Does your store window use the same tired props every season? Are you stuck for ideas to tempt new customers over the threshold?

It can be tough to know how to attract customers to your store with a new display every month. When you factor in the changes to in-store displays, signage, and advertising, that’s a lot of visual merchandising techniques you need to consider.

Here’s how to rejuvenate your store displays and boost footfall through your door.

How to Attract Customers to Your Store in Four Easy Steps

Visual merchandising is huge business for a reason. However, there are some easy and affordable tactics you can use to spruce up your displays without spending the annual marketing budget in one go.

1. Get All Staff Involved

A fresh perspective could be all it takes to shake up your displays and take them from drab to fab. Give each team member the opportunity to come up with an idea for a seasonal display. You could even run a competition for the best one!

Research your products and ideal customer online, too. Use social media to look at how items are used – and photographed – by the type of person you’d like to shop in your store.

This will give you great store display ideas that’ll attract the right people through the door.

2. Offer Temptation (Instead of Putting the Best Goods on Display)

You want people to walk through the door and continue to enjoy what they see! Many store displays use the best products available, which leads to disappointment when customers walk further into the store.

Tempt customers in with a few key items, and use in-store displays to keep them visually entertained and interested. Highlight key areas in the store with marketing solutions like branded flags or roller banners to make important products and promotions completely unmissable.

Grouping products together – such as a cookery book, a mixing bowl, and a designer apron – will boost additional sales, too. Customers are more likely to buy additional related items if it is easy to do so. 

3. Use Digital Signs for Real-Time Updates

Digital signs can be as simple as hooking up a large TV screen to an app like OptiSigns Digital Signage & Instagram. Choose your hashtag or chosen topic, connect your TV to the app, and that’s it!

A stream of related content will continue to update and show off your products, or generate ideas of how your items can be used in a lifestyle setting.

For example, if you want to sell yoga mats, you could use a digital sign to run a stream of #YogaStretch Instagram posts in the background. Customers will then easily visualize how the product could be used and this will encourage them to buy.

4. Subconsciously Guide Your Customer on a Journey

Lead your customer from window front to interior display, to wall display, to product racks. This will build a subconscious journey that, with each step, builds a customer’s commitment to purchase.

For example, use spotlights at different levels to lead the eye from one product to another. Strip lighting on the floor will create a pathway, while soft lighting in fitting rooms is enticing and flattering.

If you’re using mannequins in the window have their head turned towards a product. The same goes for printed signs and advertising: use models who are looking at the product, not out at the customer. This has been proven to boost product sales!

Consider Your Branding, Too

Knowing how to attract customers to your store is more than creating intriguing shop displays. A strong brand personality will influence the colors, fonts, and even photography style you use to entice people to buy from you.

A good brand stems from a great logo. It should encompass your key colors, fonts, and that all-important personality that you want to convey. Have a go on our free logo maker tool to see how your updated brand could rejuvenate your stagnant displays!

Which logo is the most famous in the world? Which ones come to your mind immediately? 

Starbucks? Apple? Nike? Coca-Cola?

What about CAT? Yes, this is a very well known logo for heavy machinery. In fact, it is so well known and so popular that it features on bags, shoes and, fashion items. If the logo was not brilliant it wouldn’t have come so far in popularity. 

Yet, the CAT logo did not always look like that. It has developed over the years to be what it is today. The first iteration of the CAT logo in 1925 was very different from the modern logo. Yet, that illustrates a vital quality in designing brilliant logos: be willing to adapt and change. 

Here are 8 more must-know tips for creating the ultimate machinery logo.

1. Simplicity

The beauty of simplicity is that it is easy to recognize. It is easy to remember and it can stand the test of time. Another added benefit of simplicity is that in theory, it is not difficult to design. You do not have to be a brilliant artist or graphic designer in order to produce something that is clear, simple and immediately recognizable.

Some of the best examples of simplicity are Apple and Nike. Simple shapes set against a very basic color palette. Black and white. However, do not underestimate the thought and effort that have gone into these logos. That brings us to the second must-know tip.

2. Connect Your Logo to Your Brand

To do this you have to have a clear idea of what your brand is first. That does not mean what you sell but it means what your brand stands for. What are your values? 

Nike is a good example of how their logo connects with their slogan ‘Just do it.’ In other words, you can do anything you set your mind to if you have the right sports equipment. Simple, powerful and very emotive. 

In contrast, the Apple logo is not very emotive. It is more technical and creative, the idea of a ‘byte’ out of an apple. Before you design your logo it is good to ask yourself questions about your brand identity first. Here are some good questions…

1. Where are you positioning in the market? Are you going for ‘old faithful’ or cutting edge with innovation?
2. Is your brand more corporate or more relaxed and personable?
3. Is your brand exclusive or available to all?
4. Is a major part of your brand the business name itself (like Coca-Cola) or can you go with a visual representation?

3. Understand the Power of Color

Color has meaning and it evokes a psychological response. This is obvious when we think about it. A beautiful sky is blue for a reason as is a beautiful calm lake. Colors from the natural world stir emotion. 

Bright colors are exciting but they may signal danger as is the case with poisonous animals and often toxic plants. Check out this brilliant article about 4 surprising things you need to take into consideration when choosing colors. Makes sure you are aware of the psychological effects of colors before you start selecting them. 

4. Logo vs Logotype

This is a personal choice. However, your business name may already be reasonably well established. In which case you would want to take advantage of that and not dilute your brand by diverting attention away from what is already well recognized. 

If that is true of your business, then your machinery logo could be an adapted version of your business name. This is the idea that CAT has employed. If you are going to use a logotype then you need to think about using a unique font. Some logos are so good that their unique font is part of what identifies them. Coca-Cola is a case in point.

5. Consider Negative Space

Once again this works well with simple designs. A good example is the FedEx logo. Between the E and x is a white arrow created from using the negative space. True, it is easy to miss but it conveys a call to action that does not go unnoticed by some part of your brain. 

It is an intelligent style of design that could work very well as a machinery logo. So give this some extra thought. Here is a great article to help you get started in using negative space.

6. Don’t Forget the Background

You want a logo that goes beyond the limitations of paper. Remember, you want it to look good on your machinery, on letters, on your web pages, and on any other marketing merchandise. 

7. TOP TIP – Keep It in Proportion

What does that mean? Check out this image of the Twitter logo here. What do you see? You see proportion. This follows the same idea of being a simple design but it also conveys harmony and balance. 

This would be an excellent principle to follow when designing machinery logo. This is because the principle of design engineering with equipment must themselves follow a measure of proportionality.

No matter what your machinery is, it will benefit from this principle. A plate compactor is completely different from a forklift truck but both yield to the design principle of proportion. Give it a go and see what you can come up with.

8. Get Help

Last must-know tip is that there is always help and it can be free. A great place to start is with an online tool like this one here. You may find that it does exactly what you need but even if it doesn’t it will at least help you formulate ideas and begin to see what works and what does not.

Start Creating Your Machinery Logo

Now you have got 8 must-know tips you can get started creating your machinery logo. It can seem like a daunting task to get started but it needn’t be like that. Use our online logo maker to get started. 

Here is a tutorial on how to best use this free tool here. 

Alcohol sales have been quickly rising in recent years. In fact, in 2016, United States alcohol sales increased by almost 5 percent to hit $25 billion.

And some studies show a direct link between the drinks people buy and the alcohol advertising and brands they see. 

What’s making alcohol advertisements and brands so effective? We’ve nailed down some key reasons for alcohol advertising successes.

The Success of Alcohol Advertising 

Alcohol promotions are at an all-time high. Over the last four decades, spending for alcohol advertisements and branding has jumped 400 percent. 

That money has landed in traditional ads like television, radio, and printed pieces. But it’s also been put towards things like digital advertisement and product placement in shows, movies, and events.

Those ads are helping companies build out their brands and pull in clients.

Here’s how alcohol advertising is hitting consumers.

Locking Logos in the Customer’s Mind

Alcohol companies start by building well-designed logos that catch the consumer’s eye. But in order to get that brand to stick with a consumer, they are using ads to reinforce that image.

This strategy plays off a marketing strategy called The Rule of Seven. The rule says a message needs to hit a customer seven times before they decide to interact with the product.

Connecting Logos to Messages

A brand is no good if it doesn’t have a meaning. And alcohol companies are connecting feelings and messages to their logo.

This usually means picking out values that a consumer holds or desires and linking it to the brand.

That builds loyalty. In fact, more than 60 percent of consumers say they trust a brand because they share its values. 

Sharing the Stories They Choose to Tell

Telling a story is a powerful way to engage a consumer. In fact, science shows humans are drawn to stories.

Companies are using alcohol advertising to tell positive stories about their products. And they are weaving their messages into those stories. That way, the brand becomes associated with positive stories that they pick.

It also helps keep brands away from being connected to negative stories. For instance, it would be unlikely to see an alcohol commercial that answers questions about A.A. 

And this technique also may be causing anti-alcohol ads to work for alcohol companies. Some studies suggest anti-alcohol ads are reinforcing positive views of drinking among heavy drinkers.

Growing out Advertising on the Ground

Alcohol brands are also putting out their messages in grass-roots forms. That means they are connecting with consumers on a local level. 

This takes the form of alcohol advertising at live concerts or sporting events. Companies use holidays like Cinco de Mayo or Halloween to promote products. 

This is helping alcohol companies connect with even more customers on an even deeper level.

Logos Beyond Alcohol Advertisement

Brands are using alcohol advertising to build messages and bring in new customers. And the tool they are using is a well-crafted logo.

Want to learn more about logo design and brand-making strategies? Check out our blog here for the latest news and pro tips in logo creation.

What if your business turned customers off as soon as they saw your logo?

The logo is the first thing customers see, and it must show them what you are about. However, this can be really difficult for a rehabilitation center.

Helping those who suffer from things like addiction requires empathy above all else. However, many people don’t know how to design empathetic rehabilitation logos.

If you need help designing your logo, keep reading to discover our ultimate guide!

You Must Stand Out

In one respect, a rehab logo has the same requirements as any other business logo. And that means the logo itself must stand out to everyone who sees it.

The rookie designer mistakes many medical centers make is to have a white background and small text. Sure, that may look tasteful and understated on your cell phone, but it will look terrible on a billboard.

We’ve prepared some solid ideas in terms of font and color choices. Above all, be unique: see what similar businesses are doing in your area and try something different.

Discovery and Recognition

Another design mistake that medical centers make is to have a really generic logo. This means that when a customer looks at it, they don’t feel any real connection.

Empathetic design is about letting someone know that you understand how they feel. And that means that the logo design should somehow reflect what they are going through.

For instance, the logo for an opiate detox center might feature sunshine and trees. Metaphorically, these are symbols of growth and will help customers understand that this is a chance at a new beginning.

A Strong Central Image

Earlier, we discussed making sure that your central image helped audiences make a connection with your company. Here’s another consideration: does your logo make it clear what your center actually does?

There are many kinds of medical centers in a given area. A symbol like a red cross might make some people think your detox center is a surgical center instead.

This is the ultimate central image design challenge. In addition to forging connections with those struggling with addiction, your image must also make it clear to everyone else what kind of business and service you are offering to your community.

Use of Color

Color is one of the most important parts of a design (empathetic or otherwise). Unfortunately, it is also the part that many rookie designers overlook.

First, don’t overwhelm your audience with color. Using two colors keeps your logo from looking simple, but more than four will just seem confusing.

Second, remember that customers have special associations with certain colors. Many detox centers feature colors like green or blue because they are calming and signify renewal.

Finally, make sure your color choice works well with your website. Otherwise, even a really great logo can look out of place and jarring, which turns your potential audience off.

Form of Function

Most logos are a combination of image and text. Here’s a big question to ask about your new logo, though: could someone guess your business without the text?

Sometimes, rehabilitation centers choose symbols such as a single drop of water. It may look nice and artsy, but if we’re being honest, it could also be confused with the logo for a spa.

The first rule of a good logo design is that it should be the form of the function. Choosing an image that shows what service you offer is the difference between a really iconic design and just having a pretty picture that otherwise feels impersonal.

Make a Connection

Empathetic design is really hard to pull off. This is because empathy itself is pretty hard to achieve.

As a designer, you may have never experienced exactly what someone in a rehabilitation center is going through. But there must have been times where you felt helpless and out of control in your own life.

Try to channel those memories and that energy while you design the logo. This can be hard and even painful, but it all pays off when audiences feel a genuine connection with the work of art you have created.

Careful Font Choice

Ever hear the phrase “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it?” In the world of design, your font choice represents “how you say it.”

What that means is that it is not enough to have a great name and motto for your rehab center. If everything is written in an off-putting font, then those beautiful words won’t even matter to anyone.

Some fonts are a turn-off simply because they are basic. For instance, using Times New Roman will give college grads flashbacks to annoying university essays.

The best fonts will help represent your specific business and service. For instance, a rehabilitation center that focuses on youth rehab may use a cartoonish and kid-friendly font.

Never forget that the first rule is readability: don’t get carried away with a dramatic font choice before you verify that it’s easy for most people to read.

Size Still Matters

There is another area in which rehab logos and more traditional logos are similar. Generally speaking, bigger is better in terms of your logo.

The overall logo should be a good size because you don’t know where it will eventually be featured. You need something that looks just as good in a newspaper or on a t-shirt as it does on a TV or billboard.

Pay attention to the size of the different elements as well. If you have a large logo but a small font, then some of your important text may not be readable, especially when printed on something small like a business card.

Rehabilitation Logos: The Bottom Line

Now you know more about how to design rehabilitation logos. But do you know who can help you make an awesome logo?

At Online Logo Maker, our mission is to help every person and business make the best possible logo. To see how we can help your business stand out, come check out the logo maker today!