Improve Impulse Sales with an Open-air Cooler
Designed to increase impulse buys, open-air coolers use an accessible style with no doors. Open-air merchandisers aren't intended to cool room-temperature or warm products; instead, they ensure cold products maintain their temperatures. These units keep products cool using an air wall that constantly circulates in front of products to ensure product safety. This air wall maintains temperatures and prevents dirt, insects, and other unsanitary materials from entering the unit. Because nothing blocks the customer's view of the cooler's interior, your products will have enhanced exposure.
What Design Suits Your Needs?
There are two styles of air curtain merchandisers: horizontal and vertical. We'll discuss the differences between the two in this section.
Horizontal
A horizontal open-air merchandiser – typically between 42 and 46 inches tall – puts its contents at about waist height. Horizontal units are available with white, black, and stainless steel exteriors, many of which have glass sides for maximum visibility to customers. Most manufacturers have standard fluorescent lighting, though some may use LED lights, which are brighter and more energy efficient. Some models may come equipped with a night curtain to conserve energy, or the night curtain can be added as a supplementary feature.
Vertical
Vertical open-air coolers are shaped like a conventional display cooler. These units range in size from 57 to 82 inches tall and 30 to 97 inches wide. The size differences combined with the number of shelves – usually three to five – can impact the number of products the open-air cooler can hold. Vertical units can feature a lit signage area, which enables you to customize the unit, drawing attention to the items it's holding. Some units provide shelving with adjustable angles for optimal product visibility. Most vertical open-air merchandisers come standard with a night curtain or offer one as an option, so you can conserve energy and protect your products outside of business hours.
Undercounter
Undercounter air curtain merchandisers are designed to sit neatly underneath counters, protecting products from ambient air. This style of merchandiser can greatly increase impulse sales if installed underneath a checkout counter. An undercounter unit can also be added under an existing counter to create a grab-n-go area. Undercounter open-air merchandisers are usually between 32 and 34 inches high and can range in width from 36 to 72 inches.
Top Shopping Tip: Decide which style – vertical, horizontal, or undercounter – would best fit into your establishment, but remember to consider the dimensions.
Should You Choose a Self-contained or Remote Refrigeration System?
As with other commercial refrigeration systems, an open-air cooler can have either a self-contained or remote compressor. In this section, we'll analyze the pros and cons of each compressor type.
Self-contained
Self-contained units package the entire refrigeration system, including the evaporator and condenser, within the unit. The least expensive option, self-contained compressors enable cooler operation after being plugged in. Self-contained, open-air coolers are simpler to service because all parts are located in one place and swift installation means a technician likely won't be needed. However, these units can heat the surrounding area – which will most likely be where customers are – due to exhaust from the hot operating parts.
Remote
Remote refrigeration systems are located outside the unit, either in another room or outside to keep exhaust and noise away from customers. Open-air coolers with a remote refrigeration system may have more interior space than units with a self-contained system. The main downside to a remote system is the difficulty with installation and servicing. If your remote system is located outside, your unit may run more efficiently if your operation is located in an area with a cool climate.
Top Shopping Tip: Determine if you have the means to install a remote unit or if you would prefer a "plug and play" unit.
Where Should the Exhaust be Located?
When purchasing an open-air cooler, it is important to consider where your unit's compressor will be located. Most air-curtain merchandisers have a bottom-mounted compressor, which is accessible for maintenance and raises the bottom of the refrigerated area high enough that customers don't have to stoop to reach items on the bottom shelf. If you decide to go with a remote compressor, the exhaust will be in a separate area away from customers. Open-air merchandisers self-contained systems remove heat from inside the machine and exhaust it out the front or back of the unit. So if you choose a self-contained unit, confirm nothing blocks the exhaust, such as walls or other displays.
Top Shopping Tip: Ensure your unit's exhaust won't be blocked by walls or other equipment.
KaTom's Quick Guide to Buying an Open-air Merchandiser
Looking for a quicker way to decide which open-air cooler best suits your business needs? Check out our quick guide below!
- First, determine if you want a vertical or horizontal merchandiser. Do you want a vertical unit, which puts merchandise at waist height, a horizontal unit, which offers more shelving, or an undercounter unit, which can be fitted beneath checkout counters?
- Next, decide if you want a self-contained or remote refrigeration system. Do you want your unit to be operable as soon as it's unpacked, or can you install a remote system in a separate room or outdoors?
- Finally, consider the overall dimensions of the unit of your choice. Can you accommodate the unit and ensure it has the proper clearance for exhaust?
