Struggling to know if POP displays actually work? You hear the hype but want real feedback. It's frustrating to invest without knowing the true pros and cons from real people.
Based on my 16 years in this business, customers say custom POP displays are a fantastic, low-cost way to boost branding and sales. They also note the trade-offs, like their weakness to water and limits with very heavy products, but find the overall value overwhelmingly positive.
The feedback is generally positive, but it is not all perfect. These displays are a specific tool for a specific job, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is key to getting a great return on your investment. To really understand if they are right for you, we need to look closer at both the good and the bad. Let's start with the potential downsides that customers bring up.
What are the disadvantages of pop displays?
Are you worried about the risks of using cardboard displays? You might fear they could fail and damage your brand's image. A cheap-looking or broken display can make your product look bad.
The main disadvantages are their limited strength for heavy items and a total lack of water resistance. They can also appear less premium than materials like metal or wood, and they wear out faster in busy stores compared to permanent fixtures. These are the key trade-offs to consider.
In my experience, being honest about these limitations from the start is the best way to design a successful display. If a client understands the potential problems, we can work together to prevent them. The issues usually fall into three categories.
The Strength Limitation
A standard cardboard display cannot hold a huge amount of weight. This is probably the number one concern I hear from new clients. They worry it will collapse. And if designed poorly, it can. I once had a client who wanted to display heavy cans of pet food. We had to create a special internal structure with reinforced corrugated supports to handle the load. A simple, thin-walled display would have buckled in a day. It is all about using the right materials and engineering for the specific product.
The Water Problem
Cardboard and water are enemies. This is a big one. A display placed near a store entrance on a rainy day can be ruined. Even daily floor mopping can soak the base of a display, causing it to weaken and look terrible. We often recommend adding a simple plastic or wooden base to protect the display from floor moisture. It’s a small extra step that can double the life of the display in a busy retail environment.
The Perception of Quality
For most products, a well-designed cardboard display looks great. But if you are selling a luxury item, like a $500 watch or expensive perfume, cardboard might not send the right message of premium quality. In those cases, materials like acrylic, wood, or metal are often a better fit. The display material should always match the perceived value of the product it is holding.
What effect can displays have on customers?
Do in-store displays actually influence shoppers? It can feel like you are just adding more clutter to an already crowded store. If your display does not grab attention, it is just wasting space.
A great display grabs a customer's attention, making your product stand out from competitors. It communicates your brand's story, highlights deals, and makes the product easy to grab. This visual appeal and convenience can trigger powerful impulse buys and significantly increase sales at the point of purchase.
The impact a display has on a customer is very real. It works on a psychological level to make buying your product easier and more desirable. After years of seeing results, I have seen the effect boil down to a few key things.
Capturing Attention Instantly
A retail aisle is a noisy, competitive place. Your product on the shelf is sitting right next to dozens of others. A custom POP display acts like a billboard in that aisle. It uses color, shape, and graphics to shout, "Look at me!" I remember a project for a new snack brand. We designed a floor display using bright, fluorescent colors that were totally different from the big brands around them. The client told me their sales in the first month exceeded projections by 40%, simply because they got noticed.
Making Shopping Easier
Customers are often in a hurry. They do not want to hunt for a product. A display makes their job easier. It groups all your items in one easy-to-find spot. Think about the difference between searching for a specific battery size on a confusing rack versus grabbing it from a small counter display right at the checkout. We make buying easy.
| Customer Problem | Display Solution |
|---|---|
| Can't find the product | Display groups it in one place |
| Unsure about a promotion | Display clearly shows the sale price |
| Product is on a high/low shelf | Display presents it at a perfect height |
| Confused by too many choices | Display highlights a specific item |
Triggering Impulse Purchases
This is where POP displays really shine. Many purchases are not planned. A display puts the right offer in the right place at the right time. The classic example is candy at the checkout. No one put it on their shopping list, but seeing it right there while you wait makes it an easy "yes." This works for all kinds of products, from new drinks to seasonal items.
What is the point of purchase pop display?
Are you hearing the term "POP display" but are not entirely sure what it means? The industry jargon can sometimes be confusing. Not knowing the basics makes it hard to discuss your project.
A Point of Purchase (POP) display is a marketing tool placed in a retail store right where the customer makes their buying decision. It can be a small counter sign or a large floor stand. Its only goal is to attract attention and sell more products.
Simply put, a POP display is your silent salesperson in the store. It is any promotional material that is not the main store shelving. After making thousands of them, I find it easiest to explain by breaking them down into the types you see most often. They all share the same goal but are used in different situations.
The "Point of Purchase" Goal
The name says it all. These displays are positioned at the critical moment when a customer is about to make a purchase. All the advertising and brand-building you did leads to this moment. The POP display is the final nudge to get your product into the shopping cart instead of your competitor's. It's the final, crucial step in the sales funnel.
Common Types of POP Displays
Not all displays are the same. We help clients choose the right type based on the product, the store, and the budget. Here are the most common ones we design and produce.
| Display Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Counter Display (CDU) | Small displays designed to sit on a checkout counter. | Small, light items, and impulse buys like gum, batteries, or cosmetics. |
| Floor Display (FSDU) | Free-standing units placed in aisles or on end-caps. | New product launches, promotional items, and when you need more space than a shelf offers. |
| Pallet Display | Large displays where products are shipped and sold on the same pallet base. | High-volume, fast-moving goods like soda, beer, or large bags of chips. |
| Dump Bin | A large, open bin customers can "dig" through. | Small, irregularly shaped, or discounted items like toys or seasonal candy. |
Why do merchandisers use pop displays?
Are you wondering why so many brands and merchandisers invest in POP displays? You see them everywhere, but it is hard to justify the budget without understanding their strategic value.
Merchandisers use POP displays because they are a proven, cost-effective tool. They secure premium retail space, launch products effectively, highlight promotions, and make their brand stand out. Ultimately, merchandisers use them because they drive sales and provide a great return on investment.
In my 16 years of working with product designers and merchandisers, they all use displays for the same core reasons. They are a weapon in the battle for customer attention. It is not just about making something that looks nice; it is a strategic business decision that solves several key problems for brands in a retail environment.
Securing Off-Shelf Placement
Regular shelf space in a store is extremely limited and fiercely competitive. A POP display, especially a floor display, allows a brand to create a new selling space entirely. Getting a display on an end-cap—the end of an aisle—is like getting a storefront on the busiest street in town. It massively increases how many shoppers see your product. For a merchandiser, this is a huge win.
Cost-Effective Marketing with High ROI
Compared to other forms of marketing, POP displays are very affordable. Think about the cost of a TV ad or a big digital campaign. A cardboard display program can cost a fraction of that and has a direct impact on sales. We can measure the results almost instantly.
| Marketing Tactic | Typical Cost | Direct Impact on In-Store Sales |
|---|---|---|
| TV Commercial | Very High | Indirect / Hard to measure |
| Magazine Ad | High | Low / Indirect |
| POP Display | Low | High / Direct & Measurable |
Enhancing the Brand Experience
A merchandiser's job is to represent the brand well in the store. A generic shelf does not do that. A custom display, on the other hand, is a blank canvas. We can print it with brand stories, lifestyle images, and unique colors. I have worked with brands to create displays with QR codes that link to recipes or contests. This makes shopping more fun and builds a stronger connection between the customer and the brand.
Conclusion
Real customers confirm that POP displays work. They boost sales and brand visibility. While they have limits like water damage, their low cost and high impact make them invaluable for brands.
