A vertical support (10) provides for the rapid assembly, disassembly, and modification of a shelving system (210) in a variety of configurations, as determined by the practical and aesthetic requirements of the user. The vertical support (10) facilitates the mounting of a variety of attachment members (100), such as shelves, hangers, or media boards, that contain powered appliances (120), allowing the user to further customize the shelving system to his practical and aesthetic requirements. The vertical support (10) makes it easy for a user to mount these attachment members (100) and hides the connections of the various components, to maximize the aesthetic appeal of the shelving display. Additionally, the vertical support (10) can be configured with other subcomponents to form shelving systems.