A few months ago, we wrote a blog post that offered a few ideas on the types of social distancing signs that you can have created for your Seattle business. Since then, we’ve seen an influx of people looking for tips on how to implement these signs to help ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

While this is all still relatively new territory, we’re starting to see a pattern of “best practices” when it comes to adding social distancing signage to the exterior and interior of your Seattle business. While each company and its clientele are different, there are a few common threads that stand out.

We want to share with you a few of these ideas for your consideration:

Traffic Flow

Controlling or optimizing the flow of foot traffic inside your brick-and-mortar store can help out with social distancing. The overall big idea is to avoid having people bunch up in areas and increase their chances of getting each other sick. The best way to prevent this is to come up with a traffic flow plan for your store. 

Many supermarkets and stores such as Walmart are closing down all but one entrance. This is where people come in, and the next set of doors is where they exit the building. This streamlined traffic flow helps ensure that long lines and queues are kept to a bare minimum as the crowds of people move in and out.

K.I.S.S.

While you technically could have Gene Simmons come into your store wearing his full KISS costume and start barking social distancing orders at your customers, it’s much easier (and way more cost-effective) to put up signage that is easy to understand and even easier to follow. Aka “Keep It Simple, Silly.”

For example, floor graphics that show where the line begins, how far to stand apart, and any other relevant information is critical to helping keep your customers socially distanced. Keep it simple. Nobody is going to take the time to read a huge block of text on a sign.

If you come up with an elaborate social distancing policy, it’s probably not going to work, and your customers probably aren’t going to be very happy. While social distancing is essential, people are getting tired of the situation in general. Try to keep the rules of in-store social distancing as simple as possible. 

Offer Online Pickup and Delivery

You could increase the number of sales you get by adding an online pickup and delivery option to your company website. While this technically will require an initial up-front investment to pay the website developer, you’ll be making your business that much more attractive to those who still aren’t quite comfortable walking into a brick-and-mortar store.

If you don’t have the budget for a website upgrade, you can always add a banner to the home page letting your customers know that you’re offering online ordering—and they will need to phone in their order. 

Depending on the lease of your store, you might be able to take a few parking spots in front of your business and designate them as delivery spots. Put up a sign that shows the phone number of your business, and then your customers will call you when they are parked outside. If COVID-19 returns during the flu season this year, you’ll be surprised at the number of people wanting to patronize your business in this manner.

Sneeze Guards

A transparent acrylic sneeze guard mounted at the cashier’s counter is essential for keeping both your employees and customers safe. In fact, it can contribute to higher employee morale as it shows them that you care about their safety and well-being.

Acrylic is the perfect material for your sneeze guards. It has the same see-through properties as glass, giving people on both ends perfect visibility. Acrylic also weighs a fraction of a similar-sized piece of glass, and it won’t shatter into a million little pieces if it’s dropped.

Senior and At-Risk Hours

A great way to keep your customers safe, and perhaps attract a few new ones, is to take an hour or two in the morning and dedicate it to only allowing senior citizens and at-risk people to come in. This exclusive shopping hour will allow your most vulnerable customers a chance to shop and could help prevent them from getting sick.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourages seniors and other at-risk individuals to take extra precautions when venturing outside of their homes. You can add a few posters to the outside of your business to let your patrons know of the change in hours. An A-frame sign that’s right outside your front door will remind everyone else that the store is closed until the special shopping hours are over.

McNamara Signs in Seattle

At McNamara Signs, we’re working closely with local businesses to provide them with the signage they need to help ensure employee and public safety while driving new foot traffic through their front doors. 

We realize this is an unprecedented time—we’re open and here to serve your signage needs. Give us a call today at (206) 284-0809 or contact us via our website. To learn more about how we can help with ideas, design, creation, and installation of your new sign.