Today we want to touch on some tips to embellish or decorate the inside of your retail store or place of business using interchangeable plastic signs.  We’ll touch on a couple of recommendations to make the inside of your building more organized, sleek, and naturally pleasing – in hope that your patrons might feel a tad more comfortable.

We’ve all been in small shops where the isles are entirely too small, stocked in a rather illogical manner, and lit with spotty yellow lights. More often than not, we do not purchase items from that store, nor do we tell our friends to go there. If your store sounds anything like the one described above, take into consideration some of the following pieces of advice: When someone walks into a store, they want to know exactly where the items they are looking for are located, and, once they get there, they want them to be easily accessible and organized in a fashion that does not, in any way shape or form, imply that the item is faulty.

One of the most efficient ways from keeping your customers from getting lost is the logical use of decorated plastic signs. Obviously the intensity and depth of your collection of signs is going to vary depending on the size of your store and product base. Regardless of those attributes, every sign should easy to read, easy to understand, and aesthetically pleasing. For example, at the front of every isle, a large sign should logically advertise the categories of the contents of the isle. Another great idea would be to make clear the topical categories of the adjacent isles, using arrows on the right and left margins of the sign.

Make Your Items Easily Accessible
The worst thing you can do as a retailer is put items either very low or very high. Some overarching tips are applicable according to the size of the item you’re trying to sell. If you have a large collection of very small but distinguishable items, do not put them below the average human’s waistline, or above the average neckline. Nothing is worse than having to get down on your knees and then have to try and find your item amongst one hundred.  When it comes to big items, keep them below the waistline, as it’s an unnecessary hazard to put them any higher.

Organize Your Items Fashionably
For some reason, humans love shapes to be nothing but perfection. If you are displaying a collection of small boxes, it is vital that those boxes are stacked directly straight on top of each other. Moreover, if you have items hanging, always keep them straight and equally distanced. Another great tip is one I wish many people would implement, and has to do with those huge displays that are completely comprised of the item they are selling. Please, we know you have a lot of that item, but customers love to think that they are one of the few  getting an item, not one of four thousand. So only leave a couple of each item out - it’ll take a couple nof minutes to restock, but your conversion rates will probably more than make up for the extra work.

Our final tip is for those who are adventurous with their advertising, and understand that complacency in a changing economy is far from productive. You know those signs you use to direct your customers around your store? Stop buying completely new ones when you want to change the theme of the store. Simply invest in double-sided clear plastic signs instead. When you want to try a new design layout, print your new design on high quality paper and slide it in. You can save yourself time and money in the short term, and once you find a design that works for you, go ahead and order the professional plastic engraved version.

As always, good luck and we hope this has been an informative entry. Til’ next time!

Consider the money and time your business spends making signs. Promotional and marketing materials, even interoffice wall postings, all of these are an expense. If you’re spending manpower and money, why not go all the way?

Put up signs and flyers without a proper display and you’ll have to do it again, probably sooner than you’d like. Signs and flyers posted without a sign base can fall down, detach themselves from the surface you’ve posted them on, and become defaced or destroyed. With sign bases, however, you protect your investment and make sure people who need to can read your message without distraction.

Not convinced? Here are four practical reasons you should be using sign bases.

Save money

Posting a sign or flyer on a wall in a high-traffic area is an effective means of getting your message seen. However, every time you post on a wall, irreversible damage is done to the materials. Whether it is by staple or nail, tape or tack, you are damaging your sign or flyer simply by using it. Use sign bases to protect your materials and you can avoid this “one use only” debacle – it’s expensive to replace materials and it takes time to redistribute them. Save yourself the headache and protect your investment.

Enhance visibility

What is more likely to catch your eye - a sheet of paper laying flat on a table, or a sign standing upright at the center of a table? The latter, of course. The simple act of positioning boosts the visibility of your materials so more people read and see them, which is exactly what you want.

Say more with less effort

A sign base enhances your possibilities. Being able to place your display on literally any flat surface helps expand your audience by allowing you to market in a variety of places. Bases can support large or small signs at community functions, trade shows, even in reception areas. They can be used to attract and sustain attention during sales pitches, business presentations, training events, and meetings. Likewise, freestanding sign bases make it easy to utilize both sides of double-sided posters, flyers, or signs.

Take your materials with you

A sleek, clean, and sturdy presentation tool like a sign base lets you transport your marketing materials while they are protected. No more worrying about spills, tears, etc., while moving your materials from one office or meeting to the next. Sign bases make it easy to take them with you.

Can you think of one reason not to use sign bases? I can’t.

My sign pet peeves:

• Menus with food splatters on them

• Signs with important information that is illegible due to weather damage

• Posters with graffiti or other vandalism.
• Signs that are torn, blemished, bleached or otherwise compromised
That’s right, I have sign pet peeves - but stick with me here. Once you see how easily my pet peeves are resolved, you won’t be able to resist agreeing! A sign in ill repair makes me frustrated because you can’t get the necessary information from it. A poorly maintained sign is terribly unattractive. It can make your business appear unprofessional, and even worse, uncaring. If a business doesn’t even care enough to take care of its marketing materials, how must it treat its customers? There is an easy way to avoid your customers forming negative associations based on poorly kept signs: plastic sign holders. Yep, it’s as simple as that! Plastic sign holders are inexpensive, easily maintained, and perfect for any sort of business. From large corporations with numerous and varied needs to small neighborhood restaurants, a plastic sign holder can be effective and attractive.

Out to Eat

Have you ever had a restaurant hand you a plain paper printout as a menu? It’s interesting how uneasy an unprotected menu can make you feel! It sounds silly, but a plain paper menu can be, well…kind of gross. Who knows what sick child wiped its hands on your menu? What drinks have been spilled on it? I could get carried away (and nauseated) considering the adventures of the plain paper menu. A simple plastic holder, however, can do wonders for the customer’s peace of mind, as well as your bottom line. As far as the customer’s health is concerned, a simple daily wipe-down of the plastic sleeve is all it takes to keep them healthy and safe. As a restaurateur, you will save money. Plastic sign holders will protect menus and signs from any damage or spillage. In addition, they are easy to update when you change your specials and a breeze to wipe clean.

In the Office

Plastic sign holders are great for the office as well. Counter top space can be maximized by simply organizing your materials with sign holders. In addition, a plastic sign holder can keep your policies and general information in full view. Employees will benefit from well-placed posters and signs that are in plastic holders, too. Rotating information between sign locations can keep things fresh around the office and add some variety to your space. The ease of replacement of materials in your holders can allow you to keep your information up-to-date and relevant.
You take the time to market your business - both in your office and outside it. Don’t let your attention to detail stop at the actual materials. Take that extra step to protect what you have created. Your customers will appreciate not having ketchup on their menu, rain marks on your hours of operation, or tears through your phone number. Whatever your business, plastic sign covers will save you money –not to mention add an air of credibility and class to your business.