One must start somewhere, so Fixtures Close Up slowly expands its series of Baseline entries against which to compare ongoing posts. Obvious here is the difference between a quality plated finish and one with a dull, aged look right from the box. Hopefully you strive for the former and not latter. And here gauge is also obvious, but not easily so across images of different online posts. Nevertheless you should consider both when ordering fixtures, ask for a baseline physical sample yourself, and check the quality of the delivered fixture order. As needed, test the gauge and load bearing capacity against your planned merchandise. Long hooks may need to be a heavier gauge than short hooks carrying the same item. For reference, typical wire hook fixture gauges include…
SOURCE: With apologies, this Wire Gauge Table courtesy of Trion Industries, the only quickly summarized comprehensive list I am aware of outside of an engineer’s “Machinery’s Handbook.”
For additional hook standards SEE…
“Hook Frontwire Standards”
“Hook Design and Quality Standards”
“Metal Plate Label Holder Primer”For excellence in hookery SEE…
“How Pegboard Could and Should Look”
“Impressive Peg Hook Alignment”For horror in hook display SEE…
“2011 Unruly Fixture Award”
“Hook Design and Quality Standards”
“Holy Grail of Retailing Lost”
“Neatness Counts in Fixtures”
“Hook Fight in Neck Ties”
“How to Avoid Frontwire Sag”For subtle mis-fixturing SEE…
“Eye Test for Fixture Experts”
“How Not To Mix ‘N Match Hooks”
“Slatwire Erraticism”
“Five out of Six Hooks Disagree”For outstanding discipline in continuous display SEE…
“Continuous Strip Scan Hooks” and
“Slotwall & Label Strip Both Curve”For a one-of-a-kind hook organization SEE…
“Bar Defines Categories on Slatwall”SEARCH “Hook Alignment” for all examples both good and bad or “Best Practices” for other fixturing advice.
SEARCH “Baseline” to see the most elemental fixture posts in each fixture class on Fixtures Close Up.