There’s no denying the popularity of online shopping. People love convenience, ease of use and accessibility, and purchasing goods and services from the comfort of your own couch simply can’t be matched. But that doesn’t mean that brick-and-mortar retail stores are done for. Research by Digital Commerce 360 found that total retail sales (including purchases made in stores, through catalog and via call centers) increased from $3.78 trillion in 2019 to $4.04 trillion in 2020, despite the pandemic.
With people continuing to visit retail stores on a regular basis, focusing on advertising should still remain a top priority. Promoting your products in a unique and attractive way can be exactly what you need to get more people in the door, spark interest in your merchandise, increase brand awareness and most importantly: bring in more sales.
Backlit fabric lightboxes, for example, are a great consideration in your advertising strategy, grabbing the attention of passers-by at any time of day or night. This life-like signage option offers an interesting visual opportunity that can turn passers-by into return customers.
What is a SEG backlit fabric lightbox?
A SEG backlit fabric lightbox is a type of visual display used for advertising. It’s designed with LED lighting on the inside of edgeless aluminum framing which holds a Silicone Edge Fabric, aka SEG, printed photo and or graphic design taught. Fabric is printed on, then a thin strip of silicone is sewn around the edges that fits into a channel around the perimeter of the lightbox to hold it taught. When the lightbox is on, the graphics are illuminated to showcase the amazing print quality. This modern advertising choice is often used in department stores and other high-end shopping locations to display expensive and glamorous items on display, but any type of business can install a series of backlit fabric lightboxes to showcase their products or services.
Backlit fabric lightboxes have a reputation for looking incredibly sleek, appealing and overall attractive, but there’s so much more to them than their appearance. Here are seven reasons to consider installing a custom lightbox in your business:
1. Get More Customers in Your Store
When customers stroll by your store, you don’t want them to keep walking. You want them to slow down, step inside and check out the merchandise. The right type of signage can make your brick and mortar shop more attractive from the outside, making a solid first impression on consumers before they even walk in. According to a survey conducted by FedEx, 76% of respondents admitted that they’ve entered a store they’ve never been in before solely because they were impressed with or attracted by their signs.
Maximizing your visibility with backlit fabric lightbox displays can set your store apart from surrounding businesses. It’s a sleek and stylish way to showcase your products and bring your brand message directly to the customers.
2. Increase Your Sales
Online marketing has made waves in the world of advertising, but traditional signage is still very impactful when it comes to getting sales. An attention-grabbing advertisement at the front of the store, or an existing lightbox within the shop may have an effect on consumers that goes beyond providing something nice to look at. It encourages them to explore the space and may even result in them ultimately making a purchase. In fact, the FedEX survey mentioned previously also found that 68% of people said that a store’s sign has been the reason they made a purchase on a product or service in the past.
3. Make a Return on Investment Based on Utilized Store Space
When it comes to owning a business, every dollar spent and earned matters. The global pandemic only made this point more apparent, forcing store owners to make tough decisions and scale back their spending to keep their businesses afloat.
Research provided in the Reis Q2 2021 Preliminary Trend Announcement that retail rent growth has grown by a 0.1% in 2021. Similar, malls are seeing a hike in asking rent rates:
“The vacancy rate in this subsector inched up only 10 basis points to finish at 11.5%, while asking rent growth actually increased 0.2% for the quarter. The current vacancy rate is still a record in our 20 years of tracking this property type, but the leveling off shows the positive impact of a reopening economy and a willingness and desire of consumers to once again embrace public spaces.”
The reopening of the economy is making it easier for retail spaces to make money while spending money, but this shouldn’t avert your attention from marketing and advertising. In an effort to bring more buyers into your store and maximize the return on investing in your store space, gorgeous, modern signage can lend a helpful hand in curating other marketing opportunities, replenishing merchandise and also paying the rent of your commercial space.
4. Versatility in Advertising
Your advertising moves should scale across different mediums. Digital advertising is a major tool to consider these days, as it allows you to reach a target audience and connect with them at any given time, no matter their location. According to an eMarketer report, digital ad spend on a global level is expected to hit $389 billion by the end of 2021. In 2020, digital ad spending increased by 2.4% from the previous year, but the expectation is that it will increase by 17% by December of the 2021.
The impact of a digital ad is untouchable, and it’s clearly growing in popularity. Digital advertising is certainly an effective strategy, but that doesn’t mean your brick-and-mortar store should suffer the consequences and look dull and dated. Your website and social media accounts look clean, polished and updated on a regular basis. Your store should mirror this image.
Backlit fabric lightboxes can bring your store back to life and remind consumers just how impactful traditional advertising methods can be. And they don’t only offer versatility in the sense that it’s another option for advertising – backlit fabric lightboxes can be changed so you can mix up your custom lightbox as often as you’d like.
5. Improved Store Presence
Backlit fabric lightbox displays can help to enhance your reputation as a business, improving the overall look and image of your store as a whole. The lighting certainly plays a role in catching the eye of customers, but it can also brighten up the image of your space, making it more prominent and prestigious in comparison to competitors.
Signs inside your store can be also considered a map of your merchandise. It shows customers exactly where they need to go to get what they want. It allows them to locate clothing and accessories, fitting rooms and the cash register and can even point them to sales they would have otherwise missed. As Small Business Bonfire stated, signs can be your “silent salesperson” and encourage consumers to make purchases on impulse if there’s a promotion going on.
Plus, lightboxes perform exactly as the name describes, lighting up a section of your store. This can provide surrounding illumination that brings attention to the rest of your store better than a traditional set of artificial lights can.
6. Give Your Products the Attention They Deserve
Putting your products at the face of your storefront, whether that’s the physical placement of your merchandise or the actual advertisement, showcases what your company is all about. It defines your passion and dedication for your business and shows that you take pride in your product and feel good about its ability to sell.
Backlit fabric lightboxes can put your products on display with a level of sophistication that simply can’t be reached with traditional signage. Lightboxes illuminate your product and make them more attention-grabbing in comparison to a traditional poster. This level of attention to detail can impact how a customer views your product, and their willingness to connect further with your store and make a purchase.
7. Connect Your Brand To Consumers
Customers hop from one store to the next until they find one that appeals to them, and paying closer attention to your signage can have a major impact on your customer base. When someone passes your sign or advertisement, they will likely have an instant reaction and make a decision to walk by or enter the store based on the way they’re feeling. Text and phrasing on the sign can play a major part in connecting with customers, but the style of the sign can also make an impact. An advertisement that looks rushed, cheap or disassembled may not perform as well as the custom lightbox that’s smooth, attractive and streamlined.
But how does making connections with my customers with a fabric backlit lightbox have to do with my sales? According to SproutSocial, consumers who feel more connected to a brand are more likely to become loyal customers. Researchers found that 57% of consumers will spend more money with a brand that they’ve formed a connection with, and 76% admitted that they will choose that brand over a competing organization.
Tips to Consider in Designing Fabric Signage
Making the decision to implement backlit fabric lightboxes is just the first step to improving your advertising strategy and getting more people into your store. Grabbing the attention of potential customers should be subtle; let the lighting do the talking. An advertisement that’s too busy can actually avert attention away from your store and may play a role in the reputation of your business. Here are some tips to consider when designing the fabric for your lightboxes:
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- Less is more. A cluster of imagery and text can be off putting to consumers. Make your advertisement simplistic and actionable.
- Size matters. Your lightbox is likely a large sign, that can viewed from several feet away so the text and design should be visible from this distance.
- Maintain your brand consistency. Staying within your brand’s style perimeters creates continuity with your name and keeps it at top of mind for consumers.
- Always consider the context. Will this design remain on your lightbox for the year or does it need to switch with the season or correlate with a sale? These are considerable questions to ask yourself during the design process.
If created and executed correctly, illuminated signage with brand-centric designs can light up your store and act as the bridge between you and the consumer.
Illuminated Light Boxes For Backlit Signage from 40 VISUALS
Are you ready to take your advertising efforts to the next level? If attracting more business is your goal, 40 VISUALS has you covered. With a variety of retail backlit fabric lightboxes and Duratrans to consider, 40 VISUALS can give you the tools you need to attract new consumers and turn them into return customers.
Backlit SEG Fabric Signage is a great alternative to traditional printed Duratrans for large signs because of the light diffusion properties. Its silicone beading design seamlessly stretches over an edgeless lightbox frame for a smooth and frameless appearance. The printing process also keeps quality in mind; our enhanced image resolution printing system makes for a gorgeous image with dense color, text clarity and unmatched contrast. No matter the size of your advertisement, we have the style, type and size of a frameless lightbox with backlit fabric for you.
The Thin LED Panel Light Box uses LED lighting to give Duratrans and backlit signage a high-quality appearance. Its lightweight and durable design, paired with its flawless look, sets the standard for industry excellence. Not only can you capture shoppers’ attention from afar with illuminated photos that represent your brand, but you can also place your lightboxes anywhere throughout your store to encourage them to follow through with the actual purchasing process.
Made with style, ease of use, longevity and safety in mind, 40 VISUALS has all of your modern retail display needs. To learn more about our product offerings or to get your project in motion, contact us today.
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