Choosing the right display feels overwhelming. A bad choice means lost sales and wasted budget. I will show you how to select the perfect display for your products.

The best custom cardboard display matches your product's weight, size, and where you sell it. Use floor displays for heavy items, counter displays for small impulse buys, and pallet displays for big promotions in superstores.

This is just the beginning. Getting the details right is how you turn a simple cardboard box into a powerful sales tool. In my 16 years in this business, I've seen what works and what doesn't. Together, we'll go through the key questions you need to ask. This will help you make a smart choice that boosts your brand and sells more products. Let's dive deeper to make sure your product gets noticed for all the right reasons.

How to design a product display?

Your display design¹ isn't catching the shopper's eye. It just fades into the background, and your products are not moving. Follow my simple design process² for better results.

To design an effective product display, first know your goals and your customer. Then, engineer the structure to hold your product safely. Finally, add clear, eye-catching graphics³ that tell your brand’s story quickly.

As a designer, you know that a display is more than just a pretty box. It has a job to do. We need to break down the design process² into practical steps. I always focus on three core areas to make sure a design is successful from the start.

Start with "Why" and "Who"

Before you open any design software, ask two questions. Why are we making this display? And who are we trying to reach? The goal could be to launch a new product, clear out old stock with a sale, or just build brand awareness⁴. Each goal needs a different design. A display for a kid's toy should be bright and playful. A display for luxury skincare needs to look clean, elegant, and professional. Understanding the 'why' and 'who' guides every decision you make, from the shape to the colors.

Engineer for Functionality

Structure is everything. I once saw a competitor's beautifully printed display collapse in a store because it couldn't hold the weight of the drinks it was designed for. It was a disaster for the brand. You have to think like an engineer. How heavy is the product? How many will sit on each shelf? The structure must be strong enough. Also, think about how shoppers will take the product. It must be easy to grab. A functional design is a safe and successful design.

Make it Visually Appealing

Once the structure is solid, you can focus on the graphics³. This is where you grab attention. Keep your message simple. A confused shopper will just walk away. Use your brand colors and logo clearly. The main benefit of your product should be visible from a few feet away. For my clients, we always say the display has three seconds to get noticed. Your graphics³ have to work hard in that short time.

What are cardboard displays called?

You hear many different terms for cardboard displays, and it can be confusing. Using the wrong term with a client or supplier can make you seem unprofessional. Let's clear up the names.

Cardboard displays are most often called POP (Point of Purchase⁵) or POS (Point of Sale) displays. Specific styles have their own names, like FSDU (Free Standing Display Unit⁶), counter displays⁷, or dump bins⁸.

In my 16 years in business, I've learned that speaking the same language is key to getting a project right. When a client says they want a "floor thingy," I know they probably mean an FSDU. But using the correct term avoids confusion and saves time for everyone, from the designer to the production team. It shows you are a professional who knows the industry. Here are the most common terms you will hear.

Common Industry Terms for Displays

Knowing these terms helps you communicate clearly. When you can tell your factory you need a quote for a "B-flute FSDU with four shelves," they know exactly what you mean. This precision prevents mistakes, manages costs, and makes the entire process from design to delivery much smoother. It is a small detail that makes a big difference.

What are the three types of cardboard?

You know that not all cardboard is the same. If you choose the wrong material, your display could be too weak and look cheap. I will explain the main types you should know.

The three main types of corrugated cardboard are single-face, single-wall, and double-wall. Each offers a different level of strength and is used for different kinds of displays and product weights.

Choosing the right material is a critical decision in display design¹. It affects the strength, the look, and the cost. As a designer, you need to match the material to the job. It's a balance between performance and budget. Let's look at the options you'll work with most often.

Single Wall (The Workhorse)

This is the most common material for POP displays. It is made of one fluted layer sandwiched between two flat liners. But even within single wall, you have options. The type of flute makes a big difference. E-flute is very thin and has a smooth surface, which is perfect for high-quality printing on cosmetic or electronics displays. B-flute is a bit thicker and stronger, good for holding slightly heavier items. I remember for a candy client, we used E-flute for their counter displays⁷ to get sharp graphics³. For a soda client's floor display, we used stronger B-flute to handle the weight of the bottles.

Double Wall (The Heavy Lifter)

When you need serious strength, you use double-wall board. It has two layers of fluting and three liners. This stuff is tough. We use it for displays that need to hold heavy products like bags of pet food, bottles of wine, or hardware tools. It is also the standard for pallet displays⁹ that get moved around warehouses and stores. While it costs more, it is necessary for safety and performance with heavy loads. Using single-wall where you need double-wall is a recipe for failure.

Single Face

You won't use this for building structures. Single face is just one liner glued to one layer of fluting. It's flexible and provides light cushioning. We mostly use it as a protective wrap inside a shipping box or for some very light-duty decorative applications. It is not a structural material for displays.

How to make a cardboard display stand up?

Your new display design¹ keeps wobbling or tipping over. An unstable display is a safety risk in a busy store and looks completely unprofessional. I will share some key structural secrets.

To make a cardboard display stable, give it a wide base. Use internal supports¹⁰ like shelves and dividers to reinforce the structure. Also, design smart locking tabs¹¹ that hold everything together tightly without any glue.

Making a cardboard display stand strong is all about smart engineering. Anyone can draw a box, but an experienced designer knows how to make it last in a tough retail environment¹². We can't have displays falling on customers. The design must be stable from the moment it is assembled until it is recycled. I always focus on three things to guarantee a rock-solid display.

The Base is Everything

Stability starts from the ground up. Think about a pyramid. It has a wide base and is very stable. Your display should follow the same principle. The footprint needs to be wide enough to support the height and the weight of the products. A tall, narrow display is a tipping hazard. We always calculate the center of gravity¹³ with the products on the shelves to ensure it is low and centered. A small change to the base dimensions can make a huge difference in stability¹⁴.

Internal Reinforcement

The outside walls are not enough. The real strength comes from the inside. Internal shelves, vertical dividers, and back supports all work together to distribute weight and prevent the walls from bowing. For a client that sold heavy jars of sauce, the outer shell looked fine, but the shelves started to sag. We added a vertical support running down the middle of the display. It transferred the load directly to the floor and solved the problem instantly. Don't underestimate the power of these hidden internal parts.

The Magic of Locking Tabs

A great display should assemble easily and hold together firmly without tape or glue. This is where clever tab and slot design comes in. The tabs should lock into place with a satisfying click. If the tolerances are wrong, the fit will be loose, and the whole display will feel flimsy. My team and I always build a physical prototype for every new design. We assemble it ourselves to test the locking mechanisms. This step is crucial. It ensures that anyone in the store can put it together correctly and that it will stay strong.

Conclusion

Choosing the right display comes down to understanding your product, design basics, materials, and engineering. Focus on these details, and you will create displays that sell more products.