Each week in the US, almost one third of consumers (29%) walk out of a retail establishment with a purchase they had no intention of making when they entered the store. The tendency to make impulse purchases is higher with Gen Z consumers (44%), urban residents (39%), and parents (35%). 

One contributing factor to these impulse moments is the growing use of large-format print POP retail displays that create compelling and captivating in-store experiences.

Large-format POP displays are a powerful tool for driving in-store sales by attracting customer attention and enhancing the shopping experience. In-store, brands can take advantage of the impression large-format print POP displays make on people to influencing purchases of products that the shopper might otherwise have not even noticed.

The Role of POP Displays in Retail

What is a POP Display?

A POP display is a way for brands to make their product stand out, literally, in the aisles and high traffic areas of brick-and-mortar retail establishments at the point of purchase. The purpose of a POP Display is to interrupt a shopper’s normal experience and make them take a moment to discover a brand’s new or latest product using bold colors, interesting shapes, and compelling designs and constructions.

A shopper’s attention is drawn to the unexpected, and a POP display that is placed in close proximity to the product piques curiosity and helps attract attention. Whether the display is an endcap, a freestanding display, an archway or a dump bin, when the POP display is of high quality, unique, and vibrant, it invites the shopper to explore and adds new dimensions to the way a product is typically seen on a shelf.

History of POPs

The first POP display probably appeared right about the same time individuals began selling their goods in ancient bazaars and marketplaces. There is no doubt that these basic displays were as inventive as what brands can create today, but they allowed merchants to attractively arrangeand purposefully placethier goods for passersby to see. The use of POP displays continued and flourished in the industrial revolution when more products became available because of mass production and increased wealth led to further innovations and more elaborate display concepts.

POP displays really came into their own as an effective way to attract and grab shoppers’ attention as supermarkets grew in importance and numbers throughout the US after WWII. These markets gave shoppers the freedom to browse, handle, and select goods based on their perceptions, not the pitch of a salesclerk, which in turn drove the importance of packaging and unique signage to influence decision making.

Today, the ways that retailers and brands can use POP displays continue to evolve as stronger and lighter materials and more durable and eco-friendly materials can incorporate brand-specific elements and interactive elements into displays. As a result, POP displays are becoming more dynamic, customer-experience focused, and engaging than ever before.

The Difference Between POS and POP Displays

It’s important to understand the difference between point-of-sale (POS) signage and POP displays, especially large format POP displays that appear bigger than life. POS signage tends to be smaller so that these signs can be placed on countertops or along checkout lines to encourage an impulse purchase right before the customer pays without interfering in the transaction.

On the other hand, a large format POP is intended to increase awareness by disrupting the usual and making it impossible for the customer to avoid noticing the product display. They can serve as free-standing and mobile product shelfing placed in high traffic areas where customers aren’t used to coming across the product or put near complimentary products to trigger spontaneous purchases. POS displays influence the customer when the sale is made while large format POP displays influence the customer when the purchasing decision is made.

8 Great Benefits of Large-Format POP Displays

1. Increased Visibility – The size and unique designs of large-format POP displays capture attention, even in crowded spaces and busy environments. Shoppers remember them because they dominate the end of an aisle or present brightly packaged products in fun and different ways. The products have no competition and give brands and retailers a fun way to introduce new ones or build on existing branding.

2. Enhanced Brand Presence – Large-format POP displays give brands the opportunity to build on and expand the affinity a customer has for the brand and create fun, engaging displays that showcase the features of their products. They become a visual, tactile, and often 3-dimensional representation of the brand, and the quality of the display imparts messages that resonate with shoppers. They show and impress on shoppers that the brand will go a little further than settling for traditional retail marketing promotion to get their business in a retail establishment.

3. Highlighting Promotions – Large-format POP displays elevate in-store promotions with creative ways to let shoppers have easy access to seasonal, holiday, or new products on customized shelving or from POP bins or buckets. They can be used to showcase special offers or discounts and educate shoppers about the qualities of the product. The ability to have large-format POP displays printed and shipped to multiple locations swiftly and constructed and deconstructed quickly makes them ideal for promotions that can last months.

4. Influencing Purchase Decisions – The durable nature of large-format POP displays leads to repeated viewing by shoppers, and studies show that it often takes customers several experiences with a brand display before making a purchase. That makes these displays indispensable for retailers and brands for motivating shoppers to make an unplanned purchase or change their minds about a product. A 2025 Trends survey of 80 consumer marketers published by the Path to Purchase Institute found that 55% of respondents said their organizations invest in permanent in-store displays, while 87% said they invest in temporary displays. 

5. Cost-Effective Marketing – Like all print marketing, large-format displays may require a higher initial investment depending on factors like size and levels of design and construction, but when created with durable and sustainable materials they can generate a favorable ROI. Innovations in print technologies and materials are bringing costs down with on-demand print to reduce the need for storage and lightweight qualities that make them inexpensive to ship to locations promptly as ordered.

6. Enhanced Customer Experiences – Large-format POP displays give brands and retailers countless ways to add fun, unique, and engaging elements into marketing promotions and new product campaigns. They can be used to memorably connect to shoppers with larger-than-life and eye-catching shapes and themes to reinforce or introduce brand values. Large-format POP displays can connect with shoppers through narratives and storytelling that can educate. Quality finishes and material textures invite customers to touch or sample.

7. Precise Targeting – The versatility and mobility of large-format POP displays presents opportunities for brands and retailers to place promotional displays where they know their customers will be. These displays let brick-and-mortar establishments use the knowledge they have about shopper flow throughout their space to optimize the visibility of the display and put the displays adjacent to complementary items to pair them for cross-merchandising or secondary placement. Examples include a POP display promoting batteries that is placed in an electronics section or a display promoting salsa set up near chips in the snack aisles.

8. Optimized Retail Space – Large-format POP displays give retailers opportunities to use floor space more effectively and add cool aspects to product layout that shoppers find engaging at a relatively low cost. Brick-and-mortar spaces can be transformed by modular configurations that adapt to floor plans with flexible layouts and provide visibility from all angles. Tall free-standing or endcap POP displays draw eyes upward, freeing floor space while providing clear sight lines for products. The ability to swap out large-format POP displays for seasonal promotions without extensive interior redesign controls marketing costs and makes each trip to the store seem like an entirely new experience for shoppers.

Designing Effective Large-Format POP Displays

Several factors go into creating a truly effective large-format POP display, and there are several steps to follow for designing a display that increases brand awareness and sales.

• Applying the understanding of your buyer persona and the way traffic flows throughout your retail space helps you design displays that correlate to their desires, buying habits, and the emotional triggers that influence impulse decision making.
• Choosing a theme early in the design process makes it easy to form narratives around your product and display. A theme makes for simpler decisions regarding the styles of display and messaging that connect to your customer.
• The style of POP display should be incorporated into your strategy, with a wide variety of types available that include floor displays, pallet displays, end cap displays, and dump bin displays.
• You should incorporate brand messaging and colors into the display with the call-to-action prominently displayed, easy to read, and preferably at eye level.
• Select materials and finishes that reflect the personality of your brand and product, such as a rugged appearance for outdoor products or a playful look for sporting goods. 
• Convey your strengths visually with colors that influence shoppers subconsciously and that generate emotional connections to drive impulse purchases.
• Your large-format POP display may be as much about function as it is about form, so make sure that the products being promoted are accessible and that the materials it’s constructed of are durable enough to withstand the intended use.
• Strategic placement of your display is extremely important, and design strategies should consider how the display can be integrated into the retail space for maximum effect and impact.
• Consider if interactive POP features can make your display more engaging and improve the experience for the customer using elements like special lighting, motion sensors, tactile features, or video.

Challenges and Solutions

For all the benefits that large-format POP displays provide, there are also challenges that brands and brick-and-mortar retailers face when developing strategies to promote products with retail POP displays. Fortunately, affordable solutions can be found to overcome them.

Cost Consideration

Challenge:

Large-format POP displays usually require an upfront investment for design expenses, material procurement, print services, and kitting and fulfillment before the displays begin generating income.

Solution:

Go for simplicity in design to keep costs down. A variety of lightweight materials like honeycomb or corrugated cardboard, Falcon board, recycled PET plastic, and bio-based plastics, as well as eco-friendly finishes help prolong the lifetime of your POP display. Work with an experienced print shop that is up on the latest innovations in print technology and advances in creating POP displays with sustainable materials.

Space Limitations and Clutter Control

Challenge:

Most retailers favor product density over product display to drive revenue, with many limiting POP display placement opportunities to a small percentage of total floor space. In addition, if there are too many displays throughout a space or the POP display design is too visually chaotic, it can create a sense of clutter and disorganization.

Solution:

Modular display designs make it possible to keep large-format POP displays fresh, with adaptable configurations that can be arranged and are scalable to fit different spaces throughout their lifetime. POP display layouts that maximize space with vertical layouts such as end caps or standalone displays help avoid aisle clutter. Limiting the color palette to only two or three colors makes it easier on shoppers’ eyes to focus on key messaging.

Material Durability and Maintenance

Challenge:

Large-format POP displays must maintain strength and integrity throughout the entire course of product promotion to hold and showcase products and withstand the wear and tear that comes with shopper interactions or being transported around the retail space.

Solution:

If your POP display will only be deployed for three months or less, corrugated cardboard will suffice. If you’re looking for more substantial materials for longer promotional campaigns, there is a wide variety of eco-friendly wood, recycled plastic, recycled aluminum, and bamboo composite choices available. Work with an experienced print shop and POP design team to determine the best materials to suit your needs.

Future Trends in Large-Format POP Displays

Over the next few years, expected developments in large-format print POP displays will give brands and brick-and-mortar retailers new and exciting ways to engage with customers. These will include the integration of evolving technologies, introduction of more comprehensive use of sustainable materials and practices, advances in printing and automation, and the ability of retailers to create experiential displays that immerse the senses.

Increased Use of Customized and Interactive Displays for Wider Engagement

The combination of interactive print capabilities using QR codes and augmented reality will provide brands with the opportunity to create stand-alone retail spaces within their brick-and-mortar establishment that attracts interest and builds curiosity. These displays can be used as virtual dressing rooms or as game centers where shoppers can compete for discounts or prizes.

Growth of Modular/Reusable Designs to Reduce Waste and Lower Costs

Brands and retailers will realize increased savings by incorporating durable aluminum, recycled PET or polycarbonates that last long and continue to look great. These large-format POP displays can easily adapt to new campaigns. This allows brands to reuse the same display base with interchangeable panels which in turn and lower production costs, reduces shipping costs, increases assembly times, and provides better storage efficiency.

Innovations in Print Processes for Greater Customization and Durability

Advancements in print technology and print finishes provide cost-effective, durable, and sustainable ways to make large-print format print POP displays unique and unforgettable. Variable data printing allows brands to personalize displays by location or to target specific audiences with seasonal promotions. High resolution, water-based inks deliver full-color vibrancy and sharper graphics. On-demand print capabilities allow brands to control display inventory and ship to stores as needed.

Opportunities to Generate Impulse Purchases for BOPIS Customers

As more customers take advantage of Buy Online, Pickup In Stores (BOPIS) services, brands and retailers will increasingly deploy large-format print POP displays to influence impulse purchases in-store that are compatible with the online purchase. When people stop on their way home and pick up their order, they’ll be greeted with displays that offer beverage choices to accompany their takeout meal or fashion accessories to enhance apparel purchases.

Automated Assembly for Higher Investment Returns

Automation and automated assembly processes are transforming the way brands can design large-format POP display with CAD-driven design tools and 3D prototyping for a more efficient design process. Robotic folding and modular component systems with interchangeable parts enable use across campaigns and automated workflows with ERP systems help reduce overstock waste. Automated processes also lead to faster time-to-market benefits and can be scalable to handle the need for small batches or to replace damaged POP displays.

Smart Packaging for Dynamic Customer Interactions

The physical and the digital world converge with large-format POP displays that utilize smart packaging integrations that include NFC/RFID tags, QR codes, and IoT sensors. These innovations give shoppers access to product information, stories about material sourcing and creation, and augmented reality experiences. They provide brands with real-time tracking to manage inventory more efficiently and maintain promotional product quality.

Conclusion

When it comes to making a memorable impression and driving in-store impulse purchases, the size, visual impact, and physical nature of large-format print POP retail displays provide benefits that brands shouldn’t ignore for in-store retail promotions. Products stand apart from the competition and own the floor space with attractive end caps, free standing tower POP displays, or dump bin displays that shoppers can’t help but notice.

POP retail displays have evolved and today there continue to be innovations that help brands increase brand visibility and enhance brand presence when placed strategically where customers will be. They influence unplanned purchases and help products stand out during seasonal or new product promotions. Large-format print POP displays also help retailers optimize floor space and target locations based on traffic flow. They continue to be one of the most cost-effective brick-and-mortar marketing methods that brands can use to drive sales in competitive marketplaces.

A strategic and successful large-format print POP retail display campaign involves several stages from initial concepts based on buyer personas through the perfect and secure placement of your large-format POP. These include choosing a theme and call-to-action, determining style and design elements, and finding materials that stand up to the job.

For best results, turn to a trusted print company that can help you overcome challenges and find solutions to help the process run smoothly from start to finish. Marketing.com has the large-format print POP experience and expertise to handle your job and guide you to success. Contact us today.