CDU types we source
Flat-pack corrugated CDUs — the most common format. Die-cut from corrugated cardboard and shipped flat, assembled on-site by the retailer or brand. Printed full-bleed on all exterior panels. The standard for food, beauty, cosmetics, wellness, and impulse-buy retail products.
Pre-assembled corrugated CDUs — factory-assembled before shipment. A higher freight cost per unit (volume increases significantly when not flat-packed), but eliminates any assembly complexity for the retailer — useful when placing in stores where assembly support is not available.
Solid board (SBS) CDUs — lighter-duty than corrugated, used for smaller, lighter products. Crisper printing surface than corrugated for more refined brand presentation. Suitable for sachets, sticker packs, small pouches, and card-based products.
Tiered CDUs — multi-level display units with two, three, or four stepped shelves, each holding a row of product. Maximizes vertical counter space and is particularly effective for products sold in multiple SKUs or flavors.
Spinner / rotating CDUs — a rotating circular display on a central axis. Less common at small brand entry level but highly effective for compact accessories, card products, and small packaged goods where browsing is part of the purchase behavior.
Header-card CDUs — a display unit with an oversized printed header panel rising above the product, carrying brand messaging, a promotional headline, or a lifestyle image. The header dramatically increases visibility from a distance.
Combination CDUs — a display that integrates multiple product formats (e.g., a main lower tray holding boxes alongside a smaller upper pocket holding sachets or cards). Used when a brand wants to present a product range rather than a single SKU.
Materials and construction
Single-wall corrugated board — standard for most CDUs; lightweight, stackable, printable, and structurally adequate for products up to approximately 2–3kg total load
Double-wall corrugated board — used for heavier products or larger CDUs requiring greater structural rigidity
SBS (solid bleached sulfate) board — for lighter-duty display applications where print quality takes priority over structural weight capacity
Kraft liner corrugated — natural brown outer for eco-positioned brands; pairs well with two-color or minimal-design print styles
Print and finish
CDUs are printed using offset or flexographic printing directly onto the corrugated liner before die-cutting. Full-color CMYK printing is standard; Pantone spot colors are available for brand accuracy. Finishes available on CDUs include:
Matte or gloss lamination — applied to header panels and exterior faces for a more polished retail appearance
Spot UV — used on logo elements or product imagery for contrast against a matte base
Foil accents — available on header panels for premium brand positioning
Sizing and load capacity
Before ordering, have clarity on: the footprint of the CDU on the counter (width × depth in centimeters), the total product load it needs to support, and the number of facings (visible product units facing the customer). Share these with us along with your product dimensions and we'll ensure the structural specification is right for the application.
Retailers who place your product at their counter are giving you prime real estate — the highest foot-traffic point in the store. A CDU maximizes that opportunity by making your product self-explanatory, visually branded, and easy to pick up on impulse. It also reduces the burden on retail staff to explain or position your product. It does the selling itself.
For small brands placing product in multiple wholesale retail locations, CDUs create consistency — every counter looks the same, every customer sees the same brand. And because they're flat-packed and lightweight, they ship efficiently and store easily until needed.
Shape Bend Form is a sourcing service built specifically for small and micro retail brands in the US, Canada, and Mexico. We work with vetted manufacturers in India and China to produce custom retail packaging, display stands, and brand extras — then ship everything direct to you via air freight. Think of us as your dedicated packaging sourcing team: we find the right manufacturer, negotiate your price, manage production, and get your order to your door.
No. We are sourcing specialists, not a factory. This is actually an advantage for you — because we work with multiple manufacturers across India and China, we can match your specific project to the supplier best suited to your materials, format, quantities, and timeline. You get access to a wider range of capabilities than any single factory could offer.
We currently serve retail brands in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
We work with micro and small retail brands across a wide range of product categories, including skincare and beauty, jewelry and accessories, specialty food and artisan beverages, candles and home fragrance, apparel and lifestyle, and subscription box businesses. If you sell a physical product and care about how it's presented, we can likely help you.
Sourcing overseas manufacturers on your own requires significant time, supplier vetting experience, language navigation, and quality oversight that most small brand founders simply don't have the bandwidth for. We already have established relationships with reliable factories, know how to read and negotiate quotes, and manage the production process so you don't have to. You focus on your brand — we handle the sourcing.