14 Different Types of Point-of-Purchase Displays

Point of Purchase (POP) Marketing > POP & POS Marketing Displays > Types of POP Displays

A POP (Point of Purchase) display is a specialized form of sales promotion found near, on, or next to a checkout counter. These displays are used to catch a shopper's attention, promote new products, highlight seasonal products, and ultimately increase sales. They are important because they can influence the final buying decision, making them a powerful tool for retailers to drive impulse purchases and improve product visibility.

Finding just the right type of point-of-purchase display for your location isn’t challenging. First, determine the amount of retail space you wish to dedicate to the display, and then select the mechanism and tool to help you best promote your product, campaign, or service. Start by taking a look at these common in-store display options.

Wheeled Carts

Wheeled carts provide an excellent solution for displays containing hand-picked items. On wheels, they can be moved into place and out of the way as desired. Wheel POP displays tend to work well for areas where a permanent or semi-permanent display stand would not work or when merchandise needs to be moved into and out of the area at various times.

Floor Displays and Stands

As the name implies, floor displays are designed to sit right on the floor of your retail location. Some are mobile stands, but most are designed to remain in place throughout the promotion. A more permanent floor display’s footprint ranges in size but generally tends to be smaller than a shorter-term mobile stand. And with proper graphics, the dominating presence of floor stands commands customer attention.

Pallet Displays

These displays typically consist of boxes that are placed on top of a pallet (whole, half, or quarter) and arranged to promote a promotional offer. For example, soda boxes can be placed in a variety of positions atop a pallet to showcase a marketing promotion. Custom graphics can be incorporated into the display to generate even more brand awareness.

Cardboard Cutout Standees

Cardboard standees are particularly eye-catching. Larger than average POP displays, cardboard cutouts bring promotional offers to life, often with the brand’s image of a person. They tend to have a narrow base that allows them to be positioned anywhere. They’re perfect for drawing attention to aisle shelving in grocery stores, though some cardboard standees also display products on them, like at trade shows.

Counter Displays

Counter or countertop displays provide an opportunity to engage consumers standing at a point of sale or another area. Whether interactive or not, counter displays are perfectly positioned at a customer’s eye level. They can hold products or pamphlets, or be designed as a display for a behind-the-counter product. They can also work as graphic displays to provide tester products or samples.

End Cap Displays

End cap displays are vitally important for retail store outlets hoping to sell more products. They are a type of POP display set up at the end of aisles, which are high-traffic areas because customers can’t avoid walking past them as they move from aisle to aisle.

End cap POP displays capture consumer attention, as they tend to use bold colors and display products in an easy grab-and-go manner. Most are on the larger side but can be fitted to meet any specifications.

Signage

POP signage is a form of display marketing. Whether positioned from ceilings or on doors, coolers, or walls, signage communicates promotional offers and directs consumers to where they need to go. It can help to showcase a single product on a shelf or provide the buyer with specific details about a promotional offer. They adhere in various ways, depending on the unique needs of the location.

Interactive Displays

Interactive displays are POP displays that allow a consumer to reach out and touch the product. Some allow consumers to experience how a product works, while others demonstrate the functionality of one product compared to another. The key is that they help sell the product through the POP display by creating a first-hand look at what is available.

Shelf Talkers

Shelf talkers are small, often vibrant signs that attach directly to retail displays or aisle shelves. Designed to catch the eye of shoppers, they "talk" from the shelf space by highlighting key product information, promotional offers, prices, or unique selling points. They serve as silent salespeople, guiding customers' purchasing decisions by drawing attention to specific products and providing valuable information at the point of decision.

Spinners

Spinners are a specific type of interactive POP display. They capture a consumer’s attention by placing products on a shelving unit that turns. Permanent or temporary, this type of marketing allows retailers to get more out of a small footprint.

Spinners are easy to use with a soft turn, displaying numerous product types, sizes, and other options for promotion. Because they rotate, retailers can position more on these shelving units than is otherwise typical of that floor space, and they create an engaging opportunity for consumers.

Dump Bins

Dump bins are designed to hold a large number of small items in a single location, often with several varieties of merchandise available. They are fun for people to dig through and help feature POP display merchandising in an interactive way. Perfect for promotions where products have different animations or marketing on them, such as soda cans or bars, dump bins get people looking for the one item they need to complete a collection.

Permanent Displays

Permanent POP displays are high-quality and made of durable materials (e.g. metal, wood, plastic, acrylic, etc.). They still offer all the graphic opportunities and unique features you would expect but they are usually positioned on a retailer’s floor space for an extended period of time. As such, they tend to hold products that are going to be commonly found in that location. Creating an attractive POP display like this draws attention to your company’s foundational products on a routine basis.

Semi-Permanent Displays

Semi-permanent POP displays are designed to last longer than temporary displays but are not as durable as permanent fixtures, typically remaining in place for several months up to a year. They are often made from more robust materials than temporary displays, such as heavier cardboard, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof, to withstand the retail environment over an extended period. They are ideal for showcasing products during seasonal promotions, new product launches, or marketing campaigns, offering a balance between flexibility and durability.

Temporary Displays

Temporary POP displays are designed for short-term use, typically crafted from lightweight, cost-effective materials like cardboard, paperboard, or corrugated fiberboard. These displays are ideal for seasonal promotions, product launches, or highlighting limited-time offers. Due to their affordability and flexibility, temporary POP displays allow retailers to quickly adapt to market trends and consumer preferences, making them a dynamic tool for capturing customer attention and boosting sales during specific periods.

Maximize Point of Purchase Marketing 

As you can see, there are a multitude of POP displays available to suit almost any need, including promoting impulse buys. They offer a tremendous opportunity to capture additional retail sales and communicate important messages. Consider what would work best for your business! Give us a call or contact us at info@cardboardcutoutstandees.com and our team will take care of you!