merchants-fixture

Trust and Cutting Cost

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:23:50 GMT

Trust and Cutting Cost

There is an element of trust that comes with being a preferred vendor. The client must be comfortable with the price and services that they've been promised, and confident that they've received both at the completion of a project. Miss the mark on either of those, and the potential of that client coming back for a future project dwindles.

Building a relationship such that a client won't feel the need to bid out a project takes time to establish. Just like any relationship, the relationship between vendor and client usually begins with a toe-in-the-water. This phase can be shopping the vendor around, or rewarding a small project here and there until the client feels cozy enough with the vendor for a larger, more involved project. And as with any relationship, trust is the currency on which its established.

We know what it takes to see a major C-Store fixture project through from start to finish and we've been fortunate enough, with 45 years experience in this industry, to have that time to precisely hone those skills. We have experienced the pitfalls and glories, the failures and successes, of executing a larger C-Store design and build, and we learn from each one to better ourselves. This also allows us to help guide our clients away from those problems that they've yet to experience, building trust.

During that initial phase of the client-vendor relationship, however, we often find ourselves in a bid war with another fixture vendor. (We get it, because we do the same thing before we hang our hat on some of the equipment vendors that we rely on.) We're forced to look for ways to cut costs by not sacrificing what we pride ourselves on. We often see that when we lose a bid, it's because we weren't able to cut deep enough into the fat without hitting the meat.

Enter our standards. There's a certain point that some millwork suppliers will go, where we dare not. Because when we venture out into dangerous territory such as sub-par building materials, or poorly executed craftsmanship, we know that not only is our reputation on the line, but so is the trust of our client that we hold in such high regard. Sometimes to get the project, when a fixture manufacturer is hungry enough, they're willing to sacrifice more than we are.

You see this when you get up close to a finished project. You'll notice gaps where there should be a seamless top. You'll see sagging doors, or no shelf inside. The countertop may be showing signs of failure under the tremendous weight of the fountain and ice maker. If you're clever enough, you may be able to identify particle board in a wet area where plywood should be. All of these sneaky ways to cut costs to the manufacturer only end up with eventual, if not immediate, client disappointment. Sure the other guy got the project, but at what cost to his name?

Would you trust a vendor, any vendor, that cut costs by sacrificing quality and longevity to the good you were being sold? How would you know before it's too late?

Trust. That's how you know.

Self Check Outs

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:54:49 GMT

Self Check Outs are paying off

We noticed the self checkout trend really kick into high gear in 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic when people began to realize how much they actually change hands and touch product, credit and debit cards, and currency during a transaction. Store operators were forced to come up with a solution to remain up and running while dealing with sick employees, state and local ordinances, and overly cautious patrons.

We consider ourselves blessed in that we were in the right industry at the right time. Convenience stores refused to quit. Largely in part because, after some time being stuck indoors, people refused to stay home. For better or for worse, human beings, as social creatures, needed interaction. Travel stayed relatively strong despite the fears of going out in public. And so unlike some industries, the convenience store industry kept on clicking.

What happened in the summer of that year was interesting, and while looking back on it, predictable. Many retailers saw the need for self checkout kiosks to combat the new rules set in place as well as the drop in employee retention. But at the top of the list was the need to make customers feel more at ease in their stores. Travelers and shoppers felt more comfortable handling the transaction themselves as opposed to a store employee, and store operators quickly reacted by installing at least one option for them to do so. The trend took off and store operators realized that not only was this going to be something that led to more sales, but it also allowed them to remain open and functioning with less cashiers, reducing payroll.

Walk into any larger convenience store and you'll see something that, 4 years ago, would have been considered unusual. We've become accustomed to it, and now rather prefer it. Where at one point we were remodeling existing checkouts to accommodate these self serve pay points, stores have adopted the self checkout model on almost every new build, having seen the benefits of it.

Merchants Fixture was able to engineer custom kiosks to fit our customers' needs for a self checkout in 2020, and we continue to do so, seeing no need for a standard checkout ever again. The self checkout phenomenon is here to stay, with more available options and configurations. We build to any customer specification and will engineer our self checkout fixtures around any self checkout system.

Convenience Store Design

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:22:36 GMT

Client driven concepts that build relationships

While every project looks different, they tend to follow the same path from start to finish. Often, a client will come to us with an existing building that they may have purchased or are interested in remodeling, or a set of architectural drawings for a new ground-up build and solicit our expertise to guide them on the interior portion of their project. This is the canvas with which we begin developing the client's vision.

The design department at Merchants Fixture will sit down with a client as a design consultant to better understand the idea of the store owner and get a better understanding of what the owner's concepts may be for the new space. We let the owner take the lead and we act as advisors, using our decades of industry knowledge and experience to suggest what has worked and what hasn't worked for other clients. In this stage of the project, we aren't trying to sell equipment or store fixtures; we are listening. It's an interview between a client and a designer. We are counselors where the client may know what he wants, but isn't quite sure how to get there.

We don't really call them gas stations anymore, because they aren't. Gas may be available but it's not why people stop anymore.

Folks stop at convenience stores, and they stop there because they know what's also available inside the store.

We've had clients that wanted their coffee program to be the focal point of the store. And some that wanted the food program to be their main driver of sales. We recognize that store owners know their neighborhood and their customers better than anybody. We are experts in facilitating the design and flow of a convenience store, but we humbly accept that aren't operators and we won't know that those ham biscuits fly off the breakfast line or that the hot food is a hit during the lunch rush - until we hear it from the client. And then, after learning the anchor of the store, we start to build the client's space. We consider everything from layout of food service equipment to customer traffic in the store, and we begin to develop a convenience store that not only meets our client's needs, but also becomes a destination for the local patrons.

After all, as soon as our team walks off the jobsite and wipes down the last countertop and starts up the last oven, it's not us that will be unlocking the doors every morning. We won't be operating the store. But when the store is in our own backyard or we find ourselves on road trips, it's always a treat to check in and grab a cup of coffee.

We not only assist in developing convenience store designs, but we develop relationship with our customers as well. And we are so confident in what we do and how we execute that we use our projects themselves and our past customers as our living portfolio. Because immersing clients in the work we've done speaks volumes more than a photo ever could.

Online Design Studio is LIVE

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 19:54:06 GMT

For those busy DIYers who can self perform

It's been at least 15 years since we first attempted to launch an ordering system that allowed folks to browse our cabinet library, choose their products, and order from us without having to follow the traditional path of submittals and approvals.

We created a physical catalog with images and prices, much like you'd get in the mail today from most other retail outlets. It was a great idea, but it didn't take off like we hoped it would, so we put it on the shelf.

Fast forward to the fall of 2022, and the idea was revisited. But this time, with online stores being what they are and a better understanding of what customers expected, we relaunched it.

Those who are familiar with Merchants Fixture know who we are and what level of convenience store fixtures we produce. So it should be of no surprise to most that when our engineering team was challenged with finding a way to bring a competitive product line to market, one that is comparable in cost to the cheaper guys, yet still is engineered and built to our standards, and put it online, we hit another home run.

We took what is our already robust line of Premier cabinets, and value engineered it to create a new product line of cabinets that we can manufacture for about 30% less cost than what most folks were already used to.

And then we created a library of 121 products to serve as an affordable, yet better-than-average store fixture line that would fit all budgets and applications for the average convenience store. We based it on 6" increments of both width and depth, and chose a color palette that would fit any taste. There's not much you can't design or create that won't work for any space.

Go ahead. Give it a try. You can find the link at the top of our home page, or copy & paste this URL into your browser: https://www.design.merchantsfixture.com/

And if you have any questions or need help or a demo, please do not hesitate to email or call direct at 800-328-7258 x 3306

Why choose wood?

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:01:13 GMT

What do wood cabinets do for your store?

As the designer or planner for your new store or remodel, you're faced with a decision when it comes to your cabinets: Metal or Wood?

There are characteristics of both that you may want to consider before making this decision.

Let's first begin by discussing metal cabinets. They're not all that bad. Metal is durable. Metal is resilient. And metal can take a beating. There's a reason that metal cabinets go well in a back-of-house kitchen environment. And there's also a reason why the back-of-house kitchen is traditionally in the back, behind the scenes, out of sight. It's a dirty place where food is made and liquids spill.

Today's convenience stores are taking on the role of a quick bite when filling up, where you can get a good sandwich or hot meal in minutes. We're seeing C-Stores now that are a favorite place to stop for breakfast or lunch. Gone are the days when you may need to make two stops; one for gas, and one to feed the kids on the way to practice.

Considering those two environments in your favorite neighborhood store, it's easy to see where metal cabinets are needed. But have you ever paid attention to what separates the two? You've no doubt looked through a beautiful sneeze guard into the food prep area. But what always plays the role of a "boundary"? What always plays the lipstick to the pig?

It's wood.

But why? Why not continue the metal cabinetry into the space where Mr. Blue Collar grabs a lunch, and Carpool Mom does her shopping? What is the benefit of the drastic change in material on those nicer stores popping up at most interstate exits? It's simple when you think about it. It's the experience. When it comes to creating a welcoming environment, where the customers wait and have the opportunity to look around, you'll never be able to achieve with metal, what you can with wood.

Wooden cabinets are seamless. You'll rarely see the visible gaps and seams in a wooden foodservice counter that are inescapable with metal cabinets. Wooden cabinets allow for continuous, seamless transition between doors, cabinets, and any other adjacent surface.
Wooden cabinets allow for contours. Do you envision a large radius checkout or foodservice counter? Do you need to create a smooth arc? Metal cabinets are made in such a way that in order to create a curve, you're stuck with a series of flat surfaces. It (sort of) works, sure. But it's just not quite there.
Wooden cabinets, when engineered with the convenience store environment in mind, can be just as strong and built-to-last as it's metal competitor. At Merchants Fixture, we have seen it all, and we have learned what works and what doesn't. Our cabinets are more than just a purchase order. We hang our hat on our projects. We know that years after we walk off a job site, our customer will have something to say about our cabinets. Why not make it good?

Traditionally, metal cabinets have been merely utilitarian in nature, and wooden cabinets are often thought of as a less durable showpiece. At Merchants Fixture, we don't see why you can't get both. Granted, you may not want to put a laminated wooden cabinet next to your fryer. But when you have an opportunity to impress your customers and at the same time achieve the reliability of metal, what's stopping you? Some antiquated conventional rule that metal cabinets work better and last longer? Times have changed, friend. And so have convenience stores.

Final thought: as more and more drivers go electric, we forecast an ever-increasing need for a truly welcoming environment for those drivers as they wait for their vehicles to charge. A place to relax, drink coffee, scroll their phones, and probably eat. Stores will begin to take on a new role; that of a gathering place. What would entice them to want to wait inside instead of in the car, and maybe spend some money? Well, probably a space that doesn't feel so utilitarian and not very warm.

Cooler Door Retrofits - Why should you?

bwright@merchantsfixture.com (Brandon Wright) — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:39:24 GMT

Cooler Door Retrofits

You may have heard the phrase "cooler door retrofit" during a remodel or a sales pitch. Well, what is it?

As a convenience store owner, one of your goals, if not THE goal, is to sell merchandise. You know what snacks sell. You know what candy moves and what doesn't, and stock the candy shelves accordingly. Your cooler shelves are likely stocked similarly. You may have two rows of one particular soda because it's a hot seller. Maybe there is an entire shelf dedicated to seltzer water and you just don't have the room for a new flavor.

But what if you did?

What could you do with an extra row? Or an extra shelf? Or that extra depth? How much more time operating the store would your employees have if they could stock the shelves one less time each shift?

How much more of that one drink could you sell if customers could just see it, all the way of the end of the shelf?

If you're considering a cooler door retrofit, it's likely because you have older doors. Back when you purchased them, they may have been top tier doors. And they still may do their job just fine enough. But as technology changes in everything else, cooler door designs have advanced as well. Newer cooler doors have wider glass, thinner frames, brighter, more energy efficient LED lights. You'll be able to display more product offerings as well as save money on that energy bill.

But what does it take to retrofit your doors? Actually, probably not as much as you think. After we come in for our free consultation, we would determine what your goals are, what you can expect from us, and what your options are with your current design. The hardest part for you, the store operator, is having to remove product the morning of the big show.

How much downtime will you experience? Typically one day. There may be some field modifications needed to fit the new frames and doors. But by the evening, you'll be stocking those new doors with product. And the rest of your store will be fully operational throughout this entire process.

But Merchants Fixture, I don't even know where to start! Start by contacting us.