You’ve decided that you want to invest in a custom cardboard display for your brick-and-mortar sales strategy. So, now what? It can be daunting to begin a custom design process, with virtually endless possibilities at your fingertips and no experience to help rein in your ideas. 

Luckily, thorough preparation before creating your display can help you make the most of your experience. By having the answers to these four questions when you start designing your corrugated cardboard display stands, you can ensure that the process is fast, efficient, and cost-effective, resulting in a high-quality final product that will secure a significant return on investment.

1. What is Your Design’s Deadline?

How soon you need your corrugated cardboard display stands will dictate what design possibilities are available to you. As such, you should have a clear deadline in mind before you begin designing. 

If you have a quick turnaround, you may be limited to a stock display with modifications versus a fully custom piece. However, if you plan well in advance, you can choose from custom dimensions and styles with few, if any, limitations on what’s possible.

2. What are the dimensions of your product?

Knowing the dimensions and weight of your products is essential, as these factors dictate the structural design process. Which display stand type you can use and to what extent you can customize it is dependent on the products it’s going to hold.

For example, if you’re interested in a shelf display, the designer will need to know your product dimensions so they can design the shelves to have the appropriate width and depth to accommodate the products. They’ll also need to calculate how much vertical space to allow between shelves. Of course, your custom POP display will need to be able to bear the weight of the product load safely, so knowing the total product weight is also crucial during the design process.

3. What is your budget?

Before you start dreaming up your custom POP display, it’s important to know what you can realistically afford. You should have a clear idea of what your budget is as well as what you can expect to pay for a custom display. 

To approximate the price, do initial research online and compare quotes from several cardboard display manufacturers. Most reputable manufacturers will be happy to give you a free, no-obligation quote. You should also inquire about any minimum order quantities they may have.

Knowing your budget will also help you during the design process, as tweaks to the design can be made along the way to help the project meet your pricing requirements. Although you may have grand dreams of ordering 1,000 5-foot-tall, full-color displays, you may find that 200 custom countertop POP displays with bold graphics do the job just as well — and within your budget. After all, you have to make the investment in your display worthwhile, so don’t invest more than you expect to make from sales.

4. What is your desired aesthetic?

Of course, an essential factor to have in mind before designing your custom POP display is the design itself. While you don’t have to have an exact pixel-for-pixel vision, you should have an idea of the overall vibe or aesthetic you’re hoping to achieve. 

What lifestyle are you trying to convey, and what imagery conveys that? What are your brand colors? Do you want to incorporate any interactive elements into the display? Having images to show your design team that can serve as a reference point is extremely helpful. 

If you’re ready to get started building your custom corrugated display, check out Build A Box’s online design tool, where you can quickly and easily make your cardboard display vision a reality. You can also give us a call at (888) 406-1610 or fill out our online contact form to speak with one of our design experts and receive personalized assistance. We’re always happy to answer any of your questions and provide a free quote. No minimum order quantity is required!