Whether you’re planning out your booth for our local Allentown Farmers Market or one of the other outstanding farmers markets nationwide, it’s important to draw customers in and give them a reason to check out all you offer. High-quality, targeted signage is one of the most valuable assets for any booth. It lets customers know who you are and what you’re all about and helps ensure a positive shopping experience by giving customers the information they need, like item names and pricing, upfront. Happy customers mean more opportunities to build relationships in your local community and increase sales.

What Type of Signage Do You Need?

Brand Banner or Sign

If you want customers to be attracted to your booth, let them know who you are! A banner or a large sign can go a long way in giving your brand credibility and a solid identity while building trust among potential customers. Which type of brand signage to choose comes down to preference and cost.

Both hanging and free-standing banners are excellent options for drawing in customers from near and far and allow you to display your business name in a clear and large format. If you want something smaller or more artsy, consider other signage options, such as an A-frame sign or a chalkboard. For both banners and other signage, there are a variety of materials to choose from, so it’s easy to find a solution that works with your budget.

Branded Merchandise

Branded merchandise can serve a dual purpose–increasing your sales while acting as another advertising channel that allows customers to support your small business. Whether it’s t-shirts, hats, or stickers, including items with your brand name in your product selection is a must. You can also use stickers on your product packaging or bags to further enhance brand awareness.

Price Lists and Informational Signage

Farmers markets can be chaotic, so make things easier for your customers by providing a clear price list up front. Your price list can be in a smaller font than your other signs, but it should still be legible to customers. Any type of paper will work, but including a plastic coating will help it stand out and ensure you can reuse it no matter the weather or wear and tear it experiences. You can use smaller signs to provide other information to your customers, such as what each product is, whether your products are organic, and where your products were grown.

Newsletter Signup Sheets and QR Codes

Include an email newsletter signup sheet at your booth to encourage customers to stay in touch. QR codes linking to your website or social media accounts give customers a simple and quick way to stay connected with your business.

Which Type of Sign Is Best?

• Mesh Vinyl & Vinyl Banners: Mesh vinyl and vinyl are both long-lasting, weather-resistant options perfect for outdoor signage. The difference is that mesh vinyl performs better in windy environments.
• Canvas Banners: Canvas banners are another option. Although they’re less long-lasting than vinyl in terms of rain and sun exposure, they can add character to your booth and generally hold up well under coverage, such as under a tent.
• Posters: Whether you’re going the DIY route or choosing to have one printed, poster-type signs are often more affordable than banners while still serving as an excellent signage option. On the downside, most poster materials are less flexible in the wind, so it’s essential to make sure your sign is secured and in a spot where damage is less likely, such as secured in front of your table.
• A-Frame Signs: A-frame signs can go a long way in attracting passersby to your booth. They’re easily customizable, meaning you can highlight weekly sales or product features or even write a joke to get potential customers laughing and interested.
• Yard Signs: Like A-frame signs, yard signs can help capture customers' attention as they walk by your booth. Plus, depending on the rules of your farmers market, they can also be placed in various locations to help customers find you and get your name on their brains before they even make it to your booth.
• Dry-Erase or Chalkboards: Dry-erase boards and chalkboards come in all shapes and sizes and are generally the way to go for signage that needs to be changed regularly. They can be used for pricing, weekly menus, or even a unique booth sign if you’re feeling creative.
• Table Throws: Table throws are essentially banners that serve as tablecloths to display your brand name across the front of your booth. This is best used as an extra touch rather than primary signage since customers will likely be blocking it as they look through all your beautiful products. 

Sign Design Best Practices

There’s no point in putting time and money into signs for your farmers market booth if they don’t work. Luckily, it doesn’t take an expert to create impactful signage. Following these sign best practices will help you ensure that your signage draws in customers, effectively represents your brand, and supports your growth.

• Use an easy-to-read font: The size and type of font you use will depend on the kind of sign, but in general, it’s best to use a plain font that’s easy to read from a close-up and a distance. Contrasting colors, such as black and white or orange and blue, are essential to ensure that your wording doesn’t blend into the background of your sign.
• Create font hierarchies: Make your signs easy to read by placing the most critical information (i.e., the purpose of the sign) in the largest font and supporting information in a smaller font.
• Put informational signage in a visible place: Customers shouldn’t have to look around for the information they need. Be sure that informational signage is in a logical place, such as on the table, by the register, or near relevant products.
• Don’t overdo it: Wanting to tell your customers everything you possibly can about your business through signs is tempting, but less is more. Be wary of overloading your booth with signs and, instead, focus on what customers need to know during their shopping experience. You can always provide more information by creating brochures, having customers sign up for an email newsletter, or providing a way for them to follow you on social media.
• Create a cohesive brand image: Having signs in different colors and fonts can be confusing. Choose a color scheme and design that represents your brand, and be sure that all of your signs align with those standards to create a professional image. 

Are you attracting traffic and driving sales at your booth?

Partner with AlphaGraphics, and we’ll help you build a booth that clearly communicates who you are and what you are selling. The marketing experts at AlphaGraphics can help you design truly “remarkable” displays that showcase your best products and are conversation pieces themselves. Get a jump start on the spring, summer, and fall seasons by contacting us today.