What Are Window Decals?

AUGUST 25, 2020| SpeedPro Greenville

First impressions are crucial, right? How many times have you met someone new and immediately disliked them? Or, maybe you saw someone from across the room and decided you’d like to get to know that person. Well, the necessity for a good first impression applies to businesses too. Not only do you want to make a good impression on your potential patrons, you also want to keep them coming back.

So, what is the first thing someone sees when approaching your store? Probably your business signs. Next? Your front windows.

More often than not, a store’s windows have the potential to draw more attention than its business sign. Why? Storefront windows are eye level and typically large and noticeable. But what’s a good storefront window without some eye-catching window decals?

Potential Uses For Window Decals

Window decals are used for many different reasons including branding, sales and promotions, decoration and giving information. Your intended purpose for the decal determines the type of material your design will be printed on.

Improve Your Branding

Window decals are great for branding as they’re typically displayed right on your storefront. You’ll want your customers to know who you are and what services you offer or products you sell before they walk into the store.

Branded window decals include logos, company slogans, mascots and other business specific designs and images. Branding can also include graphics that reflect the aura you want your business to give.

Display Sales and Promotions

One of the most popular types of window decals is a decal depicting the next big sale your business is advertising or promoting your business and services. These types of window decals are often changed as new sales and promotions are advertised, so you may want to go with a less permanent solution.

Give Information

In addition to displaying your brand name in clear, white text on your front door, you may decide to add store hours or city and state to your door. Informational window signage also includes “no soliciting” text and other safety text.

You can also include your social media icons and handles to try to gain followers. Some businesses print a QR code with additional information or coupons and place it beside the door. Another more practical solution is InfolnkX, which is similar to a QR code but doesn’t require reprinting to change the code destination.

Add A Little Decoration

Since most of what is on your storefront is geared towards drawing customers in, including a few extra design elements can give your brand a more personable touch. Maybe you want to install images related to your business or include little decorative decals floating between your lists of services. The design is yours.

Different Types of Window Decals

After you’ve decided what purpose your decals will serve, it’s time to decide whether your decal will be placed on the first or second surface of the window. First surface is another way of saying outside of a window and second surface refers to the inside of a window. Always make sure you’re abiding by your landlord or city regulations concerning window coverage.

Window decals are made of many different types of material:

Window Perf

Window perf has a unique effect – people inside can see outside, but those looking inside can’t. Small holes in the material give the window perf this special effect. Window perf can be ordered with smaller perforation to allow less visibility or larger perforation to allow more.

In addition to an attractive exterior, window perf also provides relief from outside light. If your store tends to overheat as the sun rises or falls in the sky, consider adding some window perf to help cool the heated situation.

If window perf sounds like a viable solution for you, check to make sure your location permits the installation of window perf. Some cities choose to not allow storefronts to cover some or all of their windows.

Static Window Clings

Static window clings are a more temporary solution for your storefront windows. These decals cling to your window without using an adhesive material but by using – you guessed it – static. Because they don’t have the adhesive, the clings can be easily removed and repositioned if necessary. These typically advertise a limited time sale or promotion as the clings are easy to remove once the sale has ended.

Window clings can be placed on either the inside or outside of a window – depending on the production design and use. Installing a cling on the interior of your window will protect the cling from outside elements, which might make it last longer, but the design’s visibility won’t be as good as if it were on the outside.

Window Decals and Lettering

Window decals are solid, non-transparent graphics. These decals can be anything from a shop name on your front door to full sized logos. Unlike window perf, you can’t see through these graphics. Instead, window decals block visibility and provide more contrast between your design and window.

Frosted Window Decals

Frosted decals are similar to window decals except the frosted effect allows some light to shine through the decal. The frosting obscures the people or objects on the opposite side of the glass.

Frosted decals are very popular on conference room or office windows. The decals can be cut out of the frosting to allow visibility through the decal while keeping everything else obscured, or the decal itself can be created from the frosted material and used as a standalone decal.

So Basically…

Covering or even partially covering your storefront windows can increase your branding opportunities. An eye-catching and clever design is all you need. You can choose from many different types of material depending on how you want to use the decal.

Your windows are prime real estate for your promotions, branding and other artwork. At SpeedPro Greenville, we can make sure your designs are printed on quality material and installed with the greatest of care. Contact us today to get started on your storefront design.