold table cloths, or clothes with festive prints on them. You might even want to use holly, tinsel, or pinecones to add visual appeal to your displays, or you might want to line your display racks with greenery and lights.

If you manage a restaurant, you can take your decorations a step further and add holiday charm to your tables and booths with fixtures like holiday votives – small candleholders with Christmas, Hanukah, or winter pictures on them!

Use Fish Bowl Containers to Serve Holiday-Inspired Drink Promos

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Plastic containers are some of the most popular display fixtures among a variety of business owners, and this is thanks in large part to the variety plastic containers themselves offer! Store and other business owners can find these containers in numerous shapes, sizes, styles, and colors – all factors that help them create the perfect display for their merchandise.

You probably already knew that fish bowl containers also fall into this category; however, what you might not have been aware of yet is that fish bowl containers can do much more than just act as display fixtures (as well as storage tools). These kinds of plastic containers are also great for serving drink promotions!

If you manage a tavern, or a restaurant or hotel with a bar, and plan to add holiday-inspired mixed drinks to your menu this season, check out the three steps listed below to help get started!

Step One: Check Out Your Fish Bowl Options

Like the umbrella group of “plastic containers,” fish bowl containers are available in numerous sizes and even materials (for example, you can find them in both plastic and glass).

Consider the tips below as you’re determining which fish bowls to order for your drink promotions:

Size: When you think about the sizes you want to use, think about the number of people who will be consuming the drinks. You might want to choose small fish bowls for one or two people, and medium-sized or large fish bowls for three or more people. The most popular choice is usually the 2.5-gallon fish bowl, so you might want to choose bowls in those sizes to be on the safe side.
Material: You can find fish bowls in both plastic and glass; the material you choose is entirely up to you. You might prefer plastic, for the durability and safety it offers (fish bowl drink promos are generally served to a group of two or more people; plus, plastic weighs less), or you might prefer glass, for the elegance and charm it offers.

Step Two: Accessorize Your Fish Bowls

We’ve all seen mixed drinks with “accessories” (think of the little umbrellas bartenders use to decorate drinks with “tropical” or “summer” themes).

When it comes to holiday-inspired drinks, you might want to look for holiday-inspired accessories that feature holly, snowflakes, Christmas trees, or Santa Claus, or you might simply want to look for accessories in popular holiday colors like red, green, gold, and silver. Browse around the websites or catalogs of a variety of wholesalers to see what they have to offer in terms of mixed drink accessories.

Step Three: Advertise Your Fish Bowl Drink Promos

Once you’ve chosen the fish bowl containers in which to serve your holiday-inspired drinks and the accessories (if any) with which to decorate them, it’s time to advertise your promos!

Obviously, you’ll want to add these drinks to your restaurant’s, tavern’s, or hotel’s drink menu, and you’ll probably want to create a special bulletin or sign and situate it somewhere within your establishment; however, don’t underestimate the power of outside advertising such as radio commercials. Letting your regular and potential customers know about special holiday-inspired drink specials they might not have found out about until the next time they visited (or, in the case of potential customers, they might not have found out about at all!) is a great way to fill your seats!

How to Create Merchandise Displays with Table Display Fixtures

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Despite the volume of choices, choosing the perfect display fixture isn’t as daunting a task as it might seem – and neither is creating the display once you know which fixture you want to use.

Table display fixtures work well in a variety of retail and other business settings. Like other kinds of display accessories, table displays are available in different sizes, styles, and colors, so it’s easy to find the one (or two!) that will work best with your merchandise and your store’s décor.

Check out the three steps listed below to help you get started using table display tools to create merchandise displays.

Step One: Choose the Merchandise to Display

You can showcase nearly anything on these display fixtures! Consider these ideas:

Clothing stores can display typical merchandise like folded shirts and pants, as well as seasonal items like gloves, scarves, and hats.
Shoe stores can create displays of the season’s new footwear.
Bookstores can display the latest releases
Toy stores can create displays focused on a particular “theme,” such as the licensed merchandise related to a new movie or cartoon.
Candy stores can use these display tools to create plastic, acrylic, or glass container display of colorful gumballs and lollipops.
Ice cream parlors and yogurt shops can create displays of their dry toppings like sprinkles.
Hotels, motels, and travel- or tourist-related establishments can create displays of local newspapers, magazines, brochures, and pamphlets.

Of course, these are just a few suggestions. There are many more possibilities, depending on what kind of store or other business you manage.

Step Two: Decide Where to Situate Your Table Display Fixture

Generally, table display fixtures are designed to be placed on the floor (situating them on top of other fixtures like tables can be not only inconvenient to your customers, but also can be dangerous); therefore, you need to make sure you have enough floor space set aside for the display tool.

As you’re determining where you can situate your display, keep in mind that these kinds of display tools are available in different widths, heights, and depths, as well as with either round or square shelves.

Step Three: Select Your Table Display Fixture

Once you know what you want to display and where you want to display it, it’s time to choose your table display fixture.

Like many other kinds of merchandise display tools, you can find these kinds of display tools with varying number of shelves, round shelves or square shelves, and in different colors such as wood colors “cherry” and “maple.” Aside from the fixture’s size and number of shelves, what makes the fixture perfect for your display will boil down to your personal preference or your store’s décor.

NOTE: If you’ve chosen to display merchandise that requires additional display fixtures, be sure to take those fixtures’ sizes into consideration. For example, if you choose to use plastic containers or acrylic bins as your additional display fixtures, make sure you choose sizes that will work with your table display fixture.

3 Ways Nearly Business Can Use Table Display Fixtures

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Table display fixtures are excellent choices for creating a variety of displays – no matter what kind of store or other business you manage! You can find these fixtures with different numbers of shelves and even with square or round shelves.

Additionally, you can find table display fixtures in a variety of “wood” colors like maple and cherry, which further helps you create charming, and even rustic, displays for your store.

To help get you started, check out the three ways you can use table display fixtures listed below.

1. Create Candy Displays With Table Display Fixtures

Candy is the kind of treat that spans every demographic as a favorite. No matter what group you look at – children and adults, males and females, the wealthy and the modest – you’ll find a candy enthusiast!

Aside from the obvious – candy stores! – nearly every kind of store and other business can benefit from a candy display.

Unless you’re displaying candy already packaged in display boxes (such as the kinds of candy you find in the checkout aisles at grocery stores and gas stations), you’ll need at least one other kind of display fixture to create a candy display with a table display fixture. Typically, plastic containers and acrylic bins are your best bet. You can find these containers in numerous shapes and sizes, and even choose from clear and colored versions!

2. Create Magazine and Newspaper Displays With Table Display Fixtures

Generally, any store that sells magazines or newspapers uses some sort of display fixture created especially for displaying magazines and newspapers. Think about the last time you shopped at a bookstore, convenience store, or even your local pharmacy: The magazines were probably situated on a floor rack or on the shelves of a wall fixture, and the newspapers were probably secured inside a fixture designed to open only after a customer inserted money.

However, some businesses – like hotels, motels, doctor and dentist offices, and even restaurants like bakeries, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, and yogurt shops – offer newspapers and magazines for their customers to read as they wait to be served or as they’re enjoying their treats. If you manage a similar business, you can use table display fixtures to attractively and conveniently display newspapers and magazines for your customers.

3. Create Brochure, Pamphlet, and Map Displays With Table Display Fixtures

Table display fixtures are excellent tools for displaying brochures, pamphlets, and maps.

If you manage:

Any kind of health facility such as a doctor or dentist office, a community health center, or hospital, you can use these fixtures to create displays of pamphlets related to dental and health issues.
Any kind of travel or hospitality facility, you can use these fixtures to create displays of brochures about local sites and attractions and maps to help tourists get around.

Of course, these are just suggestions to help get you started. Depending on the kind of establishment you manage, you might have other materials better suited for display, such as forms and documents related to your business.

How to Choose Bucket Displays for Every Kind of Store

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

If you want extra convenience for both you and your customers, consider using bucket display racks for your merchandise displays. Bucket display racks include the fixtures for holding your merchandise (the buckets) and the fixtures to help you display them (the racks), which helps make creating the displays almost effortless.

However, there are numerous kinds of bucket racks and each kind is going to work best with a certain kind of merchandise and in a certain area of your store or business.

Below are three steps to help you get started. Ultimately, each step is connected to the final one: Deciding which bucket display rack will work best with your store’s display space and the merchandise you want to display.

Step One: Take a Look at Your Store’s Display Space

Do you want to situate a display near your store’s checkout counter? Do you want to create a display along one of your store’s walls, or somewhere on the store’s floor?

You can find bucket display racks in a variety of styles and sizes (see below), and before you make a selection you need to evaluate how much display space you have.

Step Two: Consider Your Merchandise

As mentioned above, bucket display racks – and the buckets they come with – are available in numerous sizes and styles; however, no matter what size you choose, these display fixtures generally work best for displaying small kinds of merchandise like:

Wrapped candy, whether it’s individual pieces of candy, gumballs, suckers or lollipops, candy bars, and even novelty candy.
Convenience items like lighters, eyeglass repair kits, on-the-go sewing kits, and travel-sized hygiene products.
Souvenir items like key chains, seashells, and stickers.
Craft and hobby items like buttons, beads, sewing and knitting needles, spools of thread, glue stick refills for glue guns, and containers of glitter or sequins.
Home repair items like screws, bolts, nuts, and nails.
Children’s toys like bouncy balls, yo-yos, and small stuffed animals.

Note that because the buckets are available in different sizes, you should take stock of the merchandise you plan to display in the buckets before you select your bucket display.

Step Three: Understand the Different Kinds of Bucket Display Racks

Now that you know where you want to situate your bucket display and which merchandise you want to display in it, it’s time to get familiar with the different kinds of bucket display racks.

Depending on where you want to situate your display and how much space you have to work with, you might want to use:

Rotating buck racks, which are great for floor displays and point-of-purchase, or POP, displays.
Countertop bucket racks, which work well as display fixtures for your checkout countertop or any other counter or table top in your establishment.
Free-standing bucket racks, which are similar to rotating bucket racks in that you can situate them any place on your floor as long as you have space.
Wall-hanging bucket racks, which are excellent choices if you need to maximize display space or are in need of wall-friendly display fixtures.

3 Creative Ways to Spice Up Your Countertop Displays

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Nearly every kind of business - from convenience stores and gas stations to motels and restaurants - can benefit from countertop displays.

Countertop displays are lucrative merchandise display options and it's important to make sure these displays offer both convenience and visual appeal. To achieve this, read on for the three ways you can spice up your countertop displays.

1. Use Colored Acrylic Bins and Plastic Containers in Fun Shapes

Even if you don’t already have a countertop display and are using this information to help you create your first display, chances are you already know how popular acrylic bins and plastic containers are for displays. They’re versatile and durable and, once they’ve run their course out front, you can move them to the back of your store and use them as storage fixtures.

However, what you might not have known is that you can find acrylic bins and plastic containers in vibrant colors and fun shapes! You can use these options to make your countertop displays reflect the current season or holiday, your local college’s or high school’s colors, or any specific theme or décor you’ve already established for your store.

2. Use Two or More Display Fixtures Together

It’s easy to create countertop displays with acrylic bins and plastic containers by themselves, but when you pair them with other display fixtures – such as wire display racks or convenience store racks designed small enough to rest on countertops – you not only create more visual appeal and possibly make the display more convenient for your customers, but you also increase the amount of countertop space you have to work with AND the amount of space you have for merchandise!

If you plan to use other display fixtures with your acrylic bins or plastic containers, make sure you either choose the fixtures that will work with the containers you already have OR choose the containers that will work with the fixtures you already have.

3. Use Pre-Filled Candy Displays

No matter what kind of store, restaurant, or other business you manage, chances are high your customers would appreciate a candy display.

Pre-filled candy displays take the work out of creating your own candy display and, because there are so many different kinds of pre-filled candy displays, you’re sure to find the display your customers would like the most and the one that would be most lucrative for you.

Consider:

Gumball Machines: You can find gumball machines designed to rest on countertops and pre-filled with colorful gumballs. You can even find these machines pre-filled with other kinds of candy and snacks and even small novelty toys.
Lollipop Trees: Just like gumball machines, some lollipop trees are also designed “short” enough that you can situate them on your countertop.
Pre-Filled Candy Containers: Most pre-filled candy containers (which are typically just plastic containers or acrylic bins) are filled with gumballs; however, you can sometimes find them filled with other kinds of candy your customers might like.

How to Create Unique Tabletop Displays in Your Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Keenan - Candy Concepts Inc.) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Most kinds of restaurants have some sort of display on their tabletops, countertops, or bars - whether they're showcasing merchandise, decorations, or complimentary items.

Creating a tabletop display is slightly different than creating a regular merchandise display; however, the five steps below make creating display on your tabletops a breeze!

Step One: Think About Your Restaurant

You might think this step is unnecessary; after all, you own or manage your restaurant – why should you need to think about it?

In reality, you DO need to think about several things regarding your restaurant. The next few steps will help you do that more thoroughly, but as you’re scanning your restaurant and thinking about your future tabletop displays, consider where you want to situate your displays, the kind of merchandise you want to display, and what kinds of display fixtures might work best for you.

Step Two: Decide Where to Situate Your Tabletop Display

The phrase “tabletop display” suggests the display will be on your tabletop; however, which tabletop? Your restaurant might have tables of various sizes and, depending on the point of your display (see below), one size of tabletop might work better than another size.

Too, you might actually want your tabletop display to be a countertop or bar top display.

Step Three: Determine the “Point” of Your Tabletop Display

Obviously, one point of your display is to showcase a product of some sort.

However, you must also decide if:

Your display will showcase complimentary items like packets of condiments or seasonings, or breath mints, hand wipes, or toothpicks.
Your display will showcase additional merchandise for sale.
Your display will be purely for decoration.

Step Four: Choose Your Tabletop Display Fixtures

Some of the most popular display fixtures to use for tabletop and countertop display fixtures are plastic containers and acrylic bins. You can find these display fixtures in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, and they’re durable, versatile, and easily converted into “storage fixtures” once they’ve run their course on your tables!

However, if you choose plastic containers or acrylic bins for your tabletop displays, note that you can pair them with other display fixtures. Depending on the size of your display space – and how large you want to make your display – you might use one of the varieties of display racks. For example, you can situate your plastic containers or acrylic bins on small wire display racks. This will help keep your tabletop or countertop from becoming overwhelmed and allow your customers more room.

Step Five: Create Your Tabletop Display!

You might think this step seems obvious, but there’s no better way to make sure you display is going to work than first creating it and then giving it a try yourself.

Once you fill your display fixtures with the merchandise you want to display and situate the fixtures on your tabletop (or, countertop or bar – whichever you choose), put yourself in the position of the customer. Sit at the table or at the bar, or stand by the countertop. How does the display look from your position? Can you easily do what you need to do at the table, without the merchandise getting in the way? Can you easily access the products if you need to?

If the display doesn’t work, rearrange a few things until it does; if it does work, you’re ready to go!