Point-of-Sale Display System and Method

A method for storing, displaying, and dispensing a plurality of mutually distinct pairable items, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a substantially tubular frame having a longitudinal axis, the frame having a ground engaging base at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end, the frame having an interior surface defining a hollow chimney extending along the longitudinal axis, one or more trays disposed on the exterior surface at predetermined axial locations between the proximal and distal ends, and a plurality of openings extending through the exterior surface wherein the trays are in communication with the chimney;
• (b) supporting the frame with the base wherein the axis extends substantially vertically;
• (c) displaying a plurality of first-type items in the form of customized items on a rack defined by an exterior surface of the frame extending about the longitudinal axis;
• (d) loading into the chimney, a plurality of second-type items in the form of non-customized items, to store the non-customized items in the chimney and in the trays, wherein the non-customized items are displayed and dispensed with the trays;
• wherein the non-customized items are stored along the interior surface of the frame, and the customized items are stored along the exterior surface of the frame;
• and (e) enabling a non-customized item to be withdrawn from the tray and paired with a customized item from the rack, to produce an enhanced customized item.

A point-of-sale display system for storing, displaying, and dispensing a plurality of mutually distinct pairable items, the display system comprising:

• a substantially tubular frame having a longitudinal axis, the frame having a ground engaging base at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end;
• the frame being supportable by the base wherein the axis extends substantially vertically;
• the frame having an exterior surface extending substantially 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis, the exterior surface defining a rack thereon to display a plurality of first-type items in the form of customized items;
• the frame having an interior surface defining a hollow chimney extending along the longitudinal axis;
• one or more trays disposed on the exterior surface at predetermined axial locations between the proximal and distal ends, a plurality of openings extending through the exterior surface wherein the trays are in communication with the chimney;
• the chimney being loadable with a plurality of second-type items in the form of non-customized items, for being stored in the chimney and for flowing through the openings into the trays for being displayed and dispensed through the trays;
• wherein the openings and trays enable the display system to store the non-customized items along the interior surface of the display system, and to store the customized items along the exterior surface of the display system;
• and
• wherein a purchaser withdraws a non-customized item from the tray, and pairs the non-customized item with a customized item from the rack, for customizing the non-customized item.