Best practice for pavement signage and how to get more footfall for your business
In recent years the high street has taken a heavy hit…
Struggling to compete against online sales, making it even more important to find every opportunity to increase footfall.
The good news is, you don’t have to raid the bank to do something about it!
Over the next few months, we hope to inspire you with a few ideas that will hopefully help, starting with an old favourite, the pavement sign. There’s literally hundreds of different types, but most pavement signs follow a few common concepts. Choosing the right one for you is pretty simple and this blog will hopefully help with your choice and also point out a few do’s and don'ts, especially when it comes to the graphics.
The A-Board
Probably the oldest design and still one of the best, is the classic A-board. Just as we call a vacuum cleaner a hoover, we tend to refer to a pavement sign as an A-board, even though most are completely different in design. This simple concept basically consists of two signs hinged at the top, so when open, the two panels make an “A” shape. A-boards can be used anywhere, but their more traditional look often suits, cafes, restaurants, bars and other eateries.
This example has the benefit of interchangeable and reversible panels. You can simply slide out each board and flip between a permanent message and a chalkboard for writing something bespoke for the day.
Swing Signs
Swing Signs are another good cost effective solution and are available in a number of different sizes. The base is hollow and can be filled with water to add ballast for maximum stability. The larger ones have built-in wheels to ease manoeuvring too. This design can have standard panels for graphic installation, or poster pockets with a weatherproof seal. A real favourite for retail.
The Ecoflex
The Ecoflex is apparently the nation's favourite and no doubt it’s low cost is probably the primary reason for this, but it does have a couple of other features worth mentioning. The base is formed from recycled plastic and is heavy enough to support the panel without additional weight added, but the real winning attribute has to be the super flexible panel that bends in the wind without breaking. In fact the manufacturer reports these signs can withstand gusts of up to 60mph!
Of course you don’t have to take the standard route, here’s a few super cool bespoke ideas we’ve found…
When choosing a pavement sign, make sure you select one that best suits your company and needs. A swing sign might work really well if you’re a retailer, but an A-board is likely to be somewhat more in keeping outside a pub or restaurant.
Think about the size, is the pavement outside your premises wide enough for a pavement sign? Remember, you’re enticing your customers in, not trying to trip them up!
Make your sign interesting or even funny. Pictures are great if you fancy yourself as an artist, but a humorous message works just as well.
One of the biggest mistakes is to overcrowd your sign. Don’t try to list every item or service you offer, keep it punchy and straight to the point. Remember, your potential customers will only have a few seconds to read your message, so make sure it’s relevant.
