Originally Published: Oct. 21 2020

Over a year has passed since the pandemic hit and grocery shopping, going to work, and dining out underwent drastic makeovers (or maybe we should say makeunders?) However, the world still continues to function very differently today, even with vaccinations well underway.

Businesses are still enforcing masks, social distancing, and COVID-19 safety protocols and will be for some time.

From social distancing stickers on supermarket floors to posters sharing COVID-19 safety protocols at restaurants and shopping centers, business signage is continuing to experience an overhaul as well.

If you’re trying to decide which signage is still a necessity in 2021, we recommend these five types of signage for your business as COVID-19 continues.

Floor decals for social distancing

Before March of 2020, the term “social distancing” sounded like something introverts would toss around to avoid large crowds or family get-togethers. Now, over a year since COVID-19 took the world by storm, it’s nearly impossible to visit a store, office building, or place of worship without hearing the term umpteen times.

While verbal reminders are appreciated, in business places like grocery stores and shopping centers, it’s easy to get too busy or caught up in your day to remember to vocalize those reminders. Enter floor decals.

Floor decals have been popular at subway stations, amusement parks, and other high-traffic locations for years. Typically brightly colored to grab a patron’s attention, these signs help direct the flow of traffic and keep people moving in the right direction.

Since March of 2020, floor decals have become a staple at stores, hospitals, and more. A year later, they are still being used to ensure people keep a healthy distance from one another. (Too many people congregating around a cash register isn’t exactly conducive to social distancing).

Sandwich boards to quickly attract customers

If your business is in a heavy foot traffic area, sandwich boards, otherwise known as A-frame boards or A-frame sandwich boards, can have a big impact at a low cost. As protocols are continually shifting, sandwich boards are an easy and affordable way to keep customers in the know.

Did you reinstate curbside pick-up? Do you have a two-day sale special? Are you offering a new buy one get one deal on face masks? Chalkboard and whiteboard sandwich signs offer flexibility in your messaging and allow you to update your offerings in a matter of minutes.

Safety posters inside businesses to keep guests and employees safe

Will your business only allow people to enter if they’re wearing a face mask? Maybe you can only have a certain number of patrons safely inside your store at one time? While you may think you have effectively communicated your new protocols online, people who come to your place of business must know exactly what they can or cannot do in terms of COVID safety. This is especially important as CDC updates are changing weekly in terms of vaccinations supplied and regional reopening “phases.”

Safety posters displayed throughout your business, explicitly stating your COVID rules, are an easy way to keep guests safe and in the know. Aside from creating awareness for store visitors, COVID safety posters should be shared for employees behind the scenes as well.

Before COVID, it was common to see signs mandating “all employees must wash their hands before returning to work.” In a COVID world, however, a reminder for employees to wash their hands is just the tip of the iceberg.

Not sure which COVID safety poster(s) you need to keep patrons and employees safe? We recommend at least one of the following:

• Face masks required before entering
• Temperature checks required before entering
• Are you feeling under the weather? Please stay home if you’re feeling sick
• Please don’t exceed max-occupancy
• Temporary store hours

You can easily add and subtract signage throughout your business as protocols change.

Vehicle decals and car wraps to boost brand awareness

There’s no denying that marketing budgets have tightened since March of 2020, leaving small businesses to look for the most effective and affordable marketing options available. According to experts, every vehicle on our nation’s roads are viewed 17 to 20 million times annually. If you’re looking to get the greatest bang for your buck while creating phenomenal brand awareness, vehicle decals and car wraps could likely be the best choice for your business’s marketing needs.

At Sign It Quick, we can easily take your company’s name, logo, and slogan and create a design that will captivate and catch the attention of prospective customers. Now, more than ever before, you need to make your advertising dollars work their hardest, and vehicle decals and car wraps can help you reach your bottom line.

Banners to grab attention and share encouragement

We’re more than a year in, and people are still longing for positivity, encouragement, and kindness. Collectively we have had one heck of a year and are still yearning for a sense of unity.

Banners are an easy way to generate goodwill when it’s needed most. Whether you want to share a message that, “We’re all in this together!” or “We support small business,” banners are an easy and effective way to show support for your local community.

What’s Next?

There is still no playbook for COVID, but there is signage your business can utilize to affordably and effectively generate awareness, promote safety, quickly offer store updates, and share a message of hope during these challenging and unusual times.

Do you have questions about which COVID-era signage is most appropriate for you? Contact us today!