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.

plastic slatwall spinner

This display is a unique spinner point-of-purchase display. The center section is a four sided plastic slatwall spinner with pockets for product. On two sides are plastic slatwall panels the hanging product.

The base is constructed of MDF (medium density fiberboard) with low pressure laminate covering. The graphics are screen printed. The header was printed in four color offset printing and laminated to foam core board.

The display had four black plastic “twin” casters for easy repositioning within the store.

The display attracted the attention of parents and kids alike.

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

counter display with easel

Abbey Press recently introduced this multi-purpose acrylic display for their necklace and bracelet gift items. They wanted a unique display solution that would market their product on slatwall or on a counter or shelf.

Display Smart developed an acrylic display that performs well in several locations in a point-of-purchase retail environment. It can function as a counter unit with an easel or hang on slatwall.

custom acrylic display on slatwall

The graphics have been digitally printed on 80# cover stock and slide in between two layers of acrylic behind the product. Updated graphics can be inserted at any time. This enables the display to endure multiple marketing roll-outs and improves the long-term cost-effectiveness of the display.

Display Smart designed the acrylic hooks to have a “saddle” holder glued on the acrylic back plate. The hooks can be attached at the retail location and then loaded with product. This design allows the display to ship flat in a carton to reduce damage in shipment and minimize freight costs.

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

Look closely at the few examples provided. Molded Urethane can be made to look like steel, bronze, copper, aluminum by adding metal particles. By making the mold from a stone, a piece of wood or sand the cast plastic is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The manufacturing process allows producing full displays or components to develop the image you want.

Call Display Smart toll free at 888-843-1870 to learn more how Molded Urethane can be used effectively on your next project. Please click on our Resource Info or Gallery web site pages to see other examples of our manufacturing capabilities.

Click here to request a free article on Molded Urethane.

1. A fresh and attractive new material lends itself to durable product displays.
2. A strong and durable sheet material creates a new look for store fixtures.
3. Using new materials, like Dakota Burl™, creates visual interest, fosters environmental responsibility, and encourages curiosity.

Dakota Burl™ is a unique bio-based decorative composite material, made from an abundant agricultural resource. It exhibits the beauty and elegance of traditional burled woods. The natural burled texture and pattern along with its panel properties allow for a variety of applications.

Dakota Burl™ can be used naturally or stained with conventional wood stains to achieve a wide range of color options. It comes in 4’x 8’ sheets to be used in any interior application replacing plywood, particle board or MDF. Available in ½”, ¾” and 1” thicknesses, Dakota Burl™ is dense, durable and emits no toxic gasses.

Dakota Burl™ work surfaces and table tops

Examples of displays made from Dakota Burl™: Sproutz from Jonti Craft

Environ is the creator of Dakota Burl™

How Does Dakota Burl™ Work?
• The material cuts, sands and routes with standard woodworking tools.
• Traditional wood staining and finishing techniques can be used on the material to create a wide range of appearances.
• Four foot by eight foot panels are manufactured in 1/2", 3/4" and 1" thicknesses.

How Can I Use Dakota Burl™?
• Superior panel properties allow for a variety of applications.
• Table Surfaces, Horizontal and Vertical Surfaces (transaction surfaces and interior decorative wall applications), Cabinetry, Furniture and Architectural Applications are all excellent uses for Dakota Burl™. Please note that this material is intended for commercial and residential interior applications only.

NOTE: Not recommended for kitchen and/or bath countertop applications.

The material can be cut with a high-speed hand held circular saw and drilled. It can be fabricated mechanically, solvent or sonic welded.

Designers have shown interest in using the corrugated acrylic sheet because of its versatility and attractive appearance. It has been used for building horizontal shelves of wine racks, the fronts of cabinet doors and for segments for a trade show booth.

Design ideas:
Store Fixtures
Decorative front on a cash wrap
Divider panels
End Cap backdrop panel
Sign panel

In-Store Marketing – P-O-P
Base for a cosmetic display
Shoe Platform for Shoe Display
Wrap-around backdrop
Display Column

To learn more how we could include this material in your fixture or display project please call us toll free at 888-843-1870.

DSA/Phototech has supplied lightboxes and other graphic display systems to the retail, advertising, and trade exhibit industries for more than three decades.

Source: NASFM

Source: Nasfm