San Rafael Balance Smart Shelf Module

Challenge

In a world where consumers demand more than just products — seeking guidance, relevance, and personalization — San Rafael set out to transform its in-store presence. In partnership with AIM Worldwide, the brand developed the Balance Calculator Module, an interactive display that goes beyond showcasing deli meats: it helps shoppers understand what they need and recommends which product best fits their nutritional goals.

San Rafael’s Balance line faced two key challenges:

• Standing out visually in a competitive modern retail environment where shoppers move quickly and attention is fleeting.
• Delivering added value — not just visibility, but an experience that informs, guides, and connects on a personal level.

The brand envisioned a unique retail module that could use technology to calculate how much protein a shopper needs based on their gender and physical activity level, and then recommend the most suitable products from the Balance line.
The challenge required a combination of design, engineering, and user experience applied directly to the retail context.

Solution

AIM Worldwide designed, developed, and built an interactive module equipped with a scale and a digital screen.
Shoppers can input their gender and activity level (sedentary, active, or high-performance), and the screen instantly displays their recommended daily protein intake — along with product suggestions from the Balance range that meet those nutritional needs.

In doing so, the module transcended its traditional role as a display to become a personalized advisor right inside the store — one that attracts, educates, and recommends.

Result: Visibility Meets Utility

The project’s outcomes represent a clear evolution from traditional retail displays:

• Enhanced visibility for the Balance line, thanks to the module’s interactive and disruptive design.
• A richer shopper experience, adding educational and personal value to the in-store journey.
• Stronger purchase intent, as consumers could connect their nutritional needs with specific San Rafael products.

Although specific sales figures were not disclosed, the case highlights that the Balance Calculator turned what was once a passive display into a living activation — one that communicates, educates, and sells simultaneously.

Strategic Takeaways

This case offers three powerful lessons for brands competing in physical retail environments:

1. A display can become an advisor. By integrating interactivity, a fixture moves from passive to participatory.
2. Relevance drives engagement. When shoppers see information directly tied to their personal needs, they stop, interact, and remember.
3. Experience + recommendation = competitive edge. Guiding consumers toward the right choice strengthens both brand trust and conversion.

Conclusion: From Displaying to Connecting

The Balance Calculator Module developed by AIM Worldwide for San Rafael illustrates how an in-store fixture can evolve into a strategic brand asset.
When a display doesn’t just show products but analyzes, interacts, and advises, the retail space transforms into a zone of guidance and decision-making.

In a marketplace where relevance is the new visibility, San Rafael proved that the key isn’t simply to be present — it’s to be useful, insightful, and unforgettable.

Know more about our smart shelf.