
End cap displays are a crucial part of any retail store, capturing the attention of customers as they navigate through the aisles. According to our research, 75% of customers make impulse purchases when they see a visually appealing end cap display.
Eye-catching displays can make a significant difference in customer engagement. A study found that 63% of customers are more likely to try a new product when it's featured in an end cap display. This is especially true for products with high margins, such as gourmet foods or specialty beverages.
Effective end cap displays can also increase sales. By showcasing products in a creative and appealing way, retailers can encourage customers to make impulse purchases and drive sales. One retailer reported a 25% increase in sales after implementing a new end cap display strategy.
To create an engaging end cap display, consider using a mix of visual elements, including product demos, signage, and decorative elements. This can help capture customers' attention and encourage them to explore the product further.
Set the Scene

Setting a scene with your end cap display is a great way to catch attention and drive sales. Stella Artois created a Christmas-themed door out of their 6- and 12-packs to inspire holiday cheer.
Think about how your product can be used to create a scene that sets a mood. For example, you could create a festive display with holiday-themed packaging or decorations.
A well-designed scene can make your product stand out on the shelf and encourage customers to stop and take a closer look.
Display Design Principles
Design your display around your products to drive customers to investigate them. This means examining your product design choices and packaging to see how you can enhance them in your display.
Using a bright color palette is a great way to lead customers toward your product. This can be achieved by incorporating bold and vibrant colors throughout your display.
Every color and design choice should be built to enhance your products, not vice versa. This means focusing on showcasing your products rather than the other way around.

Place graphics at eye level and have them stretch outward into the aisle to grab customers' attention. This can be done using photography or illustrations.
The position of your display is key to its success. You want to catch customers' attention as they move between aisles, so your display needs to stand out from a distance.
Untidy and disorganized displays can turn away shoppers, so make sure to straighten up your endcap displays regularly and remove any damaged items.
Display Themes and Ideas
A visually appealing theme is key to catching customers' attention. Consider using colors, images, and logos that match your brand's personality to create a cohesive look.
You can also highlight your brand by showcasing your diverse selection and letting customers get to know your brand as a whole. For example, M&M's are well-known for their bright colors, so endcaps often feature rainbow designs.
To make your endcap display stand out, consider pairing with complementary products. This strategy eliminates browsing and adds convenience to the shopping experience while boosting sales. For example, placing coffee mugs or sweeteners next to your coffee products provides quick solutions to pain points customers may have related to your product.

Here are some display theme ideas to try:
- A festive theme during the holiday season, like a Christmas tree or Santa Claus display.
- A seasonal theme, such as a summer sale or a back-to-school promotion.
- A themed display around a specific product, such as a coffee shop featuring a coffee-of-the-month display.
Remember, the theme should be specific and encourage customers to interact with it. Stick to an organized subject matter to create a clear message.
A Thrilling Theme
A visually appealing or relevant theme is essential for an endcap display that grabs customers' attention. This theme should be specific and encourage interaction.
For example, a Christmas tree or Santa Claus display is fitting for customers doing Christmas shopping during the festive season. A clear message is created by sticking to an organized subject matter.
A theme that is too broad can be overwhelming and confusing for customers. Sticking to a specific subject matter helps to create a clear message that resonates with your target audience.
Convenience Theme
Convenience is a major draw for consumers, who love being able to grab what they need quickly and easily.
Whole Foods paired beer and chips on end caps during the football season, making it convenient for shoppers to grab a snack and a drink together.
Display Ideas to Try Out

Highlight your brand by using colors, images, and logos that match your brand's personality. This will help customers get to know your brand as a whole.
Use bold, bright colors to make displays stand out and impact how customers feel about your products. First impressions matter, and studies show that color contributes to 90% of the information that determines whether customers make a purchasing decision.
Promote special deals and sales on your endcap to encourage customers to try out products they might not normally consider. Sales and discounts can increase brand awareness and expand your customer base.
Highlight new products by optimizing product arrangements to show their benefits to customers. With color and design flexibility, you can focus on increasing brand recognition and awareness for any new products you are launching.
Pair your products with complementary items to provide quick solutions to pain points customers may have. This will eliminate browsing and add convenience to the shopping experience while boosting sales.

Consider changing your display to match different seasons to cater to changing consumer needs. Many customers enjoy the unique characteristics of each season, and endcaps present an opportunity to get creative and highlight unique products that relate to the season.
Here are some specific display ideas to try out:
- Highlight your brand: Use colors, images and logos that match your brand’s personality.
- Promote special deals: Use endcaps to point out discounts and other promotions.
- Highlight new products: Optimize product arrangements to show their benefits to customers.
- Pair with complementary products: Display your products with items that work well together.
- Change your display to match different seasons: Get creative and highlight unique products that relate to the season.
Display Functionality
Designing an endcap display is all about functionality, and that starts with versatility. You can create adjustable shelving units that allow for easy changes to different products and promotional needs. This flexibility will keep your display fresh and surprising for customers.
To make the most of your display's functionality, don't forget to incorporate some form of storage. This will allow customers to pick up samples or take home everything they see on one trip. By doing so, you'll increase the chances of making a sale.
Remember to use bright colors throughout the display, not just at the top or bottom, for optimal visibility. This will help draw customers toward your product without taking up too much room.
Maximize Efficiency
To maximize efficiency in your endcap display, it's essential to factor in shipping costs to avoid losing money on the overall project. This means considering the cost of shipping your displays to ensure you're not wasting valuable space on the semi-truck.
Using bright colors throughout the display instead of just at the top or bottom is a key component of an effective endcap display. This will help draw customers' attention to your product from all angles.
Adding eye-catching messaging and illustrations can also help grab customers' attention, but be mindful not to overdo it – too many can be overwhelming. A few well-placed graphics can make a big impact, though.
Incorporating some form of storage into your design will allow customers to pick up samples or take home everything they see on one trip. This can be a game-changer for sales and customer satisfaction.
Designing adjustable shelving units is a great way to create a versatile display that can be changed quickly for different products and promotional needs. This will keep your endcap fresh and constantly surprising customers.
Direct Service to Customer

Target's end cap for brand candy invites people into the aisle like it's a candy store.
By moving its brand candy to a decorated, window-style end cap, Target shines a light on a product that can get overlooked for name-brand goods.
Organize Products for Easy Shopping
Organizing products for easy shopping is crucial for a successful endcap display. You want to make it easy for customers to find what they're looking for, so they can quickly make a purchase.
One way to organize your products is by their primary function or color. This makes it easier for customers to browse and find what they need. For example, if you're selling kitchen utensils, you could organize them by type, such as baking, cooking, or serving.
Typically, you don't have much time to get customers' attention when they're browsing at the endcap. That's why your Endcap Displays must make it easy for customers to buy your product right away. You can try organizing by usage or purpose, but it's often easier to categorize products by their primary function.

Here are some ways to organize your products for easy shopping:
By organizing your products in a logical and easy-to-follow manner, you can make it easier for customers to find what they're looking for and increase the chances of making a sale.
Display Messaging
To create an effective endcap display, it's essential to use clear and concise messaging. This means keeping messages on your endcap display as concise as possible, with simple and short sentences that resonate better with your audience.
Avoid using complicated jargon, which could be off-putting to shoppers walking by. Instead, focus on highlighting the key benefits of your product in a way that's easy to understand.
By using clear messaging, you can effectively communicate the value of your product and drive sales. Remember, the goal is to entice customers and make it easy for them to buy what they see.
One Brand, One Choice
Displaying your brand's variety of products in a single endcap display can make buying decisions easier for shoppers. This is especially true for brands that offer a wide range of products, like Burt's Bees, which showcased a mix of fan favorites in one end cap.

By presenting a variety of products in one place, you're saving customers from having to search multiple aisles for what they need. This can lead to increased sales and a more positive shopping experience.
Here are some key takeaways for creating a successful one-brand, one-choice endcap display:
- Showcase your range: Highlight your diverse selection of products to make buying decisions easy for shoppers.
- Design for variety: Create a display that showcases multiple products in a way that's easy to navigate and visually appealing.
- Keep it fresh: Regularly update your display to keep customers engaged and interested in your products.
By following these tips, you can create an endcap display that showcases your brand's variety of products and makes buying decisions easier for shoppers.
Clear and Concise Messaging
Clear and concise messaging is key to effective display messaging. It's essential to keep messages on your display as concise as possible to prevent confusion and resonate better with your audience.
Simple and short sentences work best, as they're easy to grasp quickly. Avoid using complicated jargon that might be off-putting to shoppers walking by.
You want the bottom line to be easily understood, so using a headline is critical. This will help customers quickly understand the main point of your message.
Don't overdo it with too much text, though – it'll make it difficult for customers to find what they're looking for when they're ready to buy.
Display Interactivity
Interactive displays can be a game-changer for end cap displays.
Endcap displays can be set up with sampling, trial stations, or simple game sessions to increase consumer engagement and enhance the shopping experience.
Interactive elements like QR codes, touchscreen capabilities, and simple games can grab consumers' attention and give them a reason to linger.
This can lead to increased sales as customers take the time to learn about products and make informed purchase decisions.
Interactive elements can create a more memorable customer experience, leading to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth reviews.
By incorporating interactive elements, businesses can encourage customers to take a closer look at products and stay engaged with the brand.
Display Effectiveness
To create an effective endcap display, remember to use bright colors and eye-catching messaging. This will draw in customers and make it easy for them to buy what they see.
Bright colors and eye-catching messaging are crucial for grabbing customers' attention. It's amazing how a well-designed display can make a big difference in sales.
Incorporating storage into your design is also essential. This will keep your products organized and make it easier for customers to find what they're looking for.
Shipping costs should also be factored into your display design. You don't want to lose money on the overall project, so be sure to keep this in mind.
To keep your endcap display fresh and constantly surprising customers, design it to be versatile. This can be achieved by creating adjustable shelving units that can be easily changed for different products and promotional needs.
Adjustable shelving units allow for flexibility and ease of use. This is especially important if you're planning to regularly update your display with new products or promotions.
Display Branding
Displaying your brand's personality on endcaps is a great way to engage customers and increase sales. Use colors, images, and logos that match your brand's unique identity to make a lasting impression. For example, M&M's candies are famous for their bright colors, so it's no surprise that their endcaps often feature rainbow designs.
Endcaps offer a chance to showcase your diverse selection and let customers get to know your brand as a whole. Consider highlighting your brand's story, values, or mission to create an emotional connection with customers.
To make your brand stand out, use bold and bright colors to make displays pop. Studies show that color contributes to 90% of the information that determines whether customers make a purchasing decision, so choose colors that resonate with your brand's personality.
Here are some key elements to include in your display branding:
- Use colors, images, and logos that match your brand's personality.
- Highlight your brand's story, values, or mission.
- Choose bold and bright colors to make displays stand out.
By incorporating these elements, you can create an endcap display that truly reflects your brand's unique identity and resonates with customers.
Display Partnerships
Display Partnerships can be a game-changer for retailers, especially multi-brand retailers. By putting complementary products of different brands on the same end cap for joint display, you can create a win-win situation for both brands and attract a wider customer base.

This strategy is all about utilizing the synergy between brands to drive sales. In fact, you can put complementary products of different brands on the same end cap for joint display, as seen in multi-brand retailers.
Partnering with other brands can also help you reach new customers and increase brand awareness. For example, you can put complementary products of different brands on the same end cap for joint display.
By doing so, you can create a one-stop-shop experience for customers and make it easier for them to discover new products.
Display Versatility
Display versatility is key to keeping your end cap displays fresh and exciting for customers. You can achieve this by designing adjustable shelving units that can be easily changed to showcase different products and promotions.
Bright colors and eye-catching messaging are a must for grabbing customers' attention. By incorporating these elements, you can create an effective display that encourages sales and creates brand awareness.
Flexibility is essential for end cap displays, allowing them to stay relevant and surprise customers. This can be achieved by designing displays that can be easily updated to reflect new products and promotions.
Remember to factor in shipping costs when creating your display, so you don't lose money on the overall project. This will ensure that your display is not only visually appealing but also financially sustainable.
Display Tips and Ideas
Create an endcap display that highlights your brand by using colors, images, and logos that match your brand's personality. This will help customers get to know your brand as a whole, like M&M's do with their rainbow designs.
Use bright colors and eye-catching messaging to draw in customers. Remember to incorporate some form of storage into your design to make it easy for customers to buy what they see.
Consider promoting special deals and sales on your endcap display to encourage customers to try out products they might not normally consider. This can help increase brand awareness and expand your customer base.
Highlight new products by optimizing product arrangements to show their benefits to customers. Use design elements and color to focus on increasing brand recognition and awareness.
Pair your products with complementary items to provide quick solutions to pain points customers may have. For example, placing coffee mugs or sweeteners next to your coffee products provides convenience to the shopping experience while boosting sales.
Use seasonal displays to cater to changing consumer needs. Many customers enjoy the unique characteristics of each season, and endcaps present an opportunity to get creative and highlight unique products that relate to the season.
Use bold, bright colors to make displays stand out and impact how customers feel about your products. Color contributes to 90% of the information that determines whether customers make a purchasing decision.
Here are some endcap display ideas to try out:
- Highlight your brand
- Promote special deals
- Highlight new products
- Pair with complementary products
- Change your display to match different seasons
- Use color to your advantage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an end cap in retail examples?
An end cap is a display unit placed at the end of a retail aisle, typically featuring a product or brand to grab customers' attention and provide a competitive edge. Examples include eye-catching displays for popular products, such as electronics, beauty items, or seasonal merchandise.
Sources
- https://brands.joinstatus.com/end-cap-displays
- https://bpkc.com/blogs/blog/5-design-tips-for-endcap-displays
- https://www.creativedisplaysnow.com/six-inspired-examples-of-sales-boosting-grocery-store-end-caps/
- https://www.topwongroup.com/some-end-cap-display-ideas/
- https://www.openeyeglobal.com/resources/creative-end-cap-signage-display-ideas/
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