The Popularity of A-Board Signs
- 28 Aug 2019
The Popularity of A-Board Signs
The A-board sign is easily the most unique of all the signs used for business advertising. They’re absolutely everywhere, and their design makes them easy to recognise: with designs on either side, the two sides of this sign lean against each other to form the shape of the capital letter ‘A’.
The A-Board Sign has evolved over time, but still remains a firm favourite for all different types of business. Its A-Frame structure provides a sturdy, double-sided display, and its foldable and lightweight design makes it easy to store and transport.
This popular design is by no means a recent invention. A-board signs have a long history which is even more interesting than their design, having first become popular in the 19th century. Some historians believe that the sign was first used in the town of Sandwich, England, which is why they are sometimes called “Sandwich Boards”. It’s believed that they were invented as far back as 1221 by the owner of a small cafe at Number 10 Board Street.
As the story goes, this café owner let passersby know about his lunch specials by setting up a sandwich board outside his café every morning. He managed to attract a lot of customers in this way. The owner even kept the idea of the A-board sign in his mind after his café had closed down due to stiff competition, and started making the special signs for other businesses as a way to earn a living in his old age.
The inventor of the A-board sign ended up getting orders in such high volumes that he was barely able to keep up. It was becoming very clear that the signs were effective at drawing in passersby and were one of the most aesthetically pleasing advertising options available. In order to complete and deliver his orders online, he had to hire a young assistant. Merchants and craftsmen of all different types took to using these pavement signs to advertise their businesses, so that in the 19th century, sandwich boards could be found on almost every street and alleyway.
For some time, establishments chose to advertise their services and products by hiring men to carry their A-board signs up and down the streets. Customers’ attention could also be attracted if the wearer of the sign was given slogans and phrases to shout out. The sandwich board wearers began to be referred to as “sandwich men”, a term that is believed to have been coined by Charles Dickens, the famous English writer and social critic.
Around the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of A-board signs began to fade. The world began to embrace them once again when the Great Depression hit, however, as businesses had to start looking for cost-effective ways of advertising. Once again, the popularity of this simple sign skyrocketed. In fact, in a bid to attract employers’ attention, a number of unemployed people have even resorted to investing in their own sandwich boards over the last few years as a way to advertise themselves.
A-Board Signs: The Time-Tested Benefits
As you may be able to tell from their long and varied history, A-board signs have many benefits. So why are these A-board signs the most popular and common type of pavement sign out there? Well, there are a few reasons!
- Mobility.
If you need your A-board sign to be somewhere, it’s easy to move it there. Wherever and whenever it's needed, it can easily be picked up, set down and put to work. This can make them easy to steal or interfere with, however, so be sure to secure the sign with a lock or some kind of chain system if you’re using it in a high-traffic area! - Customisation.
Whatever photos, logos, fonts, offers and texts you want to include on your A-board sign, it can be done. These signs are completely customisable for your specific needs. While other kinds of pavement signage may struggle on this front, you can truly customise an A-board to ensure that it fits in with your branding and design. - They work well for a whole host of businesses and industries.
No matter what industry you work in or what kind of business you are hoping to draw attention to, A-board signs can handle the job. They work well no matter what they are being used to advertise, and with a little bit of customisation they look polished, professional, and perfectly suited to your needs. - They’re easy to set up and use.
Once you get your new A-Board sign, that’s it – it’s ready to go and get to work for you. There is no exhaustive setting up process – you can just position it where you wish and open it up. No assembly, no building, and no messing about – just the pavement advertising that you need.
It must be said that you may experience a whole host of problems if you get a cheap A-board sign from a less-than-stellar company, however. They have to be replaced on a regular basis, and they fall into disrepair quickly, resulting in a shabby and unprofessional sign that is useless for your business. You can end up cutting into your bottom like by costing your business unnecessary money in the long run, even if you originally thought you were snagging an amazing deal.
Read more: Great Alternatives to A-Board Signs
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