How Much Does Retail Shelving Cost in Canada?
- Published
- By Ty Banks
Retail Shelving: The Complete Guide for Store Owners
If you’re opening a new retail store, renovating an existing location or expanding into another location, one of the first questions you’re likely asking is:
How much does retail shelving cost?
The answer depends on your project.
Retail shelving isn’t typically a one-size-fits-all purchase. The final cost of a shelving system can change significantly depending on the height, depth, length, colour, configuration, quantity, accessories and freight requirements.
Two stores with similar floor plans could end up with very different shelving costs simply because they have different products, display requirements or design preferences.
That’s why it’s important to look beyond the price of an individual shelf and consider the entire shelving system.
In this guide, we’ll break down the main factors that can affect the cost of retail shelving in Canada so you can better understand what goes into your project budget.
Why Is It Difficult to Give One Price for Retail Shelving?
Retail shelving is a modular system.
Instead of purchasing one standard fixture that looks the same in every store, retailers can choose different components and configurations based on their space and products.
For example, one retailer may need:
- 48″ high shelving
- Shallow shelves
- A short shelving run
- Standard colours
- Minimal accessories
Another retailer may need:
- Taller shelving
- Deeper shelves
- Long continuous shelving runs
- Custom colour requirements
- Multiple end units
- Specialty accessories
Both are purchasing retail shelving, but their total project costs can be very different.
The best way to determine your cost is to build the shelving system around your store and your products.
Shelving Height Can Affect the Price
One of the first decisions you’ll make is how tall your shelving should be.
Lozier Retail shelving is available in a variety of heights, and the right choice depends on your store, products and merchandising strategy.
Shorter Shelving ( 48″ High – 60″ High)
Shorter shelving can help create a more open feel and maintain sightlines across the sales floor.
It can be useful when:
- You want customers to see across the store
- Products don’t require a lot of vertical space
- You’re working with a smaller retail environment
- Visual openness is important to your store design
Taller Shelving (66″ High – 108″ High)
Taller shelving allows you to use more vertical space and increase the amount of merchandise that can be displayed.
It can be useful when:
- You have a large product assortment
- You need additional display capacity
- Floor space is limited
- You want to maximize vertical merchandising space
Because taller shelving requires additional components, the height you select can affect the overall cost of your shelving project.
The goal isn’t necessarily to choose the tallest shelving available.
It’s to choose the height that makes sense for your products, customers and store layout.
Shelf Depth Makes a Difference
Shelf depth is another important consideration when planning retail shelving. Lozier shelving is available in a variety of shelf and base deck depths, making it easier to choose a configuration that fits your products and available floor space.
Different products require different amounts of display space. For example, smaller packaged products may not require deep shelves, while larger products or retailers looking to carry more inventory on the sales floor may benefit from deeper shelving.
A deeper shelf can increase product capacity, but it can also increase the amount of material required for your shelving system. More importantly, deeper isn’t always better. If your shelves are deeper than your products require, you could end up using valuable floor space without getting much additional merchandising benefit.
The goal is to find the right balance between:
Product Capacity + Accessibility + Floor Space + Presentation
With Lozier retail shelving, store owners can select shelf depths that better match their merchandise and store layout. Choosing the right shelf depth can help you maximize your available retail space while getting more value from your shelving investment.
Shelving Length Affects Your Total Cost
The total length of your shelving runs is one of the biggest factors in determining how much shelving you’ll need.
A small retail store might only need a few sections of shelving.
A larger store could require dozens of sections across multiple aisles and walls.
When planning your shelving, consider:
- How many wall sections you need
- How many island sections you need
- How long each shelving run will be
- How many aisles you’ll create
- How much wall space is available
- Where your end units will be located
The longer your shelving runs, the more components you’ll need.
This is why it’s much more useful to look at the cost of your complete shelving project rather than focusing only on the cost of one shelf or one section.
Wall Shelving vs. Island Shelving
The configuration of your Lozier retail shelving can also affect the overall cost of your project. Depending on your store layout and merchandising needs, you may use a combination of wall and island gondola shelving.
Wall Gondola Shelving
Lozier wall gondola shelving is single-sided and is generally positioned against the walls around the perimeter of the store.
It allows you to turn otherwise unused wall space into productive merchandising space while providing a clean, organized way to display products.
Island Gondola Shelving
Lozier island gondola shelving is double-sided and is commonly used to create aisles in the center of a retail store.
Because customers can shop both sides, island shelving can provide a high amount of display space within a relatively small footprint, making it a popular choice for grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail environments.
Your store may require a combination of Lozier wall and island shelving, depending on your available floor space, product mix, and store layout.
The ratio of wall to island shelving can affect the total cost of your project, so it’s important to consider both your merchandising needs and available space when planning your shelving system.
Colour Can Affect the Cost
Colour is another factor that can influence the price of Lozier retail shelving. Lozier offers both standard and premium colour options, allowing retailers to choose a finish that fits their budget and overall store design.
Standard Lozier Colours
Standard colours are generally the most cost-effective option and are a great choice for retailers looking for a clean, consistent shelving system without adding additional colour costs.
Premium Lozier Colours
Premium colours provide additional options for retailers looking to create a specific look or match their shelving to:
- Brand colours
- Existing fixtures
- Store finishes
- Corporate standards
- A particular retail environment
Premium colours can add to the overall cost of the shelving system, so it’s important to consider colour selection when budgeting for a retail shelving project.
For retailers with multiple locations, choosing the same Lozier shelving colour across each store can also help create a consistent brand experience from location to location.
The Number of Shelves You Need
The number of shelves within each Lozier shelving section can also affect the total cost of your retail shelving project.
Some products need only a few shelves with larger vertical spaces between them, while other products can be displayed using several shelf levels within the same section.
When planning your Lozier shelving system, consider how your products are packaged and how much vertical space each category requires.
For example:
- Small packaged products may benefit from more shelf levels
- Larger products may require fewer shelves
- Tall products may require additional vertical clearance
- Mixed product categories may require adjustable shelf positions
One of the advantages of Lozier retail shelving is the flexibility to adjust shelf heights and configure each section around the products you’re actually selling. This allows retailers to make better use of available display space while avoiding unnecessary shelving components that can increase the overall project cost.
Base Decks
The bottom of your shelving system is another component to consider.
Base decks provide additional product display space while also forming the base of the gondola system.
The depth of the base deck can be different from the upper shelves depending on the configuration.
Choosing a larger base deck can provide additional merchandising space, but it also requires additional material.
When planning a shelving project, consider how much product you want displayed at the bottom of each section and whether the additional depth is worthwhile for your merchandise.
End Units Can Add to the Cost — and the Value
f you’re using island gondola shelving, don’t forget about the ends of your aisles.
End units can turn the end of a shelving run into another merchandising opportunity.
They can be used for:
- Promotions
- Seasonal products
- Featured products
- High-margin items
- New products
- Cross-merchandising
The number of end units you need will depend on the number of shelving runs in your store.
While they add to the overall shelving investment, they can also provide valuable additional display space.
The Quantity You Order Matters
The total number of shelving sections required for your store obviously has a major impact on your final cost.
A small shelving project and a complete new-store fixture package are two very different projects.
When determining your requirements, consider:
- Number of wall sections
- Number of island sections
- Number of shelves per section
- Number of end units
- Number of accessories
- Number of specialty fixtures
If you’re opening a new store, it’s helpful to plan the entire shelving system before ordering.
This can help ensure that the different components work together and that you’re not ordering more—or less—than you need.
Freight Can Make A Difference
For Canadian retailers, freight is an important part of the overall cost of a shelving project.
Retail shelving is bulky, and a large order can require multiple pallets or a larger freight shipment.
Your freight cost can depend on factors such as:
- Where your store is located
- The size of your order
- The number of pallets
- Total shipment weight
- Delivery requirements
- Fuel costs
- Distance from the shipping location
A shelving project being shipped across Western Canada can have different freight requirements than one being delivered locally.
This is why the price of the shelving itself isn’t necessarily the final delivered cost.
Delivery Location Makes a Difference
Where your store is located can affect the overall cost of your project.
For example, a retail project in Saskatoon may have different freight requirements from a project in:
- Regina
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Vancouver
- Kelowna
- Victoria
- Other communities across Western Canada
For retailers outside major urban centres, delivery requirements and freight distances can also have an impact.
If you’re ordering shelving for a new store, it’s a good idea to provide your supplier with the exact delivery location early in the quoting process.
Finding The Right Shelving For Your Budget
The cost of retail shelving in Canada depends on much more than the price of an individual shelf. Height, depth, length, colour, configuration, quantity, accessories, freight and your store’s specific requirements can all affect the final investment. The best shelving solution is one that gives you the right balance of product capacity, presentation, durability and value for your space. If you’re planning a new store, renovating an existing location or adding to your current shelving, Blazer Store Fixtures can help you find the right solution for your project. Contact us today for a quote on retail shelving and store fixtures, and let us help you build a shelving system that fits your store, your products and your budget.
Let Blazer Store Fixtures Help With Your Retail Shelving Project
At Blazer Store Fixtures, we supply Lozier retail shelving and store fixtures to retailers across Western Canada. Whether you’re opening a new location, renovating an existing store or expanding your current shelving, our team can help you find a solution that fits your space, products and budget. Contact Blazer Store Fixtures today for a quote and let’s get your retail shelving project started.
Ready to Start your next Retail Project?
Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Blazer Store Fixtures proudly serves retailers throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario while shipping Lozier shelving, store displays, and merchandising accessories to businesses across Canada. Whatever your retail fixture needs, you can count on competitive pricing, dependable products, and reliable shipping.