Display units serve three main purposes:
- To be functional
- To inform customers about products
- To attract attention
Display Unit Ideas
1. Promotional display units
Promotional display units help you draw focus to new merchandise, brand campaigns, bestsellers and special promotions. These hero products need their own dedicated display in order to stand out from other products and reel customers in. Promotional displays can be tall, freestanding units dotted around your shop floor, or they can be custom countertop displays. Whichever you choose, ensure your display has an eye-catching colour scheme, a hard-to-miss focal point and a nice balance of products.
2. Freestanding display units
3. POS displays near retail counters
If you want to boost last-minute purchases, place a POS display near your retail counter. This leverages the mood of the customer - they’re already in the mood to buy when they’re approaching your retail counter, and therefore more likely to pick up something extra. For this dart display, KSF Global based the shape of the unit on the shape of a dart. This creates a unique display that is bound to turn heads, while also immediately telling customers about the products being offered.

4. Interactive display units
You can also go digital. Interactive kiosks, for example, can be added to your retail displays to provide shoppers with more information about the products and allow them to look at your full range of merchandise. This improves customer engagement and creates a personalised experience.
5. Gondola display units
Gondola displays are some of the most versatile units for retail shops. Available in a huge range of shapes, sizes and materials, with a variety of customisable accessories like shelves and hooks, they are a sound investment for any retail space. There are several types of gondola shelving you can choose from, including large gondola islands as shown in this example, gondola towers and end displays, compact mid-aisle gondolas with lockable wheels and wall gondolas with vast shelving.
6. Shop-in-shop displays
7. Sidekick display units
If you want to upsell smaller items but lack shelf space, opt for a sidekick. These display units are simple, affordable and highly effective.As they’re fixed to aisle shelves, sidekicks catch customers as they’re browsing. Ensure the products on your sidekick complement the products on nearby shelves so the display greets the customer as a natural recommendation.
8. Display cases
Display cases are popular in retail shops because they play several roles. They can be used to protect high-value items, create an air of exclusivity around hero products, encourage customer interaction and present items that are designed to lay flat in an appealing way. There are three main types of display cases:- Table cases, often seen in jewellery stores, provide a top-down view of items
- Wall display cases, ideal for spotlighting a selection of hero products
- Freestanding cases, guiding traffic flow and giving customers a 360 view of the merchandise
9. Retail shelving units
Shelving units are a must for retail stores. They organise your stock, maximise your floor space and can be customised in any number of ways to entice customers. Here are some examples of unique shelving display units:
- Wall-mounted shelves with atmospheric spotlights
- A bespoke shelving unit created from industrial pipework
- Sleek glass shelving with coloured LEDs
- Bespoke cabinetry with built-in shelf storage
10. Reclaimed display units
If your shop has a vintage, boho aesthetic that you want to accentuate with unique pieces, reclaimed display units will fit right in. Wooden spools stacked together to make display tables, upcycled pallets turned into hanging racks, or even old ladders leant against the wall for extra shelf space - these are all one-of-a-kind display unit examples that will make your products more alluring and your store more memorable.11. POP display units
Point-of-purchase displays should be placed in high-traffic areas of your store to promote new products and special offers. These are excellent sales boosters because they make merchandise feel transitory, which encourages more spontaneous purchases. You can be as creative as you like with POP displays - the more eye-catching they are, the more sales you’ll make. Think about how you can reflect the personality of the product and enhance the customer’s experience of it.12. Counter display units
Encourage upsells by adding miniature display units to your retail counter. These should be well-branded, placed within easy reach of the customer, and be affordable enough to tempt the customer into making a quick purchase decision.

13. Slatwall display units
If you need versatile display units that can be quickly reorganised to accommodate new products, look no further than slatwall units. These come with horizontal grooves that can be customised with hooks, shelves, faceouts and more. From slatwall gondolas and pinwheels to towers and FSDUs, these display units are available in a range of options. This gives you the flexibility to make creative displays that meet your exact needs.14. Mannequins
15. Display tables
Display tables add a sophisticated touch to any retail store. Capable of displaying a huge range of products, they invite customers to walk around the display and interact with all the various items.Choose a display table that communicates your brand’s personality. For example, rustic wood tables are perfect for cosy stores like Superdry, while for this Saks shoe shop, the ornate, light-coloured display table was the right choice for the bright, modern atmosphere.
16. Retail counters
Retail counters double as excellent display units. Placing products at your point of sale will encourage customers to speak with staff, attract them to your checkout space, and make them more likely to make a purchase. Make your counter as attractive as possible with:- Lights that make it stand out from the rest of the store
- Built-in shelves to give you more merchandising options
- Bold signage that’s eye-catching and on-brand
- Mirrored panels that reflect other parts of the store
17. Wall display systems
Making use of your vertical space with built-in wall display units has several benefits. It will improve traffic flow through your store, allow customers to see all your products at one glance, and make your shop feel fuller. Wall display unit examples include:
- Racks or shelves that line an entire wall
- Bespoke cabinetry with various compartments
- Floating shelves or display boxes
- Deep cubby holes with face-outs for storing clothing



