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Introduction
Point of sale (POS) materials are some of your brand’s most visible, customer-facing assets. But for teams managing hundreds of locations, point of sale merchandise is more than just print—it’s a logistical challenge.
Which store needs what? Who gets a drive-thru banner vs. a countertop cling? Are the disclaimers still correct for that state?
At IRIS Strategic Marketing Support (IRIS), we work with national brands to ensure that POS merchandise is assigned, fulfilled and tracked accurately—every time. With GearBox® by IRIS, you get structure behind every campaign rollout.
What Is Point of Sale Merchandise?
Point of sale merchandise includes the branded materials that support promotions or inform purchasing decisions at or near checkout. This includes:
- Signage (menus, posters, table tents)
- Promotional banners or clings
- Counter displays and shelf talkers
- Take-home flyers or inserts
- Menu boards (digital or printed)
- Seasonal kits or in-store LTOs
For multi-location brands, coordinating all of this across various formats, layouts and offers is nearly impossible without structure.
Common Challenges With POS Merchandise Rollouts
1. Same Kit, Different Needs
When the same POS package goes to every location, it’s rarely a good fit. Store types vary, offers differ and signage specs change.
2. Customization Gets Risky
If teams edit files themselves, logos drift, disclaimers disappear and branding suffers.
3. Manual Fulfillment Slows Everything Down
Without an integrated vendor routing system, signage orders get stuck in inboxes and spreadsheets.
4. No Rollout Tracking
If HQ can’t see which store used which materials and when, it’s impossible to measure or optimize performance.
What Brands Actually Need From Their POS Merchandise Program
To support marketing execution in the field, you need a POS system that:
- Assigns signage kits based on store format or license type
- Allows safe local edits—like store hours or franchisee contact info
- Locks branding, legal and pricing to prevent drift
- Routes signage orders directly to approved vendors
- Tracks fulfillment and in-store usage by location
And it should all happen in one platform.
How GearBox® by IRIS Powers POS Merchandise Execution
GearBox® by IRIS connects your creative, field teams and vendors in a single execution platform built for distributed marketing.
Here’s how it supports point of sale merchandising:
- Campaigns are assigned by store type, tier or region
- Materials are templated with locked brand rules and editable fields
- Orders are routed to the right vendors with signage specs built in
- Usage, delivery and customization are all tracked by location
- Last-minute updates push live across the network without email chaos
It takes POS logistics off your plate—and puts control in your hands.
Use Case: Applebee’s Ensures Signage Accuracy With GearBox®
With hundreds of franchise locations, Applebee’s needed more control over POS merchandising—especially for seasonal offers and new product launches.
Using GearBox® by IRIS, they:
- Assigned signage kits based on restaurant format
- Locked brand-critical design and legal elements
- Enabled franchisees to customize location-specific info safely
- Routed signage through approved vendors automatically
- Tracked campaign usage and rollout progress
Read the Applebee’s Case Study
With GearBox®, Applebee’s turned a manual, error-prone process into a repeatable system that protects the brand every time.
Conclusion
Point of sale merchandise works when it’s done right—and that means assigning, customizing and delivering the right materials to the right location on time.
GearBox® by IRIS gives marketing teams the tools to scale signage programs without risking brand inconsistency or fulfillment delays.
Talk to IRIS to build a POS strategy that doesn’t just look good—it actually shows up.
