To open a successful convenience store, you have to take the word "convenience" literally. How can you make the items your customers are looking for easy to find? One of the ways is with a glass door merchandiser refrigerator.
A glass door merchandiser refrigerator sounds complicated, but you've likely seen them everywhere: they have clear doors so customers can see inside and easily browse for items like soft drinks, snacks, and whatever other goods your customers are looking for.
Different from most other fridges we manufacture at Serv-Ware, merchandisers are built to draw in customers and make shopping effortless, a key for convenience stores.
Choosing the right fridge model isn't just about aesthetics: the right fridge will safely cool and store cold goods while maximizing efficiency and reducing energy costs. Here's what you should look for.
Why a Glass Door Merchandiser Refrigerator Matters for Convenience Stores
As the name implies, convenience stores are usually quick-stop spots—most people who go in know what they're looking for. A glass door merchandiser refrigerator makes items visible, encouraging more grab-and-go purchases.
Along with motivating people to shop, a good fridge is energy-efficient and provides reliable cooling so items stay fresh and organized.
What to Consider When Looking for a Glass Door Merchandiser
Size of a Refrigerator
Most fridges are sold by the number of doors they have, which dictates their size. For example, a single-door refrigerator might store about 12 cubic feet of items, translating to about 270 to 300 12-ounce cans, while a larger 3-door fridge capable of storing 72 cubic feet of items can hold well over a thousand cans.
A small fridge is excellent for shops with tight spaces or for specialty items that warrant their own designated fridge, while a larger refrigerator is great for high-volume convenience stores that serve thousands of customers.
Type of Door
Most glass door merchandiser refrigerators have either hinged, swinging doors or sliding doors, and both have their pros and cons. A swinging door is easier to use, but can take up space (you need clearance to open and close the doors), while a sliding door is sleeker and can be a lifesaver in tight aisles.
Lighting
Almost all our models come with LED lights, so people browsing can clearly see what products are inside the fridge. Some come with digital thermometers and LED digital displays to easily change and check the temperature of the refrigerator and ensure it keeps items cool and safe.
Insulation Type
All our models use CFC-free foam (free of chlorofluorocarbons), an eco-friendly polyurethane insulation, to keep fridges cold. Polyurethane foam has a very low thermal conductivity (heat moves slowly through the foam, so hot air won't suddenly warm the refrigerator if the door is kept open). Fridges stay colder with less energy.
Durability and Maintenance
Fridges are put through the wringer, especially in convenience stores where people are constantly opening and closing the door. Look for models with strong seals that are easy to clean—Serv-Ware makes its glass door merchandiser refrigerators out of steel (white or black powder-coated, depending on what style you're going for), which makes cleaning up spills and messes easy.
Of course, there are lots of other factors to consider, like the number of shelves, the kind of refrigerant it takes, whether a fridge has casters, which make it easier to move, or whether it has a top panel to attract customers.
How to Choose a Glass Door Merchandiser Refrigerator
Picking the right refrigerator is a mix of assessing your convenience store's needs while making smart decisions about energy efficiency and design. You might not need a 3-door fridge to display a few sodas, but you will see immediate savings with a model built with durable materials and designed to be energy efficient.
At Serv-Ware, we have glass door merchandiser refrigerators for all kinds of convenience stores. The one thing they have in common is that they're all designed to be workhorses and deliver consistent cooling while saving money on energy costs.
