On Lord Street at lunchtime, foot traffic moves fast. People look up for landmarks, glance down to avoid puddles, and search for the shop they had in mind. The small details that make a sign easy to spot or touch are the ones that slow a person’s pace and pull them to your door.
For many local businesses, tactile signs are one of those details. Raised letters, high-contrast panels, and braille give a clear cue to anyone with low vision, older eyes, or busy hands full of bags.
If you already use window vinyls or banners, adding well placed outdoor advertising boards builds on the same idea, only with a stronger, more physical presence on the street.
Photo by Phil Evenden
What Tactile Signs Are
Tactile signs speak to both sight and touch. They use raised lettering that fingers can trace, clean sans serif fonts, and high contrast backgrounds so letters pop at a glance. Braille helps people who read by touch.
Simple icons do a lot of work too, such as a knife and fork for a café or a bed for a guest house. Each element reduces guesswork. People can confirm they are in the right place without having to ask.
The best tactile signs remove clutter. That means short names, clear arrows, and enough spacing between lines. Glossy finishes can glare in bright sun, so a matte finish is usually better. If your brand uses pale tones, put the text on a darker panel or add a border that frames the words.
Why Access Matters
Good signs help more than sales. They help neighbours move with confidence, including older residents and visitors who do not know the area. The UK’s safety sign standards show how visual clarity and consistent symbols support public safety and access across workplaces and venues.
You do not need to turn your shopfront into a caution board, but the principle holds for retail too, especially when you welcome a broad mix of customers.
Wayfinding research also notes that people rely on a chain of cues, not just one big shop fascia. Pavement boards, corner signs, arrows, and door plaques work together to guide a person from street to seat, or shelf to till.
Tactile elements strengthen that chain because they add a second sense to the mix.
Weather-Ready Materials
Southport’s sea air and sudden showers test any sign. This is where the base material and print method matter. Correx is light and handy for short campaigns. Foamex is sturdier and gives a smooth print for clean lettering.
Dibond sandwiches a polyethylene core between aluminium sheets, so it resists bending and holds up well to wind and rain. PVC banners suit larger messages, but choose reinforced hems and solid fixings.
Look for UV-stable inks and weather-resistant laminates. A matte laminate helps reduce glare and adds grip for raised characters. Rounded corners on rigid boards stop chips and keep edges neat.
Stainless steel fixings, or powder-coated brackets that match your façade, keep the look tidy while resisting rust.
Smart Sign Placement
You do not need more signs, you need signs in the right place. Start with eye level. A door plaque between 140 and 160 centimetres from the ground lets most people read without strain.
Pavement boards should sit close to your entrance so people can link the message to the door. Keep them out of wheelchair routes and buggy paths to avoid pinch points.
Angles matter. A perpendicular board is easier to read from both directions than a flat panel against the wall. If your entrance sits back from the pavement, use a projecting sign above the threshold and a smaller board near the curb to pull eyes across the setback.
Add a clear arrow if the entrance is around a corner or down a short passage. At night, use soft, even lighting. LED strips mounted along the top frame light the face without glare.
Clear Messages That Work
Keep messages short. One action per sign works best: “Order at the counter,” “Entrance,” “Collect here.” If you need to show a menu or price list, place it where people can step aside and read without blocking others. Use consistent wording across all touchpoints.
If your pavement board says “Takeaway,” repeat “Takeaway” on a door plaque and at the till. This pattern builds trust and reduces hesitation.
If your shop serves people who might not read English well, back up text with simple icons. A cup, a loaf, a paw print, or a hanger often beats a sentence. High contrast, such as white on black or yellow on charcoal, helps from a distance and in low light.
Keep brand colours, but bias the sign design toward visibility and legibility.
Simple Care And Upkeep
Tactile upgrades do not have to be expensive. Start with the highest impact items. Replace tired door numbers with raised characters and strong contrast. Add a small braille plaque next to the handle.
Refresh your pavement board with a rigid panel that uses raised lettering for the core word, such as “Bakery” or “Barber.” Protect each face with a matte laminate so it wipes clean and keeps its colour.
Set a simple care plan. Wipe boards weekly, check fixings monthly, and review messages seasonally. If a panel fades or chips, swap it early. People judge a shop by the state of its signs.
A neat, well kept sign says you will look after customers too. When you update opening hours, print a clear sticker and place it at eye level on the door. Avoid handwritten notes that are hard to read in rain or at night.
From Plan To Pavement
Walk the route a new visitor might take, starting 50 metres away. What can they see, read, or touch at each step. Mark the gaps, then fill them with one or two tactile touchpoints. Pair a high contrast fascia with a raised door plaque.
Add a projecting sign where the pavement line hides your entrance. Use a pavement board only if it does not block the way.
Quick Wins For Small Shops
Finally, test with real people. Ask a neighbour with a buggy or a regular with reading glasses to try the route. If they pause or look unsure, tweak height, contrast, or wording. Small changes, made now, will serve you through the busy months.
Takeaway
Focus on legibility, touch, and smart placement. Use durable materials that suit Southport weather, keep messages short, and place signs where hands and eyes naturally go. Keep them clean, lit, and consistent. Do this, and your shop becomes easier to find, easier to enter, and easier to trust.