Want to engage more customers and tempt them into buying yummy treats? Use of an innovative retail display option displays your product optimally, draws the eye, and helps to convert sales.

Your job as a retailer is to provide compelling displays that helps to persuade customers to buy more of, or try a new product. This is a complex combination of making something attractive, easy to access, and informative.

Luckily, Mills Display has a huge range of retail display option, from fridge strips to shelf dividers, platters to serving spoons.

Choose a Rustic, Farm-Style Look

Whether its fruit and vegetables or a packaged food item, you can give it a more rustic feel by using wooden or wicker displays. These are particularly effective for farm style or natural products. We even can supply wood wool, not only giving a comfortable place for products to sit and filling in gaps, but it looks attractive too.

Our natural wooden barrels come in small (19L), medium (30L), large (53L) and extra large (79L). We have large and medium stands for the barrels too.

We have a large selection of poly wicker baskets. These are made from food safe polypropylene easy to clean, resistant to mould and mildew, and very durable.

• Small wicker basket in natural 230x190x80mm
• Slanted wicker basket in natural or chocolate brown 280x200x70/40mm
• Slanted wicker basket in natural 450x290x110/40mm
• Slanted wicker basket in natural 290x450x110/40mm
• Wicker basket in natural or chocolate brown, 400x250x100mm
• Wicker basket in natural or chocolate brown 400x300x175mm
• Extra large wicker basket with handles in natural 580x385x175mm
• Wicker basket in white 360x270x90mm
• Wicker basket in white 450x310x60mm
• Oval wicker basket in white 380x270x90mm
• Extra large round wicker basket 440x440mm

Make Your Deli Display More Attractive

Presenting food attractively is important; people eat with their eyes first. However, it also needs to be functional, easy to clean, and meet food safety guidelines. No one is going to buy a salad that they saw someone sneeze on.

First stop, is deciding the type of surface the food will be placed on. Things like cold-cuts or sushi could be placed on flat trays and platters. We have a huge range of innovative serving looks, including:

• Flat rectangular platters
• Round platters
• Slate trays
• Square platters
• Rustic oak finish melamine trays
• Concrete look platters
• Skillet-look-alike plate

Bowls are great for salads; pile them up high and keep them contained.

• Square bowls
• Round bowls

If you’re presenting things in the dishes which they’ve been cooked in, we have a range of stainless steel round ‘kadai’ style dishes with handles, square balti stainless steel dishes, and enamel dishes.

All our bowls, platters, and plates are food safe, and easy to keep clean in a commercial kitchen.

Function is important, and that includes covering everything against pests, wandering hands, and errant coughs. Dome covers are a great option, we have them in 330 x 177mm and 270 x 117mm sizes.

You’ll also need the correct utensils, with solid spoons, perforated spoons, or tongs as required. You need one per dish to prevent contamination, plus spares.

From there, its about making everything look great.

Food and Drink Retail Decorative Items

Think about shelf dividers; these help keep food from falling into other containers and contaminating them, such as meat falling into a vegetarian salad. We also have a parsley divider, which adds colour and freshness to displays.

Use height differences and elevation to create interest. Whether it’s by using cake stands (which are not just for cakes!) or risers, having staggered heights can draw attention.

Add some artistry with some shrubbery. Decorative box hedge garlands, parsley garlands, artificial iceberg lettuce leaves, replica grapes, or even a shiny red apple can add visual appeal.

You also can use colour in displays – while white is always the gold standard to make the food pop, black looks smart, red could be used for Christmas or Valentines day, or a whole range of colours could attract attention. Terracotta-look bowls give that rustic, Mediterranean feel for salads.

Label Things Clearly

You need to make sure that everything is clearly labelled, with allergy information, price, and origin clearly identified. There are multiple pricing display options, with a look to suit every display. You’ve done all that work to make your display look great; don’t give the customer an excuse to walk away by not providing all the information they need.

Fridge strips are an easy and attractive way to label refrigerated items. The strips easily attach and allow you to insert and change tickets as required.

Zhuzh Up Your Food and Drink Retail Displays

With a few tweaks, you can turn a boring, run-of-the-mill display into an innovative smorgasbord for the eyes. Contact us at Mills Display with help in creating inspiring food and drink retail displays, and sell more delicious food.

Point-of-Sale (POS) displays are an essential part of any retail business, helping to draw attention to products, increase sales, and improve the customer experience. But creating effective point-of-sale displays requires careful planning and consideration.

Here are some tips to help you create an effective point-of-sale display that will drive sales and customer satisfaction.

What factors influence a POS display’s success?

Brick-and-mortar stores need a modern way to increase sales and attract customers; a well-designed Point of Sale (POS) display can be the answer to this challenge. With effective design, creative placement, and strategic use of colour and lighting, Point-of-Sale (POS) displays can have a huge impact on customer engagement and purchasing decisions. Creating an effective POS display is essential for driving sales success in brick-and-mortar stores.

1. Make Your Business Stand Out from The Crowd

It’s essential to ensure that your point-of-sale display stands out from the crowd. Adding accents such as bright colours, large font titles, and attractive graphics can help draw attention to it and make it more visually appealing. This will help customers recognize your product and entice them to make a purchase.

2. Keep It Simple & Effective

It is just as important to have an eye-catching store display as it is to keep it simple and easy to understand. Too much information can be overwhelming and confusing, so focus on the most important details about your product. Use clear and concise language and avoid using technical terms that customers may not understand.

3. Use High Quality POS Display Materials to Boost Sales

Utilise good quality materials such as cardboard, foam board, and corrugated plastic for displays can boost your business in multiple ways. Not only do they lend a look of more professional quality to your display but also increase its lifespan.

Keep your POS display content fresh and updated with the latest promotions, products, and customer reviews. This ensures that your customers get relevant information every time they visit.

4. Enhance Your Point-of-Sale Displays with Promotional Offers

Adding a special offer or promotion to your point-of-sale display will increase customer engagement and sales. Discounts, free gifts with purchase, or limited-time promotional offers can entice customers to buy products they may not have otherwise considered. By taking advantage of these promotions, you can boost your sales and create an even more memorable shopping experience for your customers.

Brochure holders are an innovative way to draw attention to special promotions, discounts, and sales. By strategically placing brochure holders in high-traffic areas businesses can capture the attention of potential customers and increase their chances of converting them into paying customers.

5. Strategic Point of Sale Display Location

Having a POS display in a prominent location is essential for businesses looking to increase their visibility, attract more customers and boost sales. By placing your POS display near the cash register, or in a high-traffic area, you can ensure that it will be seen by potential customers, thus increasing the chances of them taking notice. Additionally, making sure that your POS display is eye-catching and well-designed can help to further draw attention to your business.

6. Make it relevant

Having a relevant and eye-catching point of sale (POS) display is key to selling your products. Reflect the season, product type or any other theme that you’re selling; this will help customers easily identify items they are interested in. By making sure your POS display is relevant to the products you’re selling, you can increase sales, capture customer attention and boost brand recognition.

A well-designed Point of Sale display is indispensable for increasing sales and enticing customers. You can design a visually appealing display that is of superior quality, is engaging and pertinent to your business and results in improved sales and customer engagement.

Running a successful retail store is a constant challenge, but there are several steps you can implement to improve your chances of success: one of the most vital is that your store has excellent point of sale (POS) display equipment.

A customer’s attention can be drawn to your item by using the correct display equipment. A visually appealing display can help your products stand out from the crowd and boost the likelihood of a sale. Display equipment may help you exhibit your items in the best light possible by allowing you to organise products in an appealing and accessible manner, making it easier for clients to find what they are searching for. This is especially important for new or seasonal products that need to be highlighted to generate sales.

By making things more visible and accessible, clients can discover what they need quickly and efficiently with the correct POS display technology and enhance the purchasing experience.

Let’s look at 4 must-have POS display equipment pieces that can help you achieve this goal.

1. Floor Stands

Floor displays are critical in capturing consumer attention and boosting sales in a retail business. An effective floor display will make a visual impact, promote products, and inspire consumer engagement.

Brochure Holder Stands are a practical way to improve your floor display. Brochures, catalogues, and other marketing materials that give more product information or promotions can be displayed on these stands. By strategically positioning these stands throughout the shop, you may direct clients to certain products and improve their interest in making a purchase. Furthermore, brochure holder floor stands can assist in keeping the store tidy by designating a location for marketing materials and reducing clutter. Including brochure holder floor stands into your floor display can be a simple yet efficient method to boost client experience in your store.

2. Hanging Signs

Hanging signs are an effective technique to bring clients’ attention to your store or a specific area. The concept of attention is one of the most important elements to consider in this case. Humans are naturally drawn to visual stimuli, particularly bright colours and eye-catching images.

Another aspect to think about is the customer’s craving for novelty and variation. Hanging signs and posters can be used to emphasise new or seasonal products or promotions, which can indulge the curiosity of customers. You can keep the shop environment fresh and exciting for customers by changing the hanging signage on a regular basis.

Lastly, evaluate the customer’s desire for convenience and ease of navigation. Hanging signage will help customers locate what they’re looking for by directing them to specific areas of the shop. Consumers are more likely to have a positive buying experience and return if the shop layout is simple and easy to use.

3. Shelf Management Displays

Shelf management displays are designed to assist you organise and locate your merchandise.
Creating displays that are distinct from those at other businesses can capture the attention of customers and grab their interest, driving them to explore your store more.

Focusing on the customer’s shopping experience is a great method to design innovative shelf management displays. Analyse how clients will walk through the shop and create displays that will meet their demands. For example, if you find consumers lingering in specific areas of the shop, you could design a display that encourages exploring while also making the space more visually appealing.

1. Wall-mounted Displays

At a retail store, wall mounted displays are an effective approach to highlight products and attract customers. They are perfect for establishments with limited floor space since they allow you to create additional display areas without taking up valuable floor space. Wall-mounted displays can be used to clearly organise and highlight merchandise. Customers can easily find what they are looking for and purchase it when things are organised in an orderly manner.

The key to attracting consumers’ attention and motivating them to make a purchase is strategic placement of wall mounted brochure holders. These are a few spots in a retail business where these wall mounted displays can be efficiently positioned to attract clients.

• Near Entrances: Adding a wall-mounted display near the store’s entrance can create a pleasant environment and bring people in. This is also an excellent place to highlight new or popular products.
• Along Walkways: Placing displays along high-traffic walkways can boost the likelihood of customers noticing the products and purchasing them. Displays placed at eye level can also improve visibility and provide a more interesting buying experience.
• In Waiting Areas: Waiting spaces, such as those in a doctor’s office or a hair salon, are ideal for brochure holders. Clients have extra time while waiting to read the content and learn more about the products or services available in the shop.
• Near Service Counters: Place brochure holders near service counters to notify clients about various services available in the shop. Brochures about loyalty programmes, gift cards, or other services are examples of this.
• Near Checkout: Placing brochures near the checkout area can drive impulse purchases and raise the average transaction value. This is also an excellent spot for highlighting products.

Take a look today at what products Mills Display have on offer to help you in making easy and clever changes to your display equipment.

NZ Plastic Bans: What it Means for You and Your Alternatives to Plastic

On the road to a more eco-friendly country, the government is banning a number of plastic items that are hard to recycle or completely unnecessary. You might need to make some changes.

The changes started in October 2022, with easily-replaceable or completely unneeded items like plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Now, from 1 July 2023, there’s more changes. These are a bit trickier for many retailers.

Already Banned Plastics in NZ

From 1 October 2022, a range of plastic items were banned. This included:

• Cotton buds with plastic stems
• Plastic drink-stirrers
• Plastics containing pro-degradant additives
• Some PVC food trays
• Some polystyrene takeaway containers

These were all easy-to-replace items and didn’t require a great deal of changes from the general public or retailers. But now, the next round of bans are coming into place in 1 July 2023 and these might require more thought and planning.

Banned Plastics July 2023

• Single use plastic produce bags
• Single use plastic drinking straws (although some disabled people or those with specific health needs can still access them)
• Single use plastic tableware and cutlery
• Plastic produce labels (those annoying apple stickers). The industry is creating a compostable version which can be discarded in any home or commercial compost, and should be transitioned over by 2025.

Once again, these changes are basic, and there are easy alternatives, like biodegradable tableware and cutlery.

However, as a retailer, you still need to supply bag/ carrying options for those in your store. While many Kiwis have reusable cloth bags, there are always people who forget, and other people such as tourists who may not be carrying reusable bags.

Here at Mills Display, we want to make your business compliant, and help your customers buy everything they need easily. We have a few options to help.

Single Use Produce Bag Replacements

Brown paper bags, while more expensive than single use plastic, are the best option available. We have three sizes, all of which are constructed using a strong 80gsm paper:

• Small 255x140x305mm (WxDxH)
• Medium 280x150x325mm (WxDxH)
• Large 280x150x445mm (WxDxH)

We also have mushroom bag holders, great for holding brown paper bags close to the produce, so people can easily find the bags close at hand. We have coated wire bag holders, landscape/ horizontal polycarbonate bag holders, and portrait/ vertical bag holders.

Up Your Basket Game

It’s amazing how many shopping baskets get broken, or simply walk out the door. People love the convenience of baskets, and it’s frustrating when shoppers go to grab one and it’s not there.

Ensure you have a big supply of baskets, and that they are branded to avoid theft (intentional or not). We have a range of sizes, colours, and styles to choose from.

• 20L standard shopping basket in yellow, orange, dark green, red, blue, green, and black
• 26L standard shopping basket in black, green, blue, red,
• 43L rolling shopping basket in black or red

The standard shopping baskets can also be made from recycled plastic, but minimum order quantities do apply. Contact us to find out more about these.

Next Steps in Mid 2023

It’s also time to look forward to the next steps. In 2023, you can anticipate most PVC/ rigid polystyrene being removed from the market. This means things like polystyrene pottles and PVC biscuit trays get the boot.

Don’t Muck Around, Get Ahead of the Game

If you don’t comply with the government’s new regulations, there are penalties for continued disregard for the rules. These fines can be up to $10,000 per offence.

Your job is to enable customers to buy what they want, with as few barriers to purchase as possible. The businesses that make it easy for their customers to buy things will get more customers. You want to be well organised so by the time these changes become law, you’ve already transitioned to more sustainable and eco-positive practices.

Whether you need brown paper bags for this round of changes, or you need to start assessing options for future changes, Mills Display can help.

PP (5) is a type of plastic called polypropylene. Because it’s light, flexible, and durable, it is turned into a huge variety of different products that you use every day.

PP stands for polypropylene, and the (5) denotes the recycling category. PP (5) has a number of properties that make it excellent for many different applications. It’s the second-most produced plastic type in the world, with about 45 million tonnes created each year. About 30% of that is used as packaging. Electrical and equipment manufacturing use 13% each, while household appliances and the automotive industry use about 10%.

It’s popular because it’s so versatile, with a number of advantages over other plastic types.

• Strong: PP is highly flexible and has elastic properties, retaining its shape even after bending. It has a tensile strength of around 4,800 psi, and a surface hardness of 92 on the Rockwell R scale, so it’s quite soft, allowing for bending and flexing.
• Lightweight: PP5 is low in density comparted to other common plastics, making it lighter to ship.
• Stable: PP is resistant to fats, acids, alkaline, and other chemicals such as chloride, acetone, boric acid, nickel sulfamate, and hydrochloric acid. However, it is susceptible to oxidisation and at higher temperatures may not be appropriate for chemicals.
• Low friction: The surface is ‘slippery’ and frictionless
• Insulation: Highly resistant to electricity
• Non-permeable: PP5 does not absorb water. In a 24 hour soaking test, polypropylene absorbs less than 0.01% of its weight.
• Thermoplastic: PP melts at 163.8oC and can be cooled and heated again as needed. This means it can be injection moulded and also recycled many times
• Easily welded: Because of its low melting point, polypropylene can be easily welded if a join is required
• 3D Printing: Although PP is challenging to print with in 3D, it is ideal for prototyping and has a lot of advantages over more brittle/ firm plastic types.

What is PP (5) Used For?

Because it has so many good qualities, it’s ideal for a huge range of uses.

Cosmetic Packaging

Because polypropylene is resistant to chemicals, this makes it ideal as packaging for cosmetics. Due to its flexibility, PP also is used to create ‘living hinges’, which are the hinges on top of flip-top lids for container like shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Food and Drinks

In its virgin form (not recycled), PP5 is considered an excellent material for food and drink packaging. That includes things like yoghurt container, straws, bottle caps, as well as other packaging types. Tomato sauce bottles, with their living hinges, are a great example of PP (5) use.

It’s resistant to heat beyond most kitchen temperatures, making it safe for use in heating/ storage of food. This is why our range of food grade nesting crates, collapsible crates  and stack and nest crates are in polypropylene; our extensive range or food ingredient storage and preparation crates will suit a huge variety of supermarkets, cafes and commercial kitchens.

Automotive Applications

Because it’s easily weldable, low cost, and with low friction, PP has excellent mechanical properties. It’s used in applications such as battery trays and cases, bumpers, interior trims, and instrument panels and dashboards.

Fabrics and Fibres

Due to its high levels of flexibility, PP5 is used in strapping, staple fibres, filament, and tape. It’s highly flexible and yet strong, ideal for many types of packaging and wrapping materials.

Industrial Uses

Its strength and resistance to chemicals means that PP5 is used in many industrial ways. Jerry cans, chemical tanks, and piping are all ideal uses. It’s also used to protect parts in machinery, to prevent delicate components from scratches or breaking upon impact.

Consumer Goods

Furniture, appliances, luggage, toys, and houseware all use PP5 plastic. Most plastic chairs and outdoor furniture are made from PP.

Disadvantages of PP5

Polypropylene has three main disadvantages.

• UV Sensitive: Compared to other plastics, PP5 has poor resistance to UV light
• Poor Adhesion: PP5 has poor adhesion properties, so paint or glues do not stick well, however it does weld easily
• Temperature: While it is stable at ambient temperatures, it is not recommended for high temperature use, and can become brittle at low temperatures.

Recycling PP5

Polypropylene, on the first instance, is used primarily for food items. Once it’s recycled, it’s no longer considered ‘virgin’ (food grade), but it is recyclable and has a number of uses. Rope, carpet, clothing, speed humps, garden tools, compost bins, and a range of other items can be created from recycled PP.

Because it can be melted down so easily, it can be recycled up to six times. Added to this is that generally all the components of an item of packaging, including the labels and lids, are PP, making it easy to recycle.

Currently only about 1% of PP plastic is recycled, but in New Zealand PP plastic is wanted in recycling. This is because it’s cheaper to re-use it than ship it in brand-new from overseas. Most curb side recycling pick-ups accept number 5 plastics

Plastic 101: What does the recycling number mean on plastics?

We all know that there are different numbers on plastics. But what do they actually mean?

There are seven different groups that plastics can belong to. Some are recyclable and some less so. Understanding what they mean allows you to make better buying decisions and make choices that are more positive for the environment. Kiwis each use 31kg of plastic packaging every year, but only recycle 5.58kgs. Understanding what can be recycled will assist you in making better decisions about what you supply your customers.

1. PET Polyethylene Terephthalate

This is the plastic you’ll find in water bottles and soft drinks, salad/ takeaway domes, salad dressing and peanut butter jars and some biscuit trays. It’s completely clear, tough and resistant to solvents, gas and moisture.

It can be recycled into pillows and sleeping bag stuffing, a range of clothing, and carpet. There is a recycling plant in Lower Hutt that processes PET.

2. PE-HD High Density Polyethylene

This is the semi-flexible plastic that you see almost everywhere. It’s opaque, often coloured and can be made into almost anything- shopping bags, milk bottles, ice cream containers, shampoo, conditioner, chemical and detergent bottles, buckets and agricultural piping.

It can be recycled into bins, buckets, detergent bottles, fencing, pipes and posts.

3. PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

This hard-wearing plastic can be clear or opaque, flexible or rigid. It’s used in almost everything from blister packs and bottles to roof sheeting, electrical conduit and watch straps. In its second life, it can be transformed into flooring, cables, speed bumps, mud flaps, mats and packaging, amongst other things, although it’s difficult to recycle in NZ.

4. PE-LD Low Density Polyethylene

This plastic is soft, flexible, with a waxy-type surface. It can be damaged easily. It takes glad wrap, rubbish bags, squeezy bottles and irrigation tube and turns it into bin liners and pallet sheets. LDPE plastics are easily recycled in NZ.

5. PP Polypropylene

A hard plastic which retains flexibility, this plastic is versatile. From ice cream tubs and potato chip bags, straws to garden furniture, packing tape to microwavable dishes, this plastic type is stable and used in a huge range of items. It’s recyclable into pegs, bins, pallet sheets, car battery cases and trays.

6. PS Polystyrene

This is clear or opaque, rigid and brittle. It’s resistant to heat but can be affected by fats and solvents. It’s used in CD cases, plastic cutlery, some low cost toys and imitation glasses. It can be recycled into coat hangers, components of whiteware, and some stationery accessories.

PS-E Polystyrene Expanded

This is the polystyrene you know from packaging, hot drink cups and take away containers, and foam meat trays. It cannot be recycled in normal kerbside recycling, but if the polystyrene is clean, businesses can ensured it’s re-used and turned into insulation.

7. Other

This is the blanket category for every type of plastic that doesn’t fit into anywhere else. Because the classification system was developed in 1988, any plastic formulated since then falls into this category. Plastics such as nylon fall into this group. Car parts, electronics, water cooler bottle and packaging all are grouped here. These plastics can be recycled into car parts, concrete aggregate and faux timber.

What does this mean for you?

As a business owner, your contribution to the environment is incredibly important. Where possible, invest in recycled plastic for packaging and storage. There are a range of options available, and you are contributing to NZ’s circular economy.

When recycled plastics aren’t available or possible due to food packaging requirements, choose containers that are easily recycled and have lots of possible uses. Number 1, 2 and 4 are the easiest and most cost effective to recycle.

Your contribution into New Zealand’s environment is incredibly important, and your choices impact many consumers. They also care about our beautiful country, and so by you making better choices when it comes to your plastic use, you’re ensuring your customers are happy too.