You’re finally fulfilling your dreams of opening a retail store and joining the 3.8 million retail store owners in the United States. You have the funding and the building, but what’s next? You need retail equipment. 

As a business owner, you’re searching for success with your store. Find out what qualities make a successful entrepreneur. 

Eleven Types of Retail Equipment for Business

That big empty space that you’ll soon call your store needs to be filled. It can be intimidating to think of all of the supplies you need, but everything should be set up prior to opening your doors. 

Don’t know where to start? These eleven essential pieces of retail equipment can give you some direction. 

1. Point of Sale (POS) System

If you want your store to make money, you need a way to collect it. To do this, you may need the help of one of the Retail software development products. A retail POS system can make it much easier to manage your cash and keep track of your sales. But before you do that, get yourself a customer counter, a device that monitors visitor traffic in your store which can help you understand your sales and growth opportunities based on how many people visit your business. Before you start selling, make sure that your products have barcodes.

You might be wondering: “How do barcodes work?” Barcodes organize your products to make taking inventory hassle-free. Plus, it makes your store look a lot more professional when you scan products during checkout. 

2. Signs

How will customers know that your store exists without signs? This is one piece of retailer equipment that should not be ignored.

Potential customers who drive or walk by should get a glimpse of what your store is all about just by looking at your sign. In other words, your sign should include your logo, and demonstrate the general style of your store. Check out printing shops in your area to get a custom sign made. 

3. Hangers

Hangers are essential equipment for clothing stores. When you have dozens of shirts and dresses, you need enough hangers to compensate for your inventory. 

The kind of hanger you buy depends on the type of fabric or style of your clothing. You might want to use padded hangers for more intricate pieces of clothing. On the other hand, you can use wooden hangers with lock bars to hang pants and plastic hangers for typical shirts. 

4. Shelves

Shelves are one of the most versatile pieces of store equipment, as it can be used for a variety of items. Maybe you’ll keep folded clothes on each shelf, or perhaps you’ll use it for shoes or books. 

Gondola shelves are especially popular among retailers. This type of shelf can help your items stay organized and offer a simple way for the customer to sift through your products. 

5. Racks

When you’re selling clothes, racks are necessary retailing supplies. You can utilize racks anywhere in your store, as long as the customer can easily browse through the clothing.

Just having shelves in a clothing store just doesn’t cut it. Racks display clothing items clearly and allow customers to sort through the clothes to find their size. Shelves can sometimes be inconvenient for customers and store owners, as clothing is more likely to get wrinkled and unkempt on the shelf. 

Don’t forget to install racks for smaller items as well. Spinning racks are perfect for items like jewelry, sunglasses, and other accessories. 

6. Mirrors

Your customers will want to see how they look when they find something they like. Mirrors are a must inside of dressing rooms. They’re also typically found in the area outside the dressing room as well. 

Don’t forget to add mirrors throughout the store. While customers may not be trying the clothes on in the middle of the store, most customers will hold up a shirt to themselves to see if these retail equipment are a good fit. Areas, where there are shoes or accessories, should have smaller mirrors. 

7. Shopping Baskets or Carts

Some customers might end up buying multiple products in your store. Of course, it’d be inconvenient for them to carry everything during their entire shopping trip. Placing shopping baskets and/or carts at the front of the store can save your customers’ back from aching. 

8. Seating

Stores sometimes forget the importance of seating as retail equipment. This retail equipment can leave customers frustrated at the store for not having a proper seating area. 

You might be thinking to yourself: “I’m just a clothing store, why should I have seating?” The truth is, having a bench or a small couch outside of dressing rooms or at the beginning of the store is very convenient for your staff and customers. 

When families or a wedding party visit your store, some will just want a break from shopping or they’ll be stuck waiting while their loved one is in the dressing room. A bench gives them a place to sit and relax. 

9. Mannequins

Mannequins can attract new customers or can encourage a customer to buy a certain piece of clothing. Display them in the window to entice guests, and sprinkle them around your store as well. 

Dressing your mannequins in your newest clothing will make customers more inclined to buy it. Mannequins make it easier for a customer to view clothing compared to a piece of folded clothing a shelf. 

10. Bags

You can’t let your customers buy your brand new items without putting them in a bag first. You only have two options when it comes to affordable bags: paper or plastic.

Plastic bags are typically found in both grocery and clothing stores. The best part about them is that they’re cheap. However, they do harm the environment–check to see if your area has banned plastic bags before you buy them.

On the other hand, paper bags are environmentally friendly, classy, are strong. What’s not to love retail equipment? 

11. Security Cameras

Although theft is the last thing that you want to think about, it could happen. Security cameras can help you catch thieves and prevent future shoplifting incidents. Let’s not forget that visible security cameras can even deter thieves.

Purchasing Your Retail Store Equipment

A retailer’s worst nightmare is to forget an important piece of retail equipment after they’ve already opened.

Being prepared with a fully furnished store can help boost your reputation among customers. Soon, you’ll see customers raving about what a great shopping experience they had in business.