Display stand for shipping and displaying consumer goods

Abstract

A display stand for shipping and displaying goods is disclosed. The display stand preferably eliminates the need for separate inner boxes in a shipping container, resulting in less waste and less time being spent stocking shelves with products.

1 . A method of providing efficient packaging of products for display or sale, whereby waste materials associated with unpacking are reduced and time associated with displaying the products at a place of display or sale is reduced, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of product packages;   providing one or more display stands, each display stand configured to support one or more of the plurality of the product packages, the display stands being further configured such that an integer number of the display stands fit securely into a shipping container while supporting the consumer products; and   loading the integer number of display stands holding the product packages into the shipping container in preparation for shipping.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display stands each comprise one or more support pegs configured to support the product packages and the product packages each comprise one or more hanging means configured to fit over the one or more pegs of the display stand, the method further comprising attaching the product packages to the one or more pegs via hanging means prior to loading the display stands into the shipping container. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hanging means comprises a hook. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the display stands comprises a base member configured to support the one or more support pegs and to provide stability. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the base member comprises a substantially flat panel. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the integer number of display stands holding the products packages into the shipping container comprises stacking one of the display stands on top of another one of the display stands. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein there is no additional structural support material between the stacked display stands. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display stand is at least partially formed of one or more biodegradable materials. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biodegradable materials comprise a soy-based plastic. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retailer waste is reduced by about 5% by weight compared to standard packaging comprising a corrugated cardboard external container enclosing cardboard inner boxes. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising surrounding at least one of the display stands and the supported packages using an enveloping means prior to loading. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enveloping means comprises shrink wrap. 
   
   
       13 . A kit for providing efficient packaging of product packages, whereby waste materials associated with unpacking are reduced and time associated with displaying the product packages at a place of display or sale is reduced, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of product packages;   a shipping container; and   one or more display stands, each display stand configured to support one or more of the plurality of packages, the display stands being further configured such that an integer number of the display stands fit securely into the shipping container while supporting the product packages.   
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the display stands each comprise one or more support pegs configured to support the product packages and the product packages each comprise one or more hanging means configured to fit over the one or more pegs of the display stand. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the hanging means comprises a hook. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the display stands comprises a base member configured to support the one or more support pegs and to provide stability. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the base member comprises a substantially flat panel. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the display stand is at least partially formed of one or more biodegradable materials. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the biodegradable materials comprise a soy-based plastic. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the retailer waste is reduced by about 5% by weight compared to standard packaging comprising a corrugated cardboard external container enclosing cardboard inner boxes. 
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising enveloping means configured to surround at least one of the display stands and the one or more supported product packages. 
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the enveloping means comprises shrink wrap.