While ensuring customers can easily find what they need in your store is essential, the ultimate goal is to get them to slow down and browse. That can be easier said than done.
However, there is a simple way to grab your customers’ attention. Creative grocery store displays are an effective way to entice them with deals, draw them to other departments, and encourage them to spend more money.
In this article, we’ll break down the core elements of eye-catching grocery store displays and give you six easy, cost-effective ideas to try in your store.
The Key Elements of a Creative Grocery Store Display
Anyone can set up a table and write a quick sign on paper, but it might not get the response they hoped for. So, what are the elements of a great grocery store display?
- On-brand: Create displays that incorporate your brand colors, logo, and materials. This will create consistency and make displays more memorable.
- Size (visual): Make sure your displays are appropriately sized to catch people’s attention at the right moment while they shop.
- Size (practical): Ensure bins and standing displays are big enough to place the types of items you want to sell without being so big that they dominate the space.
- Eye level: The most effective grocery store displays are at eye level (with a few exceptions), encouraging more interaction and sales.
- Clear: Make sure any lettering you use is large and easy to read. If you print signage, avoid overly stylized fonts.
Even the most creative grocery store display ideas should follow these general best practices to be effective.
6 Eye-Catching Grocery Store Display Ideas
You know the basics of grocery store layout and design, and you have best practices in mind. Drive even more sales and stop carts in their tracks with these creative display ideas!
The general rule of thumb for retail displays is that they should be at eye level (about 5 feet tall). However, there are times when breaking that rule might be a good idea.
In particular, use the vertical space in your store for large wayfinding banners that guide people toward certain departments (e.g., a deli or meat department). Used correctly, these larger signs will stay visible above aisles and from different parts of the store.
If you leave space on the wings of the sign, you can also use them for department-wide sales and discounts. In that case, make sure any promotion information is short and sweet, saving any details for shelf labels and standing displays.
Related Read: 6 Ways Supermarket Signage Improves the Shopping Experience
2. Inspire Customers With Recipes and Tips
When we examined recent trends in produce, one consistent finding was that most Americans want to eat healthier but don’t know where to start.
In other words, one of the keys to driving up produce sales is to inspire customers to be more confident in their purchases.
One easy way to do this is to give customers recipe ideas and tips in the produce aisle itself. Set up a standing display with helpful information, QR codes linking to blog posts on your website, links to recipes, and more.
Pair this with mix and match promotions or custom product bundles so customers can pair veggies with dips for healthy snacks, create a perfect salad, or buy all the ingredients to make guacamole together at a discount.
Over time, your customers will come to rely on you for ingredients and information, making your store a truly one-stop shop.
3. Display Your Local Roots With Pride
Many people prefer shopping at independent grocery stores because of the unique local products on sale. Emphasize these connections with creative displays to drive up customer interest.
Use shelf labels to draw customers’ eyes to locally made products and brands. If you get any of your produce from local farmers, have a display nearby with the farm's name.
If you notice that local products aren’t selling particularly well, set up standing displays for them near the ends of aisles or the front of the store to try and drive more sales.
4. Use Handcrafted Displays For a Personal Touch
Many small grocery stores can’t afford the large, expertly designed displays of big chains — and that’s OK.
An excellent example of handcrafted signage from our customer El Rancho Supermarket in California.
Instead of trying to imitate what bigger grocers are doing, use your resources on displays that make you unique. Invest in standing chalk signs to write promotions on, wooden aisle signs for a rustic feel, or other handcrafted display features.
Handmade signage and displays also have the advantage of showing a personal touch, a potential drawback for a corporate chain but a great asset for a small business.
5. Advertise Yourself at the Register or Above Cart Corrals
Remember, displays aren’t just a chance to advertise the products in your store but an opportunity to promote the store itself.
Create small signs for your register or larger displays for your windows or cart corrals to advertise the various services and benefits your store provides, such as:
- Your customer loyalty program
- Online shopping and in-store pickup options
- Links to your newsletter for coupons and deals
- Your connections with locally sourced food and products
- Your store values and mission statement
These displays will reinforce the reasons customers shop at your store and inform them of any deals they may be missing out on.
6. Maximize the Value of Displays With Reusable Signage
Running seasonal promotions, short-term discounts, and other in-store events are crucial to boost sales and move inventory. However, for many small businesses, it’s not cost-effective to print new signage every single time.
Instead, use reusable signage that incorporates both branded elements and areas for writing in the details. That way, you can get more bang for your buck for things that change often, like standing displays and shelf labels.
Related Read: How Much Do Electronic Shelf Labels Cost? (+4 Benefits of ESLs)
Craft Better Grocery Store Display Ideas Using POS Data
To design creative grocery store displays, it’s important to consider not only what the display is but also why and how it’s used.
Put another way, each display should have a clear and quantifiable motivation behind it.
The best place to start is using the sales reports on your point of sale (POS) system. This will help you quickly grasp which of your items are bestsellers and which areas of the store could use some TLC.
A grocery store POS system can also help you spot seasonal trends, peak hours, and other metrics that inform what kinds of displays your customers will respond to.
For more marketing tips, check out our comprehensive guide to grocery store marketing.
