At our retail bakery, we built our entire front-of-house philosophy on one core belief: every customer deserves a full, beautiful display case—no matter what time of day they walk in. That vision guided everything. We factored potential waste and donations into our budget so we could keep our cases stocked with intention from open to close. No one wants to feel like an afterthought, especially not your last customer of the day that raced to your shop before you closed. That commitment—paired with consistent cleanliness, smart layout, and strategic upsell zones—transformed our displays from shelves of pastries into true revenue drivers.
In this blog post we'll dive into ways to optimize the job of your display cases!
(Image below is of our main location during early fall)
A nearly-empty case doesn’t just hurt sales—it sends the wrong message. It says, “we’re out,” or worse, “you missed the good stuff.”
Build your production plan around the goal of finishing the day with full(ish) cases. If you have to donate or mark out at close, that's part of doing business with integrity and intention. NOTE: Donate to a local senior center or fire department any marked out items. This is a great way to use those products as a marketing tool!)
The goal? Customers feel like they have options, even at 10 minutes to close.
Smudged glass, crumbs, or cluttered shelves distract from the product and damage your brand.
In our bakery, case cleaning was a non-negotiable:
When your cases sparkle, your product shines—and customers trust the quality behind the glass.
Every item should have a price and a quick description.
You can also go beyond the basics on a few items.. here are a couple examples:
Bonus: Use icons for allergens or "fan favorite" badges for visual cues. Your display should educate while it tempts.
Your customers are literally staring over the top of the case to place their order—so use that space intentionally.
Create visual displays to highlight:
Add signage with QR codes that link directly to your eCommerce store. It gives customers a quick path to pull up your store on their phone. This is a great tool for when they need to discuss the purchase with someone else before ordering.
The best display in the world can’t sell itself. Your counter staff should be comfortable pointing out:
Encourage natural, helpful language—not sales scripts. A well-timed suggestion can make all the difference.
That space between your cases and the register is your last chance to tempt and delight.
Use it for:
A clear display with a small sign—“Need a little pick-me-up for the road?”—can easily boost your average ticket.
Your display cases are more than containers—they’re sales tools.
With intention, cleanliness, storytelling, and smart product placement, they become silent sellers working every minute your doors are open.
Whether it's the first customer of the day or the last one rushing in before close—let your displays say: You’re welcome here. We’ve got what you need.