Moving merchandise more efficiently; why gravity conveyors are good for business
A gravity conveyor can be invaluable to your retail establishment because it can help you move merchandise safely and efficiently. Gravity conveyors are particularly efficient because they don't need power to operate. They are also customizable to your needs, quiet to operate, and lightweight. A gravity conveyor also improves efficiency for customers.
Make your retail establishment more efficient by offering customers:
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Self-service retail shelving displays
With this, the customer chooses the item he/she wants to buy from the display. The display itself is stocked with items that are generally stacked one or two high and several deep. As the customer chooses an item and takes it from the retail shelving, the item behind it rolls forward for easy access by the next customer. This is a neat, orderly way to stock merchandise; it makes shopping easier for the customer, and it removes the need for an employee to continually neaten shelves.
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Merchandise pickup
If the merchandise you sell is particularly large and/or heavy (appliances or furniture, etc.), it may be necessary for you to keep only samples of what is available for purchase on the floor. When the customer decides on the merchandise he or she wants to purchase, they simply request that item from the stockroom. You can then use a gravity conveyor to move that item from the stockroom to the customer service desk or waiting area. You only need a couple of staff members to remain in the back room and load orders on the conveyors as they are requested.
Improve safety and efficiency with a gravity conveyor
Gravity conveyors can improve business safety and efficiency because:
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They can move goods faster than humans can
You can certainly ask employees to transport goods from trucks to the stockroom, for example, by carrying them, or by using hand trucks or forklifts. However, gravity conveyors can move merchandise for ultimate placement on retail shelving much faster than humans can. As their name suggests, gravity conveyors use the force of gravity to simply move merchandise along, once the gravity conveyor is set up properly. Staff only need to load items and then watch and occasionally guide merchandise to make sure items move along properly without getting snagged in or falling off the conveyor.
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They are much safer than other types of merchandise transport options
Other options for merchandise transportation, such as having employees carry it or by using forklifts to move large amounts, can pose significant risks to employees. Back injuries and other injuries related to lifting and carrying are commonplace on the job, while forklifts can pose a significant danger even with an experienced handler; there is always the risk of dropping or having merchandise fall on workers, thereby causing injury and merchandise damage.
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They can be operated by employees with some basic training
More dangerous methods of merchandise movement, like forklifts, need experienced and highly trained operators, but a much simpler training session may be all that's needed for staff to learn how to manage merchandise movement along gravity conveyors.
You can't ignore employee safety or risk on the job injury when you move merchandise from delivery vehicles to the stockroom or floor. Gravity conveyors are the perfect solution: Lightweight, often portable, they are faster than other transport methods and generally need no power to operate so you can place merchandise on retail shelving for customer purchase quickly.
Protect your employees and improve your efficiency: investigate the use of gravity conveyors in your retail establishment to boost profits and reduce stress for both you and your employees.
