7 Most Effective Types of Retail Displays Explained

By Shenzhen Topwon Group Co.,Ltd

May 29, 2025

What is a retail display? A retail display, also known as a POS display (point-of-sale) or POP (point-of-purchase) display, is any item used in a store to place or promote a product. Visual merchandising strategies focus primarily on retail design and the appearance of merchandise displays to persuade shoppers to purchase a specific product or to increase the visibility of a brand’s message.

cardboard end cap display
cardboard end cap display

End-cap displays

End-cap displays are located at the end or ends of aisles and are most common in grocery stores. They can be used to hold a particular product category, or a group of discounted items. The most dramatic form is the fully branded End-cap Display, which can also be a colorful and attention-grabbing place. One study showed that endcap displays account for about 30% of supermarket sales. Seasonal products, discounted merchandise and new beverages are all part of the endcap display. Endcap displays tend to be fixtures, permanent displays or semi-permanent displays found in a large number of retail environments such as grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores and large malls. This high-traffic, high-volume retail location is every brand’s dream display location.

cardboard floor fresh bread display stand
cardboard floor fresh bread display stand

Floor Display

    Floor displays place products on shelves away from competitors. They interrupt the customer’s shopping process to ensure that the shopper’s attention is captured, and are designed to build brand awareness and maximize product visibility, thereby converting browsers into buyers.

    Floor displays are perfect for high traffic areas. Floor displays are usually at eye level so shoppers are sure to see the advertised product, but they can also be taller and can easily draw shoppers in. They are ideal for areas where large displays cannot be placed, such as the aisles of a supermarket. These displays can be easily moved and can be quickly updated. Floor displays can be permanent, seasonal or temporary. These displays are strategically placed at store entrances. Floor displays can also be found in a variety of retail environments such as grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores, large malls and department stores.

    beverage counter cardboard display box
    beverage counter cardboard display box

    Countertop Display

    Countertop Displays wait for customers at the checkout. These displays are small and designed to be placed on a counter or shelf. Countertop displays are great for stimulating impulse purchases and are often used to display consumable items. Typically, the material is determined by the life cycle of the display and the type of store, as well as the expected time spent in the store. Common materials used for countertop displays are corrugated cardboard, plastic, and metal. Countertop displays can be found in virtually any retail environment, from typical grocery stores, large stores, convenience stores, and drug stores, to department stores, small-box retailers, and everything in between.

    pallet skirt
    pallet skirt

    Pallet Displays

    Pallet Displays allow retailers to promote large quantities of products. These displays are custom-designed to fit on pallets, making it easy for stores to stack items. Pallet displays are often used for seasonal merchandise and create a sense of urgency.
    Cardboard displays utilize a full-size pallet base and have product and information details printed on the display. These displays are very efficient because they are shipped as-is, the product is already in place, and retailers simply place the display where they want it and open the appropriate section to display the product.
    Because of the savings in setup time, palletized displays tend to fall into the PDQ display category (very fast). Tabbed displays usually require more floor space than other types of displays and are very popular in large stores or department stores.

    cardboard PDQ sidekick display
    cardboard PDQ sidekick display

    Sidekick Display

    Sidekick Display, is a product display that can be hung or fastened to a shelf using clips, adhesives or wire backing. These displays are usually placed on the side of an end cap, but are versatile enough to be placed on almost any retail shelf. Side displays can be easily converted to floor displays by placing them on a base with an angled backing to keep the side display upright. With the additional base, the Side Display can be placed in all corners of the retail floor.

    cardboard-case-stacker

    Dump Bin/Case Stacker

    Dump Bins/Case Stacker are used to store smaller, unbreakable items such as stuffed animals and snacks. These containers are also less tidy and easier to maintain. You’ll often see this type of retail stacking and promotional merchandise at large stores like Walmart. Use stackers to get rid of slow-selling items or to encourage customers to make additional purchases of new products. Place them anywhere near the counter or in the aisles to ensure that all customers can touch them.

    Large prints can quickly grab a customer’s attention by displaying the brand and message in a highly visible manner. These displays are often large and can hold a large number of products, so they require a considerable amount of floor space. Stackers can be found in convenience stores, grocery stores, drugstores and large stores.

    Built-in displays

    How to make your products shine in the limited space on the shelves? Inline Display, also known as shelf display, draws consumers’ attention to a brand or product and encourages them to buy your products instead of those of your competitors! While floor displays require ample space, inline displays are mounted directly on aisle shelves. These highly effective displays use a strategy called shelf management to essentially maximize the visibility of your existing shelves to sell your products more effectively.

    In short, these are the 7 most effective types of retail displays, but as technology evolves and the display industry continues to innovate, new types of displays will continue to emerge. Recently, because topwon in the beverage display rack to do the topic, then by the way, there is a question, then in the end, which types of display racks suitable for displaying beverages? The answer is, can, but need to according to their specific role to use, and not that which one type of display rack suitable for displaying drinks.

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