Building Buzz: Hoarding Strategies for Retail Brands

Retailers often use creative hoardings, like this one from a UK burger chain, to announce an upcoming store with bold graphics and a clear “Coming Soon” message. Such eye-catching displays hide the construction work while building anticipation among passersby. By turning a blank facade into an advertisement, brands can generate buzz on the high street before the doors even open. In the UK, where footfall is precious and competition for attention is fierce, a well-designed advertising board can give any new shop, from a boutique to a café, a head start in attracting customers.

Why Hoardings Matter Before a Store Opens

A hoarding (the temporary boarding or graphics in front of a soon-to-open store) serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it conceals unsightly construction and keeps the site secure. More importantly, it transforms that otherwise blank wall into a huge billboard for your brand. Far from just hiding renovations, a well-designed advertising board raises the profile of your business, markets to potential customers, and creates a sense of anticipation in the community​. Passersby who see the “coming soon” signage and branding will start talking, wondering what’s in store.

This early buzz can directly drive foot traffic. Eye-catching signage matters—around 8 in 10 shoppers have entered a store purely because of its signs. In other words, your marketing facade isn’t just decoration; it’s an invitation. Whether you’re launching a fashion outlet, a new restaurant, or an electronics shop; an appealing promotional panels can pique curiosity and turn onlookers into opening-day customers. And since about two-thirds of people believe a store’s signage reflects the quality of its products and services, a professionally printed, high-quality building site hoarding helps set a positive expectation about your business from the outset.

Turning Hoardings into Branding and Advertising Assets

A visually striking, professionally printed hoarding isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a smart branding and advertising tool. Think of it as free outdoor advertising space that you already own. Rather than a blank wall, you have a canvas to tell your brand’s story to everyone who walks by.

• Branding benefits: The promotional panels set the tone for your store. It can convey your brand personality—whether it’s luxury, fun, family-friendly, or techy—through design and messaging. This helps build brand recognition in the neighbourhood even before you open. By the time you launch, locals will already be familiar with your name and logo, giving you a head start.

For established brands opening a new location, it reassures fans that “yes, it’s our favourite brand coming here!” For new brands, it’s an opportunity to introduce yourself and make a great first impression on the community.

• Footfall and buzz: Great display cladding can actually increase footfall once you open because they’ve generated so much interest. People might detour on their daily walk just to check if your shop is open yet. They might snap photos of an especially creative display cladding and share them on social media, spreading the word. All this can translate into more visitors through your doors.
• Local advertising: Using the retail graphics as an advertising board is also cost-effective. You’re essentially getting thousands of impressions from pedestrians and drivers every week without paying for a billboard or poster site. It targets exactly the people in your vicinity—your future customers.

  For example, if you’re opening a new electronics store in a busy shopping centre, your retail graphics can let tech enthusiasts know that a new spot for gadgets will soon be in their neighbourhood. The same goes for a new café on the high street: a tempting image of coffee and pastries on the hoarding boards advertises to every passerby that a fresh coffee spot is coming soon. In this way, your boards work 24/7 to build local awareness.

Maximising Impact with Professional Design & Print

•  Professional Design Makes a Difference: While it might be tempting to throw up a quick banner, investing in professional design and print for your marketing boards pays off.
•  Expert Layout and Branding: Experienced design teams know how to create layouts that grab attention and communicate clearly. They’ll ensure your branding is on-point and that the graphics are high resolution and correctly scaled to the large format.
• Quality Materials for Long-Term Impact: Professionally printed boards are made with durable, weather-resistant materials and vibrant inks, ensuring they remain sharp and eye-catching throughout the build, especially important in the UK’s unpredictable weather.
•  Support with Permissions and Regulations: Another advantage of consulting professionals is navigating any permissions or regulations. For example, in many UK city centres and shopping centres, there may be guidelines on billboard appearance or safety.
•  Safe and Tidy Installation: A specialist design-and-print company will be familiar with these rules and can handle installation safely and neatly, giving you one less thing to worry about as you prepare for opening day.
• A Powerful First Impression: Ultimately, a quality marketing board is an investment in your store’s successful launch. It frequently serves as the initial impression your brand makes on prospective customers.
• Perception Matters: As we mentioned earlier, consumers do judge a book by its cover—if your marketing facade looks polished and exciting, your brand will be perceived the same way. By contrast, a flimsy or poorly designed board could dampen enthusiasm.

Conclusion

 Plan your hoarding strategy as a key part of your launch marketing. And if you want to really knock it out of the park, consider consulting with professionals who offer integrated design and print services for hoardings. Their expertise can help turn your shopfront displays into a show-stopping statement that builds buzz, reinforces your brand, and draws in the crowds. With the right retail board in place, you’ll be well on your way to a memorable grand opening and a successful new store. Good luck, and happy launching!