Why Signs Are Vital for Your Retail Business
There are several elements that are vital when it comes to developing a retail business. The physicality of the store makes up a large part of these considerations, including the location of the store, its layout, and the overall aesthetic of the store too. The design of the store speaks directly to its success and how well it can reach your desired audience. The design of the store encompasses everything that communicates your stores brand. One element that is often overlooked but incredibly important is the signage; keep reading to learn more.
Attention Grabbing
Signs have always been used to grab people’s attention which is why they are used. They help businesses to communicate with consumers. To do this, they need to be both clear and concise; they need to convey the necessary information and nothing more. They alert consumers to all manner of things from special offers and sales to store information and important notices. Outdoor signage communicates your location to consumers and passers-by, grabbing their attention and encouraging them to stop in, look around and hopefully make a purchase.
Cheap but Effective
The truth is that oftentimes salespeople are a little annoying and pushy. They don’t always facilitate sales; they can actually put people off. This is where signage comes in. Using signage properly can be much more effective. The signs speak for themselves; they are much more subtle and therefore more likely to work when attracting customers. Signs also don’t need to be paid hourly – unlike salespeople, making them far cheaper. They might constitute a higher upfront cost, but you get what you pay for when it comes to signage. To properly entice consumers and reach your target audience, they need to be designed properly and made of quality materials – especially any signage that is going to go outside because it needs to withstand all weather conditions.
Communication Tools
Signage can help to make a store functional. Think about the aisles in a supermarket. The signage above them is how most customers know where to look for the items that they need as well as helping new staff when it comes to putting stock out. Essentially, signs are important for the organisation of a store. They negate the need for consumers to bother staff with questions that have obvious answers. The truth is that if an employee had to answer the same questions every day, their productivity would suffer and probably their workplace satisfaction too. It also helps to communicate any important notices to your consumers. The notices themselves could be in regard to your return policy or the health and safety of your consumers or staff.
Attracting New Consumers
Outdoor signage can be paramount to a business’s success. How else are consumers meant to find your business? Your outdoor signage could be in the form of entrance signs, directional signs or window displays. Whatever they are, they need to be as memorable and attractive as possible. So, take a step back and view your outdoor signage and your storefront as a whole, from the customers perspective. Would it entice you? If the answer is no, then you need to rethink your approach. Your store needs to be well signposted; otherwise, no one will know that it is there. The quality of your signage matters in this regard too. If your signage is too weathered or not kept well enough, then it can put consumers off as they take it as an indication of how you conduct your business.
Building Brand Recognition
The design of your signage matters too. Well designed signage that is consistent with your brand can help to increase your brand recognition. Think about it, the colours and fonts used on signage are often instantly recognisable as belonging to a specific business. Brand awareness boosts sales by capitalising on a reputation or pre-existing relationship between a business and a consumer. They feel more comfortable and confident buying from a brand that they know. This is why the design of your signs are so important; if they aren’t recognisable as belonging to your brand, then they won’t help to entice consumers. Designing and producing the signage for your business is probably going to be a little out of your area of expertise. You need to find the right person for the job; for example, businesses in the Midlands should check out this sign man in Birmingham for their signage needs.
The Bottom Line
In all honesty, signage isn’t everything, but it does carry an importance for retail businesses. Signage does impact sales which is why their usage and design matters. The signs in your store need to be kept in line with the overall design and tone of your brand. Make sure that you are using them to emphasise the best features of your store and communicate all of the important information to your consumers.