Can Maximalist Merchandising Strategy Help Your Retail Stores?
Picture this: you walk into a store in the 1980s. The shelves are crammed, and products are stacked so high you’d need a ladder just to browse. This was “All Out Retail” in its original, chaotic glory: a retail strategy that was less about finesse and more about pure, unapologetic merchandising.
Retail design has undergone major shifts over the years. The All Out Retail approach has been replaced by a streamlined approach emphasizing open spaces, clear eye lines, and fewer SKUs.
But we’re left asking: could the pendulum swing back in favour of All Out Retail? This time, with more strategy involved?
The New Strategy Behind All Out Retail
Today, All Out Retail focuses on design elements like product placement, aisle layout, shelf height, and specialty endcaps (have you heard of Power Ends? They are a revolutionary new end cap strategy), each carefully considered to maximize sales potential.
Let’s dive into the ideas behind this strategy and how it can benefit your All Out Retail approach.

Taller Shelves Create the Illusion of High Volume
Imagine walking into a store with shelves taller than usual, stacked to the rafters. Your first thought? “Wow, they must have great prices.”
This isn’t a coincidence — it’s retail psychology in action.
The tactic creates a powerful visual impression of a high-volume store, which consumers subconsciously associate with better deals. It’s a silent visual strategy that says, “We’ve got so much inventory, sold at such high volume, we can offer great prices.”
While some may feel this is an oversimplification, this perception matters because customers typically associate large inventory with better prices. And here are three reasons why:
- Shelf space utilization can influence customer perception – Research has shown that shelf space allocation and product visibility can affect consumer behaviour and store perception.
- Association between inventory and pricing – There is evidence that consumers may associate larger inventories with better prices, though this is not always a direct correlation.
- Taller shelves allow for more vertical merchandising, which can improve product visibility – Research indicates that product placement at eye level significantly impacts sales. By utilizing taller shelves, retailers can position more products at or near eye level, potentially increasing customer engagement and purchases.

Research on Shelf Height and Aisle Width
Think about the last time you felt cramped in a store aisle. That feeling isn’t just about comfort – it’s actually influencing how you shop and perceive the store itself.
Research from Wageningen University & Research reveals a fascinating insight: while taller shelves can create that high-volume perception we discussed earlier, they must be paired with the correct aisle width to maximize their effectiveness.
Here’s what might surprise you: tall shelves combined with narrow aisles? That leads to poor results. But pair those same tall shelves with wider aisles, and suddenly, you’ve got a winning combination that shoppers respond to positively.

What does this mean for your retail strategy? It suggests that the key to successful All Out Retail isn’t just about going vertical – it’s about creating the right balance between height and space.
Smart Space, Smarter Inventory Management
While the research shows clear benefits for customer perception, tall shelving offers another practical advantage: inventory management.
Retailers who install additional racking above standard shelves create valuable overstock storage that’s easily accessible to staff.
By extending shelving vertically, you can:
- Store more products without expanding the store’s footprint
- Improve staff accessibility to overstock
- Create a streamlined, efficient shopping environment
Not to get too technical, but the simplest way to achieve this custom solution is by combining gondola shelving with storage racking above:
- Start with a standard gondola unit as the base
- Use taller uprights to extend the overall height
- Add additional shelves or storage components above the standard gondola height
While some backroom storage may still be necessary and vertical storage solutions require careful safety considerations, taller shelves make inventory more accessible to your staff and customers.

The Warehouse Aesthetic: Value-Driven Shopping
A warehouse-style layout isn’t just functional – it’s a carefully crafted message about value.
When retailers combine taller shelves with polished concrete floors, wide aisles, and strategically placed pallets and bins, they make a powerful brand statement that resonates with today’s value-conscious shoppers.
Considering the current economic climate, this isn’t just about aesthetics. Customers look for value and lower-priced goods; the warehouse image directly feeds into these expectations.
Of course, multiple factors influence store perception: elements like lighting design, use of colour, product placement, shelving and display styles, and merchandising strategies contribute to the store atmosphere and customer experience.
The Bottom Line–All Out Retail Design Optimize Sales Potential
By utilizing the All Out Retail strategy, retailers can create perceived value, optimize inventory management, and deliver a shopping experience that resonates with today’s value-conscious consumers.
The research indicates that these design elements don’t just look good – they drive sales.
Ready to unlock your store’s design potential?
As expert retail fixture and display designers and manufacturers with 10,000+ successful installations, we can help you implement store layout strategies that impact customer behaviour and drive sales.
Contact our retail fixture design team to Plan Your Project and Get Pricing

Video Transcription:
This is a 9’ shelf… it’s pretty common in certain types of retail.
But when you consider that the average North American woman is 5’ 4” and her reach will be somewhere around 7’ high…
Retailers are left with two extra feet of shelf space that are just out of reach for a major population of shoppers.
And crafty retailers put that space to work to increase sales or lower overhead. Here’s how.
Title: The Appearance of High Volume
When those extra two feet of shelving are filled with goods, it gives the appearance of a high-volume store, which suggests lower prices.
This visual trick makes customers feel like they’re getting a deal because of the store’s large inventory.
Title: Overstock Storage
When retailers place additional racking above a standard shelf, it creates overstock storage that’s easily accessed by staff without needing a larger storage space.
This helps stores manage their inventory more efficiently and allows them to hold more goods on a smaller footprint.
Title: The Warehouse Feel
There’s no arguing that this design gives a store a warehouse feel, enhancing the impression of bulk buying and savings.
Pair these shelves with polished concrete floors and mid-aisle pallets, and customers feel like they are shopping in a high-volume, low-cost environment.
So next time you’re planning a new retail store, consider if taller shelves will give your brand the perception of volume and value your shoppers are looking for.