Kerbeco - Megara

Kerbeco® Pharmacy Display

Sigma Healthcare (Sigma) has the largest pharmacy network in Australia with over 1,200 branded and independent stores.

In early 2021, Sigma put out the call Point of Sale (POS) display designers and producers to create a long lasting FSDU for multiple brands using locally sourced and sustainable materials.

Combining a thorough understanding of creating bespoke retail displays with a strong history formulating new materials for the evolving retail display space in Australia, Megara had all the credentials for this project.

Project background

Before using the Kerbeco® permanent pharmacy display stand, Sigma was using a range of temporary cardboard display stands throughout their stores to hold various product ranges.

The existing display stands were being used for short periods and being replaced with new ones every few weeks. The store teams were frustrated and knew that improvements could be made to their current POS program.

The display’s assembly time was not justifiable for such a short period of time, and its materials and design were not durable or hard wearing enough to be considered for a more long-term solution.

Their wear and tear were also noticeable quickly. A more durable substrate was required to extend the display’s life and future activations by redressing the display with new graphics.

The key objective for creating the next evolution of displays was to design a sustainable display solution that lasted years rather than weeks whist using environmentally savvy materials.

Display functional brief

Design a display with 360-degree shopability for a permanent floor location rather than a single sided solution that would need to be placed against another fixture or wall. The display structure needed to be permanent (lasting beyond one year), with provisions made to “redress” the display with entirely new graphics for a constantly new, fresh look.

Supply requirements

Distribution to all 550 stores nationally. As each store size and layout varies, a great deal of planning was required to understand how many stands and in what configuration would suit a particular store. i.e., single, double, or 4-sided display.

Left: Amcal Pharmacy, Emu Plains. Right: Super Savers

Sustainability

Megara’s sustainability credentials

Since creating Promeg Ecorange®; the world’s first 100% carbon neutral polypropylene sheet in the early 2000’s, many retailers and brand owners have used this material across their POS displays. In 2020 we took this a step further by creating a new material, Kerbeco®, which is not only carbon neutral, but is also made from 50% recycled waste that has been collected from kerbside recycling, thereby reducing landfill.

The new Kerbeco® substrate was a key factor in Sigma choosing Megara to create the transformative in-store POS displays. Sigma’s focus on sustainability and reducing their environmental impact aligned with Megara’s new POS permanent displays using post-consumer waste and felt like a big step in the right direction.

There is so much consumer conversation about choosing products that support recycled and recyclable materials, but in the business-to-business marketing space, this conversation does not appear to have the same importance.

Apart from creating a display using material from kerbside waste, Megara also takes used POS assets back at the end of their lives. They are then decontaminated, shredded and re-palletised so that this waste can be turned into other products in the future.

Key environmental credentials:

Made from 50% kerbside (consumer) rubbish thrown away in household bins.
100% carbon neutral polypropylene.
Australian designed and made, reducing transport costs and emissions whilst supporting local people and businesses.
Recycled polypropylene uses 40% less energy than virgin material along its transformation path back into sheet stock.
Kerbeco® sheet has a printable surface so you don’t need to laminate with PVC etc.

Local design & supply

Local design and supply were a key priority. The original brief came through during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so overseas supply issues were front of mind. This was also an excellent reason to support local whilst avoiding long lead times and freight costs through the pandemic period.

Renderings showing double sided floor stand, and 4 sided options.

Talking about the design

We created a premium, sleek design that was also multi-functional and easy to assemble.

Each display has four shelves. Whilst it can be used as a single sided unit with branding on the sides, shelf fronts and header, it also can be used as a 2, 3 or 4-sided unit with 360-degree stockholding and visibility.

The permanent display is 100% Australian designed and made. The main unit is made from Kerbeco®, a proprietary substrate made by Megara Australia. Keeping all design and manufacturing in one location saves time, money and environment alike.

The graphic dress up kits are made up of four different parts: Side Panel, Header, Base Panel, and Shelf Strips.

The clear shelf fronts serve as “recyclable data strips”. Standard injection moulded data strips use adhesive strips to fix them to displays which creates a roadblock for recycling at end of display life.

All components of the display have been designed maximising sheet yield, with post-industrial scrap from the Kerbeco® sheet being recycled on site through Megara’s closed loop manufacturing facility.

Other design features:

Assembly: 20mins per stand with 5 minutes to update the graphics.
Re-dressibility: Graphics can be updated as required.
Reuse: The durability of the material and design enables this permanent display to be used for at least 3-4 years, changing out graphics for various promotions.
Weight holding: 20kg stock for each single stand. 80kg for a full 360-degree shoppable cluster.
Shipping: Flat-packed with QR link to assembly video.

Why was Megara the right solution

The ability to use a truly local one-stop-shop created the opportunity to thoroughly sample and field test the new Kerbeco® permanent display within days of receiving the brief.

After the design and materials were chosen, we meticulously worked through all the little elements to help with the project’s successful activation. These elements included:

Pre-production samples and testing;
Art set-up and direction;
Assembly videos;
Meetings with key stakeholders and decision makers to enable all feedback was actioned and everyone was well informed; and
Face to face assembly demonstrations and question sessions with the Sigma design and merchandising teams.

All these little “one percenters” made a huge difference by taking away the pain points associated with creating a new POS display initiative.

Conclusion

Thank you to our retail partners at Sigma for allowing the team at Megara to work on this trailblazing project.

As sustainable material and display pioneers, we understand that being the first in market requires diligence from all stakeholders. Seeing the Kerbeco® permanent displays being used by Sigma retailers around Australia, is a pinnacle achievement for the whole team who worked tirelessly to bring this sustainable display to life!