Window Advert

dvdfan

Hello

Want to make use of the limited window space i have in my cafe for advertising specials etc. Rather than cluttering the whole window up i want to use one of the main window spaces approx a2 size to display special offers.

Ive seen an advert box in the post office recently where it displays an a3 advert, it can display several a3 adverts one at a time. Its designed using a roller system where it displays one advert while the rest are wrapped around a roller, then it rolls up a new advert and so on....

Has anyone any ideas where i can get something similar that can use advertising space cleverly in a window and are they expensive, also i would like something that will catch the attention, maybe one of those digital text displays with the red writing although i dont want to spend a fortune or maybe just attach some lighting around the advert box.

1) So has anyone any ideas?
2) Do they have a website or where can i find them?

Cheers

WexCan

Somewhere like Maplin might be good for scrolling text yokeys (haven't a clue what they're called).

leftofcentre

You have aroused my curiousity (in a good way). What kind of cafe have you got? what style of joint is it?

Why i ask is if your a traditional family joint then a hand written sign may work better. I would go with a sign like this: http://www.sign-maker.net/display/blackboards.htm

And use those cool liquid chalk markers. http://www.sign-maker.net/display/chalk-pens.htm

Have you a pic of your cafe? post it up so we can see what its like.

whiskeyman

Might be worth trying Gaelite.
www.gaelite.ie

Personally, I think those red text scrollers are out of date, have lost their effectiveness, and would look totally out of place for a cafe environment.
They just are synomonous with train/bus stations, airports, hospitals, government building waiting areas.... all places people generally don't associate good times with.

dvdfan

Personally, I think those red text scrollers are out of date, have lost their effectiveness, and would look totally out of place for a cafe environment.
They just are synomonous with train/bus stations, airports, hospitals, government building waiting areas.... all places people generally don't associate good times with.

Excellent point whiskeyman and i have to agree. That gaelite.ie site was something on the lines of what i was looking for but they had nothing i could use.

Wexcan, who is Maplin are they an irish company, where are the based and ill try and track them down

I have expensive blackboard type menu's outside the cafe (although their not black chalkboard, they have menus printed on them and are covered in a sheet of magnetic plastic. They hold the menus but ive also been putting a2 signs on the windows wrote in neat marker which have been doing well, problem is i want to use more posters to show more specials etc but putting too many up is overkill and blocks people from seeing in the window.

This is why i wanted one big billboard where i can rotate all my specials, similar idea to when you see the new billboards at footie games where they keep changing and show many adverts but yet they only take up the same space as a static board that shows one advert.

Maybe if nobody knows of anyone in Ireland doing these it might be a good time to invest in a business selling these type of items:D

Cheers

WexCan

Maplin are on Jervis Street, www.maplin.co.uk, give 'em a google.

okellyc

dvdfan, this what I do for a living. So as not to turn this into a sales pitch, I'll give you my best advice and feel free to pursue whatever option you desire with whoever..

The coolest item going you could use is a 17" flat screen TV suspended on rods in the window that has a slot on the back for a memory stick. Onto this stick you can save a Powerpoint of your specials (save it as jpeg and set the loop for a couple of seconds). Obviously cuts out printing costs for years to come and is eye catching if you keep the images simple.. Big cash but big impact. Installation isn't as difficult as it sounds. Could do it yourself if handy at DIY.

A step down from that is a lightbox. Illuminated from behind and very eye-catching if you stay open late or during dark winters. Modern lightboxes are bright enough to shine through standard paper without the bulbs being 1000 degress celsius and setting it on fire! Handy, cos printing on film (duratrans) used to be very expensive. An A2 lightbox is less than €300, hang it from above on good chain and S-hooks from any DIY store. An A2 print is around 20-25 euro around the country. Put a few (A2 & A0) into an Internet cafe lately and they look class late at night..

I'm not gone on rotating signs that are smaller than bus stop size. Personal preference: all sizzle and no sausage, its still only an A3 flyer. If it caught your eye in the post office I guess it works.

Sorry, not really an Internet boards contributor so don't know how to attach images, so this is rambling. I'm away for the next few days but bang me an e-mail at okellyc@ireland.com and I'll send you pics if you want.

dvdfan

I sent you an email, also im posting this on the board because maybe other board members can give an opinion too.

1) I think the Flat screen TV idea sounds cool if its not too expensive as it will save printing costs over a period of time. I was thinking on the lines of this, during breakfast it will display breakfast specials, during lunch lunch specials and we also have the chipper at night so it will advertise take away food then.Can it be easily switched between different powerpoint app's for all of the above.

2) Also do you think offering people advertising spots would be an idea. Im thinking of other businesses not related to cafes obviously. This could help pay for the system and then make a profit at a later stage although it obviously wouldnt be a big profit. My business is located on the main street that is very busy, you have to pass my business if your on the dublin/galway route and obviously during busy times of the day traffic is usually going slow by the cafe as most people have to pass this route to get to and from work and/or to and from the golden island shopping centre so exposure would be good.

The only thing i would be worried about is during the summer months will people be able to see the screen with the sunshine or will they just see a blur from the glare???? This would be my main concern

Also are flatscreen monitors cheaper or dearer than flatsreen tv's. I was thinking seens i have a couple of spare pcs at the moment without monitors i could hook the flatscreen monitor up to it and let it run via the pc if there was a substancial difference in price.

Cheers

Figment

Just remember the noise impact that a roller option might have on who ever sits near by.

dvdfan

In the post office the noise was unnoticeable, so that wouldnt be a probem also the widow is at least 12 foot from the first table