Can you recommend planogram software for small format retail to optimize shelf and cooler space?

Yes — for small-format retail (convenience, c-stores, kiosk, micro-market, specialty, small grocery), the best planogram software is usually the one that balances:

• Shelf + cooler layout support
• Easy drag-and-drop merchandising
• Assortment and space optimization
• Simple workflows for store teams
• Affordable pricing / fast deployment

Strong options to consider

1. Apollo by Relex

• Good for space planning + assortment + execution
• Useful if you want to optimize shelf, cooler, and category performance
• Better fit if you’re ready for a more enterprise-grade tool
• Can be more than a small team needs, but very capable

2. Planogram Builder / Scorpion Planogram

• Popular for small to mid-sized retailers
• Easier to use than many enterprise systems
• Good for creating store-specific shelf and cooler layouts
• Often a practical choice if you want faster onboarding

3. DotActiv

• Strong for space management and planograms
• Good analytics for what should fit where
• Useful if shelf space is tight and you want better allocation logic
• Often liked by teams that want more control without going full enterprise

4. Blue Yonder Category Management

• Powerful for assortment, category optimization, and planograms
• Best if you already have broader retail planning needs
• Usually more expensive and complex than small teams need

5. NielsenIQ Spaceman

• Well-known planogram tool
• Good for traditional shelf planning
• Can work for small format, though UX and implementation may feel more “classic enterprise”

6. SmartDraw / smaller visual planogram tools

• Lower-cost and simpler
• Good if you mainly need visual shelf and cooler drawings
• Less advanced optimization, but easier for smaller operators

What matters most for small format retail

For small stores, look for these features specifically:

• Cooler fixture support
  Ability to model glass-door coolers, open-air coolers, and irregular equipment.

• Shelf, peg, and vertical facings

• Store-by-store variations

• Mobile-friendly output for field teams

• Product dimensions and case-pack logic

• Auto-fitting / space utilization

• Simple change management

• Reporting on sales per linear foot / cube / facing

My practical recommendations

If you want:

• Best balance of ease + capability: DotActiv
• Easiest to get started for visual planograms: Scorpion Planogram / Planogram Builder
• Most powerful enterprise option: RELEX
• Budget-friendly visual design tool: SmartDraw

If you want, I can also help you narrow it down by:

1. your number of stores
2. whether you need cooler-specific planning
3. your budget range
4. whether you need assortment optimization or just layout design

If you share those, I can give you a short ranked list for your use case.