Space is at a premium when it comes to retail.
So creating a well organized merchandising wall starts with the right backdrop.
In this post, we take a closer look at 3 different type of walls to help you design your next merchandising program.
3 Wall Types
The most common types of retail walls (of course, disregarding drywall) are SLATWALL, PEGBOARD and GRIDSWALLS
They’re seen along the perimeter of an interior, also positioned in linear patterns to create aisles, endcaps and of course free standing fixtures like gondolas. These functional structures also play a huge factor in delineating a shopping flow
They are available in a wide ranges of sizes, shapes and materials which will affect the overall look and durability.
SLAT WALLS
Also known as slotwalls, these structures have routed out slots in varying distances and sizes across a sheet of material. These slots may even be reinforced with a metal or plastic c-channels.
As ubiquitous as these walls are, be careful assuming that one stock component is interchangeable. Most units are 3″ On Center however depending on the manufacturer, it could be different.
Don’t forget the hooks. Especially the prongs.
Slatwall hooks come in a wide variety of sizes and material thickness. So depending on the weight of your products and displays, you may want to look into beefing up the wall or hook thickness.
The GOOD
If strength and durability is a concern for your retail merchandising program, slatwalls may be in your best bet in ensuring your products stay mounted to the wall. Could you imagine something heavy falling, eeek!
It also offers some flexibility left to right when configuring your planogram.
Slatwalls are also affordable, as long as you select a common or stock option. If your budget does allow it, explore the countless color + material combinations available. A fun, rustic DIY look are rotating pallets upright to great stand alone structures, seen in the image below.
The BAD
There a ton of great uses for slatwall but it does come with some challenges, both aesthetically and functionally.
Slatwalls offer some flexibility but the key word is “some”. So depending on the packaging size it could leave random gaps in product, most commonly top to bottom.
Aesthetically, slatwalls have a utilitarian look and feel to time, often seen in grocery and home improvement stores. And because the slats run along the entire width of the board, it’ll take effort to conceal. Leaving an opportunity to match or contrast the slats.
PEG BOARD
Are peg boards seeing their 15 minutes of fame?
Over the past few years, the design community has embraced the possibilities of peg board in it’s stock form as well as custom configurations.
Pegboards, as with slat walls are available in countless sizes, shapes, materials and hole configurations. The common denominator are the linear hole patterns that concept with pegs and hooks to support a variety of the products.
The GOOD
The peg holes are the key to this wall structure’s flexibility and provide a endless amount of merchandising options.
BE CREATIVE.
It’s like starting with a lego base and building up. It may even be worth exploring different hole shapes and size. By using larger and fewer the holes, the more it looks customized and elevated. Just be cognizant of the peg or hooks you plan on using.
A really fun trend is to insert rods into the holes to create a 3 dimensional structure and an opportunity to incorporate shelving. Look into pens, golf tees, pins… the options are endless, just make sure they sit in the holes snuggly or you’ll find them splattered along your retail floor.
For more inspiration of what to do with pegboards, check out our previous post, a peg on which to hang.
The BAD
BORRRRRIIIINNNNGGGGG
Unless there’s something unique about the hole shape, patterns, material or a combination of those, this can look utterly dull. It’s has an even more utilitarian feel that slatwall and unless the extra holes are covered with a graphic or strategically placed, it can be a serious case of trypophobia. Not the feeling you want shoppers to have while perusing the aisles.
Keep in mind that these are also vertical holes and without a strap or hook, things have a tendency to fall out. So hopefully you’re not picking up too many loose pegs on the floor.
Also, the material use will play a huge factor in the durability and strength. If you plan on hanging heavy merchandise, you’ll need to reinforce the holes/board and at that point it may not be cost-effective or may not even be the right solution.
GRIDS
Ahhh, the simple grid.
Typically constructed from thin metal rods that are welded together to create wall panels.
The GOOD
They’re light, both visually and weight-wise.
Perfect for a minimal look.
These airy wall boards are super fun in bright colors and out of the box installations, ie: hung from the ceiling
The BAD
Grid walls do have limitation though.
Because the wires are welded together along a thin strip, they are susceptible to damage and may eventually fall apart if the wires if they hold too much weight. A thicker gauge wire can help but due to the construction, each wire has a weight limit. And of course, once one wire becomes unattached, the whole structure loses it’s integrity.
Also, similar to pegboard, gridwalls are not easy to conceal behind products.
Covering the structure with graphics or sheets of another material can transform the entire look and feel of the space or display. However leaning into the metal work is fun too.
CONCLUSION
Determining the right wall board structure for your next merchandising can be exciting but also overwhelming.
Even narrowing down to these 3 wall board types, slatwall, pegboard and gridwall opens up a whole can of worms when it comes to color, material and configuration.
Consider you product weights, quantity and planogram to help determine the right structure and don’t be afraid to take risks.
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If you have a project in mind and want to explore you options, we’d love to help.
Contact us at benchmarc.com