5 Common Mistakes in Grocery POS Displays - and How to Avoid Them

But while a well-executed POS display can boost sales and brand visibility, a poorly designed one can just as easily go unnoticed or be ineffective.

At Visual ID, we’ve seen what works across hundreds of in-store campaigns. Here are 5 common POS display mistakes we see in grocery retail - and how smart brands avoid them.

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Overloading the message

The mistake:

Trying to say everything on your POS - product features, brand story, sustainability claims, seasonal tie-ins - all in one cramped space.

Why it’s a problem:

Grocery shoppers spend less than 10 seconds engaging with an in-store display. If your message isn’t immediately clear, it gets skipped.

How to avoid it:

Use one strong visual, a clear CTA, and one key benefit. Think “elevator pitch,” not “brand brochure.” Let your pack design carry some of the load - POS is there to support, not compete.

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Ignoring store space constraints

The mistake:

Designing freestanding or countertop displays without fully considering the physical constraints of the retail environment.

Why it’s a problem:

Retail staff will either move it, refuse it, or place it where it won’t perform. Worse, it could get damaged or discarded.

How to avoid it:

Design POS that’s modular, easy to assemble, and fits within typical planograms. Understand how your store is unique in layout, and how you can make your POS work for you.

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Forgetting the shopper journey

The mistake:

Placing displays in the wrong part of the store - or creating visuals that clash with shopper expectations at that point in their journey.

Why it’s a problem:

A promotion for a ready-to-eat snack makes sense at checkout, not in frozen. A seasonal display that appears too early may confuse rather than convert.

How to avoid it:

Map the shopper journey for your product: Where are they when the decision happens? What mood are they in? What else are they buying? Tailor both the location and the design accordingly.

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Neglecting maintenance & durability

The mistake:

Using materials or designs that wear quickly, look untidy after a few days, or require constant restocking to look full.

Why it’s a problem:

Retail staff won’t maintain it, and shoppers associate messy POS with low quality products.

How to avoid it:

Choose durable materials, design for easy replenishment, and avoid structures that collapse or bend. Consider the long game - a display should look good throughout the promotion, not just on day one. 

Psst: Digital signage is a great solution for this.

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Failing to align with retailer expectations

The mistake:

Sending POS into stores that hasn’t been approved, doesn’t follow retail guidelines, or competes with the store’s own brand.

Why it’s a problem:

Retailers are gatekeepers. If it doesn’t align with their in-store strategy, it won’t stay on the floor.

How to avoid it:

Our marketing toolkit allows local store teams the appropriate level of control to create brand compliant content for their campaigns and displays. With approved templates, branded assets and layouts, any member of the team can create compliant designs with minimal training or expertise. 

In grocery retail, POS success isn’t just about design - it’s about understanding the context, the constraints, and the consumer. A well-placed, well-crafted POS display can drive real sales impact.

With the Visual ID toolkit, we’ve made it easy for you to achieve and manage impactful POS displays for multiple locations. A single portal for design, approval, and printing. Using approved templates and assets provided by head office, retailers can create on-brand POS designs tailored to their location in minutes.