The time to focus on entryway enhancements is now

Your Town Rising works with Clifford, Ontario

Have you had a good, hard look at the front of your shop lately?

We’re talking about an honest evaluation of how you would answer “what is catching the eye of the passerby?’

People move around a little more cautiously these days, with a heightened sense of safety in fresh air and outdoor spaces. With warm summer days upon us and an increase in foot traffic downtown, there has never been a better time to get creative at the outside, front entrance of your business.

Downtown storefronts, vestibules and entrances are crucial to making a strong first impression and to connecting with your community. Plopping a single flowerpot in front of your door just won’t cut it. Now is the time for full on efforts to brainstorm, to layer and add unique and creative elements that engage all of the senses.  

A large graphic in the front window of a bakery, featuring a warm cookie with oozing, melted chocolate has the power to get us drooling. The scent of freshly baked goods wafting right out the open door will sell the goods and a decorative bistro set out front will draw others in. “Oh look, there’s a guy sitting outside that bakery, with chocolate on his chin, enjoying a pastry. Maybe I need some of that deliciousness too!” (You get the idea).

A clothing store that has brought the inside – out, with purses, belts or scarves tied to a creatively styled ‘clothesline’ and swaying in the breeze, is sure to grab attention. Engagement begins at the curbside and entices browsing. Efforts to bring creative displays out front, means shopping starts before customers set foot inside.  

And don’t forget the power of Instagram, when considering storefront enhancements! A clever and catchy phrase, in a key location can become a magnet for ‘Selfies’ that end up all over social media channels. There are a ton of fun ways to promote your business and drive traffic to your front door.

Our new 2020-21 program Storefront Makeovers on Shoestring Budgets

Our absolute favourite thing to do, is to visit towns to help inspire immediate, low cost, doable actions that help your community rise. Our new 2020/21 program is called “Storefront Makeovers On Shoestring Budgets’. If this sounds like a fit for your downtown, let’s connect. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM