Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Patent
1994-08-30
1996-04-09
Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
211 51, 211 593, 312 71, A47F 500
Patent
active
055053157
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a merchandising apparatus, in particular to a gravity feed merchandising apparatus for use in retail shops and similar outlets where consumer products are on sale to the public.
The invention may be used in the following retail sectors but has general application throughout the retail industry:
The invention addresses specific problems relating to prior-art, merchandising apparatus (e.g. modular metal shelving) and particularly in relation to their failure to: products. as "merchandise cube space"). selling period irrespective of light or heavy selling patterns.
The invention also reduces the staff time/cost factor in servicing merchandising apparatus by "Merchandisers" whose sole purpose is to "feed" the apparatus or shelves with replacement products and/or re-arrange the products in a visually attractive manner, particularly in heavily shopped outlets like supermarkets, forecourts etc. A very important feature of the invention is its ability to be retrofitted on existing store equipment using the existing modular structures to hang or support the gravity feed merchandising apparatus.
The invention addresses the various merchandising problems/opportunities identified in the retail industry under the following headings:
Traditionally, merchandising fittings and apparatus were provided by bespoke "shopfitters" as part and parcel of shopfitting contracts designed and manufactured specifically to suit the retailer's requirements. Many such shopfitting contractors still exist today and continue to operate in specific retail sectors (e.g. high street fashion outlets etc.) but they are in the minority in the industry as a whole.
The vast majority of merchandising apparatus currently used in the industry are modular constructions, mass produced in-factory and fitted by shop equipment suppliers catering for Department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, forecourt shops, newsagents, chemists, etc. etc. These apparatus mainly comprise pressed metal shelving apparatus, tubular metal shelving, timber shelving, and, to a lesser extent, glass and acrylic shelving. Pressed metal shelving dominates the market world-wide due to its strength, flexibility and relatively cheap cost. Little difference exists between the hundreds of pressed metal shelving manufactured throughout the world, except for the degree of automation used in their manufacture. Standardisation of module sizes and specification renders the metal shelving industry a truly international business.
Standardisation and automation, however, have certain drawbacks insofar as they inhibit a manufacturer's ability to respond to specific merchandising problems presented by changes in retail design concepts, new product packaging, new retail management demands due to advances in information technology, space management, etc. etc.
Modern shelving equipment, as described previously, is designed to cater for the majority of consumer product shapes and/or packaging. However, a small but increasing number of products are packaged by manufacturers with little thought or consideration for the problems they present to the retailer when it comes to merchandising them on standard shelving equipment. In general terms, any product and/or packaging which is not capable of free standing on its own presents an obvious problem when merchandised on standard shelving equipment insofar as they fall over as soon as the first few products are removed by customers. This is illustrated in FIG. 1A of the accompanying drawings.
This presents the retailer with the problem of constant maintenance by merchandising staff, of these product areas, far in excess of the norm for the rest of the store. Failure to provide extra merchandising maintenance results in loss of sales/profit through poor product presentation and poor accessibility. Some such product manufacturers provide additional support packaging for use on shelves but these are expensive and unsatisfactory (e.g. vacuum formed plastic trays with ribbed bases to support packs). Typical examples of th
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Carroll Products and Designs Limited
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
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