Acrylic POS display ideas: types of retail displays and when to use each

Why acrylic for advertising

Acrylic, also called PMMA, is one of the most widely used plastics in industry and a perfect substitute for glass. For brand communication it has three clear advantages:

• Durability: it stands up to sun, humidity and daily use far better than card or paper. Signage becomes permanent.
• Versatility: it can be cut, bent and machined into two- and three-dimensional pieces, in sheets from 3 to 100 mm.
• Image: transparent, glossy and elegant; it takes colour printing directly on the surface.

Its one weak point is that it scratches easily, so it is best avoided for parts under constant mechanical rubbing.

What we make for advertising

• Wall plaques with corporate identity, opening hours and directories. See plaques.
• Backlit elements in opal acrylic, which diffuses light.
• Posters in medium or large format, and high-resolution photographs for exhibitions and events.
• Signage for institutions, organisations and shopping centres.
• Branded displays and tabletop stands, such as the coffee capsule dispenser we made for Esplendor Comunicación. See POS displays.
• Corporate gifts and awards. See awards.

The techniques behind each piece

1. Laser cutting for shapes and outlines with a polished edge.
2. Direct UV printing in full colour, up to 3050 × 2050 mm, often reverse-printed on the back face to add depth.
3. Laser engraving for an elegant white finish.
4. Thermoforming for one-piece displays and brochure holders.
5. Drilling and stand-offs for wall mounting.

We work from CAD or vector files, so every repeat of a campaign comes out identical.

Vinyl on acrylic: a flexible alternative

Printing directly onto acrylic gives the most durable result. But when the message changes often (offers, opening hours, seasons), a good alternative is to apply adhesive vinyl to an acrylic panel: the vinyl peels off easily and the panel is reused for the next campaign.

Some ideas for shops:

• Shopfront: a large acrylic panel with the name or logo in vinyl, on a rustic wall or a window, with or without lighting.
• Doors and windows: opening hours, featured products, offers, contact details or a welcome message.
• Display cabinets: notices and messages for customers.
• Small plaques lettered on the outside that can be updated.

Retail interiors

Acrylic also gives a modern touch to shop and office interiors: “invisible” furniture, minimalist shelves, inserts for doors and tables in place of glass, and boxes to display collectors’ pieces. The key to the look, as at home, is to combine transparent areas with opaque colours.

Planning a campaign or opening a shop?

Tell us what you want to communicate, where the piece will go and how many units you need.

For standard poster holders and displays, visit Crilato, our online shop (in Spanish).