How to Make Your Grocery Store Stand Out from the Competition

In a crowded marketplace, making your grocery store stand out requires more than just great products and good customer service—it requires a smart, strategic approach to store design and layout. A well-planned store not only improves shopper experience but also boosts sales, builds loyalty, and strengthens your brand identity. Here’s how to get started—and how DGS Retail can help.

Design Your Store Like a Pro—For Free

The first step to elevating your grocery store is optimizing its layout. DGS Retail offers a Free Store Design Service that gives you access to experienced retail designers who work closely with you to create a layout that makes the most of your space. Whether you’re launching a new store or refreshing an old one, this service helps you:

• Maximize product visibility

• Improve customer flow

• Optimize shelving for sales efficiency

• Reflect your brand identity

Your dream store is just a conversation away—without a design fee.

Take Control with the Free Gondola Shelving Layout Maker

Not ready for a full custom design? Use our Free Gondola Shelving Configurator, also known as the Build a Store tool. This self-service platform lets you quickly and easily build out your ideal shelving plan—no guesswork, no back-and-forth.

Why it stands out:

• Instant Pricing: Enter your specs and get automatic pricing for your gondola shelving setup.

• Design Freedom: Customize height, color, finish, and layout to suit your space and style.

• Automatic Discounts: Orders over $3,000 qualify for up to 45% off, and all orders over $99 ship free.

Whether you’re designing a new floor plan or modifying an existing one, this calculator makes it simple and cost-effective to get it right.

Choose the Right Gondola Shelving for Your Business Goals

Your fixtures should match your brand, product categories, and store traffic flow. Here’s how to pick shelving that supports your success:

✔ By Finish & Style:

• Platinum or Beige Pegboard Gondolas: Ideal for general use and grocery aisles.

• Black Gondola Shelving: A sleek, modern option for convenience stores or liquor retailers.

• Wood Gondola Fixtures: A high-end finish that elevates wine shops and boutique sections.

• Slatwall Gondolas: Perfect for specialty and brand-focused displays.

✔ By Function:

• Single-Sided Gondolas: Use along perimeter walls for tall, vertical merchandising.

• Double-Sided Gondolas: Best for center-store island setups.

• End Caps: Highlight promotions or high-margin products at the end of aisles.

Mix and match styles for a cohesive look with visual focal points throughout your store.

Use Layout to Drive Shopper Behavior

A store layout should do more than look good—it should guide your customers effortlessly from one section to the next while encouraging exploration and discovery. DGS Retail’s Definitive Guide to Planning a Profitable Retail Space provides expert insights on:

• Traffic flow strategies

• Impulse zone placement

• Strategic category adjacencies

• Display and signage optimization

This guide is essential reading for store owners who want to increase engagement and keep customers shopping longer.

Create a Consistent, Memorable Store Identity

Consistency in shelving style, signage, lighting, and flow reinforces your brand and builds customer loyalty. Whether you're running a local grocery store or managing a chain, thoughtful fixture choices and professional design can significantly boost perceived value and customer satisfaction.

Ready to Set Your Store Apart?

With DGS Retail’s Free Store Design Services and powerful Gondola Shelving Layout Maker, it’s easier than ever to design a grocery store that’s modern, effective, and tailored to your business goals. Explore our shelving solutions, get expert advice, and start building your standout store today.

Start with the Free Layout Maker
Talk to a Designer—Free Store Design Service