It’s a pretty safe bet to say that most stores display posters, either in their windows or mounted on their walls. These banners are one of the best ways to get the customer’s attention and inform them of a multitude of information in the process. I know if I see a sign in a store window I like to say “Clearance, all clothes 50% off!” I head straight to those bins to see what goodies they have in there. If the stores are part of a large chain, there is a chance that they will get all of their signage and other equipment from in-house or the regional office. But smaller shops, places that only have a few locations or are family owned and operated, may not have the luxury of having all the pre-printed signs and tools shipped to them by a top office. So, they are on their own to create their custom banners and also find the right way to display them. I think this is great for stores; it means they can create an ad designed to your exact specifications to meet your needs. These days, however, budget is always a concern. Custom printing can generate an invoice quickly. Why not try to find supplies like hanging frames and banner stands at a more affordable price to keep your company’s marketing budget exactly where it should be? Fortunately, there are plenty of inexpensive indoor hangers for stores and businesses to choose from to accomplish that goal.
If you are looking for the cheapest style of poster display, take a look at plastic poster hangers. They are almost exactly as it says on the tin: two plastic rails that clamp around the top and bottom edges of a poster. They are light but strong, and gravity helps keep the poster taut while it hangs. With these rails and the right hardware (usually cables, chains, or suction cups), you have the option to display them in many ways. Mount them directly to windows or hang them from the ceiling to make a double-sided display. Many types of these plastic banner rails are priced under $10.00 per set, making them ideal for bulk orders. If you want to install signs around your entire store, not just a singular sign in the front window or door of a store, these rails are what you need. There are similar banner rails available that are made of metal for a more stylish look as well. No matter which model you choose, the price is affordable. The only thing about these banner rails is that your banner is not protected from potential damage. Dust and sunlight could fade your images depending on where they’re installed in the store, and there’s always the chance of a festive mishap (if you’re in a mall in December, things happen. Better be prepared).
A sturdier option that still has the unique hanging feature of banner rails is an acrylic ceiling hanging frame. These are a little more expensive than the banner rails above, but are still in the affordable price range. Rectangular frames are made from clear acrylic, which helps keep images protected from the sun and potential disturbances. There’s usually just a slot at the top to slide the posters in and out of the frame, making for easy makeovers that you may not even have to remove the frame to accomplish. Since the frame is completely transparent, these frames can also serve as two-sided displays as well as a one-sided wall hanging frame. Simply insert two banners back to back, and you’re good to go. Often times single frames come with the necessary hardware to hang the frames from the ceiling, however, additional frames can be purchased (still inexpensive!) to expand to a full display or combine multiple sizes into one display.
For a different kind of window display, check out suction cup poster frames. Unlike the previous two options, these frames were specifically designed to adhere directly to a window pane. The pictures and posters within the frames are held securely behind the acrylic panels and can be easily unscrewed to change and update the images contained. The nice thing about these displays is that the poster frames have a more decorative appearance. They can be found in various colors such as red and black to give your ad that little extra appeal. While the prices of these suction cup mounts vary by color and size, the cost is in the same general range as the other categories. One note though: because these frames were designed specifically for windows, they are slightly limited. They can only be hung from windows, while the other styles listed above can be used in at least two different ways.
If you’re looking for a screen that’s specifically designed to be wall-mounted, you really can’t go wrong with the classic snap-on frame. This standard rectangular shape is pretty much the first thing that comes to mind when people think of a poster frame. There is often a PVC anti-glare lens to protect your posters, and the metal frames are designed to last a long time. You wouldn’t have to remove the frame from the wall to update the pictures (a must when it’s time for clearance sales!), and they can usually be found in a wide range of colors and sizes. One way this option wins over the other three listed here is that the instant frames are the only picture frames here that have been outdoor-rated. While the others keep your images protected, they are not waterproof. Certain snap frames have built-in gaskets that prevent water from seeping through the frames and keep your pictures nice and dry. Price-wise, these frames are more or less in the same ballpark as hanging acrylic frames. They are slightly more expensive than plastic banner rails, but are still affordable for shops and other establishments looking to create signage schemes.
It shouldn’t cost you or your shop a fortune to hang signs, especially this time of year. So no matter what the size of your budget or how many signs you want to put up in your store, you have more options than you think. These frames will allow you to set up your signs exactly how you want them, and all for an incredibly reasonable price.