Island Units / Mid-Floor Display Systems
Island unit and mid-floor display solutions that spotlight promotional and high-margin products with double-sided merchandising at the heart of your store.
An island unit (mid-floor bay) is an island-style shelving system positioned in the central area of the store, displaying products on both sides. Lined up side by side, the units form customer aisles between them and open the middle of the store up for selling.
After wall shelving, mid-floor bays are the most widely used system in retail. They are ideal for showcasing promotional, seasonal and high-margin products, letting customers walk all the way around the merchandise.
Where Are Island Units Used?
- Promotion and campaign bays in supermarkets and grocery stores
- Main display runs in stationery, toy and gift shops
- Presenting a wide product mix in housewares and home goods
- Island displays in cosmetics, perfumery and accessories stores
- Hardware and DIY store aisles
Advantages of Island Units
- Double-sided selling: Displays from two faces of a single island, maximizing space efficiency.
- Aisle layout: The walkways between units create a planned, open and guiding store flow.
- Promotional impact: Puts high-margin and campaign products right at the center of customer traffic.
- Modularity: Shelf levels, height and accessories can be changed as needed.
- Easier stock management: Label holders and a tidy shelf structure simplify aisle management.
Island Unit Dimensions (Standard Values)
| Feature | Standard Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 100 – 220 cm | Kept below the sight line |
| Unit width (module) | 65 – 125 cm | Add as many side by side as needed |
| Total depth (both sides) | 60 – 90 cm | Display on two faces |
| Shelf levels | 3 – 6 levels | Set independently on each face |
| Connection | Modular extension | Island length is unrestricted |
Mid-floor bays are usually planned at a more moderate height than gondola runs; the goal is to open the central floor up for sales while keeping the whole store in view. Every unit is made to measure for your project rather than mass-produced.
What to Consider When Choosing Island Units
- Height balance: Island units should not block the view of the store from the checkout or the entrance.
- Aisle width: Plan the walkways between units around shopping cart and customer traffic.
- Product strategy: Place your best-earning products at eye level and heavy items on the lower shelves.
- Flexibility: Choose a modular system so bays can be rearranged quickly during campaign periods.
For aisle runs in the middle of the store, see our gondola shelving systems; for wall display, explore our wall shelving solutions.
The Kare Raf Difference
Kare Raf has been manufacturing store shelving systems and store designs for 10 years from its base in Ataşehir, Istanbul. With projects completed across 24 different sectors, we know from experience which product belongs in which aisle — and which customer flow it needs to serve.
- Free site survey and measurement: Our team visits your store, measures the space on site and draws up the shelving layout that best fits your needs.
- 3D visualization: You see your store in 3D before production begins, and sign off on the shelf layout and colors.
- Turnkey delivery: Design, production and installation run under one roof — no coordination headaches between different suppliers.
- Production + installation in-house: We manufacture the shelving in our own workshop and install it with our own crew.
Contact Us for a Free Site Survey
Let's plan the right shelving system for your store together. Send us your free site survey and measurement request; our team will visit your space and come back with a solution — and a quote — tailored to your needs. You can review the factors that shape pricing on our pricing page and browse our completed work in our portfolio.
Call now: +90 506 411 71 90 · message us on WhatsApp
Your questions answered
An island unit is an island-style shelving system positioned in the central area of the store, displaying products on both sides. Lined up side by side, the units form customer aisles between them and open the middle of the store up for selling.
Mid-floor bays are ideal for showcasing promotional, seasonal and high-margin products. They let customers walk all the way around the merchandise, which increases engagement.
Both provide double-sided mid-floor display. Gondola shelving is the main modular system that builds the aisle runs, while an island unit usually refers to an accent-style unit planned at a more moderate height as a standalone island. In most stores they are used together.
Island units are generally planned in the 100–220 cm range, at a height that does not block the view of the store from the entrance or the checkout. The right height is determined for your floor and sight lines during the site survey.
Aisle width is planned around customer and shopping cart traffic; for a comfortable flow, a walkway of 90 cm or more is generally recommended.
