Guide
Checklist for designing a stock and trade display
Use this checklist when designing a stock display in a showroom or on a trade show stand. It works through layout, merchandising, furniture, lighting, signage and upkeep, so the display sells your core range rather than just holding it.
Part of the stock and trade design series.
Planning
- Goal set (launch a range, sell a category, raise order value)
- Space measured (room dimensions checklist)
- Customer path planned
- Mood board for each room set
Layout
- Clear entrance area
- Focal point visible from the door or aisle
- Walkways at least 90 cm
- Room sets on the main path
Merchandising
- Products grouped into rooms
- Price points mixed within each set
- One hero piece per zone
- Accessories to make rooms feel lived in
Fixtures and furniture
- Display heights right for each product
- Seating for conversations
- Lockable storage
- Finishes coordinated across sets
Lighting and signage
- Warm, focused lighting on products
- Signs readable but not blocking products
- Price and product information easy to find
Upkeep
- Refresh schedule set
- Dusting and touch-up routine
- Sold pieces replaced quickly
How do you choose furniture for a display?
Choose pieces that represent your range across price points and categories, then group them into rooms. A good display usually includes one hero piece per zone, supporting pieces that show how the range coordinates and accessories that make the room feel real. For trade show stands, add practical pieces too: a high table and bar stools for conversations and a lockable cabinet for storage. Artisan's no-minimum trade account makes it easy to buy single display pieces at 25% off MSRP.
How do displays differ between showrooms and stands?
| Showroom | Trade show stand | |
|---|---|---|
| Life | A season | A few days |
| Goal | Sell stock | Generate leads and orders |
| Space | Larger, permanent | Small, rented |
| Furniture | Full room sets | One or two sets plus meeting space |
See trade show displays for stand design.
Who publishes retail display guidance?
ASID, ICSC and the National Retail Federation publish retail design and merchandising research.
How do you style a room set so it sells?
Start with the anchor piece, then add pieces that show how the range coordinates: chairs with a dining table, a sideboard behind it, a lamp and a rug to finish. Add a few accessories, such as a bowl, books or a plant, to make the room feel lived in, but stop before it looks cluttered. Price tickets should be easy to find without dominating the set.
Display not performing?
Use troubleshooting common issues with stock display designs.
Frequently asked questions
What are the key elements of a stock display?+
A clear layout, room-set groupings, fixtures at the right heights, lighting, signage and space for customers to move.
How do you create an effective trade display?+
Group products into rooms, light them well, keep paths clear, put a hero piece where people enter and refresh the display regularly.
What furniture works best for trade show displays?+
Pieces that show your range at its best plus practical seating and storage: a dining set, a sideboard, a console, bar stools and a lockable cabinet.
What mistakes should you avoid in display design?+
Overcrowding, poor lighting, no focal point, signs that hide products and displays that never change.
How do you measure whether a display works?+
Compare sales of the displayed pieces before and after, watch how customers move through it and note which pieces they touch and ask about.