Convenience stores are meant to make life convenient. But how convenient is it to hunt up and down an aisle for something that seems like it should be in plain sight? Someone in a rush ends up wasting valuable time going back and forth, and then grumbles in the car, "I'm never going in there again. I can't find anything!"
Because convenience stores carry so much, they can profit by using large clear plastic containers. Large clear plastic containers enable customers to find the things they need. They come in a variety of forms, including lidded canisters, plastic fish bowls, hexagon jars, acrylic bins, and candy jars with lids. Here are some suggestions on how to use large plastic containers in your convenience store.
Lidded Storage Boxes
Lidded canisters are tall jars, like you might have seen in an old-fashioned drug store not long ago. Lidded canisters are perfect for items that shouldn't lie exposed, like peppermint sticks, beef jerky, lollipops and suckers, or Pixie Stix. Plastic fish bowls work well with trial sized items. Fill a clear plastic fish bowl with some combs, nail clippers, trial size shampoo, children's aspirin, or cough suppressants. Using these large plastic containers in your convenience store allows customers to more easily find what they're looking for. Fill a plastic fish bowl up with Gummi worms and watch the kids go wild. Or fill a few with impulse items, like cologne and perfume, and keep them near the cash register. Hexagon jars are great for non-perishable items, things like plastic cutlery, salt and pepper packets, napkins, and moist towelettes. Buy several and keep them near the hotdog machines and drink machines. Fill them with different sized straws. Other outlets might consider filling them with key rings, single-dose medication packets, lip balms, and small travel kits. Acrylic bins work with small items that could easily become a mess if not contained, things like coffee creamers, ketchup packets, toppings for ice cream sundaes. Use them to stock bulk candy; provide a scoop and some paper bags, and you've got an old-fashioned candy shop! Candy jars with lids will appeal to the youngsters. Fill them with Jolly Ranchers, self-serve M&Ms, bridge mix, toffees, or anything else that might cost a kid a nickel or a dime. Put your candy jars on the lowest shelves, so kids won't miss out on the fun of serving themselves.
Large plastic containers are perfect display tools for your convenience store. Buy several. Use them to display those small things people have to hunt for every day.