A counter display unit (CDU) is a
retail
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and ...
display unit normally placed on a shop counter to encourage consumer
impulse purchase
In the field of consumer behavior, an impulse purchase or impulse buying is an unplanned decision by a consumer to buy a product or service, made just before a purchase. One who tends to make such purchases is referred to as an impulse purchase ...
s.
Description
These types of
display stand
A display stand is an advertising and merchandising tool that has a direct impact on product sales.
Artwork or statuary may also have a display stand to hold items securely for viewing.
Features
From a functional perspective, a display should ...
s are principally fabricated from printed corrugated board, acrylic, sheet metal, steel wire, vacuum formed plastic and wood or indeed a combination of more than one of these materials. Choice of material is often dictated by the length of time the display unit will be in store. Printed corrugated board is more suited to short-term promotional CDUs due to its relatively low cost and durability of the material, whereas acrylic, metal, wood, etc. are more suitable for longer-term CDU's due to greater durability of those materials.
History
CDUs have been used in one form or another since at least the 18th century. Over the years, a variety of patents being granted for different designs.
See also
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Display case
A display case (also called showcase, display cabinet, shadow box, or vitrine) is a cabinet with one or often more transparent tempered glass (or plastic, normally acrylic for strength) surfaces, used to display objects for viewing. A display ...
*
Display stand
A display stand is an advertising and merchandising tool that has a direct impact on product sales.
Artwork or statuary may also have a display stand to hold items securely for viewing.
Features
From a functional perspective, a display should ...
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{patent, US, D173889, Counter Display Unit - Lon L. Wallace, N.Y. - 18 Jan 1955]
[{{patent, US, 2851237, Counter Display Unit - Charles D. Welshenbach, Ohio - 9 Sep 1958]
[{{patent, US, D250414, Counter Display Unit for Cosmetics - Fred Richman & Jerry Hammer, N.Y. - 5 Dec 1978]
[{{patent, US, D286110, Counter Display Unit - Thomas Carvel, N.Y. - 14 Oct 1986]
Merchandising
Retail store elements
Retail display