Struggling to choose the right display? The wrong choice can mean missed sales. Let's explore the best types of POP displays to boost your brand and capture shopper attention.

Retailers can use many POP displays. These include countertop displays for small items, floor displays for promotions, pallet displays for bulk goods, and endcap displays at aisle ends. Each serves a specific purpose to attract customers and increase sales right at the checkout.

I've been in the cardboard display business for 16 years, and I've seen countless brands wondering where to start. The options can seem overwhelming, but they all fall into a few key categories designed to meet specific needs. The key is to understand what each display type¹ does best so you can make an informed choice for your product and your budget. To really get a handle on this, we need to break it down with some clear, practical examples. So, let’s begin with a question I hear all the time.

What is an example of a point of purchase display in retail?

Need a practical example of a POP display? Abstract terms don't help you visualize success. Think of a simple, effective cardboard display holding snacks near a cash register.

A classic example is a countertop display unit next to the cashier. It often holds impulse-buy items like candy, batteries, or lip balm. This small, branded box encourages a last-minute purchase right where customers are paying, making it incredibly effective for boosting sales.

A simple example is often the most powerful. The countertop display, also known as a PDQ (Product Display Quickly), is the perfect illustration of a POP display at work. Its power comes from its location. It sits right on the checkout counter², the single place every purchasing customer has to stop. This is prime real estate for encouraging impulse buys³. I remember working with a new cosmetics brand. They had a fantastic new lip balm but were getting lost on the big beauty aisle shelves. We designed a simple but vibrant countertop display that held 24 units. By placing it at the checkout, they put the product directly in front of customers with their wallets already out. Their in-store sales tripled in the first month. It’s a powerful tool that proves you don’t always need a huge display to make a huge impact.

Other Common Retail Examples

Beyond the countertop, there are several other workhorses in retail. Each serves a different purpose.

Floor displays are fantastic for new product launches or seasonal promotions⁴ because they stand alone and command attention. Endcaps are the premium spots at the ends of aisles, perfect for high-volume items or special deals that the store wants to push.

What is the point of purchase displays in grocery stores?

Grocery store aisles are crowded. Your product can easily get lost among hundreds of competitors. Smart POP displays⁵ cut through the noise and grab a shopper's attention.

In grocery stores, point of purchase displays are everywhere. You'll see large pallet displays⁶ for bulk sodas, shelf talkers⁷ highlighting a sale on pasta, and floor displays⁸ with seasonal baking supplies. They are all designed to disrupt the routine shopping trip and trigger impulse buys³.

The grocery store environment is a unique battleground. Most shoppers go in with a list and a plan. They are often on autopilot, moving quickly to get their routine items. The primary job of a POP display here is to break that routine. It needs to be a pattern interrupt that makes the customer stop, look, and consider a purchase they hadn't planned on. I’ve seen it happen time and time again; a well-designed, well-placed display can turn a "just getting milk" trip into a full basket. It's about presenting an opportunity—a great deal, a new flavor, or a convenient solution—at the exact moment the shopper is receptive to it. This disruption is what turns a regular grocery run into a discovery experience.

Key Displays for Grocers

To win in the grocery aisle, you need the right tool for the job.

• Pallet Displays: These are impossible to miss. They are essentially a full pallet of product with a decorative cardboard wrap or header. You see them for soda, water, or chips. They communicate "bulk," "value," and "stock up now." I once worked with a beverage company that just used a pallet wrap with a simple, bold design. The sheer visibility in the main aisle completely changed their sales volume.
• Dump Bins: These are large, open-topped cardboard bins. They are perfect for oddly-shaped items, products on clearance, or things that encourage "rummaging," like seasonal candy or avocados. The act of digging through a dump bin creates a sense of discovery and bargain-hunting that shoppers enjoy.
• Shelf Talkers: These are much smaller but very effective. A shelf talker is a small sign that attaches to the shelf edge, jutting out into the aisle to make one specific product stand out from its neighbors. It's perfect for announcing a "New Flavor!" or "Special Price!"

Which of the following is an example of point of purchase merchandising⁹?

Confused by industry jargon? "Merchandising" can sound complex and intimidating. It's just the simple act of using a display to sell a product effectively.

Point of purchase merchandising⁹ is how you present products to encourage a sale. A great example is a themed endcap display for a "Back to School" event. It groups pens, notebooks, and lunchboxes together in a specially designed stand, making shopping convenient and inspiring purchases.

This is a distinction that I always clarify with my clients. The point of purchase display is the physical object—the cardboard stand itself. Point of purchase merchandising⁹ is the strategy and thinking behind it. Merchandising answers the questions: Why are we putting this product here? How are we grouping these items? What story are we trying to tell? The cardboard display is your tool, but the merchandising⁹ plan is how you use that tool to achieve a goal. As a designer and manufacturer, I always push my clients past the initial request. I ask them, "Don't just ask me for a box. Tell me what you want the customer to do." The answer to that question is the start of a great merchandising⁹ strategy, which then informs the perfect display design¹⁰.

Successful Merchandising Tactics

Good merchandising⁹ is about making shopping easier and more intuitive for the customer.

• Cross-Merchandising: This is a brilliant and effective tactic. Instead of selling just one thing, you sell a solution. For example, you create a display that holds both tortilla chips and jars of salsa. Or near the coffee aisle, you set up a small display with flavored syrups and travel mugs. You are helping the customer by anticipating their needs, which often leads to a larger overall purchase.
• Educational Merchandising: Sometimes, the goal isn't just a quick sale; it's to inform the customer. For a new, complex product like a high-tech kitchen gadget or a specialty vitamin, the display can be designed with a brochure holder or a QR code linking to a video. This merchandising⁹ approach builds trust and helps justify a higher price point by clearly communicating the product's value.

What are design displays for retail stores?

Want your display to look professional? A poorly designed stand can cheapen your brand's image. A custom design display communicates your brand's quality and message instantly.

Design displays are custom-created units that go beyond standard templates. They are specifically crafted to match a brand's aesthetic, campaign theme, or product shape. This includes unique structures, high-quality graphics, and interactive elements that create a memorable shopping experience.

A generic, off-the-shelf display just holds your product. A custom design display sells your product. It acts as a silent salesperson, representing your brand's look, feel, and message. This is where we move beyond basic boxes and into creating something truly special. I've worked on projects where we designed a display shaped like a giant version of the product itself. Imagine a floor display for shampoo that looks like a huge shampoo bottle. It's fun, instantly recognizable, and draws people in. For a product designer like Peter, this is where creativity meets practicality. He can dream up a fantastic, engaging concept, and my job as the manufacturer is to figure out how to make it structurally sound, affordable to produce, and simple enough for store staff to assemble in minutes.

Key Design Considerations

A great design display balances creativity with practicality. Here are the things I always focus on:

Conclusion

Choosing the right POP display isn't just about a box. It's a key marketing decision that directly drives sales, enhances your brand image, and helps you win at retail.