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What our resellers say
Links Signs and Graphics
All first class service. Enquiries are answered quickly and clearly, products always delivered on time and if there has ever been a problem, it is always resolved quickly.
Tones Media
I was impressed by the performance. Whoever designed this product is brilliant. Concerning the Canadian market, most people admired the quality of your products. Several sign shops have ordered demo units to place in their stores to show to customers.
3 Tier Print Management Ltd
That is brilliant service. Thank you so much. It's always difficult when something goes wrong but the real measure of a supplier is how they react and I can't praise you high enough. Thanks again.
Nitro Branding
I find the combination of product range, price and convenience unbeatable. Always a great service and high quality products from Signwaves, thank you.
Mirage Signs
Signwaves are a very professional company and have professional staff that sells quality products at excellent prices.
Signs Express
Swift responses, informative and detailed quotes and our Account Manager at Signwaves is very patient, with endless variations to quote for.
Discount Displays
Brilliant service, detailed information and great performance. The quality of products is superb and consistent. If there are ever any
issues, they’re dealt with quickly and professionally.
Recent News
Can an Ads Board Close the Last 20 Metres Before a Customer Walks Past?
Customers often see a business before they understand why they should enter it. The shopfront may be visible, but the current offer, service, or reason to stop can still be missing from the final approach. An ads board helps close that gap. Positioned at the right point, it gives passing customers one clear message before they walk beyond the entrance, choose a neighbouring business, or continue through the high-street. The "last 20 metres" is not a fixed measurement for every location. It is a useful way to think about the final part of the customer journey, when the business is already in view, but the decision is still open. At Signwaves, our pavement signs and A-Boards help retailers, hospitality venues, forecourts, and service businesses communicate at street level. The right ads board can turn a visible frontage into a clearer reason to act. Why does the final approach matter for an outdoor advertising board? Most sites contain several moments where customers can still change direction. A pedestrian may compare two cafés. A driver may decide whether to enter a forecourt. A visitor may look for the correct entrance or collection point. Permanent signs usually confirm the business name. An ads board can communicate what matters today: a promotion, an appointment service, an available table, a collection point, or a time-sensitive reason to enter. The final approach matters because the message arrives close to the action. Customers do not need to remember it for several minutes. They only need to understand it quickly enough to take the next step. An effective advertising board should therefore support a decision rather than simply repeat the logo already visible above the door. Where should an advertising board appear along the customer route? The best position is not always directly outside the entrance. Businesses should place an ads board where customers first need the information, not where the unit is easiest to store. Three areas are particularly useful: the approach point, where the customer first sees the site and needs a reason to pay attention; the threshold, where the decision to enter is made; and the dwell point, where queues, waiting areas, or collection zones create time for a secondary message. A roadside site may need the first message further away. A high-street shop may need side-angle visibility before pedestrians reach the frontage. A hospitality venue may need a pavement sign where groups pause and compare nearby options. Walking the route from the customer's direction often reveals that a sign visible from the doorway is difficult to see from the actual decision point. What should the board say at each decision point? The message should change according to where the customer sees it. At the approach point, keep the wording short. A product category, opening message, or strong offer is often enough. At the threshold, the board can answer a practical question such as "Walk-ins welcome", "Order here", or "Collection at rear". At a dwell point, customers may have more time to process detail. This can suit menu highlights, service information, or a second promotional message. An ads board becomes less effective when one layout tries to handle every stage at once. Several competing messages reduce clarity and make the customer work harder to understand what the business wants them to do. The strongest boards usually focus on one immediate action and leave supporting information to window displays, printed posters, or staff interaction. Which pavement sign suits different sites? Different environments place different demands on the display. Available pavement space, wind exposure, poster-change frequency, and daily handling should influence the product choice. The compact Eco Swinger® can suit smaller frontages where space is limited but movement can help attract passing attention. The Swinger® 2 offers a larger swing-sign format for retail, hospitality, and service environments that need a dependable street-level message. For businesses that need a straightforward panel sign with tool-free assembly, the Ecoflex 2 provides a practical format for repeat outdoor use. A Waterbase A-Board may suit temporary hardstanding applications where the empty unit needs to remain easy to transport and the filled base provides additional stability. No single ads board is right for every site. Product selection should follow the environment and operating routine rather than appearance alone. How can a site walk improve sign placement? A short site walk can prevent businesses from placing an advertising board too late, at the wrong angle, or behind existing clutter. Start at the main customer approach and check: • When the frontage first becomes visible • Which direction pedestrians or vehicles are facing • Where people slow down or stop • Whether parked vehicles, street furniture, planting, or other signs block the view • How much reading time customers realistically have • Whether the sign creates a safe, clear route around it • Where staff can move or store the unit during closing hours Repeat the walk at the time the promotion matters most. A sign position that works early in the day may become less visible once queues, deliveries, or parked vehicles change the site. This practical check helps the display support real customer movement instead of an assumed route. How should businesses design for quick decisions? The design needs a clear hierarchy. Customers should recognise the business, understand the message, and know the next action without reading a paragraph. Effective layouts usually contain one headline, one supporting detail, strong brand recognition, and a clear directional or commercial action. Contrast matters because the board competes with the surrounding site. The type also needs to be large enough for the expected viewing distance. Detailed terms, several product images, and multiple calls to action can make the design difficult to process. Where campaigns need more visual impact, the POW! pavement board system supports custom shapes and quick graphic changes. That can help brands move beyond a standard rectangular presentation while keeping the message commercially focused. Signwaves' printed poster range can also support outdoor boards that use interchangeable poster graphics for regular campaign updates. Can reusable graphics make the display work harder? Many businesses change offers more often than they need to replace the display hardware. Poster pockets, replacement panels, and removable graphics allow the same board to support several campaigns across the year. This is particularly useful for weekly offers, seasonal activity, menu changes, event promotions, and local service messages. Staff can update the communication without rebuilding the full outdoor setup. Reusable hardware also makes central ordering easier for branch networks. The business can standardise the board and replace only the graphic version required for each campaign. Businesses should plan the changeover method before choosing the product. A permanent printed panel may suit long-term branding, while a poster-change system is more useful when the message changes frequently. What common mistakes reduce outdoor board performance? Some outdoor boards are visible but still fail to help the customer decide. Common problems include placing the sign after the decision point, using copy that is too long, or repeating information already clear from the shopfront. Other issues include positioning the board face-on to the door but side-on to passing footfall, allowing several old promotional messages to compete, using graphics that are difficult to update, choosing a unit that staff find awkward to move each day, leaving damaged or faded artwork in place, and blocking access or creating unnecessary pavement clutter. These problems can make the site look less organised and reduce trust in the promotion. A simpler message on a better-positioned board usually performs a clearer commercial job. Help customers make the next move The last part of the customer approach deserves the same attention as the main frontage. An ads board can give people the missing information that turns recognition into entry, enquiry, or purchase. Start with the route customers follow, identify the point where the decision is still open, and choose a format that staff can use consistently. Then keep the message short enough to work in the time available. Explore Signwaves' outdoor advertising boards and pavement signs or contact our team for product selection advice. We can help you choose an ads board that fits the site, the campaign, and the way customers move.
The Benefits of Durability
One aspect of these more environmentally-conscious times is a growing interest in extending the service life and serviceability of products. This can be seen taking form in many areas; ‘Right to Repair’ legislation guiding electrical goods manufacturers to design-in for a level of user-repairability from the outset. Car manufacturers extending the factory warranty cover on new vehicles; in some cases, as far as 100,000 miles or 10 years. The recent growth of Repair Cafes across the UK (now numbering 800no, a 500% increase over the last 5 years!) All are indicators of a migration away from the ‘casual-disposability’ mindset of the past 50 years, across to a more enlightened approach that fully respects the value of resources. There is a social and ecological responsibility coming forward that should ultimately shape the future. The responsibility doesn’t need spelling-out as that is all too obvious, the objective is ensuring wise and efficient use of key resources (materials & energy) as society moves forward. Planned obsolescence may itself become obsolete! Durability is key to this, it is the best means to steer away from inadvertent waste I.e., the unnecessary use of resources that otherwise go into the early-replacement of ‘short-lived’ products. The role of durability is best summarized by the eco-design pioneer Victor Papanek, who back in 1971 identified that ‘true durability is an ethical necessity rather than just a physical property’. Establishing ‘durability’ by design and through choice of materials is pivotal, however by also observing durability in ongoing ‘real-time use’ the learnings can be channeled into a feedback loop by which the item’s durability can be further refined. Ecoflex pavement signs provide an excellent example as a case-in-point: As pavement or forecourt positions can be a demanding environment, and signs can potentially be in use 24/7, then a low-maintenance lifespan alongside long-life performance is de-rigueur. The Ecoflex design factors-in for such demands by using a resilient aircraft-grade aluminium display panel. The panel’s inherent flexibility yields to wind gusts and impacts which in turn ensures the sign remains foot-sure in it its sited position. In addition, the high-density recycled-polymer sign base provides a low centre-of-gravity contributing to exceptional sign stability. The Ecoflex assembly fastener is provided in polycarbonate and is effectively unbreakable. The sign’s total component count is just three highly-robust parts. Overall durability is the sum of these high-performance materials working in unison. Further-more all materials are selected to be fully recyclable so available for future ‘second-life’ applications. Ecoflex signs can be readily updated at any stage by just changing the panel only across to a new panel design = reduced transport volume and emissions vs. the alternative of replacing a complete sign. Stage-posts in establishing Ecoflex durability; Ongoing 24/7 field testing at the isle of Lewis - the UK's windiest location as listed in The Guinness Book of Records Wind tunnel testing in the UK and Canada In-house QUV accelerated weather testing of inks Real-time observation:With many thousands of examples in-situ an Ecoflex can often be dated by panel artwork and sign-base features... a 12-year+ performance is not uncommon. The principal benefits of durability; Less maintenance Increased life span Effective return on investment (ROI) Less long-term expense Reduces wasteful use of materials and energy Contributes to reduction of C02 emissions Further sources of information & reference Accelerated weather testing movie Victor Papanek - Design for the Real World. ISBN-13: 978-0500295335 Ecoflex signs, plus a large range of equally durable pavement, forecourt and poster sign solutions can be seen at The Sign Show, NEC, Birmingham - 29th Sept to 1st Oct 2026. We will be located on stand no. S240 - Come and say hello!
Top 5 Advertising Sign Decision That Improve ROI
Advertising signs still influence buying behaviour because most retail purchases happen in physical environments. Retail media research citing eMarketer forecasts that 83.8% of US retail sales will still take place in physical stores, which reinforces the wider point that physical retail environments still matter. For retailers, hospitality venues, and commercial sites, advertising sign ROI usually depends on how well the display fits customer behaviour. Signs perform better when businesses choose the right format and message for the environment customers move through every day. When businesses overlook that, they often spend money on signage customers barely notice. At Signwaves, we help businesses, agencies, and trade buyers choose signage built for real commercial environments. From forecourts and retail parks to shopfronts and visitor sites, the right display setup can help businesses improve visibility where customer attention already exists. Why do some signs perform better than others? Some advertising signs perform better simply because they suit the environment around them. Customers react differently to signage depending on where they are and how quickly they move through the space. Recent out-of-home advertising research from PML Group found that 61% of respondents said OOH advertising influenced their purchase decisions. The same research reported a 65% higher notice rate for contextually relevant OOH advertising. Customers still need to understand the message quickly enough to act on it. How does viewing distance affect advertising sign performance? An advertising sign only works when customers can process the message in the time they have available. Roadside signage often needs shorter copy because drivers only have a few seconds to read it. Copy that works well on a pavement sign can quickly lose clarity once traffic speed increases or the viewing distance changes. Window displays usually work better for promotions or product messaging once customers reach the frontage and have more time to process detail. Window Mounted Displays can help businesses promote offers directly at the point customers stop to browse. A layout that works well in a pedestrian area may struggle beside faster-moving traffic. If the message is too small or too detailed for the environment, customers may ignore it altogether and the business loses visibility despite paying for the display. For roadside visibility, Forecourt Signs & Displays can help businesses promote offers in vehicle-led environments. For passing footfall closer to a shopfront, Pavement Signs & A-Boards can support messages where customers already slow down. Why do simple advertising signs usually perform better? Customers should understand the purpose of a sign within seconds. When too many messages compete for attention, the display becomes harder to process. The strongest advertising signs usually focus on one clear message. Short messages such as “Sale now on” or “Click and collect” often perform better because customers can process them quickly. Businesses often reduce sign performance by trying to include too much information in one space. Excessive wording and crowded layouts can weaken visibility because customers stop processing the message. This problem becomes harder to manage across multi-site campaigns where businesses still need the signage to feel consistent from one location to the next. When businesses need more tailored campaign display, Made-to-Order Print Products can support signage that fits the site and intended message more closely. Where should businesses place advertising signs for better visibility? Advertising signs often perform best where customers naturally slow down or make decisions. Contextual OOH advertising attracts stronger attention because the signage feels connected to the environment around it. That creates useful opportunities near entrances, collection points, queue areas, and forecourts. A customer may ignore a larger sign further away but still notice a message once they reach a queue area or entrance barrier. In busy commercial environments, those slower points in the customer journey often create the best opportunity for signage to influence action. Projecting Signs & Displays can help businesses improve side-angle visibility in pedestrian environments. Flags & Banners can support campaign visibility across wider outdoor areas where businesses need to attract attention from a distance. Which advertising sign styles work best in different environments? Different advertising sign styles suit different commercial environments. A retail park may need large outdoor signage that remains readable across vehicle routes and open space. A café or independent retailer may need pavement signage positioned close enough to passing footfall to influence walk-ins. Evening-focused businesses often rely more heavily on illuminated display after natural light levels drop. Hospitality venues, gyms, and convenience-led retail environments often depend on visibility beyond daytime trading hours. The wrong sign style can weaken readability, reduce visibility, and make the business look less organised. Large outdoor signs can still underperform when surrounding site clutter competes with the message. That can weaken customer confidence before staff interaction even begins. For illuminated display, Lightboxes & Illuminated Displays can help businesses maintain visibility in lower light environments. Printed Posters can support temporary promotions, events, and campaign updates without replacing permanent display structures. For businesses running repeat campaigns across different sites, Menu, Leaflet & Brochure Displays can also help keep printed promotional material organised and visible. When should businesses update advertising signs? Outdated advertising signs can weaken campaign performance. Customers notice when promotions or branding no longer reflect what the business currently offers. Businesses do not always need to replace the entire display structure. In many cases, updating graphics or campaign messaging is enough to keep signage relevant and avoid unnecessary replacement costs. Some businesses leave campaign graphics in place too long because replacement feels disruptive, even after they change the offer or promotion. That can weaken campaign relevance and make the site look neglected, particularly across seasonal campaigns and multi-site businesses. Wall Mounted & Suspended Poster Displays can support interchangeable campaign graphics, while Flags & Banners can help businesses update outdoor promotional messaging quickly. Which advertising sign boards give the best ROI? No single advertising sign board delivers the best ROI in every environment. Businesses usually achieve stronger results when they match the sign format to customer behaviour and site conditions. As a general guide, pavement signs support passing footfall, forecourt signs support roadside visibility, and projecting signs support side-angle visibility. Banners often support promotions, while illuminated signs can improve visibility in lower light. A business that relies on walk-ins may need a different sign setup from a business targeting roadside traffic or temporary event visitors. How Signwaves helps businesses choose the right advertising signs Choosing advertising signs involves more than selecting a product from a catalogue. Businesses also need to consider viewing distance, placement, customer movement, and consistency across the site. Signwaves supports businesses, agencies, and trade buyers through design, production, fulfilment, and logistics support. That helps businesses manage signage more consistently across one location or multiple sites without losing control of campaign presentation or print quality. Our integrated production approach helps businesses maintain colour consistency across multiple locations and campaign types. Make your advertising signs work harder for your business Signage performs best when businesses match the display to the environment and the way customers move through the site. The right sign can improve visibility and help businesses guide attention more effectively. If you need practical advice on signage for your site or campaign, Signwaves can help you choose display products built for real commercial use. FAQs about commercial signage Which signs give the best ROI? The best signs for ROI depend on the environment and customer behaviour. Pavement signs can support footfall, while forecourt signs may work better for roadside visibility. What are the best advertising sign styles for retailers? Retailers often use pavement signs, projecting signs, and window displays depending on the shop location and customer flow. Are outdoor signs still effective? Outdoor signs still support visibility in physical environments where customers walk, drive, queue, or make buying decisions. How often should businesses update signage? Businesses should review signage whenever campaigns, pricing, branding, or promotions change. What signs work best for small businesses? Small businesses often benefit from signage that supports local visibility and passing footfall, such as pavement signs, banners, or window displays. How do businesses choose the right advertising sign size? Businesses should choose sign size based on viewing distance and the amount of information customers need to process quickly.
