The past few months have presented an unprecedented challenge to small business owners all over the world. You’ve changed the way you do business while continuing to connect with customers and support your communities. You mastered crisis communication when you needed to and kept your employees safe and customers safe…and now, it’s time to think about reopening.
Once you’ve sanitized your shop, updated your employee schedule, and re-stocked your shelves, get ready to communicate your reopening news with customers. Whether you prefer postcards or social posts, there are so many ways to let people know that you’re open for business – and continuing to prioritize their safety and security.
Plus, right now all of Vistaprint’s customizable signage is 20% off, so you can spread the word about reopening without breaking your marketing budget.
Tell your customers that you’re (safely!) open for business with:
- Updated signage
- Marketing materials
- Digital and social outreach
- New safety measures
Announce your reopening with signage
Get ready to replace your ‘Closed’ signs with ‘Open’ messages. (We’re almost as excited as you are.)
Whether a banner across your storefront, posters in your windows, or an A-frame sign on the sidewalk, tell customers that you’re open again, or about to re-open, with a new, customizable sign. Keep the message clear and succinct, so people driving by can easily digest the news.
Vistaprint has new ‘We’re open!’ templates that you can use (and customize!), or you can create your own sign from scratch – check out our non-designer’s guide to learn how to choose and design the best signs for every setting.
Vistaprint Tip
Are you artistic, or know someone who is? Think about using your lettering skills to paint a positive message on your storefront’s windows. Add a hashtag and encourage customers to snap their own photo and tag you on Instagram.
If your store is in an area with a lot of foot traffic, include signage with more detailed information for curious pedestrians. Use a poster to encourage them to use the gift cards they purchased while you were closed, call to make a new appointment, or advertise a new offering.
Then, snap a picture of your updated storefront and share it with your followers on social media…they’ll be so excited about the news.
Spread the word with marketing materials
Get the word out about your reopening with marketing materials like customizable postcards, flyers, and door hangers.
Start by putting your store reopening date on customers’ radar with a postcard. Send it a few days before you’re set to open, and include useful information like schedule changes or new pickup policies. And don’t forget to give customers a shout-out – thank them for their support, include a ‘we miss you’ message, or offer a limited-time promotion.
Spread the word around your neighborhood, too – use flyers and door hangers, and you just might find some new customers.
Spread the word around your neighborhood, too – use flyers and door hangers, and you just might find some new customers.
Maximize your digital and social presence
Make sure that customers can easily find up-to-date information on the status of your business – many of them will check the web first, so make sure your site is updated. Add a digital banner to your homepage letting customers know the details of your reopening.
Vistaprint Tip
Make sure to update your Google My Business page to reflect your reopening and any adjusted hours. This way, customers searching for your business on Google will be able to get up-to-date info at a glance.
An easy (free!) way to spread the word about reopening is via social media. Create posts for all of your active channels – use our Social Design Studio to make sure your images are the right shape and size for each platform. In the captions, give customers more detailed information and how they can get in touch with you if they have any questions. Also, update your ‘About’ or ‘Bio’ section on Facebook and Instagram with your new hours.
If you have a database of customer emails, think about using a digital newsletter to make your reopening announcement. Use this newsletter to direct customers to your website, encourage them to re-book appointments, and let them know about changes to store hours and policies.
Implement new safety measures…
…and inform your customers about what you’re doing to keep them (and your employees) safe.
Get creative and make a video for your website or social channel showing customers what you’re doing to keep them safe. Or, communicate the social distancing safety measures you’re taking with posters announcing these policies, like single-person shopping or decreased dining capacity.
Our ‘new normal’ means wearing face masks – right now, the CDC recommends wearing them whenever you’re in public. When you reopen, make sure that you have masks for every employee and signage encouraging customers to wear masks when they’re inside your establishment. Provide some for your employees – let them pick their own eye-catching face mask design from Vistaprint, or order a batch of on-brand colors.
When you reopen, continue preventing the spread of germs with disposable menus, sanitized surfaces, and single-use bags.
- Customize your own single-use menus (use recycled paper if you want to go green!) that customers can order from in your restaurant, then take with them when they want to order take-out at home.
- Wipe down pens and pin pads in between transactions.
- Restrict reusable bag usage – instead, switch to recyclable paper bags with your business logo.
- Update traffic flow in your store – use floor decals to change aisles to one-way.
- Offer hand sanitizer at store entrances and exits, and at the checkout.
