How Effective are Sale Signs?

Sale Signs in a Department Clothing Store

Effects of Sale Signs

Table of Contents
Signs Improve Sales
Customer Influence
Color Effects
Black Friday Statistics

The holiday rush is coming. People across the country will be shopping for the best deals on the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Your business needs to stand out to catch the eye of every potential customer, but how effective is your sale signage?

A bright, flashy sign may seem like a great idea, but what effect will it have? We addressed how to use psychology for your sale signage in a previous post, and we wanted to expand on the effect of the techniques addressed.

Signs Improve Sales

The purpose of your Black Friday sales is to move product, right? Proper labeling, even for items with unchanged prices, may improve your business’s numbers. Luckily, savvy marketers and researchers have already studied ways to capture sales.

Business Insider references an unpublished MIT study that separated products into three groups. The first was the control; unlabeled at regular price. The second group had their prices reduced by 12% without signage. And, the final group kept the normal price but marked with sale stickers.

The second group had an approximate increase of 17% in sales. But, the third labeled, unchanged-price group sold over 3% more compared to the control. This study’s conclusion demonstrates that sales improve by posting sale signs.¹

The end goal of your signage should be to influence a customer into committing to a sale.

Customer Influence

Attracting new customers should be an integral part of your Black Friday sales. Studies show that appealing signage is great at bringing in new business and securing sales.

According to a FedEx survey, 68% of people make a purchase because a sign grabbed their attention. Additionally, 76% of Americans visit a new store based on their signage.²

Part of preparing for a successful Black Friday and holiday season means understanding how to draw new customers in. Designing visually interesting signage and marketing or event banners is a perfect way to draw in this business.

Color and your product’s appearance also plays a major role in securing sales.

Results of Implementing Colors

Reading how colors influence customers is a great first step towards improving your store’s signage. But, how effective is it? In a previous post, we addressed how color influences people.

To recap; people associate emotions and reactions depending on which colors they see. Reds invoke a faster heartrate, blues elicit a sense of trustworthiness, greens indicate health or prosperity, etc.

What does this mean for your sale signage? Well, as mentioned previously, a large majority of consumers make purchases because a sign caught their eye. Additionally, roughly 93% of people claim that the visual appearance of a product is the main reason for their purchase.³ Furthermore, a study from the SCMS Journal of Indian Management estimates that a customer’s willingness to read and selling potential increases by 80% when color is present.⁴

Prepare for Black Friday

To give your business the best chance at taking advantage of the busiest shopping day of the year, we’ve aggregated some Black Friday statistics and frequently asked questions. Understanding key aspects of Black Friday shoppers and numbers helps in your preparations.

When is Black Friday?
- Black Friday is November 29, 2019
How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Black Friday?
- Finder estimates that the average person will spend between roughly $252 and $626 depending on their age⁵
How Many People Shopped on Black Friday?
- Over 34 million people shopped in stores in 2018⁶
How Much Did People Spend on Black Friday 2018?
- Over $717 billion total between in-store and online⁷

While there seems to be a downward trend for in-store shopping, ignoring the millions of brick-and-mortar shoppers is ill-advised. Your sale signage can play a major role in ensuring a successful Black Friday and holiday season.

With so many people shopping, both online and in-store, you need to prepare the best deals and signage to stay competitive and catch the eyes of any and all potential customers.

CustomSigns.com is the best online store for ordering high-quality, eye-catching sale signs and business banners. Customization is always free and most orders ship next business day. Attract new customers for Black Friday and special holiday sales with CustomSigns.com.

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June 14, 2019June 22, 2020

Signs Every Business Needs

There are many aspects to making sure your business runs smoothly and effectively. Advertising, finance, and customer service are just 3 of the many roles that serve a huge part in your business’s success. While these are all essential duties, making sure your customers have a pleasurable experience may be the most vital task. Clearly displayed business hours, designated parking spaces and handicap accessible restrooms show customers that you care. By installing signage inside and around your building, you’re telling your customers they can trust you.

Here is a list of signs that every business should display:

Grand Opening

Once your storefront has come together, you’ll want to let customers and clients know you are open for business. Personalizing a grand opening banner can inform onlookers that you are up and running. Drive customers in with creative designs, a custom logo, and opening promotions. You will want to include your company name, phone number, location and web address. Give your hard work the recognition it deserves and make sure you implement enough advertisement to bring in excited customers.

Parking Spots

After attracting the customers to your store, make it easy for them to park and walk in. Depending on your location you may have storefront parking, a stand-alone lot, or street parking. Show customers you care about their convenience and display signs for your business’s designated parking spots.

You can get creative and design your own parking sign or order a pre-made template. Before installing a sign, find out if you are authorized to make those changes. Whether you need to contact the city or the owner of the complex your store is in, take the time to get the information you need.

If you can’t hold certain spots available, you can display a sign informing future customers where available parking lots/spots are for those who wish to enter your business.

Hours of Operation

It is wonderful to gain repeat customers and loyal clients! While you and your staff work hard to keep your store up and running, you can only stay open for so long. Displaying a sign that solely contains business hours is essential. Clings and decals can be placed in the window by the front door, or you can hang a sign for optimal visibility. If hours are flexible or you just opened and are figuring out your hours of operation, you can display a reversible open/closed sign. You can hang it next to your hours of operation sign and flip it depending on if your store is open or closed.

Restroom Signs

Whether you serve food, goods, or service, you most likely have restrooms for your patrons. It can be hard to spot the bathroom if you do not display signage. You can help point them in the right direction with a directional sign. You’ll be surprised how helpful a simple arrow sign can be to a customer who is unfamiliar with your building.

Once they get to the designated restroom, make sure you distinguish the type of lavatories provided. Are your bathrooms for men and women, family, and/or handicap accessible? Show it!

Depending on your establishment, you may or may not be required to provide a washroom for customers to use. Make sure to check your state and local laws when finding a place for your business.

In Case of Emergency

While you should be taking the proper precautions to prevent any emergencies from occurring, accidents still happen. If a problem does arise, it is imperative that you have had emergency signs placed to ensure staff and customer safety.

Mark the proper doors as emergency exits and use a directional sign so people can locate the fire extinguisher. If your place of business has multiple floors, make sure to use a sign that states using the stairs in case of an emergency. For any tripping hazards, you should use a caution watch your step sign.

Keep your business running safe and effectively by displaying the proper signage. This is both a courtesy to your customers, but will also help protect your business from liability. Customize signs or order templates to make sure you convey important information to customers, clients, and staff. For all your sign and plaque needs shop our online store at Customsigns.com.

September 25, 2018June 18, 2020

The Importance of Understanding OSHA and Displaying Proper Signage for Workplace Safety

While OHSA is a commonly recognized name throughout the business world, it is safe to say that a large number of employees are unfamiliar with what OSHA is designed to do. OSHA, or the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, is a governmental oversight organization designed to hold employers responsible for providing a safe, healthful work environment for all employees and visitors.

OSHA Health and Safety in the Workplace

While OSHA does not specifically have an official regulatory section devoted solely to office safety, several standards and additional links can be found in OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs, applicable to workplace environments, as well as an OSHA Self-Inspection Checklist for Office Safety.

OFFICE HEALTH AND SAFETY – First and foremost is the health and well-being of every office employee and visitor. While office environments may appear to be relatively safe on a day-to-day basis, accidents do happen and employers often are at risk for losing thousands of dollars annually due to accidental injuries or illnesses. Add to that higher insurance premiums that are sure to follow, the loss of revenue from the need to replace an employee or employees (even temporarily), and the potentially high costs of workers’ compensation claims. And when the employer is at fault, personal injury claims for negligence can be significant.

SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS – Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere and are one of the leading causes of workplace injury. Things that may not appear to pose a hazard can actually cause significant injury, for example, wet or recently waxed floors, boxes in an isle way or objects blocking exits, open cabinet or filing drawers, fallen objects, loose power cords across walkways, and food spills, just to name a few. OSHA does provide guidelines for developing a safety policy at your place of business, with the understanding that training all employees is the key to success. Posting the appropriate safety signage can be an effective first step in alerting employees and visitors to be aware of certain situations where an accident may occur.

FIRST AID AND SAFETY – OSHA approved first aid includes the following:

Administering nonprescription medications at nonprescription strength
Administering tetanus immunizations ONLY (all others are considered medical treatment)
Cleaning, flushing, or soaking surface wounds
Applying wound coverings including bandages, gauze pads, butterfly bandages, or Steri-strips
Applying hot or cold therapy
Using temporary stabilization devices, such as splints, slings, or neck collars
Using eye-patches and removing foreign objects from eyes ONLY with irrigation or q-tips
Removing a splinter or other foreign body with tweezers, irrigation, cotton balls, or other simple means
Drinking fluids to alleviate the effects of heat stress

OFFICE SAFETY AND CHEMICAL USAGE – Chances are the cleaning and/or bathroom closets and cleaning supply area for the kitchen or break room are full of chemical products. Even “green” or organic products require proper precautions. When any chemicals are present in an office setting, OSHA requires proper training for all employees for handling chemical spills and other accidents appropriately.

Training specifics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Never mix cleaning products, especially those containing ammonia or bleach
Be aware of which cleaning products/chemicals require dilution and by how much
Proper chemical product usage and storage
Appropriate emergency procedures for caring for the patient and appropriately cleaning the contaminated office area(s)
Understanding the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn when cleaning chemical spills, for example, chemical-approved gloves, goggles, and body suits
Always CLEARLY LABEL all cleaning and chemical containers with their contents and potential hazards
Proper ventilation to avoid buildup of dangerous vapors and chemical fumes
Thorough hand and arm washing after use of any and all cleaning and/or chemicals

GERMS AND BACTERIA IN THE OFFICE – Just about everyone has experienced how rapidly germs and sickness spread through the workplace, causing absenteeism to skyrocket and productivity to significantly decline. Consider the confined spaces that workplaces often include, add to that frequent sneezing and coughing near or by those around you. Additionally, we share water fountains, door handles, copy machines, faucets, and everything in between.

To combat the spread of illness in the workplace, OSHA has developed basic safety procedures for promoting the highest levels of health and safety. These include: proper hand washing techniques, cough etiquette, and the installation of “no touch” waste receptacles for used tissues, disposable towels, and cleaning supplies, among others. These wastebaskets should be placed generously throughout all office spaces.

PROMOTING A POSITIVE FEELING IN THE WORKPLACE – No matter what the goal, when everyone in the work group takes individual ownership – led by example from the top down – success is most likely to follow. Positive attitudes across the board help employees not only to perform better, but to feel like he or she plays an important role in the success of the organization.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND SAFETY – Workplace violence is a serious problem, and can occur either inside or outside the work environment. Violent acts can cover anything from threats or verbal incidents to physical altercations and even the loss of life. According to OSHA, more than 2 million Americans annually are victims of workplace violence. OSHA has put together a detailed fact sheet addressing workplace violence that every business should read and follow.

For more information, please visit OSHA or call 800.321.OSHA (6742), TYY 877.889.5627.

See our other OSHA blogs for additional information on keeping your employees and visitors safe:

The Importance of OSHA Signs for Construction Sites

How to Increase Workplace Safety Over the Summer

Caution, Warning, and Danger Signs Explained

OSHA’s National Youth Safety Initiative

February 14, 2014April 2, 2019

What Signs Can Do For Your Place of Business

Ever stop to imagine your morning commute to work without signs? How would you have managed to find where to go for first job interview without signs pointing the way around the parking lot and hallways? Whether we realize it anymore or not, we are constantly surrounded by signs, especially signs for the workplace.

Cubicle signs, desk plates, restroom signs, sign designating where the stairs are or where the elevator is. At CustomSigns.com we know that as we get comfortable in an area, we learn our way around quickly and may no longer need the assistance of the signs as much as before- but they are still incredibly important to have!

Important visitors or even ones just passing through rely on these everyday signs to navigate around the office and even make it to important business meetings on time. Have you made sure that your office is well equipped with signs to help newcomers and visitors out? If not, installing some bathroom signs may be the best place to start. Nothing could make an interview or meeting more uncomfortable than failing to figure out where a bathroom is located prior to the start. You want your business to be welcoming- not uncomfortable!

In sticking with the idea of meetings and interviews, not every business can afford a receptionist who spends more time showing people around on a daily basis than actually sitting at his or her desk. Signs on or above doors at your place of business could save a lot of valuable time, and as every good business person knows- ‘time is money’! As an added bonus, for an office space with multitudes of offices and departments, signs will help your employee’s get to where they need to go much faster and with fewer wrong guesses.

Another major thing to consider, is properly marking all available exits whether it is stairs, elevators, or just plain doors. In the unfortunate event of a fire, the absence of proper exit signs could prove catastrophic and ultimately tragic for your workplace family. Which leads me to my second point of using signs to show where the fire extinguishers are located in your place of business, ultimately it proves far more beneficial to invest in signs in the workplace.

Unless you work for yourself and have your own office and see clients alone, you will at some point need to invest in some custom signs. Here at CustomSigns.com, we are capable of making ANY sign you could possibly ever think of. We’re here to help!

February 6, 2014April 2, 2019

Take Your Self Storage Business to New Heights!

Storage Units. Nothing fancy; nothing exotic but ultimately extremely important. In their containers protected by keypads, locks, and bolts are family photos, furniture, keepsake items, antiques, secrets, and whole lives told through objects and items amassed over a variety of circumstances. Just looking at a storage unit, you could never guess all the items and treasures locked away safe but there they are.

So besides being the closest storage facility to your potential customers, how do you get people to choose to lock away their possessions with you? You make it look nice of course! Everyone knows that first impressions are key to any sort of relationship no matter if it’s business or personal.

It’s unsurprising that so many horror stories and crime shows feature scenes at storage facilities because they look seedy and are oftentimes worn by the elements. Owners have rows and rows of available units without a clearly marked organization system. Many opt to designate rows and unit numbers with spray paint and stencil- what could look tackier? A storage facility should never look seedy, unsafe, or tacky- that’s the complete opposite of what you want your potential customers to think!

Instead, opt for actual engraved signs. Durable when exposed to the elements and far more attractive than spray paint. Engraved signs are also easy to clean and maintain

Speaking of safety, it only stands to reason why that would be another of your prospective customer’s chief concerns. With so many person items in storage, people will be more inclined to sell somewhere that takes every possible safety measure to ensure the protection of their valuables. Besides basic theft, another potential problem that plagues storage units is fires. For your customers to know that you take active steps to lower the risk of fires breaking out in your units, will speak volumes when they decide who to store their valuables with.

Constructing your units with non flammable materials and having a fire extinguisher in every unit would help put customers at ease! According to the Seattle Fire Department Client Assistance Memo 5961, “Retail stores, storage facilities, and parking garages must have a Class 2A fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet. There must be at least one extinguisher on every floor. Fire extinguishers must be placed so that people do not have to travel more than 75 feet to reach one.” While obviously this law is strictly for Seattle and may vary state to state, you should double check with your local legislation and make sure that your facilities are fully up to code, and don’t forget your fire extinguisher sign!

With these helpful tips, you can continue bringing in new customers and keep them coming back for all of their storage needs!

January 21, 2014July 28, 2023

5 Easy Steps To Boost Sales for your Salon or Spa

New year, new clients, new makeovers! In light of the New Year, there is always a constant theme of wanting to ‘start over’. There is something so appealing in the idea of a fresh start and a clean slate that makes millions of people feel all warm and cozy each year. Bad habits, vices, and decisions can all become a thing of the past with just a single tick-tock of the hanging wall clock!

But while most people are focusing on eating healthier, and dropping those holiday pounds and then some, others prefer the more glamorous route as opposed to sweating it up in a local crowded gym. Ask any woman anywhere- a new haircut can do wonders for one’s confidence. Add some strategically placed color here and there, for a subtle but multidimensional statement, or try an all over color for a completely new look!

If you happen to own a small salon or spa, January can mean big business for you! But are you capitalizing on all the fresh start, New Year mojo that is happening right now? Whether you’re just starting out, or have been in the salon game for a while, there are a few keys to success that you may not have found yet. Think about your salon, would you be a customer there? Is it getting enough business? Are you utilizing all the tools you can to get your magnificently manicured fingernails on?

It’s a sad but true fact that for every four salons that open, one won’t even make it past the first year of business- that’s a whopping 25% of starting salons and spa’s won’t make it. So how can you make sure that your salon won’t fail whether it’s in its first year or its fifth?

Step 1: Retain your clients.

Get to know them! Learn the names and faces of your clientele; engage with them on a personal level. Now we all know that this doesn’t happen overnight, but why not go out of your way to make your customers feel more comfortable? Venturing into a new salon or spa can be a scary thing. You walk in, you sit by yourself with no one to engage with, and then you throw your carefully coiffed locks into the hands of a complete stranger. It’s terrifying. Why not offer your clients some water or a cup of coffee while they’re waiting? Engage them in conversation! Chances are they live nearby, and have chosen your salon out of a combination of convenience and price- give them a reason to come back!

Step 2: Listen to your customers!

When they’re paying, really ask them how everything went during their session; maybe give them a comment card to quickly fill out. You’d be amazed at what little golden nuggets of insight your customers may be able to give you into your business. Maybe the temperature is too cold, a bad experience with an unfriendly employee, or the hairdresser took off 2 inches instead of a half inch. These are all things to pay attention to when running your salon. A bad experience can have serious consequences! Not only will the client not come back, but he/she may also tell their friends not to bother either.

Step 3: Don’t waste time.

Now that’s not saying not to take your time when cutting a client’s hair- but at the same time, be mindful that no one anticipates a trip to the salon to be an all day event. If you have a string of clients waiting for services, make sure you don’t have employee’s standing around with their hands in their pockets. Nothing is more irritating to a client than to feel ignored and have their services delay for no apparent reason. Make sure that your employees keep in mind that while yes, clients are coming to them for a particular service; the clients are also paying them for it and will be more than willing to take their money elsewhere.

Also, keep your front desk as accessible as possible and not held up by a handful of customers asking about your hours, services offered and pricing. All of these things could easily be answered by investing in a custom sign or two. A little engraved sign stating your hours by the front door looks way more professional than a sheet of paper. Additionally, a large sign behind the front desk that clearly and efficiently displays the services you offer and your pricing, would allow your customers to look over their options quickly and either choose to make an appointment or go somewhere else. All this can be done in a fraction of the time it would take for a series of questions and answers to be exchanged between a busy employee and a wavering prospective client. Websites like customsigns.com specialize in making quality, custom signs for their customers at an affordable price always.

Step 4: Get out there, get noticed!

Let’s face it, not every salon has the luxury of a high-flying public relations team, with a string of marketers and advertisers at their beck and call. Chains like Paul Mitchell, Hair Cuttery, and smart cuts, spare no expense to get their products and services noticed. But while some places rely on their status as a chain, or their marketing teams to bring in clients, you have to rely on good old fashioned word of mouth and whatever kind of advertising, you can afford. Advertise online with a Facebook page or a Twitter account; encourage your customers to follow you for exclusive deals, and specials! You can also advertise in small hometown newspapers, flyers, or handouts to raise awareness for your store locally.

Step 5: Be passionate.

This last one is a big one! Those who get into a business solely for the profits, seldom reap the rewards. When an owner or manager is passionate and truly loves what they do, their enthusiasm rubs off on everyone around them and promotes more productivity and fosters a healthy work environment. By being passionate about ones job, you tend to take more pride in your work- floors and stations will be cleaner, more smiles will go around, and it’ll look more like you’re having fun as opposed to working- something that your customers will love.

Ultimately, despite all the tips and tricks this humble blogger can offer you, it is up to you as the owner of an establishment to take control and take charge of your surroundings. Would you be your own client? Do you have unprofessional paper signs in the windows of your salon? Do you not even have a designated bathroom sign? Are you, your employees, and your customers wasting time asking repeated questions about services and pricing? Customsigns.com has created custom and standard signs for a variety of customers for over 60 years. We have helped countless businesses big and small over the years to get noticed- let us help you do the same in the New Year!