Most people eat with their eyes. A bakery or confectionery store is always expected to display the most visually appealing goods upfront. That way, you can seduce your customers through the gift of sight with delicious muffins, donuts, and cupcakes. The more attractive your baked goods appear; the more people will impulsively buy them. However, it is unhygienic to keep them out in the open without a glass display case for protection.
You want customers to get close enough to admire the food and not accidentally sneeze into a lemon tart. The right display case benefits business owners and customers. Your customers will happily drool over the fresh and sanitary products thanks to a well-designed display case. The longer they look, the more they will buy.
Acrylic glass is one of the best alternatives for laminated glass. It is a transparent material that can withstand a lot of pressure. If customers get upset when their favorite baked goods are sold out, acrylic glass effectively protects your display case. However, this is an extreme example, and most bakery owners hopefully do not have to worry about such incidents. Here are the reasons why modern acrylic glass is making waves in 2020, and the best styles for your brand.
Reasons for Using Acrylic Glass Display Cases in Confectionary Stores
Acrylic glass is organic. It has a lower conductivity than laminated glass. This makes it the best for insulation and eliminates condensation. The acrylic material also emits more light than regular glass. Your products will appear brighter and more evident through the transparent display material. A display case with acrylic will also be softer and more comfortable to clean. It has a higher impact strength and does not shatter when exposed to a lot of strain.
Its shatter and crack proof abilities also make it easier to use. When you order an acrylic glass display case, there is a lower risk of point loads that cause material failure. This is beneficial when the case is being transported. The material is more tolerable due to its high durability and strength. Deep-sea submarine windows use acrylic glass because of how effective it is when it comes to protection.
You don’t need to be worried about the cheap acrylic sheets display case being exposed to sunlight or placed near a large window. This is because the material is immune to high UV radiation. Most manufacturers guarantee a lifespan of up to thirty years. Regular glass laminates are not as resistant to UV rays, and they can be sensitive to humidity. Acrylic glass has efficient layers of glazing with a lower density.
Types of Acrylic Display Cases
The main types of acrylic glass cases are: Enclosed, Pass-through, Four-sided, Slide-in countertop, Bread case, Display bin, and Bulk bin.
Enclosed display cases are best used for ales near the register. The back of the case faces the employee, and the customers get a frontal display to view products. These are excellent if you have cakes and pastries that need to be kept at colder temperatures. The enclosure protects them from sudden temperature changes, and customers cannot touch the items inside. Employees can use the hidden space behind these cases if they need to store things away from a customer’s view.
Pass-through displays are ideal for self-service to stock ready-to-eat or packaged goods. The display provides both front and back access to customers and employees. This is ideal if your staff members need to restock items throughout the day.
Four-sided acrylic glass display cases might look like a phone booth, but they are ideal for showcasing your daily offerings. Customers can admire products in the acrylic glass display case from all four sides and get a full 360-degree view. Employees need to open the front to remove or replace items. This is usually where a bakery might keep specialty cakes for birthdays.
Slide-in countertop display cases are also best for register sales, especially if you have a small space to keep them. They boost impulse buys from customers who queue at the register. Starbucks has these displays beside the cash counters. Their customers stand and admire the baked goods before it is finally their turn to order a coffee. Then the cashier uses that opportunity to ask customers, “Would you like to have a croissant with your latte?”
Bread cases and display bins are usually found in supermarkets where customers can help themselves. The bread case is ideal for storing bagels and slices of toast at buffets to keep them warm. Croissants, cookies, and rolls can be kept in a display bin with a handle to open from the top.
Customers can help themselves, and the items are not arranged in any order and can all be stacked inside. This is ideal if you need a display just for croissants, bread rolls, or the same flavor of donuts. Then a customer can quickly grab an item without having to choose or decide for long.
Different Styles of Acrylic Display Cases
Curved Glass Display Cases vs. Straight Display
Straight acrylic glass displays are traditional models that are used by most bakeries. However, a curved display allows a unique way for customers to admire the freshness of products. Curved glass displays models are prevalent at salad bars. They are effortless to clean with an enclosure that tilts up and outwards, providing a more significant viewing space. People can also easily lean in from the front and access items at the back.
Framed Display Cases vs. Frameless Display Cases
Both acrylic glass displays offer a clean and unique modern presentation. It is up to business owners which one they prefer in terms of style and design. Your bakery might have a specific brand color that you want matching across the store. Then you might choose a framed case to showcase those colors or go with complete transparency using frameless displays.
Colored Base vs. Clear or Transparent Base
The end panels or bases of the display case can enhance the perception of freshness for your customers. The presentation can also help your stock look full, even if you keep selling items quickly. A black base highlights your colorful baked items rather than focusing on the hardware within the case. However, some sanitation regulations might require using white or transparent display cases as they are easier to maintain cleanliness.
Refrigerated vs. Non-Refrigerated
A refrigerated case helps you keep food at a specific temperature until it is ready to be served. This helps with perishable goods, such as sandwiches, pastries, and dairy products. Everything remains fresh throughout the day by keeping out unwanted germs.
Refrigerated display cases use forced air or gravity coil systems. Forced air systems use fans to circulate cold air throughout the case. However, you should be careful not to store uncovered goods for long because the fans might dry out the pastries.
Cases with a gravity coil system work like a regular fridge at home. The cold air drops onto the food from above. These are ideally used to store meats, salads, and seafood items. This system prevents food from getting dry because the air is not circulating continuously. If you are on a tight budget, gravity coil systems are less expensive than forced air system cases.
Non-refrigerated acrylic glass display cases are commonly used on countertops. These are meant for fast-moving food items that should not be stored for long. You can use one or both depending on your business needs.
For example, Subway uses refrigerated displays for their cold cuts and salads in the sandwich-making area. Then they place a non-refrigerated display near the counter to store their cookies, merely inches away from customers. This is because cookies sell rapidly as most people buy them impulsively while paying for their sandwiches.
Things to consider when using Acrylic Glass Display Cases in Bakeries or Departmental stores
When you have chosen the type of display case you want, you can then focus on more specific elements. Size does matter when it comes to delicious food how much floor space your store has. Even if you have space for a large case, a smaller one might be more practical for fast-moving goods. These are goods with a short shelf life that get sold quickly. A smaller case can help you save money and energy.
You should also look at the type of shelving you want for the case. If you have a variety of products, they can be placed side-by-side on different shelves. Otherwise, you can stack the same flavors of croissants or donuts on top of each other to save space. Acrylic glass displays allow plenty of light to filter throughout the case. This enhances the presentation to highlight all the food, providing a floating appearance.
Finally, you might need more than natural light, especially if your display is not placed near a large window. Based on different models, the lighting can be colored fluorescent bulbs to showcase pastries. Some display cases have lights at the top or use shelf-mounted bulbs. These will make your food appear more mouthwatering. Darker chocolate cakes can be kept on the top for more lighting even though they sell themselves. The right light will always give your food the best chance to make people reach for their wallets.
