Since their introduction in the 1980s, shelf edge strips have become a familiar sight across all retail environments. No matter the business—from charity shops to garden centres to supermarkets—the humble shelf edge strip has proved the perfect way to display product price to customers, and inform staff of where on a shelf a particular unit of stock should go.
As a business owner, you probably don’t want to think too much about your shelf edge strips. You want a reliable supply of high-quality strips and labels, with swift delivery to your business address. You want a fair price (no matter the order quantity), and all from a company you can trust.
If that’s what you’ve been looking for, then the search is over! JMF Group specialise in the sale, design and manufacture of the best shelf edge strips money can buy! Get in touch today to discuss the ways we can help, or take a look at the following tips created by our team of experts:
What Are Shelf Edge Strips?
Shelf edge strips are a common sight across all retail environments. They are typically used to display prices to customers, and to inform staff of where on a shelf a particular unit of stock should go.
Shelf edge strips usually run along the front edge of a shelving unit and are commonly made from durable materials such as metal or plastic. They can be attached to plastic shelves, wooden shelves, glass shelves—if you have a shelf, there’s a strip for it!
The main function of a shelf edge strip is to house and protect shelf edge labels/shelf edge tickets (SELs/SETs). As mentioned, these labels are designed to assist both customers and staff; however, more and more we hear from business owners who want their inserts to do more than sell, or push customers to the checkout. They want labels which: promote their brand; which fit with their other signage; which direct traffic to their online site; which suit the shopping experience they’ve worked so hard to create!
What Are the Main Types of Shelf Edge Labels?
Shelf edge labels come in a variety of different formats, the two most common of which are:
Ticket Rails / Scanner Rails / Data Strips
The ticket rail, scanner rail or data strip is the most commonly found types of label found on a retail shelf. From the perspective of a customer, their main (and perhaps only) function is to provide pricing information. However, as a retailer, data strips with barcodes can provide significant assistance in shelf replenishment and stock-level monitoring.
Shelf Talkers / Shelf Barkers
Shelf talkers (also known as shelf barkers) are bolder and more elaborate than data strips, and are designed to be seen by customers from a distance. They are typically manufactured from cardboard or plastic, and are used to communicate key messages or brand information.
What Are the Benefits of Using Shelf Edge Labels?
There are a number of practical benefits to adopting shelf edge labels within your business. For example:
Catch Customer Attention
Shelf edge labels are an eye-catching way to display pricing and product info to customers. An eye-catching label can be effective at encouraging a shopper to move a product from your shelf to their basket.
Sales and Discounts
It couldn’t be easier to insert new price labels into your data strip; for this reason, they’re perfect for informing customers about any weekly offers or temporary discounts.
Increase Productivity
For small retailers, introducing shelf edge strips with barcodes can have a huge impact on your ability to keep shelves stocked, and monitor the levels of held stock at any time.
How Are Shelf Edge Strips Manufactured?
A data strip is typically manufactured from a sheet of PVC or similar lightweight plastic. It is trimmed to size, before the application of a durable adhesive. With the adhesive in place, the strip is ready for secure attachment to a suitable surface (most commonly plastic shelves, but also wood or glass). Finally, after installation, the excess material on the top and bottom of the strip is trimmed off in order to create a clean finish.
At JMF Group, we take a customer-first approach; if you have irregular shelves or you need a strip to fit irregular labels, let us know and we’ll do our best to get the perfect data strip for you!
What If I Want Bespoke Shelf Edge Strips?
If you’re looking for a bespoke shelf edge strip solution, you’ve come to the right place! JMF Group have a huge range of colour and length options to choose from, and our expert design team are dedicated to creating a product which meets your expectations down to the smallest detail.
If you want labels that are consistent with the colour and style of your current shop branding and point of purchase materials, our team will work with you to design a strip that perfectly complements your current setup.
What’s more, our in-house printing team can produce quantities to meet your specific needs, with minimal lead times or supply interruptions.
What Are You Waiting For?
When it comes to buying shelf edge strips, we believe there’s no better option than JMF Group.
So don’t wait any longer—call us today to discuss your requirements.
