My clients often tell me that in-store marketing terms sound like alphabet soup, and that confusion costs them sales.

POP (Point of Purchase) displays sit anywhere a shopper can decide, while POS (Point of Sale) displays stand beside the cash register—one sparks browsing, the other clinches payment.

Even seasoned buyers mix these two up. Let me walk you through each concept, break the jargon into plain words, and share lessons from my own cardboard-display factory so you can choose smarter.

What is POS display?

Many retailers think checkout space is boring, so they ignore it. That decision quietly drains add-on revenue every single day.

A POS display is a compact unit placed right at the payment counter to trigger impulse buys while customers wait to pay.

The power of the last second

Shoppers have already decided to spend. Their wallets are out. A well-timed visual nudge can push small, high-margin goods¹ into the basket. In my factory, we design counter units that fit gift cards, batteries, or waxed bow strings—tiny items that boost average ticket value without slowing the line.

Because POS units² stand so close to staff, they also remind clerks to upsell. Over time, that habit can lift revenue without extra ad spend. After we switched one U.S. hunting store chain to sturdier counter displays, the owner emailed that upsell sales³ jumped 18 % in eight weeks—proof that small footprints can leave large footprints on the bottom line.

What is a point of purchase pop display?

Retail aisles overflow with noise; it is easy for a single brand to sink. That pain intensifies during seasonal rushes.

A POP display is any stand, bin, or endcap located away from the cashier that grabs attention and encourages exploration of a single brand or promotion.

Claiming territory in the middle of the store

Unlike a POS unit, a POP stand⁴ can tower over shoppers or sprawl across a pallet. Its mission is storytelling, not speed. When Barnett Outdoors launched a new crossbow, we built a free-standing island with 3-D targets, real bolts, and QR codes linking to hunting videos. Sales staff later told me customers spent three extra minutes fiddling with the display—and sales of that bow doubled versus shelves alone.

A POP unit also lets you test new products without resetting a whole aisle. If the concept flops, you retire the stand and try another. That agility helps buyers like David align launches with tight hunting-season windows.

What is the difference between POS and PoA in sales?

Teams juggle too many three-letter terms; mixing them causes wrong KPIs and wasted spend.

POS (Point of Sale) focuses on the payment moment, while PoA (Point of Acceptance) tracks when the customer mentally commits to buy—often earlier in the journey.

Mapping the decision timeline

Think of PoA⁵ as the spark and POS⁶ as the seal. In my showroom, I watch visitors pause at a demo island (PoA), then drift toward the order desk (POS). The stronger the PoA trigger, the smoother the POS close.

When you plan marketing spend, assign POP budget⁷ to move PoA earlier and POS budget to shave friction at checkout. Blending the two dilutes impact.

What is pop and POSM?

Vendors throw around unfamiliar shorthand, scaring new buyers. Clear names build trust and speed approvals.

POP refers to displays placed throughout the store, while POSM (Point of Sale Materials) covers all marketing items supporting the final sale—including wobblers, shelf talkers, and counter displays.

Sorting the toolbox

Imagine POSM as every tool at the cash wrap: header cards, small cartons, price strips. POP is one big tool among many. From my B2B view, grouping them correctly prevents missing pieces during a campaign.

Understanding these labels speeds production quotes and ensures my factory allocates the right board strength, print pass count, and die lines for each piece.

What does pop mean in display?

I often hear “pop” used loosely, which muddies briefs and slows design.

In retail display language, “POP” is an acronym for Point of Purchase, signifying displays stationed anywhere shoppers decide, not necessarily where they pay.

Why clarity matters

Some marketing teams think “pop” equals “pops out visually.” That overlap breeds confusion. When your email says “We need a pop display¹¹,” I reply with two sketches: one for aisle, one for counter. That extra loop burns a day.

Early definition alignment speeds approvals and protects launch calendars, especially when your window is one hunting season.

What is point of sale merchandising?

Merchandising fails when product and message scatter. A cohesive plan brings order and revenue.

Point of sale merchandising is the strategic placement and presentation of items at the checkout zone to increase impulse purchases and reinforce brand recall.

Building a silent salesperson

At the register, staff rush, customers juggle phones, and every second counts. Good POS merchandising¹⁴ turns dead space into profit without needing extra staff training. For one chain, we installed tiered cardboard risers next to the pin pad loaded with bow-string wax. Placement lifted wax sales 25 % in month one.

POS merchandising also gathers data fast. Because sales spikes¹⁶ show within days, you can tweak mix and messaging before rolling out nationwide. That agility turns cardboard into a live A/B test rig.

Conclusion

POP builds desire in the aisle, POS closes the deal at checkout; master both, and every square inch of the store earns its keep.