Patent Application
20160331154
Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR §1.57.
1. Field of Art
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a system and method for the display and merchandising of tea products. For example, the integrated display and merchandising of tea products can be done on a single shelf.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tea leaves and other ingredients for brewable beverages are customarily displayed together near other foodstuffs in consumer stores. Given the typical amount of tea purchased by consumers at a single time, tea leaf packages are generally of a small size and thus height. In order to maximize the amount of product on display to consumers stores generally display tea leaf packages on shelves that are not much taller than the height of the tea leaf packages.
Tea brewing systems and other associated accessories, for example tea pitcher systems, are customarily displayed along with other kitchen accessories in a different section of the store from tea leaves and foodstuffs. The larger size of tea pitcher systems compared to tea leaf packages usually leads stores to display tea pitcher systems on shelves with a height roughly corresponding to the height of the vertical oriented tea pitcher system. As with the tea leaf packages, the tea pitcher packages are displayed on shelves that are not much taller than the tea pitcher packages, in order to maximize the amount of product packages that can be displayed and merchandised to the consumer.
Embodiments of the systems and methods described herein seek to overcome various problems associated with the manner in which tea products are displayed and merchandised, including those described above. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure systems and methods for integrated display and merchandising of a pitcher system and a plurality of tea leaf packages are provided. In some embodiments, a pitcher system and a plurality of tea leaf packages can be displayed adjacent to one another on a single shelf in an integrated display and merchandising system.
In some embodiments a system for the integrated display and merchandising of tea products can comprise a plurality of tea leaf packages, each package comprising tea leaves for brewing and a front including a graphic, a company name, a product name, and a weight printed thereon; and a tea pitcher package. The system can further comprise a pitcher system which comprises a package and a pitcher configured to hold liquid when in a vertical position while in a stationary state, the pitcher positioned within the tea pitcher package in a horizontal position.
The package of the pitcher system can have a front, a back, a top, a bottom, and two sides. The front of the package can include a graphic, a company name, and a product name printed thereon. The package is configured to be displayed on a shelf such that the bottom is on the top surface of the shelf and the front is substantially aligned with the front edge of the shelf.
Certain embodiments comprise a system and method of displaying and merchandising tea products on a single shelf. The method can include the steps of displaying a pitcher system and displaying a plurality of tea leaf packages. According to certain embodiments the height of a tea leaf package and the pitcher system may be the same; within 0-2.0, 0.5-1.5, or 1 inches of each other; or within 20%, 10-15% of each other.
A system and method for a merchandise display of tea products can be used to display tea products adjacent to one another. For example, the products can be displayed on the same shelf or adjacent shelves. According to certain embodiments a system for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include a plurality of tea leaf packages and a pitcher system to be displayed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages. The pitcher system can comprise a package and a pitcher contained within the package in a horizontal position. According to certain embodiments a method for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include displaying a pitcher system on a shelf and displaying a plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf adjacent to the pitcher system. The pitcher system can comprise a package having a front and a pitcher positioned horizontally within the package. The front of the package can have a graphic, a company name, and a first product name printed thereon. The pitcher system and plurality of tea leaf packages can be displayed on a shelf directly adjacent to one another, with the front of each package adjacent the front edge of the shelf, wherein the height of each of the plurality of tea leaf packages and the height of the package of the pitcher system are the same within 0-2.0, 0.5-1.5, or 1 inches of each other; or within 20%, 10-15% of each other.
A system and method for merchandise display of tea products can be used to display tea products adjacent to one another. For example, the products can be displayed on the same shelf or adjacent shelves. According to certain embodiments a system for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include a plurality of tea leaf packages and a pitcher system to be displayed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages. The pitcher system can comprise a package and a pitcher contained within the package in a horizontal position. With the pitcher in a horizontal position, the height of each of the plurality of tea leaf packages and the height of the package of the pitcher system can be made to be the same or within a small range of one another, for example within 20% of each other, preferably within 10 to 15% of each other, or within 0-2 inches, 0.5-1.5 inches, or 1 inch. The height can be determined with the principal display panels of the tea leaf package and the pitcher system at the front of the shelf.
A system and method for a merchandise display of tea products can be used to display tea products adjacent to one another. For example, the products can be displayed on the same shelf or on adjacent shelves. According to certain embodiments a system for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include a plurality of tea leaf packages and a pitcher system to be displayed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages. The pitcher system can comprise a package and a pitcher contained within the package in a horizontal position. According to certain embodiments a method for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include displaying a pitcher system on a shelf and displaying a plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf adjacent to the pitcher system. The pitcher system can comprise a package having a front and a pitcher positioned horizontally within the package. The front of the package can have a graphic, a company name, and a first product name printed thereon. The pitcher system and plurality of tea leaf packages can be displayed on a shelf directly adjacent to one another, with the front of each package adjacent the front edge of the shelf, wherein the height of each of the plurality of tea leaf packages and the height of the package of the pitcher system are the same or within a small range of one another, for example within 20% of each other, preferably within 10 to 15% of each other, or within 0-2 inches, 0.5-1.5 inches, or 1 inch.
In some embodiments, a method for an integrated merchandise display for tea products on a single shelf is provided. The method can comprise displaying a pitcher system on a shelf. The pitcher system can comprise a package having a front, back, top, bottom, and two sides, the package also having outer dimensions defining a height, a width, and a depth, the width being greater than both the height and depth; a pitcher positioned within the package, the pitcher configured to hold a liquid in a vertical position while in a stationary state, and positioned within the package in a horizontal position; wherein the front of the package has a frontal surface area defined by the height and the width, the front including a graphic, a company name, and a first product name, the graphic comprising a graphical representation of the pitcher contained within the package, the graphical representation of the pitcher positioned on the front of the package in one of a range of positions between vertically and 60 degrees from vertical. The method can further include displaying the pitcher system on the shelf further comprising, displaying the package on the shelf with the bottom on a top surface of the shelf and the front adjacent a front edge of the shelf with the package width extending horizontally and aligned with the front edge of the shelf and the height extending vertically. The method may further include displaying a plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf directly adjacent to the pitcher system, each tea leaf package of the plurality of tea leaf packages comprising tea leaves for brewing tea, and having a front, a back, and a bottom, the front of the tea leaf package being a principal display panel and including the company name, a second product name, and a weight printed thereon, the tea leaf package also having outer dimensions defining a height, a width, and a depth; wherein the front of the tea leaf package has a frontal surface area defined by the height and the width; and displaying the plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf directly adjacent to the pitcher system further comprising, displaying the plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf such that each tea leaf package of the plurality of tea leaf packages is positioned with the bottom on the top surface of the shelf and the front adjacent a front edge of the shelf with the tea leaf package width extending horizontally and aligned with the front edge of the shelf and the height extending vertically, wherein the height of the tea leaf package and the height of the package of the pitcher system are within 20% or less of each other.
According to some embodiments of the method, at least one of the company name and product name are orientated to be read from left to right when looking at the front of the pitcher system package on the shelf. The height of the tea leaf package and the height of the package of the pitcher system can be within 10 to 15% of each other, 0-2 inches of each other, and/or 0.5-1.5 inches of each other.
In some embodiments, a method for an integrated merchandise display for tea products on a single shelf can be provided. The method can comprise displaying a pitcher system on a shelf. The pitcher system can include a package having a plurality of sides including a front and a bottom, the package also having outer dimensions defining a height, a width, and a depth, the width being greater than both the height and depth; a pitcher positioned within the package, the pitcher configured to hold a liquid in a vertical position while in a stationary state, and positioned within the package in a horizontal position; wherein the front of the package has a frontal surface area defined by the height and the width, the front being a principal display panel and including a graphic, a company name, and a product name, the graphic comprising a graphical representation of the pitcher contained within the package and wherein the company name and product name are orientated to be read from left to right when looking at the front of the package on the shelf. The method can include displaying the pitcher system on the shelf further comprising, displaying the package on the shelf with the bottom on a top surface of the shelf and the front adjacent a front edge of the shelf with the package width extending horizontally and aligned with the front edge of the shelf and the height extending vertically; and displaying a tea leaf package on the shelf directly adjacent to the pitcher system, the tea leaf package comprising tea leaves for brewing tea, and having a plurality of sides including a front and a bottom, the front of the tea leaf package being a principal display panel, the tea leaf package also having outer dimensions defining a height, a width, and a depth, the front of the tea leaf package with a frontal surface area defined by the height and the width. The method can also include displaying the tea leaf package on the shelf directly adjacent to the pitcher system further comprising, displaying the tea leaf package on the shelf such that the tea leaf package is positioned with the bottom on the top surface of the shelf and the front adjacent a front edge of the shelf with the tea leaf package width extending horizontally and aligned with the front edge of the shelf and the height extending vertically, wherein the height of the tea leaf package and the height of the package of the pitcher system are within 2 inches or less of each other.
Various embodiments are depicted in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, and should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the inventions, in which like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.
Tea pitcher system manufacturers and distributers customarily design the packaging for these products to display information to a consumer and simultaneously house the associated product in the orientation that is typically used in. A tea pitcher is used in a vertical orientation, and tea pitcher manufacturers customarily orient the pitcher in the associated package in the same fashion. The package is generally designed so that the product images, name, company name, and logo are readable by consumers when the product inside is vertically oriented.
Owing to the large discrepancy in height between the vertically oriented tea pitcher system package and the comparatively small tea leaf package it has been inefficient for stores to display these two products on the same shelf. A large shelf height is generally needed to display the tea pitcher package, and placing a tea leaf package adjacent to the pitcher would lead to a large amount of unoccupied space above the tea leaf package next to the pitcher package. Stores generally prefer to maximize the amount of shelving space that is occupied by a salable product, and this arrangement does not accomplish that objective.
The need for differing shelf heights and thus differing display locations can be problematic for the consumer. Consumers may benefit from being provided with information about the corresponding products, however the differing display locations of the products often makes this task difficult to accomplish. A consumer interested in purchasing a tea leaf product, might also want to purchase a corresponding pitcher system. The consumer may need to become aware of the correspondence between a tea leaf product sized and designed for use with a particular pitcher system. Currently this requires the consumer to navigate to a different location within the store in order to view the second corresponding product. Even if there is signage associated with the first tea product the consumer may often be unwilling to navigate to the display location and view the second tea product. Accordingly there is a need for improved systems and methods for the integrated merchandise display of tea products.
As can also be seen, the width is greater than both the height and depth. In some embodiments, the surface area of the front surface 110 can be greater than the surface area of the sides 150, 160, and may be greater than, less than, or the same as the surface area of the top 130, bottom 140, and/or back 120.
Turning now to the tea leaf package 200, a tea leaf package can comprise tea leaves for brewing tea. In some embodiments a tea leaf package 200 has a front 210, a back 220, a bottom 240, and two sides 230, 250. The tea leaf package 200 has a height H2 and width W2. The front 210 of the tea leaf package 200 has a frontal surface area defined by the height H2 and width W2 of the tea leaf package 200. The package also has a depth D2.
The front 210 of the tea leaf package 200 can have information and graphics thereon, for example one or more of a company name 211, a second product name, 212, and a quantity and/or weight 213. In some embodiments the front 210 of the tea leaf package 200 may also have a graphic printed thereon, such as a depiction of a tea leaf or other ingredients of the tea product. The front 210 can be the “principal display panel” as defined by 21 CFR §101.1 under the FDA regulations on food labeling. Though these regulations are specific to food labeling, the front of the pitcher system 10 can also be the “principal display panel” consistent with the statutory definition, though without the required food related information required to be included on the principal display panel under the FDA's regulations. According to 21 CFR §101.1 the principal display panel is “the part of a label that is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under customary conditions of display for retail sale.” Also, consistent with the regulations, more than one surface can be considered the principal display panel. For example, the front and back can be made to the same and may include the same or substantially the same information.
For food products, under the current FDA regulations, the following items must be included on the principal display panel: the statement of identity, or name of the food, and the net quantity statement, or amount of product. See also 21 CFR §101.3(a) and 21 CFR §101.105(a). All of 21 CFR §101 (Apr. 1, 2014) is incorporated by reference herein.
Referring now to
Turning now to
The shelf 400, though not limited thereto, is of the kind generally used to display products in a supermarket or other store. The shelf 400 has a top surface 410 and a front edge 420. The top surface 410 of the shelf 400 is defined by the depth D3 of the shelf 400 and the Width W3 of the shelf 400. The front edge 420 of the shelf faces towards a space to be occupied by a potential consumer such that any products which may be located on the top surface 410 of the shelf 400 are readily visible to a potential consumer. In some embodiments a shelf 400 may be one of a plurality of shelves which are arranged vertically, with a second shelf 500, or some other feature, being positioned above the shelf 400 and defining a height H3 between the shelf 400 and the upper feature wherein products may be displayed. In some embodiments this height H3 can be a limiting factor in determining which products may be displayed on a shelf 400. Any product which is to be displayed on a shelf 400 must have a displayed height that is less than the height H3.
In some embodiments the height H4 of a pitcher 100 in a vertical position (
In some embodiments a pitcher system 10 is displayed on a shelf 400. The package 100 of the pitcher system 10 is displayed on the shelf 400 such that the bottom 140 of the package 100 is on a top surface 410 of the shelf 400. Meanwhile, the front 110 of the package 100 is substantially adjacent to the front edge 420 of the shelf 400 and is aligned with the height H1 extending vertically.
The text and graphics printed on the front surface of the package 100 are configured to be read by consumers when the package 100 is displayed on the shelf in this manner. The text and graphics printed on the front 110 of the package 100 are oriented such that when the bottom 140 of the package 100 is on the top surface 410 of the shelf 400 at least some of the text is displayed to be read by consumers in the traditional left to right manner. Additionally, the orientation of the graphic 111, which may comprise a graphical representation of a pitcher, may not align with the orientation of pitcher 300 which is positioned within the package 100. While the orientation of the pitcher 300 within the package 100 may enable the pitcher system 10 to be displayed on a shelf 400 on which the pitcher 300 may not be able to be displayed on when in a vertical orientation, the orientation of the text and graphics printed on the front 110 of the package 100 will still enable a consumer to easily read the text and discern the contents of the package 100.
According to certain embodiments a plurality of tea leaf packages 200 are simultaneously displayed on the shelf 400 adjacent to the pitcher system 10. Each tea leaf package 200 is displayed on the shelf 400 such that the bottom 240 of the tea leaf package 200 is on a top surface 410 of the shelf 400. Meanwhile, the front 210 of the tea leaf package 200 is substantially adjacent to the front edge 420 of the shelf 400 and is aligned with its height H2 extending vertically.
The text and graphics printed on the front surface 210 of the package are configured to be read by consumers when the package 200 is displayed on the shelf in this manner. In some embodiments the text and graphics printed thereon are oriented such that when the bottom 240 of the tea leaf package 200 is on a top surface 410 of the shelf 400 the text and graphics are easily readable by consumers. For example, the quantity and/or weight 213 can be displayed to be read by consumers in the traditional left to right manner. Further the front surfaces 210, 110 of the tea leaf package 200 and the pitcher system 10 can be the principal display panels.
According to certain embodiments at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages 200 is displayed adjacent to the pitcher system 10. In some embodiments at least one of the tea leaf packages 200 is displayed directly adjacent to the pitcher system 10. In some embodiments additional tea leaf packages may be located on the shelf 400 behind the tea leaf packages 200 that are displayed substantially adjacent to the front edge of the shelf 400. Likewise, additional pitcher systems may be located behind the pitcher system 100 that is displayed on the shelf 400. While at least one of a plurality of tea leaf packages 200 is displayed adjacent to the pitcher system 10 on the shelf, additional pitcher systems may also be displayed on the shelf 400 adjacent to the pitcher system 10. On a typical store shelf the pitcher systems 10 can be organized 3 or 4 deep. The adjacent row of tea leave packages 200 can include a substantially greater number, such as 6, 8, 10, 12 or more deep. The number of pitcher systems 10 and tea leave packages 200 across is limited only by the width of the shelf and the number of shelves adjacent one another in the shelving system.
According to certain embodiments the height H1 of the package 100 and the height H2 of the tea leaf package 200 are both less than the height H3 of the shelf 400. In some embodiments the height H1 of the package 100 and the height H2 of the tea leaf package 200 are within 20% of each other, preferably within 10 to 15% of each other. In some embodiments, the heights H1 and height H2 are within 0-2 inches, 0.5-1.5 inches, or 1 inch of each other. In some embodiments the height H1 of the package 100 and the height H2 of the tea leaf package 200 are substantially the same.
As both heights, H1 and H2, are less than the height H3 of the shelf 400, and are both within at least 20% of each other, the pitcher system package 100 and the plurality of tea leaf packages 200 are able to be simultaneously displayed adjacent one another on a shelf 400 without an excessive of unused space above the plurality of tea leaf packages 200. A pitcher 300 displayed in a vertical position on a shelf adjacent a plurality of tea leaf packages 200 would require the shelf height H3 to be greater than at least the height of the vertically oriented pitcher 300. As the height of the vertically oriented pitcher 300 is much greater than the height H2 of a tea leaf package 200 this display configuration results in a substantial amount of unused display space above the tea leaf packages 200. In contrast, the orientation of the package 100 according to certain embodiments disclosed herein allows for the simultaneous display of a plurality of tea leaf packages 200 adjacent to a tea pitcher system 10 while drastically reducing the amount of unused display space above the plurality of tea leaf packages 200.
A system and method for a merchandise display of tea products can be used to display tea products adjacent to one another. For example, the products can be displayed on the same shelf or adjacent shelves. According to certain embodiments a system for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include a plurality of tea leaf packages and a pitcher system to be displayed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages. The pitcher system can comprise a package and a pitcher contained within the package in a horizontal position. With the pitcher in a horizontal position, the height of each of the plurality of tea leaf packages and the height of the package of the pitcher system can be made to be the same or within a small range of one another, for example within 20% of each other, preferably within 10 to 15% of each other, or within 0-2 inches, 0.5-1.5 inches, or 1 inch. The height can be determined with the principal display panels of the tea leaf package and the pitcher system at the front of the shelf.
In some embodiments a plurality of tea leaf packages are displayed adjacent to a pitcher system 10 on the same shelf. In some embodiments a tea leaf package 200 of the plurality of tea leaf packages is displayed directly adjacent to a pitcher system 10.
A system and method for a merchandise display of tea products can be used to display tea products adjacent to one another. For example, the products can be displayed on the same shelf or on adjacent shelves. According to certain embodiments a system for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include a plurality of tea leaf packages and a pitcher system to be displayed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of tea leaf packages. The pitcher system can comprise a package and a pitcher contained within the package in a horizontal position. According to certain embodiments a method for an integrated merchandise display for tea products can include displaying a pitcher system on a shelf and displaying a plurality of tea leaf packages on the shelf adjacent to the pitcher system. The pitcher system can comprise a package having a front and a pitcher positioned horizontally within the package. The front of the package can have a graphic, a company name, and a first product name printed thereon. The pitcher system and plurality of tea leaf packages can be displayed on a shelf directly adjacent to one another, with the front of each package adjacent the front edge of the shelf, wherein the height of each of the plurality of tea leaf packages and the height of the package of the pitcher system are the same or within a small range of one another, for example within 20% of each other, preferably within 10 to 15% of each other, or within 0-2 inches, 0.5-1.5 inches, or 1 inch.
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62160494 | May 2015 | US |
