Pavement Sign Boards

Choosing an A-board for outside your shop

Pavement or A-board signs are designed to stand freely outside a shop, cafe or event entrance, catching passing foot traffic that a shopfront sign or window display alone won't reach. Because they're moved in and out daily in many cases, durability and a stable, weighted base matter as much as the print itself.

Printed inserts, rather than the frame itself, are usually what needs replacing or updating as menus, offers or messaging change, so many businesses order a durable frame once and reprint the insert board periodically. Weatherproof board is worth choosing for the insert even if the sign is brought in overnight, since it will still face rain, wind and general handling during the day.

Printed inserts vs a chalkboard-style sign

Visibility from a distance matters more here than fine detail, since most people reading a pavement sign are walking past rather than stopping to study it, so bold, simple wording and a clear offer or message tend to work better than a design packed with information.

If you're deciding between a chalkboard-style insert and a printed one, a printed insert gives a more consistent, branded look day to day, while a chalkboard-style board suits a business that changes its message daily, such as a cafe's specials board.

A-frame boards fold flat for storage overnight, which matters for shops with limited backroom space, worth checking the folded dimensions against your storage space before ordering a larger board than you can easily bring in and out each day.