Effective retail signage and colour choices are crucial for attracting customers and conveying brand messaging, with high-contrast, simple designs generally performing best.
In your shop, use red for sale signs. People today have been conditioned to associate red with urgency. This makes it more effective at grabbing attention. That is why you see red is used on almost every "sale" or "discount" sign in Australian retail.
Although people form a subconscious impression of your shop within about 90 seconds, a sign has only a few seconds to catch their attention. The first thing to register is the colour, then a number and only then the words.
Also, make sure there's a clear contrast with the colours on the sign. Royal red text on a white background works well as it helps people read the sign quickly. This matters especially in busy locations where shoppers are moving quickly.
In a real‑world shop, a bold red "Weekend Book Sale" or "Special Offer – 50% Off" sign on a white background can literally pull passing shoppers into your store. A pale or low‑contrast sign, on the other hand, is far more likely to be ignored as it will not be read by most people.
There's a whole science behind retail signage and colour psychology. If you want to fine‑tune your shop signs, seasonal promotions, and in‑window displays, click here for more details.
Tips
Too Many Colours
Keep it simple.
Poor Contrast
Always prioritise readability.
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
