Retail Signage: Examples of How Not To Talk To Your Customers
When you are coming up with signage for your retail store, you must be careful you don’t upset customers unknowingly. As a retail speaker I’m asked to help demystify merchandising and retail signage so audience members can create kick-butt displays that sell. I reveal the nine types of displays, what makes them different and how to use them.
What is it about signs? They should be short, informational, welcoming and clear; especially in smaller retailers, regional chains and Main Street boutiques.
Instead we find ones that are confusing or meant to stop or inhibit customers which creates a negative energy in the store (click on each image to view full scale.)
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- Hangar sale sign with the pallet of air-conditioners
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- Anyone for fresh brewed soup…
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- Doors often tell us it is NOT a good place to shop.
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- Darn customers! Stop doing this!
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- We’re watching you, don’t – really – don’t
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- An annoyed manager adds plenty at the register
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- Wishy-washy signs
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- Signs for employees posted in public
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- Signs on top of signs
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- Plastering the exterior
You want to stand out?
Don’t give the wrong person access to your printer.
How to do proper signage? See my post next week.
Related posts:
What Every Retailer Ought to Know About Shoplifting, Employee Theft and Five Finger Discounts
Amazon Showrooming: 13 Reasons Your Brick and Mortar Retail Store Is Susceptible
Why Retailers Should Display Christmas Before Halloween
I love the one that says (in essence): You get **ONE** shot to ask for salsa. Cuz gosh darn it, we’ve got other (more important) customers to take care of, and we simply CAN NOT make two trips to your table. I mean really? talk to you twice? yeah, we REALLY don’t want to do that. I will talk to you once. O-N-C-E! ONE time. period.
The picture of the market (the fish counter) is a classic. You can’t even read the permanent sign overhead because of all the ‘specials’. A place like that makes me wonder if their products are as trashy as the signs. Talk about overkill!