Recently, our backend team has received many private messages from users asking: "I just bought the shelf—how do I even start assembling it?" or "I followed the video instructions carefully, but why does it always end up crooked and lopsided?" Don’t panic! Today, we’ll walk you through the entire installation process step by step, complete with a handy guide to help you avoid common pitfalls—these are all insights gained from firsthand experience, so even beginners will find them easy to understand!

I. Preparations Before Installation (If the foundation is unstable, the house will surely shake!)
✅ Step 1: Measure precisely—say no to "close enough."
Don’t rush to unpack the new shelf right away! First, carefully measure the length, width, and height of the designated placement area using a tape measure—pay special attention to the verticality of the wall corners and the levelness of the floor. Many students have reported that shelves end up tilting after installation, and 80% of these issues are caused by inaccurate measurements taken during the initial setup. For example, a certain chain convenience store once experienced an entire row of shelves tipping over to one side simply because they overlooked the subtle slope of the floor. It wasn’t until they carefully leveled the surface again that the problem was finally resolved.
Special note: If you're laying tile flooring, it's recommended to double-check with a level; if the discrepancy exceeds 3mm, you should lay wooden boards underneath in advance to ensure a perfectly even surface.

✅ Step 2: Inventory the parts and organize them by category.
After unpacking, lay out all the components and carefully check each part—such as uprights, crossbeams, shelves, and screws—against the provided checklist to ensure you have the correct quantity. We’ve even seen the most absurd case where a crucial bolt was missing, delaying the project by two whole days! To avoid such hiccups, it’s a good idea to group together parts of the same specification in one box and label them clearly with sticky notes indicating their intended use, so you can easily grab them when it’s time for installation. Here’s a handy list of essential tools: an electric drill with impact drill bits, a Phillips or flathead screwdriver, a rubber mallet, a measuring tape, a permanent marker, and a spirit level. If you happen to have some old newspapers at home, you can spread them on the floor to protect surfaces from scratches during assembly.

II. Step-by-step guide to proper assembly (Follow the rhythm—move steadily and surely)
▶️ Phase One: Building the Main Framework
1. Erect the uprights: Place the two upright posts vertically at the designated locations, with their bases snug against the wall or partition panel. At this stage, you’ll need two people working together—one to steady the post while the other uses a level to carefully align it, making tiny adjustments to the foot pads until the bubble is centered. Remember—once an upright starts leaning, the entire shelf will end up resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
2. Connecting the beams: Slide both ends of the beam into the slots on the sides of the upright posts—only when you hear a "click" does it mean they’re properly in place. For heavy-duty shelving, it’s recommended to secure each beam to the wall using expansion bolts. For standard lightweight shelves, L-shaped brackets can optionally be used as additional support.
3. Adding Back/Side Panels: Most supermarket shelves come equipped with metal mesh back panels, which not only protect against dust but also prevent items from sliding off. When installing, ensure the edges of the panels align perfectly with the upright posts—gaps that are too wide can detract from the overall aesthetic appeal.

▶️ Phase 2: Laying the Layered Boards
This is the most error-prone step! Common mistakes demonstrated:
Directly forcing the shelf board into place can cause deformation—instead, the correct approach is to gently tap it into position with a rubber hammer.
Ignore the layer board direction markings → Some layer boards are designed with a front and back; orienting the arrow outward makes it easier to retrieve goods.
Each shelf board must be tested for load-bearing capacity—simply place several cases of mineral water on it to apply pressure. If the board shakes more than 5 mm, it means it’s not securely fastened.

Tip: Install layer by layer from bottom to top, checking the level after each completed layer. Building block by block is easier to correct any deviations than trying to assemble everything at once.

3. If you don’t pay attention to these details, you’ll end up having to redo the work—sooner or later! (A painful lesson revealed!)
Top 3 Safety Hazards
| Risk Point | Consequence | Solution |
| Not securely fixed to the base | Easily toppled by slight impacts | Weld steel plates/flanges to the bottom of the upright posts |
| Ignore fire separation distances | Obstruct fire sprinkler systems | Maintain a minimum 50 cm clearance from the ceiling |
| Overloading | Laminated board bending and deformation | Use strictly at half of the rated load |

Advanced贴心 tips
• Circulation planning: The recommended width for main aisles is ≥1.2 meters to ensure shopping carts can pass smoothly;
• Lighting setup: LED light strips are pre-embedded beneath the shelving units; for the fresh food section, a color rendering index (CRI) of over 90 delivers even better results.
• Impact protection: Install triangular corner guards at sharp edges, and wrap anti-collision strips around any protruding corners—so customers won’t have to worry even if their shopping carts accidentally bump into them.
• Label system: Features a unified-specification slot for price tags, making it incredibly convenient to update promotional information later on.

IV. Acceptance Criteria Self-Assessment Checklist (Mandatory After Completion!)
☑️ Ensure the overall visual is straight; use the gridlines in your phone's camera function to help with alignment.
☑️ The drawers/sliding doors open smoothly, without any sticking or unusual noises;
☑️ All screws are tightened—no loose parts can be pulled by hand;
☑️ Conduct simulated merchandise placement tests, positioning frequently used items within the waist-to-eye-level range;
☑️ Clear away any remaining packaging scraps on site to prevent attracting insects and rodents.

Does it feel much clearer now that you’ve seen this? Actually, installing shelves is just like building with blocks—once you grasp the principle of "slow and steady wins the race," you can totally handle it yourself. Next time you run into installation challenges, don’t forget to come back and revisit this guide! And if you find it helpful, be sure to save it and share it with your friends who are currently renovating their homes!