What Is Corrugated Packaging and Is It Necessary for My Product?

Retail Ready: How POP Displays Can Transform Your Small Business

Getting your product into a retail store is a huge milestone. But a cluttered shelf can make even the most beautiful product go unnoticed. This is where a strategic Point-of-Purchase (POP) display becomes a game-changer. It’s your in-store brand ambassador, designed to stand out, attract attention, and drive impulse purchases.

At MDM Packaging and Distribution, we’ve helped leading brands like Siete, Pop & Bottle, and Juneshine get retail-ready. Now, we want to bring our 20+ years of expertise to your local small business.

1. Pain Points of Finding the Right POP Display Partner

Choosing the right partner for your POP displays is a critical decision that can determine your success in retail. Many small businesses face significant hurdles in this process:

• Customization Limitations: A “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work in retail. Small businesses often struggle to find a partner who can provide truly custom solutions that perfectly fit their product, brand, and the specific store environment.
• Material and Build Quality: Displays that are flimsy, poorly constructed, or use low-quality materials can fall apart, damage products, and reflect poorly on your brand. It’s a huge risk to invest in a display that won’t withstand the rigors of a busy retail floor.
• Poor Service and Communication: The POP display process involves many moving parts, from design and prototyping to production and fulfillment. Dealing with a company that is unresponsive or lacks transparency can lead to delays, errors, and significant stress.
• Lack of Retail Expertise: Understanding the nuances of different retail environments—from major chains to local boutiques—is crucial. A partner who doesn’t grasp the specific requirements and regulations of various stores can create a design that is ultimately unusable.

The right partner should be a trusted expert who understands your needs and helps you navigate these challenges. They should offer a seamless process, from concept to delivery, ensuring your displays are not only eye-catching but also effective and durable.

2. POP vs. POS: Understanding the Key Displays

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays and Point-of-Sale (POS) displays. Understanding their roles will help you strategically place your product for maximum impact.

• Point-of-Purchase (POP) Displays: These are promotional materials placed throughout the store to draw a customer’s attention to a product and encourage a purchase before they reach the checkout. They are designed to interrupt the customer’s shopping journey, highlight a new product, a special promotion, or a seasonal offering, and influence the buying decision. Examples include:
  • Floor Stands/Free-standing Displays: Large, attention-grabbing displays placed in high-traffic areas or at the end of an aisle (end caps).
  • Shelf Talkers: Small signs or banners attached to a shelf to highlight a product.
  • Dump Bins: Large containers for a product, often used for clearance or impulse items.
• Point-of-Sale (POS) Displays: These are displays strategically placed at the actual checkout counter or cash register. Their primary purpose is to drive impulse buys at the very last minute, when the customer is ready to complete their transaction. Examples include:
  • Countertop Displays: Small racks or containers that hold items like gum, candy, or travel-sized products.
  • End-of-Aisle Displays: While some are POP, those specifically at the end of the checkout aisle are considered POS.

The right strategy often involves a combination of both to influence customers at different stages of their shopping journey.

3. Warehousing and Fulfillment: Beyond the Design

A beautiful POP display design is only half the battle. Getting it into the hands of retailers, assembled, and ready for the sales floor is a complex logistical challenge. This is where our full-service capabilities truly shine.

At MDM Packaging and Distribution, we don’t just design and produce your displays; we manage the entire fulfillment process. We offer warehousing services that provide a critical advantage for your business:

• Just-in-Time Inventory: We store your displays and materials in our secure warehouse. This means you don’t have to worry about finding space or managing a large inventory. When a retailer needs a display, we can ship it out immediately.
• Efficient Kitting and Assembly: We can “kit” your POP displays, which means we combine all the necessary components (the display itself, your product, and any extra materials like flyers or brochures) into a single, ready-to-ship unit. We can even pre-assemble your displays, so they are ready to be put on the store floor with minimal effort from the retailer.
• Streamlined Shipping: Our logistics team ensures your displays are packed securely and shipped efficiently to a single store or multiple locations. This minimizes the risk of damage during transit, saving you time and money.

Our warehousing and fulfillment services allow you to focus on your core business while we handle the complicated logistics of getting your product to market.

4. Different Types of POP Displays to Choose From

Choosing the right type of display is crucial for maximizing your product’s visibility and sales. Here is a breakdown of the most common POP display options and how they work:

• Floor Displays: These are free-standing units, typically made from corrugated cardboard, that are placed on the retail floor, often near the product’s regular shelf location or in high-traffic areas.
• Skinny Towers: A type of floor display with a narrow, vertical design, perfect for smaller spaces or for showcasing a single product line.
• Pallet Displays: Large, pre-packed displays built on a standard pallet. These are ideal for bulk product promotions in big-box stores.
• Trains: Displays that are lined up in a single row down an aisle, often used to create a “product train” that guides customers’ eyes along a new line or promotion.
• Endcap Displays: Located at the end of a store aisle, these are some of the most sought-after and high-visibility spots in a retail store.
• Trend Pods: An eye-catching and creative type of display designed to feature a collection of related products in a single, visually appealing unit, often to highlight a seasonal or trending theme.
• Powerwing/Side Kick Displays: These are small, hanging displays that are attached to the side of a shelf or an endcap. They are perfect for impulse buys and are designed to be noticed in a crowded aisle.
• Standees: Life-sized or oversized cardboard cutouts of a brand’s mascot or a key visual element. They are primarily used for promotional marketing rather than holding products.
• Club Skirts: Custom branded wraps that go around the base of a pallet display, turning a standard pallet into a cohesive branded unit.
• Counter Displays: Compact displays placed on the checkout counter. They are designed to hold small, high-margin products that encourage last-minute, impulse purchases.
• PDQ Trays: “Pretty Darn Quick” trays are low-profile trays that can be easily placed on a shelf. They offer a simple way to create a branded section within an existing aisle.
• Dump Bins: Large, open-topped containers often used for a promotional or discounted product. Their unstructured look encourages customers to “dig in” and browse.
• Hutch Displays: A display that sits on top of an existing shelf, creating a branded “hutch” for your product.

5. Why MDM Packaging is the Perfect Partner for Your Local Business

With over two decades of experience, MDM Packaging and Distribution has become a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes, from local startups to national brands. Our experience with high-profile companies like Siete, Pop & Bottle, and Juneshine has given us a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in a competitive retail landscape.

• Unmatched Expertise and Experience: We are not a new player in the market. Our team has helped countless businesses successfully launch their products with custom POP displays, providing us with a wealth of knowledge to share with you.
• Customization and Quality: We pride ourselves on offering bespoke solutions. We work with you to choose the right materials and design a display that reflects your brand’s unique identity while ensuring it is durable and functional for the retail environment.
• Comprehensive, End-to-End Service: We are your single point of contact for the entire process, from initial concept and design to production, warehousing, and shipping. This eliminates the hassle of coordinating with multiple vendors and ensures a smooth, efficient process.
• Dedicated to Local Success: We understand the challenges faced by local small businesses. We offer low minimum order quantities and personalized service to ensure you get the support you need, no matter your size.

Don’t let your products get lost on the shelf. Partner with MDM Packaging and Distribution to create stunning, effective POP displays that capture the eyes of consumers and drive sales. Contact us today to get started on your retail journey.

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