Marketing materials and your ROI: Top awning, banner, flag and signage care tips
Being smart and presentable is a prerequisite for success which is why any signage or promotional material being used to promote your business should be taken care of at all times.
Damaged signage like dirty flags, banners or awnings could send out all the wrong signals about how you care about your customers.
Here are some tips and suggestions on how to care for your signage. How to keep your flag flying neatly and looking clean, plus a look at caring for your banners, including preventing rips and tears from taking hold, and why you should take care with cleaning chemicals. Taking care of your awnings is important for the presentation of your business. Ensuring that they are in top shape is how your business gives a respectable first impression.
Look after your flag
Flags are an integral part of our culture and we proudly display them for patriotic reasons as well as making great promotional tools too. There are plenty of places with cultural or offensive flags for sale which can be found to suit you.
What you don’t want to do is have a flag flying outside your business that looks worse for wear and is faded, dirty, torn or anything else that makes it less than perfect for anyone looking at it.
If you want to project the right image about your business, a few simple flag cleaning tips should help you to keep this popular symbol clean and presentable.
Flags will inevitably become dirty and start to look weathered after a period of time exposed to the elements. If your flag is made from a synthetic material like polyester or nylon, you should be able to put it in your washing machine, provided you choose a gentle cycle and use a mild laundry detergent.
If you have a flag made from cotton or wool it would be better to get it professionally cleaned, although you can wash it carefully in cold water yourself, provided you take great care and use a mild detergent to help remove stains and dirt.
Tip for preserving your flag
If you want to get the longest life out of your flag and would like to keep it in in the best possible condition, think about when you fly the flag.
Try to avoid flying the flag on a really windy day or when the rain or sleet is heavy if you can, as this could cause some damage unless you have coated it with a protective product.
Also, ensure that the flag is completely dry before storing it away for any period of time, or you could run the risk of mould and mildew developing.
Taking care of your banners
Promotional tools like teardrop banners are very effective at advertising your business and drawing customers in with their eye-catching shape, but you want them to look their best at all times so that they achieve maximum impact every time.
You can expect your banners to get a bit dirty if they are being used outside and being transported around when you use them at trade shows, but you should take great care with your choice of cleaning materials if you don’t want to cause some irreparable damage.
Don’t be tempted to use a typical household cleaner on your flags or banners, as many of them will be too harsh and are likely to discolour or even burn the fabric. Your best option every time would be to use a mild detergent and work on an inconspicuous area first so that you can check it is ok to carry on.
If you are diligent with your banner or flag care and decide to take them inside when the outside weather gets too much, don’t spoil that good decision by folding it away while it is still wet.
Along with the threat of mould and mildew already advised you could also experience discolouration if the banner is folded while wet. Another good reason to avoid folding a wet banner is the fact that a wet fold can potentially become a permanent crease, which won’t look good when you use the banner again.
Dealing with damage
If you are unfortunate enough to notice that your banner or flag has suffered a small rip or tear in it, you will need to take immediate action before it has the chance to get any worse.
A small rip that is barely noticeable can quickly develop into a much larger tear and could mean that your banner is no longer fit for purpose.
Good quality banners are very durable and should be resistant to rips and tears in the first place, but if you have bought banners that are made well, this can make it easier and cost-effective to get them repaired so they are good as new again.
Banners, flags, and awnings and other signage can all make a good impact on your business and help deliver a good ROI, you just have to do your bit and care for them.
I’m Chris Trembath. A ten-year event marketing veteran. Organising events for all industries from agriculture to technology and even fitness. Periodically I write guides for event planners or businesses who are looking to get the most out of their companies advertising budget. I have various hobbies but nothing compares to seeing my client’s businesses grow.
