If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? But there is always someone behind the scenes pushing the expectations of advertising. Case in point: social media. Remember back in the early 2000s when the term “social media” was foreign, and online communication programs and forums were aimed at teenagers and collectors? Then Facebook and Twitter came along and lo-and-behold, 20-somethings took to it. Twenty-somethings who liked to shop! It wasn’t long before businesses started to figure out how to use social media in their marketing strategy. Marketers refused to waste an opportunity. And you can do the same with your signage.
We are bombarded by signs everywhere we look and while the case is strong to give people what they expect, even what they’re looking for, there’s something to be said about unconventional retail signage and it’s this: that’s why we wrote this blog post. By unconventional we don’t mean ignore all the traditional qualities of sign design like simplicity, specificity, call to action, and focus on clear font and attractive colours. But you can ignore some of them.
Here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing.
Be bold with colour:
Yes, identifying your logo with a certain colour has its perks, but you want to draw attention and catch the eye of potential customers who don’t know you yet, too. Roadside signs don’t have to match your branding, they just have to convince passersby to come for a visit. Choose a colour that stands out from the other signs nearby. Try a textured background, and consider eye-catching graphics and digital wallpaper.
Unexpected Placement:
Get noticed by putting your signs where customers don’t expect to see them. Advertise your slowest selling item on the shelf with fan favourites. The back of a bathroom stall door has a captive audience. Wherever customers are least likely to be looking at their phones!
Create a photo op:
Part of the success of social media is due to our love of photography, and cell phones have made taking a picture incredibly easy, especially selfies. All kinds of platforms have applications that allow you to edit photos by adding frames or filters that change appearance or add fun graphics. These are particularly successful with movies and theatre, and there’s no reason you can’t try it out with your own branding.
You may be tempted to test your signs out at a trade show, but those are the finals you’re training for! Instead, try them out in your shop, or use some of the digital designs in your newsletter or on your social media pages for feedback.
Don’t forget that you’ve got plenty of options options with your signage these days including digital, lights, graphics, and 3D! Bring your creative signage ideas to your complimentary consultation at Grand River Sign Design to find out how we can help you leave a lasting impression over and over again. Visit our showroom at 25 Struck Court Unit 5 in Cambridge, Ontario, or call us at 519-740-7272 to book your appointment.