One of the most crucial aspects of successful retail may be small in size, but it looms large in impact.
Accurate labeling helps customers quickly find pricing and product details. While stores have relied on traditional price tags that use clip-on, adhesive, or channel strip holders, electronic shelf labels (ESLs) or Digital Shelf Labels (DSLs) now provide a more advanced option, offering real-time pricing and product information.
There are important differences in how digital shelf label holders need to be supported on shelves to ensure DSLs stay secure and visible to customers. Selecting the right holder for your price tags supports investment protection and an enhanced shopping experience.
To help you make an informed decision, let's take a closer look at the key differences between ESL/DSLs and traditional label holders. Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the right solution for your store's needs.
Digital shelf label holders require an integrated technology setup, which requires a small amount of initial time and installation effort. But once in place, they greatly simplify label management. Store-wide retail updates can be made in real-time, allowing for quick price adjustments and promotion integration without needing to update labels manually.
Traditional label holders install much more quickly, as they do not require technology integration. However, they require regular label changes, especially when prices or promotions change. This can be time-consuming and prone to human errors. As a manual process, these changes can be labor-intensive, resulting in increased costs over time.
Due to their technology and installation infrastructure, ESL holders typically incur a higher upfront cost. But they also have a much more significant long-term return on investment with their anticipated labor savings. ESLs eliminate the need for frequent, manual labor changes, allowing for dynamic pricing and real-time updates.
Traditional labor holders are technology-free, which means they offer an option with a much lower initial cost. This makes them an attractive option for retailers working with tight budgets. The trade-off is that pricing updates require regular label swaps, which contribute to higher ongoing labor expenses over time. These costs can add up, ultimately making traditional label holders less efficient and cost-effective over time.
Because electronic shelf label updates are done digitally, ESL holders are not subject to ongoing manual label change-outs, The design of ESL holders is focused more on handling the demands of regular use and shelf stability over repetitive manual touch. This provides natural durability and a longer product life compared to traditional holders, with the added benefit of being more sustainable over time. However, protecting ESLs from carts, bumps, and bangs is critical to preserve your investment. As a result, choosing a strong and durable ESL holder is critical, or daily wear and tear may damage your digital tags.
To keep pricing up to date and accurate, traditional label holders rely on paper labels that need to be replaced regularly. This not only leads to more frequent material waste but also requires ongoing replacement of the holders themselves. While traditional options are functional, they have a larger environmental footprint due to the continuous use of paper and the need for physical label updates. Paper labels can be damaged by carts and bumps, but replaceable costs are usually low.
A nationwide convenience store chain approached Kinter with a unique challenge: secure electronic shelf labels on wire cooler shelves. Read the case study now.
Digital shelf label holders provide flexibility by allowing real-time price changes and promotional updates, often managed from a central system. This means retailers can quickly respond to market changes, run promotions, and ensure prices are always correct, all without needing to make manual adjustments. This approach streamlines store operations and improves the overall shopping experience.
Traditional holders require physical label inserts that require manual intervention for price changes and promotional updates. This can lead to delays or mistakes, particularly during busy periods. Retailers using traditional labels can struggle to keep prices consistent across the store.
DSL holders enhance the shopping experience by ensuring that prices are always accurate and up-to-date throughout the store. Retailers can adjust prices in real time, making it easier to stay compliant with regulations and ensuring customers see the correct pricing. This consistency helps reduce confusion, creating a smoother and more dependable shopping experience.
Traditional label holders can fall behind when prices aren’t updated promptly. Outdated labels can lead to customer frustration with mismatches between shelf and checkout pricing. This can erode customer trust and lead to lost sales. While frequent updates are essential, the manual process required with traditional labels makes it easy to overlook or delay price changes.
Looking for more information? Here’s a deeper dive on the topic.
Retailers should consider their store environment and specific needs when deciding between digital shelf label holders and traditional label holders.
Electronic shelf label holders come with a higher upfront cost, but they save time and labor as the store expands. Traditional label holders are cheaper to install, but they come with ongoing costs for label replacements and can be harder to scale as the business grows. By weighing these factors, retailers can make an informed decision that best fits their needs and long-term goals.
Interested in learning more? Here’s another great resource: ESL Holders vs. Traditional Label Holders: Key Differences Retailers Should Know
Kinter’s ESL shelf holders provide durability, quick installation, and compatibility with a range of digital shelf label systems. With designs to meet the specific needs of retailers, our holders provide secure mounting solutions for a range of store environments.
For instance, a major North American retailer recently adjusted its nationwide ESL setup and opened a call to several vendors for solutions. Kinter’s custom-engineered attachments offered secure mounting, durability, and cost-effective scalability, meeting the retailer's specific needs and earning their trust for future projects.
At Kinter, we understand that no two retail spaces are alike. That's why we work closely with our clients to develop custom ESL holder solutions that are tailored to their store’s layout and needs. Whether we're adapting existing fixtures or creating something new, our engineering expertise ensures your ESL system is secure, dependable, and designed for long-term performance.
If you’re ready to explore options tailored to your store, contact Kinter for expert advice or download our product catalog for more details. We also provide custom design services for retail customers seeking distinctive solutions and secondary services to enhance system label rollout. We're here to help you make the best choice for your business.