New Store Opening Checklist: Every Retail Fixture You’ll Need

Opening a new retail store is one of the most exciting things a business owner can do. It’s also one of the most detail-intensive. Before a single customer walks through the door, you need a store that’s organized, visually appealing, and set up to drive sales from day one.

Retail fixtures are the foundation of that setup. They determine how much product you can display, how easy it is for customers to browse, and how professional your store looks. Getting them right before opening is far easier and cheaper than fixing them after.

This checklist covers every category of retail displays that most stores need, with guidance on what to prioritize based on your store type. Use it as a planning tool, a shopping list, or a reference to share with your team. The experts at Store Displays® are also always here to help and only a call, in person visit, online chat or email away!

Before You Start: Know Your Store Type

Not every store needs every fixture on this list. A vape shop has different needs than a women’s boutique, which has different needs than a convenience store. Before you start ordering, identify which of these broad categories your store falls into:

• Apparel and fashion (boutiques, clothing stores, accessories)
• Grocery, convenience, pharmacies, and general merchandise
• Specialty retail (jewelry, smoke/vape, electronics, collectibles)
• Beauty and wellness
• Pop-up, temporary, or event retail

The sections below are organized by fixture type, with notes on which store types need them most. Browse all retail displays to see everything in one place. Also, check out our list of industries served and additional information on top retail displays by industry.

Shelving and Gondola Shelving

Shelving is the backbone of most retail environments. For grocery stores, convenience stores, and general merchandise retailers, retail gondola shelving is the industry standard. Gondola units are freestanding, double-sided, and fully adjustable, making them ideal for creating organized aisles that maximize floor space.

For other store types, wall shelving and bracket systems offer a cleaner, more tailored look. The right choice depends on how much product you need to display, how often your inventory changes, and whether customers will be browsing from both sides of a fixture.

What to order for your opening:

• Gondola shelving units (single-sided for wall runs, double-sided for floor aisles)
• End caps for gondola runs — prime real estate for high-margin and promotional products
• Wall shelving or bracket systems for perimeter displays
• Shelf dividers, label holders, and price tag rails

Best for: Grocery, convenience, general merchandise, beauty, hardware

Further reading: Gondola Displays: The Retail Layout Secret Behind More Sales

Wall Display Systems: Slatwall and Gridwall

Wall space is some of the most valuable real estate in any store. Covering it with the right system lets you display significantly more product than freestanding floor fixtures alone, and it keeps your floor plan open and easy to navigate.

The two most versatile wall display systems are slatwall and gridwall panels. Both accept a wide range of hooks, baskets, shelves, and hangers that can be rearranged as your inventory changes.

Slatwall

Slatwall panels are made from grooved MDF or PVC and accept slatwall-specific accessories. They create a clean, seamless wall display ideal for apparel, accessories, and beauty products. Available in a range of finishes and colors to match your store aesthetic.

Gridwall

Gridwall panels are wire grid systems that are more industrial in look and extremely flexible. They can be used as wall panels, freestanding floor displays, or hanging dividers. They accept gridwall-specific hooks, baskets, and shelves.

What to order for your opening:

• Slatwall panels for apparel, accessories, or beauty wall displays
• Gridwall panels for flexible wall or freestanding displays
• Hooks, baskets, waterfall hangers, and shelves for both systems
• Wall standards and brackets if you prefer an adjustable open shelving look

Best for: Apparel, accessories, beauty, vape, specialty retail

Further reading: 12 Creative Ways to Use Gridwall Panels in Your Store

Clothing Racks and Apparel Fixtures

If you sell clothing, your racks are one of the first things customers notice. The style, quantity, and arrangement of your commercial clothing racks sets the tone for your entire store experience. A boutique with thoughtfully spaced waterfall racks reads as curated and upscale. A store crammed with round racks reads as a clearance sale, regardless of the price tags.

Plan your rack layout before you order. Think about traffic flow, how much product you need to display at opening, and how your fixture mix will communicate your brand positioning.

What to order for your opening:

• Round racks for core inventory display
• Single-arm or double-arm straight racks for featured or new arrival sections
• Waterfall racks for showing garment details face-out
• T-bar racks for folded items or accessories
• Rolling racks for back-of-house and restocking
• Hangers — commercial-grade, consistent style throughout the store

Best for: Boutiques, clothing stores, pop-up fashion events, department stores

Further reading: Top 6 Tips to Upgrade Your Apparel Merchandising Strategy

Mannequins and Body Forms

Mannequins are one of the most effective selling tools in apparel retail. A well-dressed mannequin at the entrance or in a window display does the work of styling for the customer, shows them exactly how a garment fits and moves, and creates an aspirational visual that drives purchase intent.

When shopping mannequins for sale, keep in mind most boutiques need a minimum of two to four full-body mannequins plus a selection of torso forms for table or counter displays. Choose between realistic and abstract based on your brand aesthetic.

What to order for your opening:

• Full-body mannequins for window and floor displays
• Torso or bust forms for countertop or table styling
• Kids or petite mannequins if applicable to your inventory
• Leg forms for denim, hosiery, or footwear displays

Best for: Boutiques, clothing stores, swimwear, footwear, activewear

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Display Cases and Showcases

If any part of your inventory is high-value, small, or needs to be kept secure, glass display cases for retail stores are non-negotiable. Retail display cases do two things simultaneously: they protect your product and they elevate its perceived value.

A piece of jewelry under glass looks more expensive than the same piece sitting in a tray on an open counter. A vape device in a locked, lit showcase looks more premium than one sitting on an open shelf. The case itself communicates quality.

Most retail stores also need at least one commercial glass display cabinet that doubles as a service counter where staff can assist customers. Plan for both display and transaction functionality when choosing your cases.

What to order for your opening:

• Full-vision or extra-vision showcases for maximum product visibility
• Counter-height display cases that double as a checkout or service counter
• Locking cases for high-value or age-restricted products
• LED lighting add-ons for jewelry, luxury goods, or anything that benefits from illumination
• Rotating or tiered display inserts for the interior

Best for: Jewelry, vape and smoke shops, electronics, collectibles, beauty supply stores, bakeries

Further reading: Top 5 Types of Commercial Glass Display Cabinets for Retail Stores

Floor Merchandisers and Countertop Displays

These are the retail displays that drive impulse purchases. Floor merchandisers sit at the end of aisles, near entrances, or in high-traffic areas and are designed to catch attention and encourage unplanned buying. Countertop displays live at your checkout counter and capture last-minute add-on sales while customers wait.

Both fixture types are high-ROI relative to their cost. A well-stocked floor merchandiser near the entrance of a convenience store or a small display of accessories next to a register can meaningfully move your average transaction value.

What to order for your opening:

• Floor spinner or tiered floor merchandisers for entrance or aisle-end placement
• Countertop display stands for checkout area add-ons
• Dump bins or basket displays for clearance or promotional items
• Sign holders and price display frames for both floor and counter fixtures

Best for: All store types, especially grocery, convenience, beauty, and specialty retail

Display Tables, Cube Displays, and Specialty Fixtures

Beyond your core fixture categories, most stores benefit from a selection of display tables and specialty units that add visual dimension and give you flexible options for featured product presentations.

Display tables are particularly effective in boutiques and gift shops, where a styled flat lay of folded items, accessories, or seasonal products creates a browsable, editorial feel. Cube displays and cubby units are ideal for shoes, bags, hats, and eyewear.

What to order for your opening:

• Nesting or tiered display tables for folded apparel or lifestyle product features
• Cube or cubby display units for shoes, bags, eyewear, or boxed products
• Risers and stands to add height variation within flat displays
• Pegboard and hooks for small accessories, tools, or packaged goods

Best for: Boutiques, gift shops, shoe stores, accessory retailers

General Store Operations Supplies

Fixtures get the most attention during a store opening, but the operational supplies that support them are just as important to day-one readiness. These are the items that often get forgotten until the day before opening.

Don’t forget:

• Price tag guns and tags
• Hang tags and label holders
• Shopping baskets and bags
• Sign holders and display frames for pricing, promotions, and wayfinding
• Security tags and detachers if applicable
• Cleaning supplies for glass cases and chrome fixtures

Quick-Reference Opening Checklist

Use this as a one-page summary to share with your team or purchasing contacts:

• Gondola shelving units and end caps (grocery, convenience, general merchandise)
• Slatwall panels and accessories (apparel, beauty, accessories)
• Gridwall panels and accessories (apparel, vape, multi-use)
• Wall standards and bracket shelving (all store types)
• Commercial clothing racks: round, single-arm, double-arm, waterfall
• Mannequins and body forms (apparel, footwear)
• Glass display cases and showcases (jewelry, vape, electronics, bakery)
• Countertop display stands (all store types)
• Floor merchandisers and spinner displays (all store types)
• Display tables and cube displays (boutiques, gift, shoe)
• Pegboard, hooks, and accessories
• Sign holders, price tag systems, and store operations supplies

Ready to Order?

Store Displays® carries everything on this checklist in stock and ready to ship from our Moonachie, NJ warehouse. We offer same-day shipping on parcel orders placed before 2 PM ET, so you can get your fixtures on the floor fast. Browse our full range of retail displays or call us at (201) 935-2929 to speak with a team member who can help you plan your opening order.

If you’re also thinking about how to set up your displays once the fixtures arrive, these guides will help: How to Refresh Your Store Displays Without a Full Renovation and Top 5 Ways to Market Merchandise with Retail Store Displays.