Posts Tagged ‘Signs’

Open Signs

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Red / Blue Oval LED  Open SignOne of the most necessary things for any store to have is an open sign. We recommend a sign that can either be turned on and off or be switched so that it is extremely obvious to shoppers when your store is open. Especially for storefronts that are in strip malls or have sidewalk traffic, an effective open sign draws customers in and convinces them you are ready for business.

The best option is by far is the neon or LED signs that light up. These signs come in a variety of shapes including square, oval and vertical. The lights guide customers to your business and tell them from even far away that your store is either open or closed. Light up signs encourage drop in traffic, especially during “off times” or on Sundays and holidays when some stores are closed.

If you don’t want a lit open sign, or if you business is in an area that has regulations against lit signs, there are many traditional open sign options. One of our favorite options is the sliding open and closed sign. A panel slides back and forth to tell your customers if you are open or closed. Plus, there is space to list your hours of operation or other messages.

Sliding  Open Signs

Horizontal Sliding Open and Closed Sign

Other options include outdoor or indoor flags that will make sure customers know that you are open for business. And don’t forget to try out other lights and signs as well to welcome customers into your store.

What type of open and closed signs do you use?

Tuesday Tip: Maximize After Holiday Sales

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

With Thanksgiving and Christmas past, after holiday shopping is in full gear. Shoppers are still looking to save money where they can, which means they are out coupon hunting and sale searching to find the best deals out there. Independent retailers are going to have to price items very competitively to drive customers toward the registers.

According to the National Retail Federation, the number of shoppers was up but spending was down on Black Friday. If you were disappointed with Black Friday and December 26 sales, there is still time to increase your December/January figures. Independent store owners can take advantage of the holiday foot traffic by effectively highlighting marked down merchandise and displays.

The key for store owners is not only to get customers into your store but to spend money there as well. The first thing to consider is communicating to roadside customers or passersby that your store is featuring sales. You have about three seconds to let people know what they can expect to find inside. Especially as mid-January approaches, shoppers will still be looking for those holiday signs. Key places for signage are in window fronts, sidewalks and by the road. Remember to keep your signs simple, direct and professional. Easy-to-read, attractive signs will relay important messages to your target market.

Along with coupons and mailers, stores will attract more buyers by featuring merchandise with store fixtures and supplies that are designed specifically for highlighting sales. We have always recommended using a mix of hanging racks, bins and shelves. Round racks and dump bins are an economical way to feature a large amount of items and do not require lots of maintenance throughout the day. Because these fixtures stand alone, they are optimal to place in high traffic areas and draw customers to a particular area of the store.

Sell holiday merchandise quickly to make room for new 2010 items. We also recommend setting goals for employees and rewarding those who are keeping a positive attitude.

Everyone have a safe and happy New Year’s!

Friday Feature Product: Holiday Signs

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do this holiday season is to use appropriate Holiday Signs to lure customers into your store. Because your store won’t be the only one with holiday signs up, sign placement and message are extremely important.

The Store Supply Warehouse website makes it easy for retailers to shop for holiday store fixtures with the holiday items listed together. With all the options as everyday store signs, holiday signs come in many varieties.

The 11 Piece Holiday Sale Promotional Sign Kit and Holiday Sale Super Sign Kit features “Holiday Sale” and friendly snowman. The Economy Burgundy Sale Sign comes in packs of 100, available in two different sizes and feature holiday present images. Economy Snowflake Sale Signs also come in packs of 100, available in two sizes and are printed with snowflake images. The Holiday Sale Companion Sign comes in packs of 50 with “Holiday Sale” and snowflakes.

These festive signs will let customers know that these are not your everyday sales. Special sale signs mean special sales and discounts. Because the signs are dateless, you can use them over and over again. Try pairing them with holiday displays and keep the discounted merchandise close by.

Friday Featured Product: Signs

Friday, June 5th, 2009

On Tuesday, we talked about ways to increase foot traffic. And one of our suggestions was to improve the signage at your store. Today, we are going to go into more detail about some effective signs to increase foot traffic.

Well, one of the easiest ways to increase traffic is to increase the number of eyes that look at your store. The simplest way to do this is through signage.

The first sign you should always have is an OPEN sign. While this sounds obvious, some stores forget this crucial sign. LED open signs are our favorite option because people can see that your store is open from a distance. These signs are especially popular for stores in strip malls or near a street.

If you are in an area with high walking traffic such as a mall or town center area, sidewalk signs are extremely helpful. They are also very useful for restaurants. Our favorite is the dry erase board sidewalk sign.  These come in a-frame or spring versions. The dry erase board sign allow you to easily customize the sign without having to purchase a new sign from a printer. They are great for sales, specials, menu items, promotions and special events.

Another type of sign that is perfect for catching attention is the moving message board sign. These signs are easily customizable and their vibrant colors are guaranteed to make shoppers stop and look.

Don’t be afraid to have some fun attracting attention. Pennant strands and promotional rope lights bring some color to your store front. Tube lights and promotional beacon lights will light the way to your store.

And don’t neglect the standbys. Traditional banners and window cling signs are sure to help bring in traffic.

These signs will ultimately increase the number of eyes that look into your store. By bringing attention to your store, you can improve sales and coveted foot traffic.

Tuesday Tip: Increasing Foot Traffic

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

While many of your customers plan a trip to your store, a high percentage of new customers find a store by “stopping in” while shopping for something else. By increasing the foot traffic into your store, you can raise profits and introduce your brand to a whole new customer base.

Right now, many stores are feeling the pain of the economic downturn. One thing that everyone needs is more customers in their stores. Fewer people are shopping, so you need to attract the attention of the people who are out and about shopping. So how do you increase foot traffic?

Our first suggestion would be to increase the visibility of your store. One way to do this is to feature signs and promotional lighting at the entrance. Sidewalk signs, beacon lights and banners are extremely effective for improving foot traffic.

Another way to get people in your store is through a sale. We have discussed this before, but featuring items outside your store will get people browsing. Put merchandise in a dump bin or on a rolling rack so that it can be easily transported during store hours.

Finally, for the more courageous owner, consider some sort of stunt. Liberty Tax has waving Statue of Liberty costume characters outside their store during tax season. Great Clips often has a dancing shampoo bottle on the sidewalk. While you don’t necessarily need to be that extreme, consider having one of your workers hand out fliers or carry a sign to alert other shoppers about your sale.

By increasing foot traffic into your store, you can then show off your merchandise and entice shoppers to make a purchase. Hopefully they will become frequent shoppers after that first “stop in” to your store.