Was the LED Light Strip a tech breakthrough? Or was the ability to run power to a shelf or display and retrofit it cost-effectively the real game-changer? You know the old saying: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” In the world of retail fixtures and displays, there’s a similar thought: “You can install ... Read More The post Did the LED Strip Change Retail Shelf Lighting Forever? appeared first on Canada’s Best Store Fixtures ..read more

WE CHALLENGE CBSF’S CEO, BUD MORRIS, TO ANALYZE A RETAIL DESIGN WITH ZERO PREP. Prototype Stores: Form Meets Function We’ve all seen them. Those stunning retail stores that dominate design blogs. They promise a futuristic shopping experience. Or they’ve wrapped all surfaces in plush. Or they’ve re-created a 19th-century library. But when considering an over-the-top retail environment, or even simply a new endcap design, the question remains: are design-rich prototypes simply eye candy or can they actually function in the real world and drive business? This question recently sparked a lively d ..read more

HOW CBSF HELPED CANADIAN TIRE GAIN SPACE AND REDUCE STAFF WORKLOAD What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine a Canadian Tire store? Perhaps it’s the massive selection of home goods, its garden department, seasonal goods, or its automotive section? Recently, CBSF worked with Toronto Canadian Tire store owner David Hicks to address a growing challenge facing the mix of shoppers that frequent his store: freeing up floor and aisle space so they could better navigate the store. And, as a high-low retailer with a weekly sales flyer driving fluctuating demand, the store needed effi ..read more

Efficient Planning and Product Expertise Allowed Shoppers Drug Mart to Move Quickly to Avoid Loss You‘ve seen it in the news and possibly even experienced it in your stores. Crime has affected drug and grocery retailers across the country. From teenage theft rings to masked thieves, organized retail crime is on the rise.  What is organizational retail crime and how can you stop it from hurting your retail business? Organized retail crime is a $5 billion industry in Canada annually, leading to increased prices at checkout and violence against employees. The Challenge: While Shoppers Drug M ..read more

How Sephora Uses High-Tech Tools to Create Unforgettable Shopping Experiences In our previous post “Is TikTok Shop the Missing Piece in Your E-commerce Puzzle?” We examined the many reasons why brands should incorporate customer-friendly e-commerce solutions like the TikTok Shop into their marketing strategy.  That’s because the lines between in-store and digital shopping have blurred and successful retailers have begun embracing an omnichannel mindset to keep the customer experience seamless and straightforward.  Sephora, for example, understands that customer experience reigns sup ..read more

How TikTok Shop Transforms Engagement into Sales For brands searching for ways to capture younger demographics, it’s hard to deny the allure of TikTok. No longer just a social media platform for short-form mobile videos, TikTok has evolved into a search engine and product discovery platform with over one billion monthly active users worldwide. The TikTok Shop, which seamlessly integrates shopping features into the TikTok platform, owes its success to TikTok’s unique blend of entertainment and e-commerce.  Many of our U.S. customers have found integrating TikTok Shop into their e-commerce ..read more

4 Innovative Strategies to Help Retailers Thrive in Uncertain Times While retailers may not be able to curb inflation, they can take advantage of the opportunities for growth.  In today’s challenging retail landscape, staying ahead of the game means seizing opportunities where others see challenges. Savvy retailers need to think outside the box to cater to changing consumer demands and market shifts. Here are four strategies that can help retailers thrive instead of just survive: 1. Invest in Lower-cost/Acquisition Advertising Channels Expand E-commerce Capabilities: With deal-hungry co ..read more

A Look at the Early Days of Supermarkets and Their Impact on Consumer Behaviour and Retail Strategies. Whether you buy your groceries online and have them delivered or shop in person at your local grocery store, there’s a clear level of convenience we all take for granted. From the vast selection of brands for each product to the multitude of departments available throughout the store, supermarkets have truly become a one-stop shop. Photo courtesy of Stockbyte / Jupiterimages “THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY: THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THERE.” From L.P. Hartley’s The Go-between But it hasn’t alw ..read more

Enhance your store’s layout and design with versatile shelving systems that last Finding or custom-building the perfect retail fixtures for your store is a delicate balance between affordability, durability, and maintaining or enhancing your brand’s atmosphere.  Considering that most retail fixtures last between 5 to 7 years, it’s important to make a choice that serves your store well over time. Let’s explore the four shelving systems you should know about, as each offers unique advantages depending on your store’s needs Gondola Shelving Systems: These are ideal for supermarkets, pharmac ..read more

Learn the Secrets Top Retailers Use to Maximize Profits With all of the focus on frictionless retail and popup shops, we have to ask: is there a place in the modern retail strategy for smart vending machines? The grandfather of the automated retail movement, the vending machine was the first ‘modern’ machine to appear in the early 1880s. Back then, coins went in and goods came out. Except for the increase in payment options, the concept hasn’t changed much. And why would it?  When it comes to convenience, the vending machine as a sales tool is still hard to beat. They provide added revenu ..read more