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How to design the open shelving system in the weighing area
source：dzoneshop.com | Release time：2025年10月14日1、 The core structural characteristics of open design: "unobstructed+clear zoning"
The open layout of the scattered area shelves is not "fully displayed", but balances openness and management through "correct masking+structured partitioning". Key design details include:
There is no enclosed cabinet, and the main body of the fully transparent display shelf is mainly composed of "laminated shelves, grid shelves, or hollow columns". There are no side or back enclosed panels, only necessary load-bearing frames and laminated shelves (or hoppers) are retained, ensuring that customers can intuitively see the products from around the shelf (especially the aisle side and adjacent shelf side) - such as the loose nut shelf. Customers do not need to go around the front, and can see the color and particle size of the nuts from the side, reducing the viewing threshold. Some scattered areas will be equipped with "transparent acrylic enclosures" (5-10cm in height, only covering the edges of the shelves), which not only prevent products from falling but also do not affect the visibility, balancing safety and openness.
Layered/grid partitioning, clear category isolation, open design needs to be combined with "detailed partitioning" to avoid mixing different categories of goods. Common partitioning methods:
Layered by category: The same shelf is vertically layered, with each layer corresponding to a category of goods (such as cookies on the first layer, candies on the second layer, and candied fruits on the third layer), and the height between layers is adapted to the height of the goods (such as a cookie jar height of 15cm, a layer spacing of 20cm, and reserved pickup space);
Divided by specifications: Within the same layer, "detachable partitions" (made of acrylic or metal) are used to separate it into multiple independent compartments, each compartment containing the same product (such as 1 compartment containing original melon seeds and 1 compartment containing five spice melon seeds). The size of the compartments is adjusted according to the sales volume of the product (the width of best-selling seeds is ≥ 30cm, and the width of unsold products is ≥ 15cm);
Divided by scene: Adjacent open shelves form a "scene unit" (such as the "breakfast weighing area" where scattered bread, pastries, and cereal are placed, and the "healthy snack area" where nuts and freeze-dried fruits are placed), guided by ground signs or top tags to strengthen category associations.
The design of the pickup port/hopper is suitable for "self-service pickup". For different forms of bulk goods, the "pickup structure" of the open shelves needs to be differentiated:
Particles/powders (such as miscellaneous grains and flour): using a "tilted hopper+flip cover/push-pull cover", the bottom of the hopper is equipped with a "discharge port" (with a control valve), and customers can use a dedicated spoon to scoop out the product by opening the cover, avoiding direct contact with their hands;
Block/independent packaging types (such as loose cakes and chocolates): using a "flat layer board+transparent dust cover" (can be lifted upwards), with anti slip pads on top of the layer board (to prevent the product from sliding), customers can directly take out the independent packaging products by lifting the dust cover;
Fragile items (such as loose potato chips and cookies): "Soft rubber anti-collision strips" are added to the edges of the shelves to prevent customers from crushing the goods when picking them up. At the same time, the tilt angle of the shelves is ≤ 5 ° to prevent the goods from slipping off on their own.
2、 The core advantage of open design: catering to the dual needs of "consumption+operation" in the dispersed area
The open design of the scattered weighing area shelves is essentially achieved by reducing information gaps, simplifying the pickup process, and optimizing display efficiency, while meeting the core demands of customers and supermarkets:
1. For customers: Enhance "experience+trust" and reduce decision-making costs
Intuitively visible, reducing "blind searching": The open design allows products to be "unobstructed and exposed", and customers do not need to rely on guides or labels to quickly identify target products through vision (such as distinguishing red dates and wolfberries by color, distinguishing walnuts and almonds by particle size), especially suitable for elderly customers (with poor vision, need to visually view the status of the product).
Touch and smell, enhance consumer trust: The "freshness and taste" of bulk food are the core concerns of customers. Open design allows customers to judge the quality of the product under compliance conditions (such as touching and smelling through transparent packaging) - for example, bulk bread, customers can touch the softness and smell the wheat aroma, which is easier to establish trust and reduces the risk of "buying wrong" compared to closed packaging.
Self service convenience and reduced waiting time: Open shelves combined with "self-service pickup tools" (such as specialized spoons, clips, disposable gloves, weighing bags) allow customers to independently complete the "view pick bag" process without waiting for the assistance of a shopping guide. Especially during peak shopping periods (such as weekends), it can significantly shorten pickup time and improve shopping efficiency.
2. For supermarkets: optimize "display efficiency+inventory management+compliance"
Flexible display, easy to adjust and iterate: The layered and grid design of open shelves is mostly "detachable/adjustable" (such as the height of partitions and the position of shelves can be adjusted through buckles or screws), and supermarkets can quickly adjust the display according to the season and promotional activities - for example, expanding the display area of bulk candies before the Spring Festival, shrinking and replacing it with bulk nuts after the festival, without the need to replace the shelf body, reducing display costs.
Inventory visualization to reduce out of stock/backlog: The open design allows the remaining inventory on the shelves to be "clear at a glance", and the tally clerk can judge the inventory without opening the closed cabinet door (if only 1/3 of the scattered melon seed grid is left, it can be replenished in a timely manner), reducing the situation of "customers wanting but out of stock"; At the same time, by observing the remaining quantity of goods, it is possible to quickly identify unsold items (such as a candy that has been fully stocked for a long time), adjust the purchase quantity in a timely manner, and reduce inventory backlog.
Compliance and easy supervision, meeting food safety requirements: Bulk food must comply with the "Food Safety Standards for Bulk Food Hygiene Management", and the open design facilitates supermarkets to implement the requirements of "dust prevention, pollution prevention, and clear labeling" - for example, each open grid must be labeled with a "food label" (indicating product name, production date, shelf life, and producer information), and the dust cover/lid needs to be cleaned regularly. These measures are easier to implement on open shelves and are also convenient for market supervision departments to inspect.
3、 Key considerations for open design: Avoiding problems caused by "openness"
Although open design has significant advantages, it requires detailed design to avoid risks such as product contamination, falling, and loss
Dust and pollution prevention: essential 'physical protection'
All open display products must be equipped with "dust-proof facilities" (such as transparent dust-proof covers, flip covers, and mesh), and the dust-proof facilities must be easy to clean (such as acrylic covers that can be disassembled and rinsed, and metal mesh that can be wiped and disinfected);
Install a "fresh air system" or "dust baffle" above the shelf to prevent ceiling dust from falling onto the goods;
Equip with "specialized pick-up tools" (such as spoons and clips with long handles), and place "disposable gloves" next to the tools. Customers are prohibited from directly touching goods without independent packaging with their hands.
Anti drop and anti loss: optimizing "edges and load-bearing"
The edge of the laminated board should be equipped with a "fence" (height ≥ 5cm), or a "concave laminated board" (lower in the middle and higher at the edge) should be used to prevent the goods from falling off due to collision or tilting;
The load-bearing capacity of the shelves should be adapted to the weight of the goods (such as the weight of loose grains per grid ≤ 10kg, and the load-bearing capacity of the shelves ≥ 15kg), to avoid deformation of the shelves causing the goods to tilt;
Fragile items (such as loose potato chips) should be placed in the middle layer of the shelf (1.2-1.5m high, customers do not need to bend or tiptoe when picking up, reducing collisions), and soft cushioning pads should be laid in the compartments.
Anti confusion and error prevention: Strengthen "identification and guidance"
Each product grid must be labeled with a "clear label" (font size ≥ 12, indicating the product name, price, and shelf life), and the label position must be aligned with the product (such as the label being placed directly in front of the grid to avoid confusion for customers);
Similar products (such as plain peanuts and salt baked peanuts) should be separated in different compartments, and the label colors should be differentiated (such as green labels for plain peanuts and yellow labels for salt baked peanuts) to reduce the probability of mislabeling;
On the side of the shelf aisle, a "category guide sign" (such as "weigh dry goods → turn left" or "weigh snacks → go straight") should be set up to guide customers to quickly find the target area and reduce confusion caused by blindly shuttling between open shelves.
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