Merchandise display system

Abstract

A merchandise display system for use in promoting retail consumer products, such as baking goods, includes a supporting element and individual product receptacles which are designed to effectively display the retail products. Each of the individual product receptacles, are removable from the main display and printed with indicia that is related to the particular consumer product or promotion being offered. An incentive or promotional product that has been selected and packaged based on a particular theme or message, such as a holiday or sporting event, is provided in conjunction with the retail product to stimulate sales of the retail product during periods where such retail products are not normally purchased.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A merchandising display system for displaying consumer products comprising: 
 a substantially rigid platform having first and second surfaces and first through fourth end edges, said first surface having a relatively planar area sized and configured to receive at least two different types of products;    at least first and second product support panels at least one of which is sized and configured to fit within said planar area of said first surface;    at least one retail product having a size less than said planar area of said first surface of said rigid platform and being displayed in a manner to occupy at least half of said first surface of said rigid platform;    said retail product being sized and configured to fit within one of said first and second product support panels; and    wherein at least one promotional product is supplied in combination with said retail product and said product support panel but provided separate and distinct from said retail product on said first surface of said rigid platform and said promotional product is presented with a theme to reflect a particular period in which the merchandising display is presented.    
     
     
         2 . A merchandising display system recited in  claim 1  wherein there are at least two retail products are provided for use in connection with the merchandising display system.  
     
     
         3 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said retail products are baking products.  
     
     
         4 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said baking products include at least one decorating product.  
     
     
         5 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first through fourth end edges provide a space between said first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first and second product support panels each have at least first and second end edges and first and second side edges.  
     
     
         7 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 6  wherein each of said first and second end edges and said first and second side edges are walls extending substantially perpendicularly from each of said end and side edges.  
     
     
         8 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 6  wherein each of said first and second product support panels is removable from said rigid platform.  
     
     
         9 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second product support panels is provided with printed indicia substantially related to said retail product.  
     
     
         10 . A merchandising display system as recited in  claim 7  wherein at least one of said walls is provided with printed indicia related to said retail product.  
     
     
         11 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products comprising: 
 a substantially rigid element sized and configured to support at least one unit of retail consumer product, said substantially rigid element having first through fourth end edges and first and second surfaces;    at least one consumer product holding container designed to display said unit of retail consumer product in an aesthetically pleasing manner, said product holding container sized and configured to fit on one of said first and second surfaces of said substantially rigid element, and said product holding container being printed with indicia related to said unit of retail consumer product;    at least one unit of consumer incentive product having a particular theme, provided in combination with said unit of retail consumer product, said unit of consumer incentive product arranged in proximate relation to but distinct from said unit of retail consumer product;    said unit of retail consumer product being provided in substantially greater volume than said unit of consumer incentive product and said unit of consumer incentive product being provided in a predetermined ratio to said unit of retail consumer product;    wherein said combination of said unit of consumer incentive product and said unit of consumer retail product along with said at least one holding container promotes sales of said unit of retail consumer product.    
     
     
         12 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 11  wherein said unit of retail consumer product comprises more than half of said one of said first and second surface areas of said rigid element.  
     
     
         13 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 11  wherein said ratio of said unit of consumer incentive product to said unit of consumer retail product is approximately 1:2.  
     
     
         14 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 11  wherein said ratio of said unit of consumer incentive product to said unit of consumer retail product is approximately 1:1.  
     
     
         15 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 11  wherein said ratio of said unit of consumer incentive product to said unit of consumer retail product is approximately 1:3.  
     
     
         16 . A system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 11  wherein said ratio of said unit of consumer incentive product to said unit of consumer retail product is approximately 1:4.  
     
     
         17 . A modular system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products comprising; 
 at least a first unit of retail consumer product;    at least a first unit of consumer promotional product;    at least first and second receiving trays, one of said first and second receiving trays sized and configured to receive said unit of retail consumer product and said second of said first and second receiving trays sized and configured to receive said unit of promotional consumer product;    a rigid supporting element sized and configured to receive at least one of each of said first and second receiving trays and each of said first and second receiving trays being moveable into and out of operative association with said rigid supporting element; and    wherein said first receiving tray has a dimension that is distinct from said second receiving tray such that said first and second receiving trays may receive units of retail consumer products and consumer incentive products having at least one different dimension, such that said first and second receiving trays can be arranged in a non static configuration.    
     
     
         18 . A modular system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 17  wherein said unit of consumer promotional product are created with a theme denoting a particular calendar period.  
     
     
         19 . A modular system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 17  wherein said unit of consumer promotional product are created with a theme denoting a particular event.  
     
     
         20 . A modular system for promoting sales of units of retail consumer products as recited in  claim 17  wherein said unit of consumer promotional product are interchangable to update a promotion surrounding said units of retail consumer products.