Retail Signs
Retail Signs is one of the broadest categories of printing we offer. Custom retail signs and POS signs (point of sale) include retail shop signs, retail banners, retail posters, and retail sales signs. Retail signs are so varied and versatile, that it's difficult to think of any of our 200 printing materials that can't be used for retail store signs in one way or another. All it takes is a trip to a local shopping mall to see virtually every printing product we offer represented. Floor graphics, window graphics, banners, decals, posters, backlit graphics, sign holders and poster & banner hangers will all be used in a typical retail setting. Since each of those applications are represented on our site with their own page, which you can find from the main menu above, this page focuses instead on the most common types of retail signs which are mounted posters and hanging banners. These are some of the least expensive, yet most effective forms of advertising available for retail store signs, which is important because keeping the costs of advertising materials low means you can afford to advertise more often. And nothing can drive traffic and generate sales like effective advertising. Imagine how much traffic a simple "Sale" sign can bring into a store and you can understand the importance of retail store signs.
Classic retail posters are the 22x28 size mounted retail shop signs. These are the staple of the industry, and we even have an entire page devoted to floor standing sign holders for just these types of store signs and POS posters. The Printing Materials tab below shows the most popular retail sign materials, so be sure to look through the options for information on each, as well as the Our Recommendations tab for suggestions on the best materials for different uses.
Hanging banners and other soft signage are the other popular types of signs for retail use. These can be used for hanging over areas in the store for identification, directing traffic, promoting a brand or advertising a sale. They are also popular as window dressing and backdrops for window displays. When you want to make a really large impression, hanging banners are the way to do it. Depending on the material, we can print these up to 8' by any length, so you can make a big statement that your customers can't miss, without blowing your budget. While our banners page has a more comprehensive list of banner materials, the Printing Materials below shows some of the most popular materials for retail signage. We also have a page devoted to poster & banner hanging hardware that makes it easy to hang and change these popular types of retail signage.
If you would like to get prices on printing and shipping, or place an order, click the Pricing/Order button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab. The Pricing/Order wizard will prompt you for the necessary information such as quantity, dimensions and finishing options to show you prices in real time, and allow you to enter you state and zip code to see the shipping costs. If you're ready to order, you can provide additional information such as how you're sending files or if you need design work, if you want a proof, and how you want us to handle cropping of your files if necessary, and then add the print to your shopping cart. You can also compare product prices in the wizard by clicking the Products tab and selecting different materials from the drop down menu to see how the price changes.
The information below shows the variety of materials we offer for retail signs along with finishing options, our recommendations for the best materials to use in different situations, answers to frequently asked questions, and explains how to place an order.
This symbol denotes a eco-friendly option. These materials are generally PVC free, recyclable, and printed with water based inks as an earth-friendly option.
- Printing Materials
- Our Recommendations
- FAQ
- How to Order
Below are the most popular materials we offer for retail signs. Photo papers can be used as is in sign holders that don't require a rigid mounted graphics, or they can be mounted on posterboard or foam boards. Our Textured Adhesive vinyl is a popular option for unlaminated, mounted graphics. Look at the Our Recommendations tab for suggestions on the best materials for different situations.
Blue Back Poster Paper – 6.5 Mil
The blue backing on this economical media makes it highly opaque, while the satin finish provides brilliant, true-to-life color quality. Specially designed for outdoor billboards, poster printing and kiosks, it features water and scratch resistant durability and is also easily foldable without risk of scratching or rupturing. Available in widths up to 54".
Approx. longevity of 6 months to 1 year outdoors, and up to 20 years indoors.
Indoor/Outdoor Poster Paper - 10 mil
This heavy weight latex-saturated wet strength paper is tear resistant, water proof, fade resistant, and scuff and scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor poster size prints and billboards. This paper can also be applied with standard wallpaper paste for an inexpensive short term wallpaper solution. Available in widths up to 54"
Approx. longevity of 6 months outdoors, and up to 20 years indoors.
Synthetic Satin Photo Paper - 7 mil
This synthetic paper is tear proof, water proof, fade resistant, and scuff and scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor color poster printing without the need for lamination. It doesn't have quite the print quality of our high end photo papers, but is otherwise a great product that is also environmentally friendly. Available in widths up to 54".
Approx. longevity of 2 years outdoors and up to 25 years indoors.
Satin Photo Paper - 9mil
This photo paper is our least expensive, yet it provides excellent image quality and color depth without the glare issues of high gloss papers. Great for posters, prints, and indoor signs. Can be laminated and mounted on a variety of substrates such as posterboard, Sintra, or Gatorfoam. Available in widths up to 60".
Up to 200 year indoor longevity if kept away from direct sunlight.
Economy Calendered Matte Vinyl - 4 mil
With an outdoor longevity of up to 3 years, this removable adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for outdoor retail sales signs and POS poster graphics. It has a blockout layer for excellent hiding power and the matte finish helps reduce glare. Can also be used indoors for sign and point of purchase displays. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity of up to 3 years outdoors, 5-25 years indoors.
Economy Calendered Gloss Vinyl - 4 mil
With an outdoor longevity of up to 3 years, this removable adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for outdoor retail sales signs and POS poster graphics. It has a blockout layer for excellent hiding power and the gloss finish makes for excellent color depth. Can also be used indoors for sign and point of purchase displays. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 84".
Longevity of up to 3 years outdoors, 5-25 years indoors.
Building Wrap Vinyl - 3.5 mil
This opaque vinyl is used in wall and building wrap applications where many standard products will not work. It also allows store signs and retail posters to be applied to otherwise unusable wall areas. For rough textured concrete, the pressure sensitive adhesive provides easy application and removal while holding the graphic in place throughout the life of the advertisement.
Outdoor longevity of up to 2 years, indoors 5-25 years.
MagicStik - 6 mil
The unique adhesive on this material makes it easy to install on any flat surface including painted walls, and it can easily be removed and reapplied, so it’s a great material for making removable wall graphics, borders, wall decals for children’s rooms, or temporary window signage in commercial environments. It provides excellent image quality, is durable, and economically priced. Available in widths up to 54".
Approximate longevity of 2 years outdoors or 5-20 years indoors.
SignUp - 12 mil
SignUp is a revolutionary product for special events, show-rooms, window graphics, exhibitions, POS aids, film studios and all sorts of temporary communication needs. This product makes posting easy, just stick it directly to any surface, and you can unstick and restick it for perfect positioning and fast, bubble and crease-free installation, indoors or out. UV and weather resistant. Available in widths up to 54".
Outdoor longevity of 1-3 years, indoor longevity of 2-20 years.
13oz Blockout Scrim Vinyl
This durable, weatherproof, scratch-resistant banner solution is smooth on both sides with a blackout layer in the middle making it ideal for single or double sided use. It has a soft, fabric-like quality that makes it excellent both indoors and out. This is the economy material used in all our banner stands. Available in widths up to 80".
Outdoor longevity of 6 months to 3 years.
Curl Free Fire Retardant Banner - 12oz
This banner material is durable, flame retardant, and specially designed to eliminate edge curl which makes it the material of choice for banner stands and hanging displays where flat, curl-free edges are important. It’s canvas-like texture and low gloss finish give it a high-end look and helps minimize glare. Available in widths up to 86".
Outdoor longevity of up to 6 months, indoor longevity of 5-20 years.
Blockout Polyester Fabric - 12 mil
This heavy polyester fabric banner material is woven so tightly that it's completely opaque, making it ideal for banner stands. It's scratch resistant, weatherproof and hangs very flat, making it perfect for hanging signs, trade show exhibits, podium signage, and window displays. It can be sewn and grommeted. Approximate longevity of 15-20 years indoors, and 6 months outdoors.
18oz Blockout Scrim Vinyl
This durable, weatherproof, scratch-resistant banner solution is smooth on both sides with a blackout layer in the middle making it ideal for single or double sided use. It has a soft, smooth surface that makes it excellent both indoors and out, and the low gloss finish is great for situations where glare is a concern. Available in widths up to 99".
Outdoor longevity of 6 months to 3 years, indoor longevity of 5-20 years.
EVO - 17 mil
EVO is an environmentally-friendly and recyclable non-woven polyester and polyamide fabric. This durable fabric offers bright, sharp images, resists wrinkling, and will not curl on the edges. EVO is flame retardant, water resistant, and breathable. EVO contains no heavy metals, PVC resins, phthalates or fungicides, and the manufacturing process creates no pollution. We print this fabric with water based inks to make for the ultimate in eco-friendly retail banners, signs, and retail posters. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity of 5-50 years indoors, depending on exposure to sunlight.
Poly Oxford 8 oz
This oxford weave polyester fabric has excellent strength and dimensional stability, and is highly wrinkle resistant with excellent color depth. This makes it our favorite fabric and is ideal for banners, POP displays, patio umbrellas, and backdrops, and any indoor or short term outdoor use. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity of 5-20 years indoors, depending on exposure to sunlight.
MeshTex - 10 mil
This waterproof sheer polyester mesh material is ideal for special exhibits, hanging partitions, outdoor banners, flags, and signs. It's weatherproof, rip proof, and translucent. Available in widths up to 60".
Outdoor longevity is 6 months, 5-20 years indoors.
Micro Mesh - 7.4 oz
This mircro-perforated flame retardant textile has a linen look with exceptional dimensional stability. It’s highly flexible, has a light finish and exhibits no edge curl, making it ideal for hanging displays, theater decor, POP advertising and other graphic displays where some translucence is desired. Available in widths up to 86".
Approx. longevity of 20 years indoors.
Vision Mesh - 12.4 oz
This unique flame retardant mesh has an anthracite black backing for a transparent, one-way vision effect from inside, making it perfect for shop windows, POP advertising and solar protection. It has a gloss finish and hangs with no edge curl even with heavy ink coverage. Available in widths up to 63".
Approx. longevity of 5-20 years indoors.
Finishing Options
This panel contains information on finishing options for retail signs.
Satin Eco-Friendly Polypropylene Laminate - 3 Mil
This satin finished pressure sensitive laminate offers surface protection for long-lasting, durable graphics with materials that are free of PVC (vinyl) or heavy metals. The absence of heavy metals or phthalates reduces the risk of damaging the health of humans or the environment. Compared to PVC laminating films, polypropylene provides better image clarity for more accurate, vivid colors. This film is a great option for indoor graphics at children’s museums, or other environments, where visitors are encouraged to touch the displays. This laminate is intended for indoor use, but can be used outdoors for up to 6 months.
Vinyl Laminate - 4 Mil
This pressure sensitive laminate is available in gloss, luster or matte finishes, with the matte finish being the most popular as it has a sand texture like polycarbonate that diffuses glare without muting the colors of the print. Laminates offers surface protection and can change the finish of your print to suit the display environment. When a high-gloss finish is desired, and glare is not a concern, gloss is the appropriate choice. Keep in mind that a gloss finish will show flaws, scratches and fingerprints more than any other laminate. Luster and matte offer the same protection without these disadvantages.
Permanent Adhesive
While not technically a laminate, this pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the back turns any print into a decal, complete with peel-off release liner. We can apply the adhesive and either send the print rolled for mounting to the surface of your choice, or mount the print for you to a variety of substrates. See the Mounting Materials section below for more information.
Posterboard
This paper board comes in 22x28 and is an economical mounting material for short term posters that need enough rigidity to stand up in a poster frame or other sign holder. This is the classic size and material for retail signs and poster. Other sizes are available on a special order basis.
Foamcore
This 3/16 inch thick foam board has a polystyrene core with paper facing. It's great for short term displays or those on a tight budget, but it's too easily dented when handled for long term or abusive environments. Available in black, or white by request.
Gatorfoam
This foam board has a styrofoam polystyrene core with a Luxcell veneer and is available in thicknesses of 3/16 and 1/2 inch. It's much more durable and harder than foamcore making it more suitable in situations where it will be handled frequently, but the corners will still dent with impact so careful handling is recommended. The faces are also archival so it's great for long term display of prints. Available in black, or white by request.
Sintra
This expanded PVC plastic board is available in a variety of thicknesses, but 1mm, 3mm and 6mm are the most popular for mounting. It's water resistant and fire retardant, making is desirable for display applications. Since it's a solid board, it's more durable than foamcore or gatorfoam, but it's also heavier and not as rigid. It also expands and contracts with temperature changes, up to .05 mil/ft per degree F.
Retail Posters
If you have the type of sign holders that can hold an unmounted poster, the Blue Back Poster Paper is our least expensive option for retail signs and posters. It gets it's name from the blue backing that provides opacity because this poster paper was originally designed to be used for paper billboards, and the blue backing helped hide the old poster underneath from showing through when a new billboard was pasted over top. Obviously, this paper is waterproof since it can be used outdoors, which is possible because it's printed with solvent based inks so water has no effect on the print. This retail poster paper has good image quality, but not the same museum quality that we provide on some of the more expensive papers. If you are on a tight budget, need poster printing that can be used outdoors, or need good quality retail sale signs that will only be used for a short time, this is an excellent material that is good looking and durable. The Indoor/Outdoor poster paper has a similar finish and print quality, but is a heavier weight paper so it's recommended for greater durability or where a thicker paper is needed.
Also great for short and long term use, and a step up in print quality are the Satin Photo Paper and Gloss Photo Paper. Both are great for retail store signage, but they have less water resistnace so they should be laminated if used where moisture is a concern. The have longevity of over 100 years if kept out of direct sunlight.
Many sign holders require a rigid poster to keep the sign from sagging and falling out. All the papers mentioned above can be mounted, but for an inexpensive mounted poster, the Economy Calendered Adhesive Vinyl is a great option. It's printed with latex inks so it's waterproof, and when combined with one of our mounting materials such as posterboard, it makes for a very inexpensive store sign that looks like an expensive one.
Retail Banners
The Curl Free Fire Retardant Banner is an excellent choice for free hanging banners. This vinyl coated fabric prints very well and has the upscale look of canvas with a low gloss finish. It's specially engineered to hang flat without curling on the edges like standard banners, and it's flame retardant so it's good for retail banner displays and use in other public places such as theaters, museums, airports, and shopping malls.
For double sided retail banners, the 18oz blockout vinyl offers excellent image quality, a low gloss finish to minimize glare, and the heavier weight helps it to stay flat and hang better than lighter weight materials. It is very smooth, and is also an excellent choice for high quality single sided banners.
For partially transparent store signs, our mesh banner materials are available with varying amounts of transparency. The MeshTex is very sheer and one of our most transparent materials for use when you want store signage that is very soft. Our Micro Mesh is our most solid mesh material, having very tiny holes that allows a subtle transparent effect while still maintaining a strong printed image. The Vision Mesh is a view through material that is great for large retail shop signs hanging in windows since it looks solid from the front, but allows you to see out from the inside. This also prevents the customers from looking at the blank back of a standard banner.
If a fabric material is preferred, either for the look, or for environmental reasons, the Poly Oxford is our favorite fabric because it prints beautifully, is highly wrinkle resistant, and the matte finish prevents glare. We have many other fabrics with different qualities, so check out the banners page for the full assortment we have available.
Lamination and Mounting
Lamination is recommended for store signs if they are going on display or being subjected to a lot of handling, unless you have a sign holder with a protective plastic face over the poster. A laminate will protect the surface from moisture, scratches, and environmental contaminates. For most situations, we prefer the matte vinyl laminate as it helps reduce glare and fingerprints.
Mounting is necessary to make retail posters rigid, which is necessary if you need them to be self supporting in a frame or other display that only supports the poster around the edges. Posterboard or 1mm Sintra are both good options for the minimum amount of thickness as many frames can't handle thick materials. These are also good options when you want to put two signs back to pack in the same sign holder, as foam boards would be too thick to fit if used in this way.
Foam boards are popular for mounting directly on a wall without a frame, or for inserting into frames or sign holders that can accommodate a 1/4" thick substrate. We offer both foamcore and Gatorfoam for mounting. Foamcore is very soft and easily dented so it's not recommend if it will be handled much, but it is very inexpensive so it's great for short term use. Gatorfoam has higher density foam center that makes it more durable and the recommend mounting material for most uses. It is still a foam board, so it will still dent if dropped on a corner or hit with something hard or sharp, but otherwise, it's a great all around mounting material.
Normal turnaround time is 4-5 days. During the order process you will be asked if you have a specific due date, and if you do, we will adjust your shipping method, if necessary, to get your order to you on time. If you need your order even quicker, we also have a rush service. If you authorize rush charges, we can get your order shipped the same day or the next day. Rush charges are typically 50% of your order up to a maximum of $75. If we're able to meet your deadline without bumping other jobs, we won't actually charge the rush charge, but you must authorize the rush to guarantee delivery.
That depends on the specific material you choose. We can print at our highest quality up to 64" wide by any length, and at our standard quality up to 98" wide by any length, but different materials are available in different sizes. Look through the descriptions of the materials in the Printing Materials tab to find how big each material can be printed.
We have a great collection of banner and poster hanging systems available that make it easy and inexpensive to hang posters and banners. With these systems you don't need pole pockets, grommets, or other special finishing, and changing out the graphics is quick and easy. There are even accessories that allow you to hang graphics off another in series, or connect several together into square or triangle hanging shapes. Check out all the options on our poster and banner hanger page.
We can also make pole pockets, add grommets, velcro or other finishing options to allow you hang your signs and banners in other ways, but the hanging systems are our favorite method because they are easy to use, make your display more attractive, and pay for themselves very quickly from the savings you get in not having to pay for special finishing.
When you're ready to order, you can use the Pricing/Order button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab, and the Pricing/Order wizard will prompt you for the necessary information such as quantity, dimensions and finishing options, and allow you to see the shipping costs. If necessary, you can click the Products tab in the wizard and choose a different material from the same product type in the drop down menu.
You will also be asked to indicate how you are sending your files and how you want us to handle cropping, if necessary. You will also be allowed to choose whether or not you want a proof, and if so, what kind of proof you would like. You can choose a reduced size printed proof for $30, which will be printed on the same material as your final print, or you can choose to have us evaluate your file to look for any potential problems and send a pdf proof for $15. A reduced size printed proof of the overall design is good for proofing color, or we can print a section of the graphic at full size so you can see how an image will look when blown up. If we feel the file will print poorly or your file doesn't scale to the correct size, we will always contact you to discuss your options before printing, so if you've already examined your files before sending them, a proof is often not necessary, but since custom printed graphics cannot be returned, a proof is your best way to verify what the final print will look like in advance.
Lastly, there is a Special Instructions field where you can provide any information you think we may need to process your order correctly.
Once you've provided all the required information, you can add the item to the shopping cart where you can either check out, or choose to continue shopping to return to the page you came from. On the shopping cart screen you can see all the items you've added to your order, delete any that you don't want, and have a chance to upload your file.
You don't need to create an account to complete your order, but doing so will allow your account history to be maintained for future reference and ordering convenience. The only account information that is stored are your billing, shipping, and e-mail addresses, and this information is secure and confidential. Creating an account WILL NOT result in unwanted e-mails from us, or anyone else.
To finish your order, you will be asked to specify either normal turnaround time for your order, or provide a specific due date. If you do specify a due date, you will also be given the option to authorize rush charge for your order. If you need your order completed in less than the normal 4-5 day turnaround, you should authorize rush charges to ensure you get your order on time. Rush charges are 50% of your order total, up to a maximum of $75. If we don't have to bump other jobs to meet your deadline, you won't be charged the rush fee, but if you don't authorize the charges, we'll do what we can to complete your order on time, but won't go so far as to bump other jobs. If you specify a due date, we will adjust the shipping method, if necessary, to ensure your order arrives by the date you specified. In this case, extra shipping charges may apply.
Next you will be asked to select the shipping method, and finally the payment type. You should know that your credit card is not being charged when you submit the form. We are collecting the information for your order, but you will not be charged until we have verified your order to make sure there were no mistakes made. That way, if there are aspects of your order that change, we can adjust the order and the shipping cost, if necessary, before you are charged.
Once you click the Order button, you will receive an order summary via e-mail for your records, and we will receive your order and the process can begin.
As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please Contact Us and we'll be happy to help you with the process.