Display box

Exhibitors in a supermarket

Packaging with precuts (first flat) and two pieces (on the right) in a supermarket in Norway

The display box —or exhibitor box in Latin America— is the name given to the packaging that fulfills a double function: transport and as a product display at the point of sale. The main display box models are:

• Box with lid. It is a box whose cover opens at the point of sale and folding over itself, it fits into the background as a poster. This type of packaging is usually placed on counters or next to register boxes and is intended for purchase products by impulse.
• Box with precuts. It is a standard box (usually, flaps or wrap around) to which a line of precuts has been practiced on one or more of its sides. This cut allows to start part of the packaging thus leaving the product exposed in the shelf. The most common types of precuts are:
  • Perimetral. The dot line crosses the entire perimeter of the box horizontally.
  • Oblique. The pre-cut adopts the form of a wedge showing a greater surface of exposure on the front and a progressive protection on the sides of the box. This design is considered more aesthetic than the previous one so its popularity is growing in free-service shops.
  • Window. The pre-cut configures a front or upper window where the product can be disposed of.
  • Front opening. The pre-cut forms a front window that extends at the top of the box covering one of the upper flaps showing a higher exposure surface.

La strip a variation of the precut can be considered. It consists of a plastic tape (two, in the case of wrap around) that is placed inside the box and that allows its opening clean by pulling from it.

• Double packing. It consists of two pieces joined together by means of several stitches. The bottom part acts as a tray and is printed in high quality. The other is placed on top incast between the product and the base being of worse quality both in its composition and in the type of printing. The lid sits on the base thus going to withstand the stacking load. In the store, the deck is detached very easily (using three fingers) leaving the product exposed on the linear. The set is mounted on a double-introctor folder and several glue stitches and can be used on automatic packaging lines as it behaves like a flap box.
• Informal presentation. In order to streamline handling tasks, we often find in the exposed packaging supermarkets that were not designed for that purpose. This is how it occurs with those who scratch with cuckoo or scratch tape leaving the product to excel at the top. The messages from the box correspond to a transport packaging (bar code, number of units, weight, etc.) and not to a promotional one (characteristics, advertising messages, etc.) so the general impression is very poor. It is usually given in drinks, bleach, oils, milk and other products of low added value.