10 Steps to Irresistible Curb Appeal

This month, Signs By Tomorrow’s Imagine… Better Marketing Made Easy series will share ways retail businesses can use effective and eye-catching visual communications to drive sales!

In today’s blog, we thought we’d give you a sneak peek to what you can expect by sharing our top tips for boosting your curb appeal – and your sales – in time for this year’s holiday season. Enjoy!

1. Check out your view. Before you jump in and do anything, actually take the time to approach your store from all the different ways potential shoppers will: walking down the street, from across the street, driving by (both directions), etc. You can even take pictures to figure out the best places to post graphics for maximum exposure or to help camouflage exterior flaws.
2. Reflect your brand. If you cater to young kids, you can be fun-loving and quirky. If you have a high-end brand, make sure your exterior and branded custom graphics reflect this. A great example of this is Starbucks, where the chic coffee-shop curb appeal sets the stage for the community that awaits inside. Also, never forget your brand’s IMC guidelines.
3. Cater to your market. For consumer products, women account for 80% of all consumer spending. So even if you run a menswear store, remember that more often than not it’s the woman of the house making the purchases, and make sure you cater to her in your marketing.
4. Consider your location and hours. You will need different materials depending on whether you’re on a downtown Main Street or in a mall. And remember that the majority of retail spending takes place after 6:00 p.m., so be sure your exterior is well lit with signage that is clearly visible at night.
5. Keep it clean. It may seem obvious, but this is essential regardless of your business. Cracked sidewalks, strewn cigarette butts, missing light bulbs or streaky windows give a message no business wants to send.
6. Think three-dimensionally. With the plethora of options available today, you can do far more than just a sign on or above the door. Be sure you consider all the directions from which customers may approach, and don’t overlook any surface as a potential marketing outlet: windows, sidewalks, and more!
7. Be bold. Even if you are trying to convey a conservative professional image, find a way to be bold while staying true to your brand. Choose a deeper color or larger graphic, or find a unique material to help you stand out and attract attention.
8. Keep it fresh. The same old storefront starts to blend in to the scenery after a while. Update display windows frequently in ways that are original or unique to your store or brand. And take advantage of the latest custom graphic systems that allow you to quickly update signage to reflect the current season or your latest promotion.
9. Reach customers even after hours. By incorporating the latest technology like QR codes that can be scanned with a smartphone into your signage, you can still engage customers even after you’ve left for the day.
10. Cover all your bases. If you have more than one entrance, or if people can view all four sides of your business, you have your work cut out for you times 4 – but also have 4 times the opportunity! So don’t miss out.