Retail POS Displays: Boosting Sales with Effective Visual Merchandising

In the evolving retail landscape, physical stores remain a key driver of sales in the UK. Point-of-sale (POS) displays are instrumental in shaping customer decisions and elevating the overall in-store shopping experience. Effective visual merchandising captures attention, encourages impulse buys, and reinforces brand identity. The Board Printing Company supports retailers with premium printed solutions like Foamex boards and acrylic displays that turn retail spaces into engaging, sales-driven environments.

The Principles of Effective Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is the art and science of arranging products and displays in a retail space to engage customers and encourage purchases. It goes beyond simply placing products on a shelf – it involves thoughtful design to make the shopping experience appealing and intuitive. 

Key principles of visual merchandising include strategic product placement, clear signage, attractive and inspirational displays, logical organisation of products, an aesthetically pleasing environment, storytelling through themes, grouping related items, cohesive visual branding, and highlighting of special offers and offers. 

Together, these principles create a shopping atmosphere that is both inviting and persuasive. Importantly, good visual merchandising not only draws shoppers’ eyes but also guides their journey through the store in a way that maximises exposure to products.

When these principles are executed well, the impact on sales is tangible. Effective visual merchandising drives more than just impulse buys; it shapes customer perceptions and builds brand value. For example, studies have found that creative, well-designed displays can increase customers’ perception of product quality. The use of lighting, colour, and thematic props can evoke emotions or tell a brand story, making the shopping experience memorable. 

In short, visual merchandising principles set the stage for POS displays to perform effectively, turning browsing into buying.

High-Impact POS Displays: Quality Materials Matter

While creative design is crucial, the materials used for POS displays are just as important in determining their effectiveness. Displays must be attractive and durable, especially in busy UK retail environments where they are touched by customers and exposed to wear and tear. Using quality materials like Foamex boards and acrylic display blocks can elevate a display from ordinary to outstanding. These materials ensure that the visual appeal of a display is matched by longevity and sturdiness, thereby providing a better return on investment for retailers.

Foamex board printing is widely favoured for creating bold, high-impact signage and display solutions. Foamex (a rigid PVC foam board) offers a smooth surface for high-resolution printing, resulting in vibrant images and crisp text. Unlike cardboard, Foamex prints are water- and weather-resistant, making them suitable for outdoor use without sagging or disintegrating, even in rainy conditions.

This is significantly longer than typical cardboard standees, which often last only a few weeks in high-traffic areas. Moreover, Foamex is considered great value for money – it achieves a professional look similar to more expensive materials (like aluminium composite) at a lower cost. It’s no surprise that Foamex board printing is frequently used for eye-catching point-of-sale displays, from promotional retail signs to exhibition graphics.

Similarly, acrylic display blocks are a premium solution for POS presentations that need a sleek, modern aesthetic. Acrylic is a clear, solid plastic that can be fashioned into blocks, sign holders, or even printed panels. An acrylic block instantly elevates a display with a sleek, modern touch of sophistication and style.

Retailers often use clear acrylic riser blocks to elevate smaller products – for example, placing a new cosmetics item or a piece of jewellery on a crystal-clear block to make it stand out. The glossy, glass-like appearance of acrylic draws the eye without distracting from the product itself (the transparency keeps the focus on the merchandise). Beyond looks, acrylic is extremely durable: it is tougher and longer-lasting than both cardboard and Foamex.

To illustrate the differences between common POS materials, the table below compares cardboard, Foamex, and acrylic in key areas:

From Investment to Sales: POS Displays Pay Off

Retail is detail – and the detail shoppers see at the point of sale can directly influence revenue. There is a strong business case for investing in visual merchandising and POS displays. Not only do such displays enhance the customer experience, but they also deliver measurable sales growth. 

The return on investment (ROI) of POS materials is also enhanced by their reusability and longevity. A durable acrylic sign or a Foamex board printed with a timeless branding message can be reused across multiple campaigns or store layouts, extracting more value from the initial spend. Satisfied customers tend to spend more and return more often, feeding into long-term sales growth. In summary, money spent on improving visual merchandising – whether through better design, high-quality printing, or superior materials – is not merely a cost but an investment that yields dividends in the form of higher sales and stronger customer engagement.

Conclusion

In UK retail, compelling POS displays are vital sales tools. They attract attention, enhance brand perception, and guide purchasing decisions. Using quality materials like Foamex boards and acrylic blocks elevates both impact and durability. We help retailers create standout displays that merge style with function. By investing in visual merchandising, stores transform shopping into an engaging experience—one that not only draws customers in but also drives sales. A great display does more than show products—it motivates action.