Point of purchase (POP) displays are printed fixtures placed where the buying decision happens: counter displays by the register, floor displays in the aisle, shelf talkers on the shelf edge, and signs in the window and fitting room. Choose them by where they sit and how long they must last. A two-week promotion suits printed rigid board or foam board, while a permanent fixture suits PVC or acrylic.
In New York City, any sign that states a price or a discount also has to follow the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) rules on price display, sale signs and refund policies. Those are covered below.
What types of point of purchase displays are there?
There are five common types, and each one does a different job in the store.
| Display | Where it goes | Job | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counter display | Beside the register or on a display table | Holds small items and prompts an add-on sale | You sell small, impulse-priced items |
| Floor display | Free-standing in an aisle or at the entrance | Stocks a featured product away from the shelf | Launching a product or running a seasonal promotion |
| Shelf talker | Clipped or slotted into the shelf edge | Calls out one product, price or claim among many | Shoppers face a crowded shelf |
| Window graphics | On the storefront glass | Stops people on the sidewalk | Every promotion that starts outside |
| Fitting room signage | Fitting room doors, walls and mirrors | Item limits, policies and the next purchase | You sell apparel |
Window graphics have their own guide: see storefront signage and window vinyl.
What are POP displays made of?
Short-term displays use printed board, and long-term fixtures use plastic or acrylic. The choice comes down to how long the display must look new and how much handling it gets.
| Material | Feel | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid board | Light, printed, folds or slots together | Counter and floor displays for a single promotion | Not for wet areas or months of handling |
| Foam board | Very light, smooth face | Indoor promotion signs, easel signs, short campaigns | Dents easily and corners crush |
| PVC (Sintra) | Rigid, matte plastic | Fitting room signs, permanent department signs | Interior or covered exterior only |
| Acrylic | Clear or frosted, often on standoffs | Brand signs, premium counter signs, price holders | Costs more; shows fingerprints |
| Adhesive vinyl | Thin film on walls, mirrors, floors and glass | Mirror decals, wall graphics, floor graphics | Choose removable adhesive for leased space |
What makes a good shelf talker?
One message, readable in a second from where a shopper stands. A shelf talker that tries to carry a paragraph gets ignored.
- Lead with one thing: the price, the offer, or the single reason to choose this product.
- Measure the shelf edge or price channel before ordering. Die-cut shelf talkers are cut to a shape, so the tab or slot must match the fixture.
- Print enough for every facing plus spares, because shoppers pull them off and staff lose them.
- If the talker states a price, it must match the register. NYC rules require the price charged not to exceed the shelf or sign price.
What do New York City rules require on in-store signs?
Every item must show its price before tax, either on the item or on a sign plainly visible where it is displayed, and sale signs have to be honest about ranges. These requirements come from DCWP's General Retail inspection checklist (April 2026), which cites the Administrative Code and the city's rules.
| Sign | Rule | Source cited by DCWP |
|---|---|---|
| Price signs | Price exclusive of tax on a tag or label on the item, or on a sign plainly visible where the item is displayed. Chain stores and larger stores must price items individually unless they provide price scanners. | NYC Code 20-708, 20-708.1 |
| Sale signs with a range | A sign advertising a range, such as 20 to 50 percent off, must show the minimum and maximum in equal size | 6 RCNY 5-94(a)(1) |
| Sale wording | Advertising and sale signs cannot use the phrases "our list price", below "manufacturer's wholesale cost" or "manufacturer's cost" | 6 RCNY 5-101 |
| Refund policy | A refund policy sign at each register, point of sale or entrance, or on each item. A "No Refunds" policy still needs a sign, and the sign must say a written copy is available on request. | 6 RCNY 5-37; NY GBL 218-a |
The equal-size rule is easy to break by accident: a large "50%" over a small "20 to" is exactly what it forbids. Check sale artwork against it before approving the proof, because the store, not the printer, answers to DCWP.
How does a multi-store retail signage kit work?
A retail signage kit is a coordinated set of sale and promotion signs produced together and packed per location, so each store manager opens one box and installs the set. We produce the full kit, pack it per store and deliver it, with free delivery anywhere in Manhattan.
- Build a sign list for each store: window sizes, number of tables, fixture types. Stores in the same chain rarely have identical windows.
- Number every sign and match it to a placement sheet or simple floor plan.
- Approve one proof set for the whole rollout, so every store shows the same prices and dates.
- Agree the install date and the removal date. Expired sale signs left in a window cause their own pricing problems.
The kits that go wrong are the ones ordered from a single store's measurements. A window decal sized for the flagship will not fit the branch with the narrower door, and the manager finds out on install morning. Send dimensions for every location, even if it slows the quote by a day.
What signs belong in a fitting room?
Fitting room signage covers item limits, policies such as hold times and returns, and promotion: the room is the last place a shopper decides. It comes in rigid panels for doors and walls and adhesive vinyl for mirrors and glass.
- Door signs: item limits and room numbers, on PVC or acrylic so they survive constant handling.
- Mirror decals: a short line of brand copy or a promotion, on removable vinyl kept clear of the reflection area.
- Policy signs: returns and holds, matching the refund policy wording at the register.
- Cross-sell signs: the matching piece or the accessory that completes the outfit.
For the tags shoppers read in that fitting room, see our hang tag and care label guide.
Retail display and signage questions
What is a point of purchase display?
A printed display placed where the buying decision happens, such as a counter display by the register, a floor display in an aisle, or a shelf talker on the shelf edge.
What is the difference between POP and POS displays?
The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably. Point of sale usually means the checkout itself, while point of purchase covers any spot in the store where a shopper chooses.
What is a shelf talker?
A small printed card, often die-cut, that attaches to a shelf edge to call out one product, price or offer.
Do sale signs in New York City have to follow rules?
Yes. DCWP requires a sign advertising a discount range to show the minimum and maximum in equal size, bans phrases such as "manufacturer's cost", and requires prices to be shown on the item or on a nearby sign.
Can you pack retail signage separately for each store?
Yes. We produce the full kit, pack it per location and deliver it, so each store manager opens one box and installs the set.
See retail signage and point of purchase printing, or send your store list and promotion dates for a quote. Fashion brands planning a season can also read our lookbook and line sheet guide.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.