If your store layout isn’t performing the way you expected, the issue sometimes isn’t your product mix – it’s your shelving setup. Small gondola planning mistakes can lead to poor aisle flow, underperforming displays, safety concerns, and unnecessary reorders.
If you’re responsible for store planning, merchandising, or retail operations, this guide breaks down seven common gondola shelving mistakes and how to avoid them using proper planning, reliable Lozier components, and expert support from Advance Displays.
Not every gondola setup fits every store. Selecting the wrong height, depth, or back panel style can make aisles feel crowded, disrupt sightlines, or limit usable space.
Common issues include:
How to avoid it:
Start with a clearly defined store layout and product mix. Once your layout is planned, the Advance Displays Gondola Configuration Tool helps ensure every run includes the correct uprites, shelves, decks, brackets, and accessories — reducing missing parts and over-ordering before you buy.
Advance Displays employs a staff of highly trained experts that have decades of experience in retail fixture planning. Our staff is ready to assist you in the planning stages of any size project.
We also have tools that are designed to calculate all required Lozier components for shelving layouts that you’ve already planned. The Store Gondola Planning Tool helps you accurately build out complete shelving runs, quantities, and accessories based on your specifications.
This approach helps retailers avoid the costly “order first, fix later” mistake by ensuring every planned run is supported with the correct parts from the start.
Every gondola component has tested load ratings. Exceeding those limits can cause shelves to flex, tilt, or fail over time.
What goes wrong:
How to prevent it:
Follow Lozier’s published specifications for uprites, brackets, shelves, and base decks. Because Advance Displays specializes in Lozier systems, our team regularly helps retailers confirm load capacity before rollout – protecting merchandise, staff, and customers.
Retail shelving must meet stability and anchoring requirements, including local and seismic considerations where applicable. Advance Displays can provide installation assistance and scheduling or, for customers with existing installation staff or partners, we can help verify correct component selection, anchoring hardware, and best-practice setup to support safe, compliant store environments.
Combining shelving components from different manufacturers creates safety risks and voids warranties. Even minor differences in slot spacing or locking mechanisms can compromise structural integrity.
How to avoid it:
Use a single, unified system. Advance Displays supplies the complete Lozier product line, ensuring every shelf, uprite, deck, and accessory fits correctly – without guesswork or forced compatibility.
Lozier’s modular design allows retailers to adjust shelf positions, uprite height, add accessories, or reconfigure categories while maintaining structural consistency. Using matching components eliminates alignment issues and protects long-term durability.
Poor spacing affects more than aesthetics — it impacts traffic flow, ADA compliance, and shopping comfort.
Common problems:
Better approach:
Finalize aisle widths and run lengths during store planning, then use the Store Gondola Planning Tool to accurately calculate all required shelving components for each run. A few inches of foresight can prevent costly reorders later.
To learn more about planning services, visit our Services page.
Endcaps are high-visibility selling space, yet they’re often treated as leftovers.
Mistakes to avoid:
Smarter strategy:
Use purpose-built Lozier end solutions designed to integrate seamlessly with gondola runs. Advance Displays offers endcap components that maintain consistency while supporting promotional flexibility.
You can browse compatible Lozier Gondola Accessories to enhance your displays.
Hooks, bins, dividers, and signage must be compatible with your gondola system.
Avoid:
Fix it:
Use genuine Lozier accessories designed specifically for your shelving configuration. This simplifies resets and keeps displays cohesive.
Lozier gondola shelving is built from commercial-grade steel with durable powder-coated finishes. Many retailers continue using Lozier fixtures for years with minimal replacement, reducing long-term costs and store downtime.
Even quality shelving requires periodic checks.
Inspect regularly:
Routine inspections help prevent disruptions and extend fixture life. Many retailers align checks with seasonal resets or quarterly reviews.
For guidance on logistics, packaging, and timing, review our Shipping Information.
Retail environments change. Lozier gondola systems are designed for flexibility — allowing shelves, accessories, and layouts to evolve without replacing entire runs. Planning with the right components upfront reduces labor, downtime, and future costs.
Avoiding gondola shelving mistakes starts with accurate planning and the right support.
Use our Free Design & Configuration Tools
Explore Lozier Gondola Systems & Accessories
Contact Us for expert guidance when you need it
If you’re ready for tailored help, Contact Us and let our experts assist you.
We strive to earn trust and forge lasting client partnerships founded on quality, reliability, accuracy, and a mutual pursuit of customer engagement in inviting retail spaces.
No. Mixing brands like Lozier and Madix causes alignment and safety issues. Always use matching components to preserve stability and warranty coverage.
At least once every year, or during major resets. Check brackets, anchors, and levelers for wear or movement.
Balance sightlines and inventory needs. Many retailers prefer 54–72-inch gondolas for standard aisles, while taller units suit bulk or warehouse layouts.
Sometimes. Carefully review your installation instructions to ensure the height-to-depth ratio of your run does not exceed the manufacturer’s overturning warnings. Our online tools are already programmed to make this determination for you – and add any necessary anchoring / stabilization components to your order automatically!
Endcaps capture attention and drive impulse buys. A well-designed endcap can increase product visibility by up to 30 percent.
Yes. Our tools and team help calculate complete shelving runs and required components for layouts.
You can also check what our customers say on our Reviews page.
Getting your gondola setup right goes beyond how your store looks. It affects safety, efficiency, and long-term performance. When your shelving is planned correctly, your aisles function better, your displays stay consistent, and costly reorders are avoided.
Advance Displays supports your process with certified Lozier shelving, decades of real-world expertise, and configuration and planning tools that help calculate the exact parts and quantities needed for your planned layouts. The result is accurate orders, reliable delivery, and shelving you can trust from day one.
Ready to move forward?
Explore our Lozier Gondola Systems or use our Store Gondola Planning Tool to build your order with confidence. Store Planner Tool.
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