PROGRESS FOR ESLS?

Michael Garry

Electronic shelf labels have had a checkered career in retail since their introduction in the 1980s. To date, Connecticut remains the primary stronghold for installation of ESLs, owing to a state law that waives item pricing for ESL-equipped stores.

Still, the labels, which receive pricing information electronically from the back room, have always promised labor savings compared to paper label changes, and remain on the retail radar. Recently, a few new vendors have gotten into the act, raising the possibility of progress.

In the United States, StoreForward ESLs, marketed by Wincor Nixdorf, Austin, Texas, and made by Tagnetics, Dayton, Ohio, have been installed in one California store and are being installed in a Texas store this month. The labels, which are powered by railings on the shelf, average about $6.50 apiece. They communicate with the back room via radio frequency, allowing thousands of simultaneous price changes.

The system, which uses inductive coupling, can signal when a tag is missing or improperly placed, said Ron Early, president, Tagnetics. Flashing LEDs help store associates attach shelf signs in the right spot, he added.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Ritchies IGA, Franston, which operates more than 30 stores, plans to install ESLs in 10 stores over the next two years, on top of four stores equipped last year, according to its supplier, ILID, Melbourne, Australia. Other stores will follow.

ILID's labels are unusual in that they receive price changes via existing store lighting, so that no significant transmission infrastructure needs to be added, said ILID. "Previously, we needed a team of staff to spend many hours manually updating paper price labels," said Mal Cameron, company secretary, Ritchies, in a statement. "Now all price updates can be done instantaneously."