The COVID-19 crisis has certainly created myriad challenges for businesses all over the world. But there’s one product category, along with PPE, that’s helped them contend with this difficult situation and is poised to grow over the next few months: signage.

As states announce reopening plans, companies in virtually every industry, from retail to restaurants to salons to large corporate office buildings, will now need more signage to keep employees and customers safe and to maintain compliance with health guidelines.

Signage supplier Showdown Displays (asi/87188) in Brooklyn Center, MN, has been busy meeting demand these past two months from essential businesses and restaurants with takeout service, says President Kevin Walsh. They’ve needed signs with “Yes, We’re Open” messages, curbside pickup directions and social distancing reminders. Now, there have been more orders for tents and canopies so customers can pick up food or retail items at businesses that are allowed to reopen, without going into the building.

They’ve also been outfitting home offices. Remote workers have turned Showdown’s branded walls, often used for trade shows and conferences under normal circumstances, into professional backgrounds for video conferences.

This 6-foot-high branded wall (256230) with hidden hardware is ideal as a professional background for virtual meetings.

“This is the start of a seismic shift,” says Walsh. “More working from home will be the norm. We expect employees will have these backgrounds as a regular home office item. They might even become part of new hire kits.”

According to Walsh, distributors would do well to look for these additional sales opportunities in the coming weeks and months.

Personalized Recognition
Highly anticipated graduation ceremonies, a once-in-a-lifetime event for many, have been postponed indefinitely and even canceled entirely. But schools are still finding ways to recognize their outgoing students. Some have driven to each senior’s house (even in their academic dress) to put out signage, such as yard signs, feather flags and garage banners. Others have bought Showdown’s Boulevard Banner and worked with their town councils to affix them to light posts, a great way for seniors to be recognized down Main Street. Walsh says a park in Chicago placed them along its walking trail.

Schools have been using the Boulevard Banner (302037) on light posts to recognize 2020 graduating classes.

“These schools had senior events planned, like proms and lock-ins, and they’re often catered,” says Walsh. “Those can’t happen now, but they still have the budget to spend. It’s been interesting to see signage as recognition items. I hope it continues, that it becomes a tradition.”

Distancing Signage
Surface and floor grips are nothing new for Showdown; Walsh says they place them in the center of the trade show aisle to get attendees’ attention as they look down at their phones. During the pandemic, they’ve become “distance dots” (either circles, squares or arrows) used to maintain proper distancing, as well as directional arrows in aisles. As businesses reopen, they’ll need to follow safety protocols. These items help them do that.

Guide visitors through your business with directional signage to maintain #SocialDistancing #6FeetApart #ShowdownDisplays https://t.co/fKhqGeUaPY pic.twitter.com/ed5wJeZKl1

— Showdown Displays (@ShowdownDisplay) April 28, 2020

Protective Barriers
Business owners allowed to open back up will want to allow transactions to take place with customers while still protecting their workers. Showdown created a counter barrier (259110) with a clear window that sits 5 inches above the surface and maintains distance between customers and staff.

Showdown’s new counter barrier (259110) allows transactions to take place while protecting staff and customers from airborne particles.

Five weeks ago, the team came up with the idea and filed a patent. They were able to go to market quickly and started producing them in about two weeks. After a distributor put it on their website, they had more than 50 orders for it in 24 hours. It’s been popular at businesses that have remained open; Walsh expects the popularity to increase as reopening businesses try to get back to a semblance of normality.

“Distributors are an intrepid bunch,” says Walsh. “It never ceases to amaze me how they’ve found new opportunities. We considered them for banks and pharmacies mainly, but three days after we started offering them, a distributor repurposed them for salons so they could start offering manicures again. They’re protected, but it’s still personable.”

As companies reopen, they’ll need items like the counter barrier and face covers to be allowed to do business again. “We’re here thinking about what all this will look like,” says Walsh. “Every transaction will change.”

Safe Workplace Education
Now that office buildings will soon reopen, Walsh says they’ll need to keep employees and visitors apprised of how they’re keeping everyone safe as well as expectations from a health protocol standpoint.

The front doors will need “welcome back” signage and a counter barrier at reception, says Walsh. For work areas, suggest sanitizer stations and health reminders, like distance dots on floors, handwashing guidelines on restroom mirrors and “closed” table runners for conference rooms, break rooms and the cafeteria. Showdown’s new counter barrier also has a hook and loop, so employees can affix it to the top of their cubicles to create extra protection as they speak with their colleagues.

“End-buyers might not be buying stress relievers and mugs right now,” says Walsh, “but they’re definitely going to need these back-to-work items.”

As more and more businesses open up, distributors should be having these conversations with their customers now so they’re prepared for welcoming people back in. “Reach out and say to them, ‘Here’s what’s happening, and here’s what you’ll need. Let’s talk about it now because inventory may be limited,’” says Walsh. “Ask them if they’ve considered what opening up will look like for them. How many people will be back? How will they communicate what they’re doing to protect everyone? Distributors can help them with that.”