Are you considering a floor display to increase sales of your product?  Planning a corrugated floor display program without a clear roadmap can lead to retail rejection, structural failure, missed deadlines, and unnecessary cost overruns.

Many retailers have strict compliance requirements, products have weight limitations, and production timelines are often tighter than you anticipate.

That’s why we created the Retail Floor Display Planning Checklist — a practical, step-by-step guide to help you plan smarter, engineer correctly, and launch your retail display with confidence.

Whether you're preparing for a regional test or a national rollout, this checklist will streamline your process and reduce costly surprises.

Retail Floor Display Planning Checklist

A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning, Engineering & Launching a Corrugated Floor Display Program

1 - Introduction: Why Most Floor Displays Underperform

2 - Section 1: Retail Compliance Planning

3 - Product & Structural Engineering Planning

4 - Display Objectives & Marketing Strategy

5 - Branding & Messaging Planning

6 - Production & Logistics Planning

7 - Cost Planning & MOQ Strategy

8 - Risk Prevention & Final Review

1 - Introduction: Why Most Floor Displays Underperform

A corrugated floor display is not just a printed structure.

It is a retail selling system.

When properly engineered and strategically positioned, a floor display can:

• Increase product visibility
• Capture impulse purchases
• Support seasonal promotions
• Launch new SKUs successfully
• Drive measurable sales lift

When poorly planned, it can:

• Be rejected by retailers
• Collapse under product weight
• Create in-store compliance issues
• Miss seasonal deadlines
• Waste marketing budget

This workbook will walk you step-by-step through the strategic, structural, and logistical planning required to create a high-performing retail display program.

Complete each section before requesting a quote to dramatically improve speed, cost efficiency, and retail approval.

2 - Section 1: Retail Compliance Planning

Before creative design begins, compliance must be confirmed.

Retail Information Worksheet

Retailer(s): _____________________________________________

Store Format (circle):
Grocery / Mass / Club / Specialty / Convenience / Other

Maximum Height Allowed: ___________________________

Maximum Footprint (W x D): _________________________

Pallet Required? Yes / No
If yes, pallet size: ________________________________

Weight Restrictions (if known): _____________________

Display Duration Allowed: __________________________

Assembly Requirements:
☐ Store-assembled
☐ Pre-assembled
☐ Minimal assembly required

Strategic Notes

• Retailers often reject displays due to footprint violations.
• Height restrictions vary widely by retailer.
• Assembly complexity impacts store compliance.

Catalpha Tip: Always confirm retail specs before structural design begins.

3 - Product & Structural Engineering Planning

Your structure must support more weight than expected in real retail conditions.

Product Specification Worksheet

Product Name: ____________________________________

Individual Unit Dimensions (L x W x H): _____________

Individual Unit Weight: ____________________________

Case Pack Quantity: _______________________________

Total Weight per Shelf: ____________________________

Total Loaded Display Weight: _______________________

Packaging Type:

☐ Box
☐ Bottle
☐ Pouch
☐ Blister Pack
☐ Other: __________________

Fragile or crush-sensitive? Yes / No

Structural Considerations

☐ Number of shelves needed
☐ Adjustable or fixed shelves
☐ Reinforced base required
☐ Hook or gravity-fed system needed
☐ Open front or partially enclosed

Engineering Insight: Displays should be engineered to support 2–3x expected load for stability and safety.

4 - Display Objectives & Marketing Strategy

Before designing structure or graphics, clarify your objective.

Program Type

☐ Product Launch
☐ Seasonal Promotion
☐ Limited-Time Offer
☐ Regional Test
☐ National Rollout
☐ Cross-Merchandising Initiative

Target Placement

☐ Endcap
☐ Aisle
☐ Entry / Vestibule
☐ Checkout Area
☐ Secondary Placement

Inventory Strategy

Number of SKUs: ___________________

Desired Facings per SKU: ____________

Units per Store: ____________________

Strategic Reflection

What action do you want customers to take?

What problem does this display solve?

What makes this promotion urgent?

Catalpha Tip: The objective determines the structure — not the other way around.

5 - Branding & Messaging Planning

Your display must communicate within 3 seconds.

Graphic Asset Checklist

☐ Vector logo files
☐ Brand color codes
☐ Approved fonts
☐ High-resolution product photography
☐ Promotional headline
☐ Pricing callouts
☐ QR codes (if applicable)
☐ Legal copy & UPC

☐ A graphic artist on staff or access to one that understands artwork standards needed for printing.

Messaging Worksheet

Primary Headline:

Secondary Message:

Call to Action:

Key Benefit Highlight:

Visibility Rule:
If it can’t be read from 6–10 feet away, it won’t convert.

6 - Production & Logistics Planning

Production planning affects both cost and speed.

Timeline Worksheet

Target In-Store Date: ____________________________

Retail Reset Date (if applicable): _________________

Internal Approval Deadline: _______________________

Prototype Required? Yes / No

Production Planning

Estimated Quantity Needed: _______________________

Shipping Method:
☐ Flat-packed
☐ Partially assembled
☐ Fully assembled

Distribution Plan:
☐ Direct to Retailer DC
☐ Direct to Individual Stores
☐ Third-Party Logistics

Budget Range (if known): _________________________

Typical Timeline: 4–6 weeks from design to delivery.

7 - Cost Planning & MOQ Strategy

Cost is driven by:

• Size
• Structure complexity
• Reinforcement
• Print method
• Volume
• Freight configuration

Program Strategy Worksheet

Is this a test run? Yes / No

If test run:
Estimated number of stores: __________________

Units per store: ____________________________

If full rollout:
National store count: _______________________

Target cost per unit (if known): _______________

Total program budget: ________________________

Strategic Insight: Testing smaller quantities can reduce risk before scaling nationally.

8 - Risk Prevention & Final Review

Before moving forward, confirm:

☐ Product weights verified
☐ Retail specifications confirmed
☐ Structural needs defined
☐ Timeline realistic
☐ Budget aligned with expectations
☐ Internal decision-makers identified

Next Steps

With this checklist completed, you are prepared to:

• Request accurate pricing
• Reduce design revisions
• Accelerate production
• Improve retail acceptance
• Maximize display performance

Work With Catalpha Advertising & Designs

Catalpha specializes in:

• Custom corrugated floor display design
• Structural engineering
• Retail compliance expertise
• Prototyping & testing
• Low and high-volume production
• Fulfillment coordination

Whether launching in 50 stores or 5,000, strategic planning ensures your display performs as intended.

If you would like a PDF of the CheckList, Just email us on any link on this website.