Struggling to make your product stand out in a crowded store? A generic display can make your brand invisible, costing you sales and wasting your marketing budget.

The main types of custom retail displays include POP (Point of Purchase), FSDUs (Free Standing Display Units), countertop displays, and pallet displays. Each type serves a specific purpose, from grabbing attention at checkout to creating a large, impactful presentation in main aisles.

Choosing the right display can feel overwhelming. With so many options, how do you know which one will actually move your product? I've spent 16 years in this industry, and I've seen what works. Let's break down the different types so you can find the perfect fit for your brand and avoid costly mistakes.

What are the different types of retail display fixtures?

Feel like your display fixture options are limited and uninspired? A boring fixture means customers walk right by, completely missing the product you've worked so hard on.

Retail display fixtures range from simple shelving units to dynamic, custom-built structures. Key types include Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays, Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs), countertop displays, and pallet displays. Choosing the right one depends on your product, location in the store, and campaign goals.

In my experience, the biggest headache for retailers isn't just the design, but the assembly¹. I’ve seen teams waste hours on a single complex unit. That’s why we started focusing on creating fixtures that are incredibly easy to set up.

The Challenge of Assembly

Traditional cardboard displays² can be a nightmare to assemble. They often come with confusing instructions and many small parts. This leads to wasted staff time and frustration, and sometimes the display is put together incorrectly, which looks unprofessional. That's a direct hit to your labor costs³ and brand image.

Our Solution: Quick Assembly

We knew there had to be a better way. We innovated designs that are so simple they can be assembled in minutes, some even in just two seconds. This saves significant labor costs³ and gets your promotion running faster. Imagine your team setting up an entire campaign's worth of displays in the time it used to take for one. It's about making things efficient from the warehouse to the sales floor.

What are the different types of display cases?

Is your product getting lost in a generic, poorly made display case? When the colors are off and the design is weak, your brand’s message gets completely diluted.

Display cases, especially for custom retail, are not just boxes. They are powerful branding tools. Common types include countertop units for impulse buys, dump bins for promotions, and shelf talkers for highlighting products. The key is that the case must perfectly represent your brand's visual identity.

A common issue I see designers like Peter face is color consistency⁴. A client approves a specific brand color, but the final printed display case looks completely different. This can ruin a campaign and damage the client relationship. It's a problem we took very seriously because brand perception is everything. A slight color mismatch can make a premium product look cheap. That's why we invested heavily in a system to ensure what you see on the screen is what you get in the store.

The Problem with Color

Color is critical for brand recognition. When a display's color doesn't match the product packaging or brand guidelines, it creates a jarring visual experience for the customer. Standard printing processes often struggle with precise color replication, leading to disappointing results that undermine the entire marketing effort.

Perfecting the Palette

We use an advanced color management system⁵ to solve this. It ensures that the colors on our cardboard displays² are a perfect match for your brand's Pantone or CMYK values. This gives your products the premium, cohesive look they deserve and provides customers with a seamless visual experience. It's not just about printing; it's about delivering brand perfection.

What are the 5 types of displays and how are they used?

Confused about which display type to use for your next campaign? Choosing the wrong one is like shouting into the wind—a total waste of effort and money.

The five key display types are FSDU⁶s, Countertop Displays⁷, Pallet Display⁸s, Endcap Displays⁹, and Dump Bins¹⁰. Each is designed for a specific retail environment and purpose, from launching new products to clearing out seasonal stock. Understanding their use is crucial for maximizing sales.

After 16 years, I can tell you that a great design needs to be practical for the people in the store. You can have the most beautiful display, but if it’s difficult to manage, it won't be effective. For example, a well-placed FSDU⁶ can boost sales dramatically, but only if it gets assembled correctly and quickly. We focus on creating displays that look great and work great in the real world. Below is a simple table to help you decide which type fits your strategy.

Each of these serves a strategic purpose, and choosing the right one is the first step toward a successful retail campaign.

What are the different types of merchandise in retail?

Is your custom display arriving damaged and unusable? A brilliant design means nothing if it can't survive shipping, especially for international orders. This can derail your entire launch.

Merchandise is often categorized by its role: new launches, promotional items, seasonal goods, or core products. The right display depends on the merchandise, but a critical, often overlooked factor is ensuring the display arrives safely, ready to showcase that merchandise effectively.

For any business sending products overseas, delivery is a moment of truth. I've heard horror stories of entire shipments being ruined by moisture or rough handling. It's a huge waste of money and can ruin a relationship with a retailer. That's why we made shipping security¹¹ a non-negotiable part of our process. A successful delivery is just as important as a great design.

Securing Your Investment for Shipping

We developed a three-part system to protect every display we ship.

1. Smarter Packaging: We analyze whether to ship flat-packed on pallets or not. Pallets offer great stability and protection for large orders, preventing crushing. We show our clients the difference so they can make an informed choice.
2. Waterproof Testing: Before anything leaves our facility, it undergoes waterproof testing¹². We wrap the cartons in protective film to ensure that moisture, whether from rain on a loading dock or humidity in a container, doesn't ruin the cardboard.
3. 3D Protection Design¹³: For delicate or complex structures, we design custom 3D corner guards and internal bracing. These protectors act like a helmet for the display, absorbing impacts during transit and ensuring it arrives in perfect, ready-to-assemble condition.

Conclusion

Choosing the right custom display involves more than design. You must consider assembly¹, color accuracy, and shipping safety. Getting these elements right ensures your product truly stands out.