Terrific Trading

Shopping Bags With Attitude

‘2010 – the future of speciality retailing’ was the topic for a series of presentations by IdeaWorks to leading retailers in Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year. CEO Stephen Kulmar challenged attendees “…to think about clever ways in which you can use your own media” highlighting as an example – shopping bags with attitude.

You can download the highlights of this presentation free at www.ideaworks.com.au . It’s IdeaWorks Report #18.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Free Puppy

This was shared by reader Michele Briggs of Studio Scene, www.studioscene.com.au :

I saw a funny sign the other day and just had to tell you. In a children’s educational toy shop in a Perth shopping centre (where parents obviously leave the kids for a minute or two while they visit stores in close proximity) is a sign in the window. It reads; “Children left unattended will receive an Espresso and a free puppy!”

I love it! 

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Check in Animals and Alcoholics!

Kim Kendall of Splosh (www.splosh.com.au) has come across another amusing and amazing sign on one of her regular trips to China. Thanks for sharing this Kim.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Weather Station

I was sent this wonderful picture from New Zealand a couple of months ago. I can’t for the life of me remember who sent it. If it was you, thank you for sharing this superb sign.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Getting a Clear Message Across

The first thing with signage is for it to be noticed.  Then it’s a case of getting across a clear message or instructions to the intended audience.  This sign appears to achieve both aims. Source: Mr E. Mail.

Taking Responsibility

It's all about taking responsibility, as this sign points out. Source: Mr E. Mail.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Pole Dancing

This month’s contribution, sent in by Maria Bolten Magnay manager of the Small Business Centre in Kununurra, should put a smile on your face.

I believe the original source is Mr E. Mail.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Main Entrance

A retailer was dismayed when a competitor selling the same type of product opened next door to him, displaying a large sign proclaiming ‘Best Deals’.

Not long after he was horrified to find yet another competitor move in next-door, on the other side of his store. It's large sign was even more disturbing – ‘Lowest Prices’.

After his initial panic, and concerned that he would be driven out of business, he looked for a way to turn the situation to his marketing advantage. Finally, an idea came to him. Next day, he proudly unveiled a new and huge sign over his front door. It read ...

‘Main Entrance’!

I picked this one up from Peter Rowe’s excellent ProfiTune newsletter .

Neck Tags

This example isn’t actually a sign; it’s a neck tag on a wine bottle used by Capel Vale Winery www.capelvale.com in the Margaret River region.

‘Neck tags’ are a highly visible devise, because they are noticeable whether the bottle is standing up or laying on its side, covering both retail stock-holding configurations.

What I love about this one from Capel Vale Winery is that it cleverly promotes their environmental awareness in an amusing, yet genuine and reassuring way.

Its a picture of a guinea fowl that says 'Meet Our Head Controller' and then goes on to emphasise how they use guinea fowl rather than insecticides to help ensure healthy grapes and the highest quality wines.

It's a great message cleverly, yet concisely done.

Slip Carefully

In January I presented sessions at the National Conference of Wild Cards and Gifts , listed recently in BRW as one of Australia's 100 fastest-growing companies. It was a great conference with a really switched on group of people. The other highlight for me was the presentation by supplier and designer, Kim Kendall of Splosh . Kim makes regular trips to China and in her slide presentation included a sign that I just have to share with you.

Click the picture to see a larger version .....

Do Not Signs

Developing customer friendly signs is one of the areas we love to work on for reception areas, retailers and tourism based businesses.  It’s amazing just how unnecessarily unfriendly many signs are. 

I was listening to an old edition of Winston Marsh’s excellent ‘Business Marketing’ audio magazine (November 2002) and heard this example of how Launceston City Mission gave the signage in their City Mission shop a friendlier tone.

‘Do not open bags of toys’ became ‘Please purchase before opening the bags. Thank you.’

‘Do not play with the toys’ became ‘Thank you for purchasing the toys before playing with them.’

‘Do not leave children unsupervised’ became ‘For their safety and our peace of mind please supervise children at all times.’

I have a three page article on ‘Customer Friendly Signs’ in my book ‘52 Terrific Retail Tips’.   It is one of the 52 tips.  You can find out more about this book, also available as an e-book, by clicking here.   

Setting Sun

"A setting sun is worth more than the evening news"

A sign on the way to The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna in The Flinders Ranges.

Country Kitchen

“Welcome to Country Kitchen. To help us serve you quickly and efficiently please come to the counter and place your order”.

Personally I prefer table service but I understand that counter service keeps labour costs down for cafes and speeds up the ordering process.  So, the challenge is to get customers to follow your orders by making your request in a customer friendly way and selling the benefits of the course of action you require them to take.  This café in Kojonup is one of my regular stopping off points on the journey between Albany and Perth in Western Australia.  It’s a friendly place which is reflected in the wording used on this sign.

Please lock your door

Staying in a hotel in Sherwood Forest, England recently I was perplexed by a sign inside my hotel room door saying, “For your own safety and security, please ensure your door is properly locked”. There was no way of locking the door from the inside other than by closing it. It had a Yale lock that locked automatically (I hope) when the door was closed. Fortunately, Robin Hood was on my side so I wasn’t too worried.

Opening Hours?

Spotted:

A sign on a shop door saying

“Sorry we are closed. Please call again.”

But no opening hours displayed.

Lesson:

Always have opening hours listed so that prospective customers know when to call again. And why, like so many businesses say ‘SORRY we are closed’? Are they really sorry? I’d far rather they said ‘YIPPEE, YAHOO we are closed’. It’s probably closer to the truth. I’d recommend replacing ‘Sorry’ with ‘Thank you for calling. We are not open at present. For our current opening hours please refer to…’