When opening a small convenience store, many owners underestimate one critical factor: shelving.
In a 100 square meter store, the right shelves can significantly increase product visibility, customer comfort, and overall sales. The wrong choice, however, can make the store feel cramped, disorganized, and unprofessional from day one.
Below is a practical, experience-based guide for choosing shelving for a convenience store of around 100 sqm.
1. A Common Mistake: More Shelves ≠ Better Store
In a 100 sqm store, the actual selling area is usually only about 60–70 sqm.
Trying to fill every corner with shelves often leads to:
- Narrow aisles that make customers uncomfortable
- Blocked sightlines, making the store look smaller and messy
- Shorter customer stay time and lower basket value
Key principle:
Shelving should support customer flow, not fight against it.
2. Recommended Shelf Layout for a 100 sqm Store
A proven and efficient structure usually includes the following:
Central Gondola Shelves
- 2–3 rows are sufficient
- Height: 1.4–1.6 meters
- Aisle width: at least 1.2 meters
This height avoids visual pressure and keeps the store open and easy to browse.
Wall-Mounted Shelves
- Height: 1.8–2.1 meters
- Ideal for beverages, snacks, daily necessities, and fast-moving items
- Maximizes storage while keeping the center area comfortable
Checkout Area Shelving
- Small racks near the cashier
- For impulse items such as gum, candy, lighters, or small snacks
- Focus on position, not quantity
3. Material Matters More Than Price
For convenience stores, the biggest problem is not high cost—it is instability.
Low-quality shelves often suffer from:
- Thin steel frames
- Weak load capacity
- Loose or shaking structures after a few months of use
Recommended specifications:
- Cold-rolled steel structure
- Adjustable shelves
- Load capacity of 60–80 kg per layer
- Powder-coated surface for durability
This is not about luxury—it is about long-term reliability.
4. Keep Colors Simple and Clean
In small stores, shelves should never compete with products for attention.
Safe and professional choices include:
- White
- Light grey
- White steel combined with wood accents
The goal is simple:
Let the products stand out, not the shelves.
5. Flexibility Is Often Overlooked
A convenience store is constantly evolving.
Product categories change, promotions rotate, and layouts need adjustment.
Choose shelving systems that:
- Allow adjustable shelf height
- Support modular expansion
- Can be reconfigured without replacement
Shelves without flexibility are effectively one-time-use assets.
Conclusion
For a 100 sqm convenience store, success is not about filling space—it is about using space wisely.
Well-chosen shelves create a clean layout, smooth customer flow, and a professional image that encourages customers to stay longer and buy more.
Good shelving does not just hold products—it helps sell them.
If needed, this article can also be adapted for brochures, store proposals, or commercial presentations.
