After you've designed and printed the perfect signage for your event or marketing campaign, it's time to showcase it! It's easy to get so caught up in the design process that you forget about the signage hardware, which ties everything together at an event and keeps things secure and in place. Whether you’ve printed a banner to grab attention, or a sign that helps organize attendees, signage hardware makes sure that what you've printed can be used wherever you need it. And with events back on, or in hybrid form, making sure you have the right hardware for your signage is going to be essential in 2022.
Ideally, when planning an event, you have all of the signage needed beforehand - so you can find the right signage hardware ahead of time as well. But things happen, and colleagues may run late and need to "meet you there" with the signage, so you need to be prepared for anything. There are some types of signage hardware to keep in your toolbox just in case, so you don't have to use tape or a nail in a pinch.
Indoor Signage Hardware Essentials
- Standard Sign Holders: Tabletop sign holders help to increase visibility for directions - think of things like sign-in sheets or arrows for foot traffic.
- A-Frame Sign Stands: An “A-Frame” design stands up on its own and can be placed nearly anywhere, making it a must-have for your trunk. These sign stands are great for placing on the floor of an event.
- X Banner Stands: Instead of taping a banner to a wall, the X Banner stand allows the banner to be upright on its own. Some are adjustable so that they can fit nearly any banner size.
- Pop-Up Background Stand: Background stands can be used for everything from large signage to greenscreens. They’re often collapsible, making them easy to store.
- Snap Frames: Snap frames are a way to protect signage and give it a more professional look - particularly compared to using tape. These are good to keep on hand in a variety of different sizes.
- Standoff Mounts: These give the signage a unique 3D effect, lifting it off the wall to attract more attention.
Outdoor Signage Hardware Essentials
The goal of an outdoor sign is visibility. You want the sign to grab people's attention, so it needs to be securely set up in a place where it can be seen. Setting up an outdoor sign can be difficult if the sign is particularly large and requires thick posts to hold it up.
Here is some signage hardware you may need to set up an outdoor sign:
- Posts: Typically made of metal, plastic, or wood.
- Posthole Digger: Typically, you want to dig the hole about half as deep as your post will be high to keep it secure.
- Post Cutter: Are the posts the right height?
- Drill and Post Brackets: Depending on what type of post and sign, you could use anything from U-brackets, T-brackets, clamps, band brackets, or pipe clamps to secure.
- Pole Banner Hardware Kit: Includes everything you need to attach a sign to a pole.
- Acrylic Pocket Displays: if the signage is not waterproof, acrylic pockets can save the day.
Related: Signage for Poles and Parking Lots
Having the proper signage hardware can make a big difference when it comes to visibility. If you don't have the right indoor and outdoor signage hardware, you could end up limited in terms of where you can display the signage. Little tricks like having backup snap frames and acrylic pocket displays can give the signage a professional touch and add more flexibility to where you can hang each sign. Even if you think you have everything you need for an event, it's always a good idea to have backups just in case. Your client may end up with an extra banner or two, or their planned sign holder could break. Keeping these extra hardware signage tools in your trunk could help save the day!
For more help with designing, printing, and setting up your event signage, and to prepare for events in 2022, you can always turn to Ironmark. We have experts who can come out and measure your space or outdoor area and recommend the best signage for your environment and goals. Our Ironmark install team can help with everything from production, to event preparation, installation, tear down and more. And for further help with getting ready, be sure to check out our guide on modular and portable displays.
