VIYou’ve probably heard about POP displays and POS displays and never really knew the difference between them?
Don’t worry — you’re not alone! It’s pretty hard to distinguish between each other but the proof is in the pudding (or name)!
POP stands for Point of Purchase display, while POS is an acronym for Point of Sale display.
Now, what’s the difference between point of purchase and point of sale you ask?
Well, a point of purchase (POP) is considered the place where people can purchase products. So any convenience store, grocery store, or brick and mortar shop is considered a point of purchase. The point of sale (POS) is where the actual sale process takes place such as the cashier register. Get it?
Important! Do not confuse the POS device or terminal used for credit card purchases with the POS display. While they can both be found near the cashier, they don’t have anything in common.
Point of sale and point of purchase displays are both parts of the big family known as POSM. While POP and POS displays are placed in different locations inside a store, both of them are used to promote products and to attract customers, hence they are point of sale materials.
POSM includes the point of sale displays and point of purchase displays. This was the industry classification and an established acronym, although it still is a bit confusing. According to the difference between POS and POP, discussed above, they should in fact be called POPM – Point of Purchase Materials. This is because POP is the larger defining category of where people shop, not the specific POS or cashier where the people buy and pay for the goods.
When is it best to use POP displays? What about POS displays?
Since we’ve established the differences between POP and POS displays, we should shed some light on when it’s best to use each type of display.
POP displays / Point of Purchase displays
Point of purchase displays can be used for larger amounts of products. Since they can be placed right at the aisle, you don’t have to worry about the quantity. Also, they are best used for temporary promotions and special deals.
POS displays / Point of Sale displays
Since they are placed right next to the cashier, the space is limited. It’s best to use them for promoting smaller products or products that are considered impulse purchases.
