Window shopping

[Extensionize]

Just been on another thread where a new Geek was asking how she might improve the look of her window in terms of posters and prices lists.

Basically- she wants to make it more inviting.

We see lots of threads on here about websites and leaflets etc etc. But how much attention do we put on our actual shop windows?

Thought it might be a good idea if everyone got their Iphones (or Blackberrys) and posted up here a picture of what their clients, or potential clients, are seeing- and get advice from fellow geeks (or indeed in the spirit of sharing- let fellow geeks see what you're doing right) on how to improve it.

Failing that- it gives us a chance to have a right good nosy at your window :)

[SillyBilly]

How do you upload a pic from your iPhone please?

[Planky1]

I don't have a window as I'm home based but I have given a few ideas on the other thread you mentioned :)

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[PixieBeauty]

How do you upload a pic from your iPhone please?

In the reply page of the app click on 'open advanced options' thin grey band across the middle, it's in there

[PixieBeauty]

I reckon we see a lot of threads about websites & leaflets as a lot of geeks are mobile or home based & therefore that is their shop front. That's the case for me! Would love to have a nosey at everyone else's ;)

[SillyBilly]

In the reply page of the app click on 'open advanced options' thin grey band across the middle, it's in there

Thank you

[Jemima26]

Here my shop front.

I hate posters in windows but I do have my shellac sign and a laminated price list. I have an aboard which we change at least once a month.

[hellishbellish]

Just been on another thread where a new Geek was asking how she might improve the look of her window in terms of posters and prices lists.

Basically- she wants to make it more inviting.

We see lots of threads on here about websites and leaflets etc etc. But how much attention do we put on our actual shop windows?

Thought it might be a good idea if everyone got their Iphones (or Blackberrys) and posted up here a picture of what their clients, or potential clients, are seeing- and get advice from fellow geeks (or indeed in the spirit of sharing- let fellow geeks see what you're doing right) on how to improve it.

Failing that- it gives us a chance to have a right good nosy at your window :)

I would love ideas on this! I really struggle with what to put in my window as I don't have much of a sill.

['chelle]

The problem I have is that I rent a room in a hair salon, so the shop front isnt mine, and I need to go the extra mile to make it known that I exist! I'll take some pictures tomorrow, but I have laminated signs in the window and I intend to get an A board for the pavement soon too.

[Extensionize]

Here my shop front.

I hate posters in windows but I do have my shellac sign and a laminated price list. I have an aboard which we change at least once a month.

Hurray! someone brave enough to have a go. Looks good! I'm all for the "uncluttered" approach personally.

I know they're not cheap (when I first got a quote for our salon sign MANY years ago I nearly had a heart-attack- I think it was £900!) but have you not thought about having the logo on the shop sign?

[Jemima26]

My sign is wonky, I did it myself. A new sign is on my list for sure. I'd love my logo on it, not sure how it would look this as the plastic stuff is long an thin and my logo is tall.

X

[Extensionize]

My sign is wonky, I did it myself. A new sign is on my list for sure. I'd love my logo on it, not sure how it would look this as the plastic stuff is long an thin and my logo is tall.

X


This is just a rough sketch- but you could have something like this.

[PixieBeauty]

Wow I'm impressed you did that yourself! It's lovely I personally like the uncluttered look too. Means you can see in & nosey at what's going on :D xxx

[NailsXpress]

Can we have some more please. I need ideas!!

[Jemima26]

I like that Carl.

I love that it all ties in with everythign else that has my name on it.

What does everyone think about putting curatains up on the inside, to soften the window both from the outside and the inside. I think it'd make it cosier on the inside.

I have a banner on the wall outisde to grab epoples attention when their walking past and were closed (so my A board is inside) every time i order from vistaprint I get a new one (free usually) with various different things on. that is my 4th banner so far. We dont have a high foot fall so I want to attract everyone i possibly can!

x

[stephiebaby]

Hurray! someone brave enough to have a go. Looks good! I'm all for the "uncluttered" approach personally.

I know they're not cheap (when I first got a quote for our salon sign MANY years ago I nearly had a heart-attack- I think it was £900!) but have you not thought about having the logo on the shop sign?

Oh my good god that sounds like daylight robbery!

My stepdad is a sign maker, he does car graphics, vehicle wraps, shop signs etc. You name it he does it. I've helped him out on numerous occasions and I also do the accounts so unless your sign was huge and made of gold I've no idea why it would have been quoted so high.

[stephiebaby]

My sign is wonky, I did it myself. A new sign is on my list for sure. I'd love my logo on it, not sure how it would look this as the plastic stuff is long an thin and my logo is tall.

X

Just an idea but leave the sign as it is. Get your logo cut out in vinyl and have it on one of your windows. People will still be able to see in and you out but will still be visible and eye-catching xxx

[Extensionize]

Just an idea but leave the sign as it is. Get your logo cut out in vinyl and have it on one of your windows. People will still be able to see in and you out but will still be visible and eye-catching xxx


Well, I had fancy back-lighting and lots of chrome and stuff....so went overboard really.

[persianista]

This was the window of one of my salons we did for the jubilee. We did the posters ourselves.
My sign is backlit and was expensive. Worth it though17601

[Extensionize]

This was the window of one of my salons we did for the jubilee. We did the posters ourselves.
My sign is backlit and was expensive. Worth it though17601


Excellent- I like. Uncluttered, to the point and seasonal marketing (which keeps it fresh and shows your potentianl client that you're on the ball and you care)

[LilMissEmmylou]

Jemima, curtains, YES! As Soon as I seen the photo I thought of long dark velvet puddle curtains with nice curtain ties! They would nicely frame a window logo too if you did go down that road :)

[Jemima26]

Jemima, curtains, YES! As Soon as I seen the photo I thought of long dark velvet puddle curtains with nice curtain ties! They would nicely frame a window logo too if you did go down that road :)

The inside is Teal, with white and black flowery wall paper. Im not sure that coloru woul dmatch but I love the description!

This pic shows whats just the other side of my shop front. walpaper desk and colours x

[umvemve]

Like the idea of curtains - though they will have to be purpose made as you don't want people looking at the lining. What about a couple of hanging baskets - one at either end below he sign - just to soften the frontage?

[LilMissEmmylou]

if you could get a black or dark grey puddle curtain with turquoise embelishment - that would look beautiful and match everything nicely :)

[alpina]

This is the outside of my salon and one close up of my front windows. It's really sunny outside now and we have dark tinted windows so it was impossible to get a good picture without all the reflections on the glass. It looks a lot better in person and the posters show up much more.

I've got more plans for the outside of the shop. Right up top on the roof above my sign is a light box so I need to get a backlit sign made up for that and I want to plant some sort of flowers alond the sides of my footpath to make a nice edge. I used to have 8 bright coloured signs hanging outside from under the lattice trim and they were really eyecatching but had some spelling mistakes so they are being re-done at the moment.


http://www.salongeek.com/picture.php?albumid=7147&pictureid=50625

http://www.salongeek.com/picture.php?albumid=7147&pictureid=50626

[taggyboy]

Here is ours, we will have the canopy changed for a more sophisticated one eventually as we don't like it. It does hide the shutters though, so need to find a good alternative.

We have frosting on the window but you can't really see it clearly.

I would be very open on options to change the canopy!

17676

Hope this works!

[ttaylor]

Here is ours, we will have the canopy changed for a more sophisticated one eventually as we don't like it. It does hide the shutters though, so need to find a good alternative.

We have frosting on the window but you can't really see it clearly.

I would be very open on options to change the canopy!

17676

Hope this works!

Im sure a salon by me has got a sort of sign thats like a box around the shutters if that makes any sense looks very tidy. X

[nicole333]

Just be careful if you go with curtains, that they are checked and cleaned regularly, as they are buggers for holding dust.

[Bluerinse]

Here's mine...I know I need help with the sign writing I hate it!

[Extensionize]

Bumping this - as I'd like people who missed it first time round to get involved!

[taggyboy]

Im sure a salon by me has got a sort of sign thats like a box around the shutters if that makes any sense looks very tidy. X

Thank you ttaylor, I have been searching the internet looking for ideas and know they can work around the shutters. Just seems so expensive, like everything nowadays.

Just really dislike the canopy but had no option at time of purchasing the salon. It was plain black so we just brightened it up a bit with our colour scheme.

Will keep looking

[Divine h & b]

This is mine although now we have proper poster holders up so looks more professional, but am thinking about changing the paint work to a pale bluey-grey!

[thinkpink2008]

Here's mine...I know I need help with the sign writing I hate it!

You're by me! Im 01384 area too, k'ford x

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[Bluerinse]

You're by me! Im 01384 area too, k'ford x

Sent from my GT-I9100 using SalonGeek

Pop in and say hello when I'm back off hols x

[theextensionist]

This is our window of the salon I have my business in and that I am a sister company of. It is amazing and it really does grab the customers attention. I have my hair extension sign in the window as well but I feel this alone is enough to bring in the customers and then they see my fabulous area as well once inside.

[alpina]

Divine, I really love the lettering on your sign, it's beautiful.

[frizlinmay]

We used a local company that did our swinging above door sign and all our logo and frosting for £100! Shop around find a local smallish company and haggle. x

[kimi1101]

The outside of my shop is being finished tomorrow and I will post a picture then. :)

[makeupartistzoe]

cant post pics coz I'm not that smart but we have ...

end of Nov-beginning of Jan pink xmas trees and white lights and white snowflakes

this spring we had pastel cards with letters pegged onto string saying 'spring clean your skincare routine' like a washing line

we have had a poster in black and white and bright pink to look like a newspaper with a black and white team photo on it when we got two new starters

we have had red, white and blue bunting and blue 'keep calm and have a blow dry' poster for our bournemouth air show

we have had pink flower bunting and pink balloons for our salon dogs 1st birthday

we have had red and pink helium heart balloons for valentines day

we have a shelf unit which has glass sweetie jars and ice cream sundae jars filled with lip tar and a big summer lip tar poster...then the hairdresser put cotton wool ontop of the ice cream jars and nail caviar on top to look like ice creams...people love it...

[Tomme]

There's boards out there called light boards, you write on them with a special marker and the light shows through, a local florist has one and it looks great xoxo

[Extensionize]

Has anyone had a look at their own shop-front via Google Street View? it's really odd, like a time-machine!

Bung your post-code into Google Maps, zoom right in, click the road near you and you can literally "drive" past your shop-front.

If anyone is struggling to post up a pic- give us your postcode and we can have a gander ourselves :)

[iconic]

Has anyone had a look at their own shop-front via Google Street View? it's really odd, like a time-machine!

Bung your post-code into Google Maps, zoom right in, click the road near you and you can literally "drive" past your shop-front.

If anyone is struggling to post up a pic- give us your postcode and we can have a gander ourselves :)

I tried doing this out of interest about a month back.. For some reason I can't "drive" past though! I can only view from a birds eye view? .. Can you let me know what I'm doing wrong please? Or is it because I am trying to do this on my iPad, an this is another thing an iPad can't do!!?

[UK Print Broker]

from our experience of shop fitting and marketing for the beauty and salon industry normal goes in order of;

1. Shop sign - fresh, sleek, elegant, new maybe? - this can be done relatively cheap with the right contacts, do not just go to your local sign company!

2. A boards - they work provided the content on them is good and BIG. Remember, sometimes less is more with posters.

3. Window graphics - Depends on the shop sometimes its applicable, sometimes now but can make it look nice.

4. Window Posters - Again these work well but the thing is they need to be changed regularly. Doesn't necessarily need to keep buying new ones but alternate weekly different ones. It takes someone on average 12 times to see something before reading it. If its left there people won't notice. Change is key.

5. Leaflet drop - This works provided you are offering something with it! 10% off maybe for mon-thurs?

6. Banners - If you have somewhere to hang them.

7. Websites - Jury's still out on this but it doesn't hurt to have a free/in-expensive one anyway.

This is just our experience. If want free advice on improvements to your shop (you don't need to order from us) then just ask away! :) all businesses need to succeed!

Thanks,
Adam

[Extensionize]

Sorry to digress a little (and please do get back on track with this thread- as I think it's going to be interesting)

The jury is out on having a website? I wouldn't have thought so...

[UK Print Broker]

I mean not completely, websites are great use to reaching a wider market. If we didn't think they would work we wouldn't have a few ourselves. Just thinking for very small businesses sometimes its not the be all and end all as the SEO to get it anywhere to be seen can be a rip-off. Depends where you are I guess! The free websites like moonfruit are a winner though!Sorry to digress a little (and please do get back on track with this thread- as I think it's going to be interesting)

The jury is out on having a website? I wouldn't have thought so...

[Extensionize]

I tried doing this out of interest about a month back.. For some reason I can't "drive" past though! I can only view from a birds eye view? .. Can you let me know what I'm doing wrong please? Or is it because I am trying to do this on my iPad, an this is another thing an iPad can't do!!?


You know what- I only found out this weekend that My Ipad can do street view too! I'd been cursing it for months!

If you drop a "pin" on where you want to view, it'll come up with an icon of the street name- next to that name will be a little orange circle with a man-icon in it, hit that icon and it'll go into street view!

[Extensionize]

I mean not completely, websites are great use to reaching a wider market. If we didn't think they would work we wouldn't have a few ourselves. Just thinking for very small businesses sometimes its not the be all and end all as the SEO to get it anywhere to be seen can be a rip-off. Depends where you are I guess! The free websites like moonfruit are a winner though!

I disagree. I think having a website is even more important for a smaller business, as it will- by its very nature- allow them to compete on a level playing field with larger companies. It'll allow them to have a 24 hour presence, act as a port-of-call and a means to disseminate information. You don't need expensive SEO at all if you use it properly. Not every website needs to be "salesy" and rely on random hits.

Just my opinion though...now, back to the shop fronts :)

[Jemima26]

This is a view looking down the road from the high street. Past all the takeaways and a hair dressers is me (on the right next the the China Garden with the red door)



I have a banner, sign and A board.

I was thinking of adding a sticking out sign saying Beauty Salon or maybe my logo so people could see there was a salon down there without walking down?

Would it be a good idea?

The hair dressers now have a beauty room at the back so people have to walk past her to get to my salon.

Maybe if they knew there was more a title further it might encourage people to check me out?

[UK Print Broker]

I think that could be a good addition :) Maybe with your logo and a nice big arrow.

If they see it just a bit further along they may check you out instead

This is a view looking down the road from the high street. Past all the takeaways and a hair dressers is me (on the right next the the China Garden with the red door)



I have a banner, sign and A board.

I was thinking of adding a sticking out sign saying Beauty Salon or maybe my logo so people could see there was a salon down there without walking down?

Would it be a good idea?

The hair dressers now have a beauty room at the back so people have to walk past her to get to my salon.

Maybe if they knew there was more a title further it might encourage people to check me out?

[Jemima26]

I think I'll get on to that.

How often is google maps updated? Maine is still showing my dads old shop front. And my buggy out side which was my 2nd child's about 3-4 years ago!

I'd love my shop to show up.

[Extensionize]

Well- that's the problem...they have to physically send that little car around, and its mind-bogglingly expensive (plus they've just been told off for keeping peoples data from Street View longer than they should have done)

It's at least six months old now (some are newer than others just by dint of the car getting to them later!) I think and probably won't be done again for ages.

They've added loads more places now mind you- so I've had a nice drive around Majorca this morning getting all dewy eyed at places I've been on my hols as a kid :)

[Tomme]

I think I'll get on to that.

How often is google maps updated? Maine is still showing my dads old shop front. And my buggy out side which was my 2nd child's about 3-4 years ago!

I'd love my shop to show up.

Te map of my area is 2009, if you look closely you can see google c symbol and a date.
My aunt is really obvious on there, can see her walking to the shop. Had to screen shot and print it haha xoxo

[Bluerinse]

Has anyone had a look at their own shop-front via Google Street View? it's really odd, like a time-machine!

Bung your post-code into Google Maps, zoom right in, click the road near you and you can literally "drive" past your shop-front.

If anyone is struggling to post up a pic- give us your postcode and we can have a gander ourselves :)


Yes done this...mine is about 5-6 years old from what my OH has told me about the area...my salon looked skanky back then...thank goodness it wasn't mine!

[taggyboy]

Our google picture is also old, our shop had been closed for 2 years before we bought it, We totally revamped it, inside and out.

The one on google we asked to be removed it was a totally different shop to what it is now.

Not looked since.

On the website front, most of our business is generated through this, we would not be without one.

[alpina]

Street view is still showing the wedding shop that was in my building. There was a scrapbooker after them and before me so it's a few years old. My Mum was outside her place when google came past so she's there for the world to see in her track pants, bum in the air getting something out of the back of her car.:lol:

[Pinkbunny28]

My google maps has just been updated in may 2012 so mines very recent (of my house) but they missed my new car by a few days :p lol x

[unas escarlata]

I disagree. I think having a website is even more important for a smaller business, as it will- by its very nature- allow them to compete on a level playing field with larger companies. It'll allow them to have a 24 hour presence, act as a port-of-call and a means to disseminate information. You don't need expensive SEO at all if you use it properly. Not every website needs to be "salesy" and rely on random hits.

Just my opinion though...now, back to the shop fronts :)

perhaps there may be more web traffic for the poster you are addressing if the spelling mistakes I pointed out a while ago on their website had been corrected... :irked:

[MissJulesBeauty]

Sorry to digress a little (and please do get back on track with this thread- as I think it's going to be interesting)

The jury is out on having a website? I wouldn't have thought so...

I would not exist if it wasn't for my website! All of my business comes from word of mouth or my website as at the moment I am still running my business from home... My new salon does not open til November.

[JoJo1980]

For some reason the pic doesnt show the light behind the K and S :rolleyes: I assure you the bulbs are there! xx

[thinkpink2008]

Think google maps is updated now. I looked the other day and my area is june/july this year now

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