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A History of Retail Displays

December 21, 2022

Retail as we know it is constantly evolving. A great way to find inspiration for your next retail display is to look back in time at the history of retail displays and how they have risen to prominence in the consumer world. From handwritten signs to neon displays to interactive kiosks, the retail display has come a long way. 


Store Windows and Handwritten Signs

Some of the earliest retail displays were as simple as handwritten signs placed inside and outside a store. Shopkeepers learned the importance of creative and communicative signs to catch their customers' eyes as early as the 1800s. Store window displays became a big feature when glass plate was readily available, and retailers could create captivating displays showcasing their products. 


POP Displays Begin

It is difficult to distinguish exactly when the POP (point-of-purchase) retail display was created. In the United States, there was a sudden rise in consumer products during the 1950s and 1960s after World War II. This retail boom brought a lot of competition in the advertising world as stores competed for customers, so the POP displays likely started around this time. The idea behind the POP display is to catch the customer's attention while waiting in line to pay and make an impulse purchase – this is still the goal of POP displays today.


Neon and Lights

Another noteworthy era in the history of retail displays was the heavy use of neon signs throughout the 1920s until the 1960s, with a small revival in the 1980s. Although some retailers were already using neon gas, it grew in popularity at the Paris Motor Show in 1910. Many retailers caught on to consumers' attraction to the signs' bright colors and began placing them outside of their stores or even inside. Due to safety issues with neon gas, neon signs died down in the retail world, but nowadays safer manufacturing procedures can make signs with a similar effect. 




Temporary Cardboard, Permanent Plastic 

As retailers continued to dive into visual marketing and POP displays, some began experimenting with short-term and long-term displays. Typically, corrugated cardboard displays are used for a product roll-out, a new campaign, a seasonal product, or any other short-term occasion. Cardboard displays can be very effective and often more cost-effective than plastic or acrylic-based displays. Plastic displays stepped in for more permanent store fixtures with their increased durability and versatility.

Interactive Displays

Another game changer in the retail display game has been the rise of interactive displays in the last few decades. These displays can implement digital aspects or be purely physical, just as long as the customer gets to interact with the product in some way before purchasing it. In electronic stores, this can mean trying out the device in the store, or in cosmetic stores, it might be trying the product on and color matching makeup. Creating these displays can be tricky as to avoid theft of the sample product, so working with the right design and manufacturing team is crucial. 



Screens and Kiosks

The integration of digital retail displays in brick-and-mortar stores has continued. Some retailers have small screens throughout the store and in the point-of-purchase areas. Kiosks are also a popular addition to the shopping experience, where shoppers can check if an item is in stock, check prices, or even place an online order for merchandise that isn't in stock in the store. However, kiosks are a lot to maintain, so some retailers are already moving toward having an app that has these capabilities and encourages users to open the app in the store or for online shopping at home. 


Larger Than Life

The farther retailers get into the visual merchandising game, the more anything goes. In the past few years, retailers like Target, Walmart, or Costco will create giant displays of featured items or used those items – think of the looming stacks of six packs of Coca-Cola™ at the front of the store or the giant plastic Christmas ornaments displayed during the holidays. As we look back on the history of retail displays and look forward to the future, creativity often catches the customer’s eye. 


Work With Exactec

Here at Exactec, we have decades of experience in plastic fabrication and screen printing. If you need a POP display or a different type of retail display, signage, store fixtures, and more, our talented team is here to help. We can help you develop design ideas you already have or guide you through the process. We have done work for clients in many industries all over the country – get in contact with us today to find out why. We can't wait to hear from you! 

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