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Demonstration tables and sampling carts: choosing in-store kit
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Quick answer
For supermarket demos, use a compact folding demonstration table about 800mm wide that one person can carry in and set up in minutes. Step up to a 1,000mm or 1,200mm table when two demonstrators work side by side or the demo needs bench space. Choose a sampling cart when the product has to move to the shopper, or needs cold storage and a canopy. Check the retailer's supplier or demonstration guidelines before you order.
Quick comparison: demo tables, carts and trays
| Format | Best for | Size and weight | Price from (ex GST) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Demonstrator table | Supermarket tastings and product demos | 800mm wide, 470mm deep top, 800mm high, 7kg | $304 (unprinted, with header board and carry bag) | 1.5 weeks |
| Presenter 800 table | Demos that need a solid work surface (check the retailer's depth limit) | 800 x 600mm top, 900mm high, 6.5kg | $312 (unprinted; carry bag extra) | 1.5 weeks |
| Superlight 1200 table | Two-person demos or larger sampling set-ups | 1,200 x 600mm top, 900mm high, under 8kg | $801 (with printed wrap) | 1.5 weeks |
| Custom sampling cart or trolley | Roaming sampling in centres, stations and events; chilled or frozen product | Made to order | Quoted to brief | Quoted to brief |
| Vendor tray | Staff walking the floor with small samples | 520 x 400mm tray (one size only), worn on shoulder straps | $136 (unprinted) | 1.5 weeks |
Prices exclude GST and freight. Lead times run from order and print-ready artwork; freight time depends on the delivery postcode.
Demo tables: sizes, folding vs fixed, branded tops and valances
Our demonstration tables come in two main ranges, plus a model made for supermarkets:
- Superlight tables come in 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200mm widths, with straight or curved fronts. They are the lightest choice for demonstrators who carry kit into several stores a day. The Superlight 1200 has a thermo-formed ABS top that is food safe and wipes clean.
- Presenter tables cover the same widths in a sturdier build. The Presenter 800 has a food-grade melamine-coated MDF top that cleans with a damp cloth. As supplied, a Presenter holds 70kg on the top; a reinforcing pack adds capacity for heavier equipment. The Presenter 800 has a 600mm-deep top; check the retailer’s approved units and size limits before choosing it.
- Retail Demonstrator table: pre-approved for Woolworths stores (still confirm against Woolworths' current sampling manual) and a common sight in Coles stores across the country. The base price covers the table with its curved top, a white header board on poles, an internal shelf and a carry bag. A raised lip around the top keeps spills on the table.
Straight or curved fronts. Pick a straight front for narrow aisles or a lease line. Pick a curved front for a softer look and room for two demonstrators.
Branding. Most tables are branded with a printed vinyl wrap that covers the front and both sides of the base. It attaches with industrial-strength hook-and-loop tape, so you can swap it between campaigns. A printed header board on two poles shows the brand above shoppers and trolleys. For a national program, matching tables with swappable wraps let one kit serve several brands.
Folding vs fixed. All three catalogue tables fold flat. A Presenter assembles in around 60 seconds; one person can put up a Superlight or Retail Demonstrator in under four minutes. For a demo that stays for weeks, consider a fixed custom counter.
Sampling carts and trolleys: when you need wheels, storage and a canopy
Choose a cart over a table when:
- The product needs to find the shopper. One person can wheel a cart to the busiest spot in a centre, concourse or lobby.
- Samples must stay cold. Carts can be built for refrigerated, frozen or room-temperature product, including designs with internal eskies.
- The cart itself is the brand. Shape, finish and graphics can follow the product. Past designs include a bike-style cart, carts with canopies and decorative wheels, and a cart with tapered sides shaped like a popcorn box.
- The demo is outdoors. Outdoor carts run on larger wheels.
Our branded sampling carts and trolleys are made to order, with collapsible designs and permanent or swappable graphics, so price and lead time are quoted per project.
Supermarket rules that shape your kit: footprint, aisle space, power and hygiene
Each retailer sets its own demonstration conditions. Before you specify kit, get the current supplier or demonstration guidelines from the retailer or your sampling agency, and confirm:
- Footprint: the maximum table size, and how much clear aisle must remain around the demo.
- Power: whether you can use store power, and whether electrical leads must be tested and tagged.
- Cooking: whether cooking appliances are allowed and what protection they need.
For food, the closest official reference is the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) guidance on temporary food premises. It says businesses must keep food contact surfaces such as table tops clean and sanitary, keep potentially hazardous food at 5°C or colder or 60°C or hotter, and use a drinking-quality water supply. FSANZ's Safe Food Australia guide says food handlers must use hand wash facilities if exposed food or food contact equipment is being handled, and that commercially available portable hand wash stands may be appropriate. Check with the local council and the retailer.
Equipment that helps:
- Splash and sneeze guards. Presenter tables take an optional splash guard, sneeze guard or drop-in trays. For cooking on a Retail Demonstrator, add a heat diffuser and a splash guard.
- Vendor trays. The tray surface is suitable for direct food contact, so samples can sit straight on it.
- A built-in sink. Our gallery includes a Coles demo counter with a small sink, tap and stainless steel well set into the top.
What demonstrators actually need: the display kit list
Plan the kit around the demonstrator's whole shift:
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Demo table or cart, with branded wrap and header | Working surface and visibility down the aisle |
| Carry bag or case | Protects graphics between stores |
| Wipe-clean cover or tray for the top | Keeps the food contact surface clean |
| Hand wash station (or the alternative your council approves), plus hand sanitiser | Hand hygiene for exposed food |
| Disposable gloves, tongs and sample cups | Hygienic portioning |
| Cooler or esky with ice bricks and a thermometer | Keeps chilled samples at 5°C or colder |
| Lidded bin and spare liners | Waste stays off the table and the floor |
| Cleaning cloths and food-safe sanitiser | Wipe down between batches |
| Power lead and cable cover, if permitted | Safe power for appliances or screens |
| Signage holder or tablet stand | Offer, price and product information |
| Stock and replenishment plan | No empty table halfway through the shift |
Presenter and Superlight tables have a rear shelf to keep stock and personal items out of sight, and you can add an extra shelf.
Before you finalise, check the demonstrator's working height (Presenter and Superlight tables come in custom heights), the shopper's sightline to hands and product, and the load on the top. Don't overcrowd the top, and keep heavy appliances off unsupported edges.
Transport and storage between stores
- Weigh the whole kit. The Presenter 800 weighs 6.5kg and the Retail Demonstrator 7kg. Add the header, cooler and stock before deciding whether one person can carry it.
- Check the packed size against the car. The Presenter 800 carry bag (an add-on) is 600 x 900 x 135mm and the Superlight 1200 bag is 600 x 1,200 x 110mm. The Retail Demonstrator packs into a bag of about 900 x 900mm.
- Inspect after every use: graphics, hook-and-loop tape, shelves and the top. Reorder worn wraps before the next run.
- Plan where the empty bag goes during the demo; aisles have no spare floor.
Buy, hire or custom build?
- Buy from the catalogue for supermarket programs. The tables above ship Australia-wide and take 1.5 weeks to produce.
- Custom build when the product needs cold storage, wheels, a sink or a brand-shaped unit. Talk to us early. Sampling carts and trays are for purchase only, not hire.
- Hire for expos. Our food and beverage sampling hire kit is a 6m x 6m exhibition stand with counters, a central service hutch, two 43" screens and an overhead sky banner, from $8,690 ex GST for hire periods of up to two weeks (longer at extra cost); delivery and on-site installation are extra. It suits trade shows and tastings, not supermarket aisles.
For campaign planning, see our product sampling campaign guide and our work in FMCG and supermarket displays.
Next step
Compare our demonstration tables and sampling carts above, or call 1300 240 250 with your retailer, store count and campaign dates. We'll recommend the table, cart or custom unit that fits.