Executive Summary

Written by Sarah Collins, Technical Director at Plastics Co UK with 15+ years experience in retail display fabrication.

A prestigious Mayfair boutique specialising in luxury skincare and jewellery required a complete display refresh for their newly refurbished flagship store. The brief: crystal-clear acrylic displays that would showcase products without visual distraction, while maintaining the boutique's premium aesthetic. The existing displays had yellowed with age and no longer met the brand's quality standards.

Key Results: 150 custom acrylic display units fabricated and delivered within 3 weeks, 12 bespoke designs from risers to multi-tier units, all edges diamond-polished for invisible joints, and full integration with the store's new lighting scheme.

Crystal-clear acrylic displays showcasing luxury products in the refurbished boutique

Project Background

The boutique stocks high-end cosmetics and fine jewellery, where product presentation directly impacts purchasing decisions. Their existing glass and aged acrylic displays created visual clutter and didn't align with the minimalist luxury aesthetic of their 2026 refurbishment.

Key challenges included tight timelines (store closure limited to 2 weeks), integration with bespoke Italian marble countertops, and the need for displays that could be easily repositioned for seasonal merchandise changes.

Client Requirements

Our Solution

We specified 8mm cast acrylic for most units, upgrading to 10mm for larger multi-tier displays requiring additional structural integrity. All pieces were laser-cut for precision edges, then diamond-polished to achieve the water-clear finish essential for luxury retail.

Our UK fabrication facility - laser cutting and diamond polishing for premium finish

Design Solutions

Design	Application	Qty
50mm Single Riser	Individual product highlight	40
3-Tier Step Display	Product range presentation	25
Cosmetic Tester Stand	Interactive sampling	30
Jewellery T-Bar	Necklace and bracelet display	20
Watch Pillow Plinth	Luxury watch presentation	15
Custom Counter Units	Checkout and feature areas	20

Fabrication Process

Diamond-polished edge detail - crystal clear finish essential for luxury presentation

Quality Control

• ✓ Material inspection: Each sheet checked for optical clarity
• ✓ Laser calibration: Daily checks ensure cut precision
• ✓ Edge finishing: 4-stage polishing process to 1200 grit
• ✓ Final inspection: Every piece checked under showroom lighting
• ✓ Protective packaging: Individual wrapping prevents transit damage

Results

Project Outcomes

• ✓ On-time delivery: All 150 units delivered within 3-week timeline
• ✓ Zero defects: 100% pass rate on quality inspection
• ✓ Brand alignment: Displays praised by brand consultants
• ✓ Sales impact: 23% increase in average transaction value post-refit

Cost Analysis

Item	Detail	Cost
8mm Cast Acrylic Material	15 sheets @ £85	£1,275
10mm Cast Acrylic Material	6 sheets @ £110	£660
Fabrication & Polishing	150 units	£3,200
Design & CAD	12 designs	£480
Trade Discount	15%	-£842
Total Project Cost		£4,773

Cost per display: £31.82 average (ranging from £18 for simple risers to £65 for complex units)

Frequently Asked Questions

What acrylic is best for retail displays?

Cast acrylic is the premium choice for retail display applications. It offers superior optical clarity with 92% light transmission, excellent scratch resistance compared to extruded alternatives, and polishes to a water-clear finish. For high-end jewellery and cosmetics, 6-10mm cast acrylic provides both structural durability and the visual appeal essential for luxury presentation.

How much do custom acrylic displays cost?

Custom acrylic displays typically cost £15-100 per unit depending on size, design complexity, and finish requirements. Simple single risers start around £15-25, while complex multi-tier units with bonded joints and fully polished edges range from £50-100+. Volume discounts of 10-20% typically apply for orders of 50+ units.

Can acrylic displays be branded or printed?

Yes, acrylic accepts several branding methods: screen printing works well for logos and simple graphics, vinyl application suits complex designs, laser engraving creates permanent marking with a frosted appearance, and UV printing enables full-colour photographic images. Frosted or coloured acrylic can also incorporate subtle branding through the material itself.

How long does custom acrylic fabrication take?

Lead times vary by complexity: simple cut-to-size sheet pieces ship within 3-5 working days, standard fabricated items like display stands typically take 1-2 weeks, and complex custom projects with multiple design iterations require 3-4 weeks from approval to delivery. Rush services are available for urgent retail fit-out requirements.

Is acrylic better than glass for retail displays?

For most retail applications, acrylic offers significant advantages over glass: it's 50% lighter making repositioning easier, approximately 17 times more impact resistant reducing breakage risk, easier to fabricate into complex shapes, and safer if broken. Glass may be preferred only where maximum scratch resistance is critical, but modern cast acrylic performs excellently in retail environments.

Last updated: March 2026. This case study represents a real project supplied by Plastics Co UK.