The Isle of Capri Casino in Waterloo, Iowa is a high-end casino with a tasteful gift shop. The theme of the shop is an old fashioned candy store with wall fixtures and bins filled to the top with candy. The fixtures are constructed of oak with a cherry finish that gives the shop a warm rich feeling.

The marble floor in the entryway and warm light fixtures adds to the upscale but welcoming feel of the store.

The crowning touch of the store is the ten-foot diameter cash wrap. The front of the cash wrap is covered with bins for goodies. It is also constructed of oak with a cherry finish. There is plenty of customer counter room as well as a nice size workspace for the cashier on the marble counter top.

The “L” shaped wall units have plenty of shelving space plus a locking corner curio case with puck lighting for high-end gifts.

The old fashion candy store theme is highlighted with several oak barrels. The barrels have a plastic tray inset with a false bottom that allows the barrels to be used as a display bin for product. There is a barrel with a center post and pegs for hanging bags of candy.

There is a two-arm rack for hanging apparel and a tiered display table for folded apparel. Put it all together and you’ve got a great looking shop that has plenty of space, is easy to shop, and easy to check out.

The units featured adjustable tempered glass shelving and glass tops to let ambient light shine on the product.

Signage was handled by using clear acrylic with a mauve screen printed logo. This simple technique was a nice soft approach that drew attention but did not distract from the product.

To highlight other product nesting tables were used to hold product near the front window of the store.

The fixtures were built out of Hard Rock Maple with a clear finish. The variety of fixtures included jewelry cabinets with locking hinged tops, gift towers with tempered glass shelving, a specialty cash wrap. One special unit were two horizontal stacking drawers for unframed original artwork. The unit was built on casters to aid in easy rearrangement within the store. Other units included were art easels, and a framing layout table.

The light wood units gave a comfortable atmosphere that draws customers into the store.

America! Stores had the opportunity to open a temporary store for 12 – 18 months in the Washington, D.C. Dulles Airport. They were given a wall area with about 40 feet and about 5 feet deep. Cost was an issue yet they wanted a nice presentation.

The units were manufactured from MDF wood laminated in white melamine. The back wall of the units was a MDF slatwall for versatility. Puck lights highlighted the product from above and 3/8” tempered glass shelves let light cascade through.

Each of the units had a storage drawer in the base.

For locking up the fixtures after store hours an overhead rolling door is pulled down and locked into place. The rolling doors were a lightweight powder coated aluminum extruded hollow core. The center of each extrusion is filled with a polyethylene plastic insert which gives it added strength for product security.

The units were delivered on a Monday, installed and ready for merchandising the next day.

One of the feature areas included this jewelry island produced out of MDF with high-pressure laminate and 1” plastic extruded slatwall in purple.  The units offered a lot of product in a relatively small footprint.

The store has several nesting table groups arranged with gift towers.  The tables have legs and bases painted white to accent hardwood shelves and tops with a maple colored stain.

On the perimeter walls prints and frames are highlighted on crown mold shelves that hang on slatwall.

The cash wrap is a combination of cherry wood and maple high-pressure laminate and a purple laminate counter top.  In front of the cash registers are two specialty units to highlight featured products.  The specialty units had a purple 1” plastic slatwall with adjustable acrylic shelves.

The store housed several specialty units such as this adjustable gift tower which included a storage area for product below.

A white gift tower is a home for wedding or seasonal gifts.  The look ties in well with the gift tables.  The unit is constructed of MDF board with a lacquer finish.  The glass shelves are adjustable to fit an array of products.

A free standing Book Shelving unit with cherry and maple laminates was a focus area at the front of the store.  The end panels included slatwall grooves for adjustable acrylic shelves.

Periodically, we would like to share with you examples of different displays we have produced in the form of a Display Case History. We will share information about the marketing channel, materials, and any unique qualities about the fixture.

Hopefully this information will be helpful to you. We would appreciate an opportunity to use our 35 years of experience on your next fixture project.  There are multiple photo galleries and display examples on our website at www.display-smart.com  – Ed White, Director of New Business Development

Jack Nicklaus 18 Pair Locking Sunglasses Display

Ocean Waves recently introduced a new line of displays to promote their Jack Nicklaus brand sunglasses.  The displays will be featured in Pro Golf Shops and High-end Sporting Goods stores.

The displays were developed to augment other displays featuring the Jack Nicklaus label products.  The displays carry the Jack Nicklaus Signature.  This display prominently displays the logo on three sides to promote the brand.

The Jack Nicklaus line is being distributed domestically and internationally.  There has been a large response especially from Asian countries where golfing is a very popular sport.

Since the sunglasses are high-end quality glasses with a retail price of $100-$200 we were asked to design a locking display.  The goal was to use a rich wood base yet keep as open of a look as possible.  The lock is in a convenient location on the back of the display and unlocks all 18 pairs of glasses at one time.  Two mirrors are provided for easy viewing.

The displays are constructed of a solid hardwood and hardwood veneer plywood for the back.  The locking sunglasses supports are of clear acrylic.  Due to the design of the locking device the sunglasses are very secure. 

The end result is a display that is solid and secure.  It has elegant high-end open look that presents the sunglasses well.

Jack Nicklaus 1, 2 and 3 Pair Counter Sunglasses Display

Ocean Waves also added to their family of displays some demo counter units. 

The displays are constructed of a solid hardwood base and “green edge” acrylic support back.  The sunglasses bridge is supported by an acrylic rod with clear spacers to hold the glasses in place.

Three models were design to give the option of presenting either 1, 2 or 3 styles of glasses.   The displays can hold both The Jack Nicklaus Sport and Traditional frames.

 Jack Nicklaus Sunglasses Case and Cord Display

To support their new line of Jack Nicklaus brand sunglasses Ocean Waves also introduced some new sunglasses accessories.   The cases snap conveniently on the side of your golf bag for ready access.  The safety cords keep your sunglasses safely on your head.

The displays are constructed of a solid hardwood base and an acrylic center tube and support pins.  The display has a turntable under the base for easy access of the product.  This version of the display will hold 12 Sunglasses cases and 24 safety cords and is 12 inches overall in diameter and 17 inches tall.

Each display is packaged one per carton in a double carton to ensure safe arrival.

The displays were presently at the PGA Show and will be featured in Pro Golf Shops and High-end Sporting Goods stores.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit a manufacturer of
P-O-P advertising displays, you will be impressed at the engineering and manufacturing complexities required to construct these displays that play one of the most powerful roles in the movement of goods around the globe.

The challenge of understanding the manufacturing process of either simple or complicated displays is underscored by the vast array of different designs, production methods, and materials utilized by the P-O-P industry to build eye-catching and effective point-of-purchase advertising displays. This chapter discusses these complexities and presents the challenges faced by both manufacturers and producers of point-of-purchase advertising displays.

The articles in this blog covers two major elements affecting P-O-P advertising design:

· Different processes and materials used in manufacturing displays
· How designers and manufacturers chose the specific process or material to produce each display

While the point-of-purchase advertising industry in not generally regarded as a high-technology industry, it is a “volume-tech” industry. It utilizes an array of different materials and industrial design methods to create P-O-P advertising displays in large quantities that are distributed around the world. P-O-P design and manufacturing teams must know how to apply various technologies and design methods in the manufacturing process to successfully and efficiently produce these displays in large quantities.

For example, it is not necessary to understand the chemical makeup of certain plastics to use them. The plastic manufacturers provide clear guidelines on the best adhesives, or the best temperature to mold plastic, or the type of saw blades to use in processing their materials. The challenge facing point-of-purchase advertising display companies today is to utilize these materials in creative and innovative ways so they can provide P-O-P clients/customers the competitive edge they need in the marketplace.

Information from The Power Of Marketing at Retail Chapter 7 Display Production Methods and Materials - Ed White, President Display Smart, LLC, MaRC Marketing at Retail Certified

888-843-1869 edwhite@display-smart.com

For more information check out our web site at www.display-smart.com for multiple photo examples of our work.

They were looking for a "family" of displays that have a common look but that would fit the needs of the different retailers they service.

Display Smart developed for them a Counter Spinner that could be transformed in to a small Floorstand display with an optional base for stores requiring a small footprint and smaller offering.

For larger retailers who want to offer a wider range of products, we developed an End Cap display. The construction was of black slatwall with a melamine surface and a black plastic slot insert. The same metal poles frame the display. We also created a 3-sided Tower or an "H" frame tower to hold the full range of products. For durability and a high-tech look, silver metal side panels were added.

All of the displays have a printed "Solutions Guide" to help the consumer choose the right sharpener for their specific needs. Some units offer a LCD Digital Player with an informational video on how to use the sharpeners.

Smith is now able to provide displays for retailers with a small footprint to a full line of sharpeners to meet the consumer's needs.

This trendy store, targeted to teens and young women, uses less to do more.

Fixtures of dark wood set a tone against a wooden planked floor, and industrial pipe for wall racks give a clean look which helps highlight the clothing items.

Cash wrap

A long and slender cash wrap (2 foot x 12 foot) gives plenty of room for two computer registers and several adjustable storage shelves. Two locking drawers and two cabinet doors give enough room to secure necessary items. With a cash wrap this long, there was plenty of shelving provided. Ebony High Pressure Laminate with vertical highlighting grain helps maintain the theme of the trendy store.

Steel Shelving Units

Metallic silver steel shelves and hanging  bars provide a versatile clothing rack to highlight closeout items. Casters allow repositioning them in different areas of the store for various promotions.

Clear acrylic “half circles” were glued on the shelves to keep the angels aliened and attractively displayed.

A simple graphic element was screen printed in purple on the sign area to tie in with the colors of the angles.

The display was designed so that it could be a shelf or counter display.

Bamboo plywood is made from 100 percent rapidly renewable bamboo, using adhesives that are both strong and emissions free. Bamboo plywood can be cut and sanded using conventional woodworking equipment. It can also be glued or mechanically fastened using the same materials and fasteners commonly used with wood. Bamboo is a low resin, open grained material that takes stains and finishes exceptionally well.

Bamboo plywood comes in both an amber and natural light tone and is laminated to produce two different surface grains, edge and flat. The edge grain appears as 1/4" strips and the flat grain appears as 3/4" strips on the surface of the Bamboo plywood. It is then finish-sanded to a smooth 180 grit. Whether you are planning a small remodel or a national retail expansion, we have the bamboo material to do the job.

NeopolitanTM Plywood by Smith & Fong

Bamboo veneer is manufactured from blocks laminated with water-proof adhesive and bamboo strips. The blocks are first laminated, then conditioned and soaked for two weeks before being sliced into veneer sheets. Bamboo veneer is more difficult to produce than conventional solid wood veneers, due in part to the number of glue joints that reduce yield. Bamboo veneer is backed with either a paper or fleece material to give the product more stability and strength. Producing un-backed veneers is possible, but very fragile and hard to transport. This can result in a lower yield due to damaged material.

Bamboo veneers work well in the manufacturing process, but due to different adhesives and press temperatures at different lamination houses it is best to run a few test samples to be sure everything is working well. Bamboo veneer tends to be more porous and can take more finish – run some test finish applications to get the right feel.

Smith & Fong also provides veneer produced laid up on thin 3-ply plywood. The dimension of this product is 1/8” x 48” x 96” and is available in both colors and grain types (please refer to the BP-1896 series of sheet goods for this product). This product can save both time and expense. We also provide a face grain product in amber and natural in a 2mm x 16” x 72” dimension (please refer to the BHV-1272 series). This product is not a sliced material and does not require a backing.

Bamboo flooring

Beauty & Elegance
Bamboo Strand flooring is Smith & Fong's latest foray into the diverse world of bamboo. Combining beauty and good looks with exceptional durability, Bamboo Strand, made of 100% bamboo, is particularly suited for commercial environments. In an ever-expanding market for high-quality green building products, Smith & Fong has emerged as a leader in Bamboo Strand flooring and plywood.

Strand Process
Mixing strands of bamboo with a low-VOC adhesive, Plyboo® Strand™ is manufactured using high levels of compression. With all strips oriented in the same direction, the shredded bamboo mass is thrashed and then, under extreme pressure, compressed by 75 percent to yield high-density planks. After a kiln-drying and milling process the planks are sanded and finished, giving them their trademark Plyboo® Strand™ look.

Using Strand
At 3000 psi twice as hard as red oak, strand flooring is the hardest bamboo flooring on the market today. Plyboo® Strand™ is particularly suited for commercial use but is also popular among homeowners for its warm and natural aesthetic. Available in flooring planks as well as plywood, Plyboo® Strand™ can be cut and laminated using conventional equipment and adhesives, and will sand and finish like other hardwood flooring and sheet good products.

Bamboo paneling

Our tambour paneling is constructed of bamboo strips that are precision milled and applied to a thin fabric backing with a non-toxic white glue. These panels come both as a “raw” surface and as a sanded surface.

The raw surface comes in 3 colors, a natural green/yellow, a warm amber and a black tone. The raw tambour retains the outside skin of the bamboo with its rough surface and raised nodes. The amber color is derived through a heat treatment process and the black from a dying process that simulates the natural dark color in some varieties of bamboo. The raw series is unfinished with the exception of the black which receives a thin coat of sealer to set the dye.

Our sanded series comes in both an amber and a natural light tone with the option of unfinished or prefinished. All these strips are beveled on the edge and all our panels, raw or sanded, come in a 4 x 8 dimension.

Use and application
Tambour is a flexible material and can be applied to concave or convex surfaces as well as flat walls and ceilings, round or square columns. It installs easily and lends an exciting look to living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens or commercial environments.

Our tambour paneling is constructed of bamboo strips that are precision milled and applied to a thin fabric backing with a non-toxic white glue. These panels come both as a “raw” surface and as a sanded surface.

The raw surface comes in 3 colors, a natural green/yellow, a warm amber and a black tone. The raw tambour retains the outside skin of the bamboo with its rough surface and raised nodes. The amber color is derived through a heat treatment process and the black from a dying process that simulates the natural dark color in some varieties of bamboo. The raw series is unfinished with the exception of the black which receives a thin coat of sealer to set the dye.

Our sanded series comes in both an amber and a natural light tone with the option of unfinished or prefinished. All these strips are beveled on the edge and all our panels, raw or sanded, come in a 4 x 8 dimension.

Use and application
Tambour is a flexible material and can be applied to concave or convex surfaces as well as flat walls and ceilings, round or square columns. It installs easily and lends an exciting look to living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens or commercial environments.

Information from www.plyboo.com Smith & Fong Company 375 Oyster Pint Blvd. #3 South San Francisco, CA 94080

650-872-1184 phone 866-835-9859 Toll Free e-mail sales@plyboo.com

Banks are learning that they are also retailers.

They have products they need to market, and it is important to grab the customer's attention. Valley National Bank (a division of Bank One) accomplished this in all of their branches with this attractive, information kiosk.

The top section holds brochures in two vacuum-formed plastic sections alternating with graphic areas. By removing the top 'cap' the graphics can be replaced easily for monthly campaigns.

Two metal brochure holders are attached to the top section and extend out to highlight special literature.

The bottom section is constructed of a 1/2"-thick paper tube laminated with a brushed aluminum covering.

Although approximately 36" inches in diameter, the kiosk ships in a relatively small container. The top cap is removed and the base and literature holders fit within the top section. Once the top cap is replaced, the display is packed in a heavy-duty shipping carton. The display assembles quickly at the bank location.

Contact us if you are interested in having Display Smart produce a unique display for your product.

What better way to sell a hiking or work boot than to put it in the environment where it will be worn - by bringing the woods into the store. This display is constructed from vacuum-formed plastic. The mold was made from an actual chainsaw-cut log.

detail: click for larger image

The bark texture was airbrushed for a realistic appearance. Metal hooks were attached on the back that could accommodate pegboard, slatwall, or slat grid. The brand logo was added to assure that Red Wing boots were the products being highlighted. Lightweight yet sturdy, this display accomplished the goal of placing the boot in the woods.

Contact us if you are interested in having Display Smart produce a unique display for your product.

slipper point-of-purchase display with casters

Solé Slipper Display

This attention-getting display has full litho graphics mounted on 6mm Sintra (expanded pvc plastic) side panels. The display was designed with 1" square tubing giving a slim and lightweight - yet sturdy - look. Eight-inch wire hooks can be positioned to accommodate products of different sizes. The 7-gauge wire slatwall can be shopped from both sides. All metal parts were coated with a bright white glossy powder coating. With 1-1/2" diameter lockable non-marring casters, the display is easily positioned within the retail store.

display detail: hooks & casters

Contact us if you are interested in having Display Smart produce a unique display for your product.

Interactive Kiosk - Realistic Stone

The display was built specifically for Cabela’s Sporting Good stores to sell accessories for the Polaris 4 Wheel ATV Quad and use as an educational tool. On the back of this kiosk is a touch screen monitor for interactive information on the vehicle.

Touch Screen on Back of Display

Underneath this realistic stone display is a multi-purpose steel frame. A back panel can be removed and the display “jacked” up to move on casters to relocate within the store. A built-in ramp was provided to drive the vehicle on top of the “mountain”. Due to the weight of the four-wheeler (approx. 470 lbs.) it was important to design a frame that was sturdy yet light enough to move easily.

The imitation stone was carved out of polyurethane foam and then sprayed with a tough water resistant urethane “skin”. The “rocks” were then air brushed by artisans for realism.

The side panels of the display are slatwall for hanging product.

Contact us if you are interested in having Display Smart produce a unique display for your product.