How Do POS Printing and Shelf Edge Strips Drive Retail Sales

Walk into any successful retail store, and you’ll notice something subtle yet powerful influencing your shopping decisions. From vibrant hanging displays to those small price indicators along the shelves, these printed materials silently guide your journey through the aisles. In today’s fiercely competitive retail landscape, these elements aren’t just decorative—they’re strategic sales drivers that can differentiate between products flying off shelves or gathering dust.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how these crucial retail tools work to capture attention, provide information, and ultimately convince customers to reach for their wallets. Understanding these principles can significantly impact your bottom line, whether you’re a small boutique owner or manage a larger retail operation.

The Power of First Impressions

We Brits are spoilt for choice when shopping. With high streets still holding their own against online giants, physical retail remains a crucial battlefield for consumer attention.

The moment a customer steps into your store, they’re bombarded with visual information. During this brief window, POS printing materials do the heavy lifting of creating that crucial first impression.

Consider these statistics on shopper behaviour in UK retail environments:

(Disclaimer: Individual results may vary based on store layout, location and customer demographics.)

Eye-catching window displays, standees, and promotional banners serve as silent salespeople, drawing customers towards specific areas and products. A properly designed POS printing strategy doesn’t just look good—it strategically guides the customer journey through your space.

Shelf Edge Strips: Small Space, Big Impact

No retail marketing tool delivers more bang for your buck than the humble shelf edge strip. These narrow labels might seem insignificant, but they punch well above their weight in sales influence.

Shelf edge strips serve multiple crucial functions:

1. Price communication: The most obvious function but critical for consumer decision-making
2. Promotional messaging: Limited-time offers, discounts, or loyalty benefits
3. Product information: Ingredients, origins, or special features
4. Brand reinforcement: Consistent visual identity and messaging

The effectiveness of shelf edge strips comes from their positioning at the exact moment of decision. When a shopper is considering a purchase, these strips provide the final persuasive push.

Here’s how different types of messaging on shelf edge strips affect purchasing decisions:

(Disclaimer: Actual results will vary based on product category, store type, and customer demographics.)

Innovative POS Printing Techniques Driving Results

Modern POS printing has evolved far beyond simple paper signs. Today’s technology offers retailers innovative options that create memorable experiences while driving sales.

Digital integration stands at the forefront of this evolution. QR codes on printed materials that link to online content, augmented reality features that bring displays to life, and NFC-enabled signage that offers instant product information are all commonplace in forward-thinking retail environments.

Texture and finish have also become powerful differentiators. Matte, gloss, raised UV, metallic finishes—each creates a distinct sensory experience that can elevate the perception of product quality. 

Sustainability is another crucial factor. With 76% of UK consumers now considering environmental impact in their purchasing decisions, eco-friendly POS printing materials are increasingly important. Retailers using visibly sustainable materials reported not only improved brand perception but also increased sales among environmentally conscious demographics.

Strategic Placement: Location Matters

The effectiveness of both shelf edge strips and other POS printing materials depends heavily on strategic placement. Understanding traffic flow and customer behaviour is essential for maximising impact.

(Disclaimer: Individual results will vary based on store format, product type, and customer base.)

Eye-level placement remains the most valuable retail real estate. Items positioned at eye level generally see 35% higher sales than those placed on lower shelves. For shelf edge strips, this means ensuring your most compelling offers and highest-margin products have enhanced visibility at this prime position.

The “golden triangle” concept—the area between the entrance, the main promotional display, and the most popular product—is another critical consideration. Positioning complementary POS printing materials within this triangle can significantly boost cross-selling opportunities.

Measuring Success: ROI of Visual Merchandising

Unlike digital marketing, tracking the direct impact of POS printing and shelf edge strips can be challenging. However, with the right metrics, retailers can measure effectiveness and optimise their strategies.

Before-and-after sales analysis remains the most straightforward method. By comparing sales figures for the periods immediately before and after installing new POS printing materials, retailers can gauge their impact. On average, well-designed point-of-sale materials generate a 24% increase in sales for featured products.

Heat mapping and customer flow analysis offer deeper insights. By tracking customer movement patterns, retailers can identify whether POS printing materials are successfully drawing attention to intended areas.

Practical Implementation: Getting Started

Implementing an effective POS printing and shelf edge strips strategy doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here’s a practical approach to get you started:

1. Audit your current materials: Assess what’s working and what isn’t in your existing displays.
2. Identify key areas: Determine your high-traffic zones, conversion points, and areas needing improvement.
3. Create a cohesive design system: Ensure all materials share consistent branding while allowing for product-specific customisation.
4. Prioritise high-margin products: Focus your initial efforts on products with the best profit potential.
5. Test and iterate: Try different approaches, measure results, and refine based on what works.
6. Update regularly: Schedule refresh cycles for all materials to prevent “display blindness.”

Small changes can make significant differences. Even updating just your shelf edge strips to include more compelling information can provide a quick sales boost while you develop a more comprehensive strategy.

Conclusion

In the highly competitive world of retail, every advantage matters. Well-designed and strategically placed visual merchandising materials can be the difference between a thriving business and one that struggles to convert browsers into buyers.

The evidence is clear: thoughtful implementation of in-store marketing materials directly impacts sales, customer engagement, and overall shopping experience. By applying the principles outlined in this guide, retailers can create more compelling, effective shopping environments that drive revenue and build brand loyalty.

For expert advice on implementing these strategies in your retail environment, contact VC Print, where we specialise in helping retailers maximise their visual merchandising impact.

Author Name: Nimesh Kerai

Serving as the Head of Printing at VC Print, Nimesh Kerai is a distinguished expert in the field. His remarkable technical skills, combined with his keen awareness of the latest advertising trends, have propelled the company to notable success. Over the years, Nimesh has gathered a wealth of knowledge, which he frequently imparts through engaging and informative blog posts.