by Andy on August 8, 2011
Summer is the time for new campaigns to be introduced thoughout the world never mind just the UK. Whether its a new summer fragrance, new summer clothing line or just a simple summer promotion, it pays to keep on top of the seasons and promote your product or service with some familiarity of what season (and the weather is going to be like outside).
We have a good understanding here at Stock Displays of the buying patterns of our customers. If you don’t know what we do, we manufacture and sell marketing hardware such as A boards, snap frames, light boxes and pin boards to the trade. This is why we wanted to share and make you aware of pushing your business or brand in the summer months.
Why summer brings us out in the masses?
Here in the UK we always get a mixed summer, a little bit of sunshine and more rain than we always want. However, the summer increases footfall throughout our high streets as people take time off work and children are on school holidays. This is why it pays to take full advantage of the increased number of people walking down the high street with the use of pavement signs, snap frames and light boxes.
Try a wooden chalkboard for ever-changing advertising
A pavement sign is a great addition to any small business as it makes the customer aware of what the business is selling from the street. An even better method of attracting customers in from the street is a chalkboard. We find that these are popular with cafés and coffee shops as daily specials can easily be advertised and changed quite quickly.
Swinging signs to attract the public
Another top seller in the summer here at Stock Displays is the swinger sign. The swinger sign allows you to display graphics on either side to face the passing public. These are usually found on the high street outside hair dressers or outside newsagents. These type of signs aren’t as versatile in terms of changing the content being displayed but the type of graphics that are displayed are usually permanent anyway.
With the summer here it can get a little windy so the swinger sign will do exatcly what it’s name says and swing in the wind. This will get attention from the passing public and is another great alternative to the standard pavement sign.
Light up and attract attention
The outdoor light box, perfect for attracting the public from the high street on an evening. With it being summer, more people than usual will be out on the street and with the outdoor light box being popular for restaurants displaying menus it is a great addition to any business.
Not only are light boxes great for displaying literature but the literature is securely locked away, so nobody can tamper with anything. The material can be quickly changed, so having up to date marketing material or menus is a good way to keep on top of attracting people.
To conclude…
To sum it up, the increase in footfall the sun can bring should be taken advantage of. We know it’s coming to the end of summer here in the UK and this should already have been thought of by now but theres still time and with it being the kids holidays get advertising your business out on the street today!
by Andy on August 1, 2011
As we’re approaching the height of the summer, with the sun in the sky and people venturing out on their summer holidays, it pays to be making the most of outdoor advertising. More people than ever are taking short holidays in the UK and that means more people buying from shops, cafes and restaraunts within your local area. It’s the best time to be attracting those customers in to your establishment with the use of outdoor marketing.
Outdoor advertising comes in many forms. Many companies accross the UK invest in summer marketing campaigns to achieve the best possible results from the increased footfall. For example, Bulmers Cider have recently released their summer campaign, seen here:
Summer Advertising Works!
So, whilst companies are launching their summer campaigns it pays to have the right hardware to display these visual treats. Here at Stock Displays we have a great collection of pavement signs, flag poles and other outdoor display products like snap frames, light boxes and lockable frames.
A pavement sign is a great way to get attention from the increased footfall passing UK shops. A popular product we supply here at Stock Displays is our wooden chalkboard. The wooden chalkboard is popular with cafes and coffee shops because it allows for a flexible daily offer or menu to be display outside amongst potential customers.
The summer is the time to stand out from the crowd and get your business noticed. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain too much!
The placement of graphic displays throughout a retail establishment can be the deciding factor whether the customer purchases from the store or not. We have decided to write this article because some retail outlets wrongly position marketing graphics in the ‘wrong’ place. When we say wrong, we mean a less rewarding position to what could be achieved if the marketing graphics were placed in the optimum position.
How a Consumer Subconsciously Takes in Marketing Material
Everyone has walked in to a shop and looked at more than the products on offer, even if they didn’t know it. As a consumer walks around a retail store they will subconsciously take in the surroundings and that’s where the placement of marketing materials comes in to play.
We’ll start off by taking a look at an example of how the flow of traffic through a retail outlet can decide where to put marketing material.
The example above shows how marketing graphics at eye-level on a wall where customers will walk along can pay dividends. Imagine walking along the wall from either side, you will be looking at the clothes and whilst doing so, the marketing graphics are guaranteed to be seen which is what the retailer wants.
Coinciding Marketing Materials with Products
Having up to date marketing materials means that the customer is always aware of the latest offer. There is nothing more off-putting than walking in to a shop and seeing Christmas marketing whilst we’re in the month of February.
There is no excuse for having out of date marketing materials when you have display products such as snap frames and light boxes. Both of which can easily be opened and closed within a matter of seconds and posters can be changed.
The placement of relevant marketing material near the coinciding products will generate more sales guaranteed. For example, placing an advert for ‘Buy 3 items, get the cheapest free” next to gifts would mean people buying for more than one person will most likely take up the offer.
So, with the ease of changing the material and the placement of the hardware in the correct place could really be beneficial to any company thinking of displaying marketing material in-store.
Have you any thoughts on the placement of marketing materials in-store?
Exhibitions are a highly competitive place to attract new customers as you will generally exhibit where there are a vast amount of similar businesses all competing for the same customer. Not only this but with the investment for exhibiting at an all time high, it pays to plan your stand long before the exhibit comes around, this is where the real work begins.
There are plenty of ways to make the most of the exhibition stand and attract as many new customers as possible. Below are some effective ideas for exhibitions which may work for your business…
Looking the Part…
A striking exhibition stand will attract people without doubt, especially if it has an eye catching design. Getting the most out of your exhibition stand is mostly down to the type of equipment you use to display your brand. A few of the popular items are:
Roller Banners: A roller banner is a great option for creating a free standing display with the minimum of fuss and ours come with a carry case too, which means more time to concentrate on other things rather than lugging around heavy equipment. These are cheap too!
Modular Exhibition Stand: These are certainly the future for exhibiting. They are highly portable and once you’ve laid out the initial cost they are so easy to transport to every exhibition you attend. You should have a look at the UniBanner Pod, UniBanner Cube or the UniBanner 360 modular exhibition stands as these are by far the best modular exhibition stands we’ve come across.
Enticing Your Customers…
Your exhibit needs to entice your customers to it and make them stay a little longer. This can be done in so many ways. Although it’s important to have a professional exhibition stand and a clear message, to really attract the attention of visitors you shouldn’t be afraid of trying something different. You could consider using visual displays on flat screen TVs.
Another great way is doing exhibit only offers which would enable you to engage with the customer and make extra sales on the day. One other option to entice your customer is to offer a prize draw as part of your display. Prize draws will not only bring the customer over to the stand but it will also give you the opportunity to collect useful information from them for example, you could leave a bowl for customers to leave their business card in.
Everyone Loves a Freebie…
Yes, freebies aren’t free to you but they are a great way of people remembering you. The best freebies are those which have your business name on. People will always fill their boots with promotional material and then have it lying around on the desk for the next year and when it comes to wanting something you sell, your name will be sat in front of them. From pens to stress balls to mouse mats to USB sticks which are always a good choice.
One thing to remember… Make sure your freebies are on show on your exhibition stand.
Maybe it’s time to demonstrate…
Including a demonstration area where you can actually show visitors how your products work can draw a crowd and sense of excitement around your exhibition stand. You can ask visitors to take part in the presentation and give them free samples for taking part. You can discuss your product and answer the audience’s questions as you go through your demonstration.
Be great to know your thoughts and any other tips and tricks you may have to offer??
Whether your a multi-national high street brand on the busiest high street or a small business in the back streets of a small town, the marketing hardware you will use to display your promotional materials should be closely matched.
So, you may be thinking what do these multi-national companies use? Well, there is a wide range of equipment they could be using. Let’s go into the different promotional hardware all businesses on the high street should be using.
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Poster / Snap Frames
A snap frame is basically a large picture frame that can be easily accessed so marketing material can be quickly and efficiently changed when needed. The name ‘snap’ refers to the way the frame opens up. The metallic frame snaps open when you want to put up a new poster and then snaps shut to securely put the poster in place. The snap frame can then be locked depending on the type of snap frame you have.
Snap frames are usually found on the walls of retail establishments, pubs and clubs because the frames can be locked to stop people pulling out any of the marketing material. Snap frames can come in any colour and they can also be wooden snap frames too. If you are in the retail industry, then snap frames are a must to display your marketing material.
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Pavement Signs
Pavement signs are one for the high street. You will commonly see them outside cafés, bars, shops and restaurants tempting to pull you in from the pavement. There are many different variations of the pavement sign and one variation is the A board and these can be bought in any colour. An A board is named because it looks like an A when mounted on the pavement. One of the most common sights on the high street is the chalkboard pavement sign. This is because there is no need for printed material therefore reducing costs whilst making sure the sign is up to date and displaying the latest prices and information. The chalk board is a common sight outside coffee shops and cafés because their pricing and offerings frequently change.
Another variation of the pavement sign is the swinger sign. The name says it all really, these are commonly found outside garages and petrol stations because the wind can make them swing around.
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Light Boxes
This is where the title of this Lens comes from. Light boxes literally display your business in a different light. They brighten up the marketing and make it a lot more visible for passing customers to see. Light boxes come in a wide range of sizes from A5 to A0. You will commonly see the large light boxes in cinemas, casino’s and pubs. They can be placed outside or inside and with an LED light box, they are consistently lit unlike the old light boxes which were very deep and housed light bulbs.
Slim line light boxes are now a popular way for displaying the marketing material indoors. As I mentioned earlier, the old light boxes were very bulky and weren’t up to much, but the newer light boxes formed using a clever LED lighting back are the way forward for retailers throughout the world.
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Suspended Frames
This is the last marketing hardware we will take about in this lens. A suspended frame is exactly how it sounds. Retail outlets that lack space, don’t want to put posters on the window or want to keep their walls clean are the main purchases of these types of frames. Suspended frames are basically two horizontal snap frames that snap open and shut when the marketing material is placed in them and then suspended to the ceiling using a wire to let the frame and marketing material hang.
These frames are a solid option for any retail outlet lacking in indoor space and again these suspended frames come in a range of sizes.
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I hope you enjoyed this little insight into what retailers should be using to promote their brand. There will be plenty more insights throughout the weeks ahead into different types of retailers.
The outdoor light box, perfect for attracting the public from the high street on an evening. With it being summer, more people than usual will be out on the street and with the outdoor light box being popular for restaurants displaying menus it is a great addition to any business.