When you’re trying to drive more sales, reinforce a brand, or streamline restocking, off-the-shelf fixtures often fall short. They’re not built for specific products. They don’t support smooth store operations. And they rarely make shoppers stop and engage.
Ethan Smith, Director of Sales at Marmon Retail Solutions, has seen the difference custom fixtures make in the field. “If it’s a high-margin or high-value product, you want a fixture that makes it pop. A standard shelf won’t do that. Custom fixtures are designed to work more effectively with your products, your space, and your associates.”
With the help of Smith’s insights, let’s explore six reasons why more and more retailers are rethinking their fixture strategies and opting for custom display and shelving solutions.
1. Increase shopper engagement and drive impulse buys
Impulse purchases are big business. According to a classic market research study, 68% of in-store purchases are impulse buys. More recent data suggests that around 65% of in‑store purchase decisions happen on impulse, often prompted by displays and product placement.
Translation? The way a product is presented can mean the difference between a walk-by and a purchase. To be clear, when it comes to cereal or other staples shoppers already plan to buy, off-the-shelf fixtures can be adequate.
On the other hand, “Think about putting a premium chocolate bar in a branded custom display next to a Hershey bar on a basic shelf,” Ethan says. “Even if the shopper wasn’t planning to buy chocolate, the custom display creates a moment of connection—and a lot of those moments end in a sale.”
How custom fixtures capture attention and convert shoppers:
-Reinforce brand recognition at the point of decision
-Integrate under-shelf LED lighting to make products pop
-Use warm color palettes and strategic shelf spacing to convey urgency and abundance
-Position high-margin items at eye level to lift sales by up to 35%
2. Maximize selling space without hurting flow
Sales per square foot is a closely watched retail KPI, but wasted areas and awkward floor space quietly erode it. Standard fixtures are made for generic footprints, not the unique nooks, endcaps, or category transitions in your stores.
“Custom displays and shelving let you put the right products in the right space without cramming or leaving gaps,” Ethan explains. “And you can do it without blocking aisles or creating bottlenecks during your busiest hours.”
How custom fixtures maximize selling space without hurting flow:
-Fit exact product dimensions to avoid overhang or wasted space
-Turn underutilized areas into high-performing selling zones
-Preserve traffic flow and ADA compliance during peak hours
-Place high-margin impulse items where they are most likely to convert
3. Support your staff and simplify operations
Labor shortages and high turnover put pressure on store teams, making efficiency on the floor critical. Well‑designed custom fixtures align with store workflows, reducing steps, cutting confusion, and easing everyday tasks for associates.
“When you have custom fixtures, they can be designed for your store so associates can install them faster, restock more smoothly, and reset them with less effort,” Ethan says.
How custom fixtures streamline installation, stocking, and resets:
-Eliminate tools with designs that assemble quickly
-Provide clear, visual IKEA-style instructions for error-free setup
-Adjust shelves quickly for seasonal changes or product swaps
-Reduce strain and improve stocking speed with quick-lift shelves, drop-in trays, and front-load bins
-Keep resets consistent and products visible with standardized designs across locations
4. Deliver ROI you can measure
Custom fixtures don’t just look good—they pay off. Across hundreds or thousands of locations, even small performance gains add up to significant returns.
“With the right design, a custom fixture earns its keep,” Ethan says. “It can boost sales, open up new merchandising opportunities, and reduce the need for constant replacements.”
How custom fixtures deliver measurable ROI:
-Increase sell-through with strategic product placement and integrated lighting
-Activate previously unused areas to create new selling opportunities
-Extend fixture life with durable materials and designs, i.e., replace only parts or graphics
5. Stay flexible for the future
Planograms shift. Promotions rotate. Categories expand or shrink. So when change is constant, agility isn’t a bonus; it’s a requirement.
Standard fixtures can’t keep up, but custom displays can be designed for change with your team, your assortment, and your strategy.
“You don’t want to keep buying new displays every year or resorting to using them in ineffective ways,” Ethan says. “You want to invest in displays that can flex with your evolving needs.”
How custom fixtures keep you future-ready:
-Adapt layouts with modular components and adjustable shelving
-Support tech integration with cable routing and power channels
-Swap graphics for seasonal or promotional changes
-Maintain compatibility with universal hardware for future accessories
6. Protect products without hurting sales
Security cases and displays are often seen as sales barriers. But contrary to what some may think, custom fixture design can turn them into sales drivers. By keeping high-value products visible, appealing, and difficult to steal, retailers protect margins while enhancing the shopper experience.
According to Smith, “Retailers have told us that their sales actually go up when they’ve installed the right security solution. That’s because the product stays in stock, on display, and looking its best. And that means more people buy it.”
How custom fixtures protect products without hurting sales:
-Integrate smart locks with loyalty cards or employee badges
-Keep products visible with shatter-resistant glass instead of cages
-Enhance appeal with integrated lighting for secured items
-Use tamper-resistant hardware that’s easy for staff to install but tough for thieves to damage
Experience the advantages of going custom
Ready to make every square foot work harder? In today’s competitive retail environment, custom fixture design can be a strategic advantage that drives sales, improves the shopper experience, and reduces operational strain. But you need a partner who can make that happen.
At L.A. Darling, we work with leading retailers to transform their stores with custom fixtures built to attract shoppers, streamline operations, and adapt as needs change. From concept and prototyping to production and rollout, we’re ready to deliver solutions that perform store after store.
Let’s talk about your next fixture program—and how to make it a success from day one.