A display stand configured for displaying personal items or merchandise items and a method of assembling the display stand are disclosed. The display stand comprises of an upright panel and a base panel that are combined in a way that the resulting structure is sturdy yet easy to assemble and disassemble. The assembly of the display panel is accomplished by inserting a closed elongated slot of the upright panel into an open slot of the base panel and turning the base panel such that a solid strip of the base panel is disposed inside the closed elongated slot of the upright panel. A tab is then inserted into the open slot of the base panel to seal the opening.