Getting to the Point of Sale

When it comes to point-of-sale (POS) displays, many retailers and brands have amped up efforts to stand out in crowded markets.

With online marketing, in-person experiences, and influencers selling you goods here, there, and everywhere, the ability to grab attention is more difficult than ever. Today, visiting a store can be a particularly visual experience, especially as many supermarkets and high street stores are embracing more standout displays, using the likes of digital technology, packaging, and inventive POS systems to lure in customers.

With this in mind we speak to professionals in the world of graphic displays to get their advice and thoughts on POS displays in 2025 and 2026.

POS in Leeds and Beyond

At this year’s Sign Show at the NEC in Birmingham, one company that made sure to catch the attention of passers-by, was Ipl (Leeds), which showcased its superhero theme in order to introduce and remind visitors to the company’s brand.

The company says it works regularly with some of the high street’s biggest names to deliver end-to-end graphics, signage, and POS systems for one-off projects as well as multi-store rollouts.

Daniel Yates, managing director and head of installation at Ipl says: “We support clients at every step of the process, from survey to print, delivery, and installation. With over 120 crews throughout the UK, we have many experienced POS and point-of-display (POD) crews, each sporting a long history in delivering quality installations.”

Despite the fact that many brands and retailers want to grab the attention of shoppers, budgets and environmental changes have meant that more products are being made so that in-store staff can assemble systems themselves. Yates says that POS solulions are simplifying in order to accommodate these changes, meaning items like pop-up FSD units and self-cling vinyl are becoming more popular as they can be easily handled by inexperienced workers.

However, Yates says this does come with many drawbacks: “What we are seeing as a result of this is technically poor installations that, without intervention, can easily deter customers from engaging with the displayed product. These often require additional site visits from experienced crews, ultimately increasing costs for retailers as they attempt to rectify the initial install.”

Speaking of trends and changes, Yates has also noticed a change in the work calendar as seasonal promotions are changing to focus on a select few events instead of spreading out several promotions for occasions like Halloween and Back to School. The occasions that Ipl has seen focused on the most are Black Friday and Christmas, with Yates adding: “For these, we are noticing projects of increasing scale beginning much earlier, hoping to capture the early shopper audience before the seasonal period even begins.

“We are also noticing a shift in POS to include more well-known legacy brands. These POS displays often employ ‘nostalgia marketing’, set to remind consumers of an established product whilst heightening its position as a household name.”

When it comes to new products, Yates highlights the uptake in 3D POS displays, which can be incredibly effective in engaging a wider audience, but can lead to several issues and additional costs. As previously mentioned, Yates warns against the idea of in-store staff completing these installations, as it can lead to increasing costs for retailers as additional site visits are needed from graphic specialists to rectify problems.

“The most important thing for POS installations is to have a clear and up-to-date understanding of what each site may require, which comes from the completion of a thorough and accurate site survey,” says Yates.

“Multi-store estates should prioritise site surveys as a cost-saver. Without them, we are seeing the production of generic POS packs that ultimately lead to wasted materials and unnecessary printing and disposal costs,” he adds.

When it comes to the best advice for working on these projects in the new year, Yates suggests working with a job’s project manager as much as possible to determine accurate, and realistic installation times.

“This can also help with garnering additional quality-control information, such as on-site storage, which can help inform on elements such as weather-wrapping deliveries to avoid any additional charges due to reprints.”

Venturing into POS

With such a variety of creative options available for POS systems, different substrates are key, especially for eco-conscious retailers that want to be able to recycle or reuse products as much as possible.

Venture Banners, a trade-only supplier of large-format print, has become well known for a variety of textile display options along with silicone edge graphics (SEG), self-adhesive vinyl, and roller banners.

Scott Conway, director at Venture Banners, says: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot more interest in reuse of POS materials, which is being driven by two main factors – sustainability and cost. People are looking for more modular formats that they can quickly change or repurpose, which has led to the growing popularity of reusable frame systems such as SEG fabric displays, for which we can quickly and cost-effectively produce replacement graphics for, with the fabric graphics also being recyclable.

“They’re also lightweight to transport and don’t crease during transportation, which has added logistical benefits for fast campaign refreshes.”

When it comes to trends, Conway highlights work for a large retail chain which involved printing coloured and patterned fabrics which were used to visually segment areas of different shops without the need for physical barriers or specific branding, so there was consistency across multiple branches.

The need for consistency and alternative solutions has long been an important element of retail graphics and comes with the role of being a large-format and display provider, meaning sign-makers and print service providers (PSPs) can provide POS and signage for more than what they are traditionally made for.

Conway adds: “Effective POS relies on creating a connection with consumers in the moment at which they’re making purchasing decisions. Modular POS solutions such as SEG displays can give brands the flexibility they need to quickly and easily capitalise on fleeting trends, which enables them to build in-store connections with customers over moments like trending pop culture memes, sporting events, or weather changes.”

But what is Conway’s advice for printers and sign-makers in this sector ahead of 2026? “Campaign cycles may be shorter than ever but thinking long-term can help you deliver impactful POS signage more cost-effectively by giving your customers the flexibility they need to switch things up,” says Conway.

“Just over 60% of UK POS displays are temporary, but by embracing modular formats such as SEG and stretch textile displays – which you can simply update with new graphics as needed – you can dramatically reduce the waste you generate and make seasonal and limited-time promotions more cost-effective. This can also simplify logistics, and utilising fabrics which are more lightweight can reduce the logistical carbon footprint of orders too.”

Very Poignant Products

While sustainability continues to be an ever-expanding topic, eco-friendly products could be argued as now being the norm, despite the contrast of their use and prevalence in certain global markets.
Efforts by the UK and European governments mean that businesses, brands, and retailers now need to do more to hit certain environmental targets, despite the fact that many countries such as the US are still heavily invested in plastic.

Beatrice Spencer, marketing assistant at Very Displays, and Andy Elliott, head of sales, also from Very, say: “Sustainability continues to be a major focus across the industry, with more companies and retailers looking to reduce their environmental impact. Our Bamboo X Banner has quickly become a standout product, drawing significant attention at trade shows and driving strong sales.

“Its eco-friendly design and use of PVC-free graphics make it the perfect POS solution for brands looking to showcase their messaging in a sustainable way. LED displays are also a major trend right now, and we’re proud to be an industry-leading supplier in this space. By 2026, we’ll offer one of the widest lightbox ranges on the market, a milestone that reflects our commitment to innovation. These products are already capturing the attention of the industry and resellers, setting a new standard for portable display solutions.”

As a trade-only supplier of display and print solutions, Very Displays prides itself on its wide-range of portable products, supported by expert support and a personal service. When it comes to the future of the business, Spencer and Elliott say: “Keep an eye on Very Displays, we’re always evolving and pushing boundaries, and we’re constantly investing in new ideas and materials to bring the latest and most exciting products to the industry. At Very Displays we are dedicated to innovation, from fresh designs to smarter display solutions, so watch this space for what’s coming next.”

A product that Spencer and Elliott highlight for effective POS is Very’s Folding Lightbox which combines portability as well as visual impact. Like other contributors to this article, Spencer and Elliott also emphasise the prevalence of textile printing, pointing out that Very specialises in fabric printing as an addition to its indoor and outdoor display hardware.

“Specialising in fabric printing, we’ve invested in advanced equipment including two 3.2m dye-sublimation printers, an automated cutter, and improved UV printing capabilities. We specialise in items like roller banners, fabric backwalls, feather flags, gazebos, café barriers, pavement signs, lightboxes, and branded tablecloths. From in-house trade printing and finishing, to long product guarantees, everything we do is focused on helping our customers' businesses grow.”

The ideas of growth and product diversity demonstrates two important elements within the world of POS displays. While taking orders and supplying retailers and brands with what they want is part of the churn of the industry, the gradual mission should always be to increase or diversify your portfolio of products and services in order to keep up with quick and changing trends.

As evident by those we spoke to in this feature, the world of displays and graphics is ever-evolving, with peak times, products, and processes constantly changing, meaning that sign-makers need to be in control of the narrative and output more than ever.