Here's a Quick Guide for How to Use Chalkboards to Make Your Business More Profitable
Printed advertisements and menus can cost you thousands of dollars to create, and making even a single change means going through the whole process again. But with chalkboards, you have a clean, black canvas where you can create different artwork and signs as often as you wish. You can turn a whole wall into a chalkboard, or use a framed chalkboard to draw the eyes of passers-by to your business.
Chalkboard art is perfect for bars and restaurants. You can set the right mood and at the same time drive sales by promoting your best-selling dishes. And the most appealing aspect of using chalkboards in your diner is that it's inexpensive and doesn’t require too much time or effort. You’ll never have to worry about pulling down and replacing your signage, because you can simply wipe off the words and designs on your chalkboard and replace them with something new using your handy liquid chalk markers.
What Kinds of Businesses Use Chalkboards?
Every entrepreneur knows that signage is one of the most important ways to drive sales. Signs are the most efficient way to let people know what you have to offer them. However, not all types of signage are created equal. Some are highly effective but come at too high a cost for a small business owner; others are affordable but unimpressive and unlikely to increase foot traffic through your door.
Chalkboards offer the best of both signage worlds. DIY chalkboard projects are budget-friendly because of their versatility. You can easily customize your advertising and create new logos and designs as often as you want with liquid chalk markers.
Here are some of the businesses that use chalkboards as a part of their marketing strategy, and the chalkboard DIY projects they created to help their business flourish.
Many diners use chalkboards to display their menus because it is so easy to announce daily specials and make other changes. The staff can simply wipe off the names of dishes no longer available and add the new dishes they wish to promote. It's also a fun and effective way to let customers know what you have to offer from the moment they walk in the door.
Diners and other food establishments also use chalkboards as storefront signage. Some display custom signs advertising their latest promo offer or a new dish their chefs have dreamed up. Others opt for an eye-catching sign that draws customers in with a humorous quote like "Hungry? I know I ham!" Pedestrians passing by will naturally want to poke their heads into the neighborhood restaurant with the amusing sign—and that's when the inviting aromas of your menu offerings can work their magic!
Many bars use chalkboards for storefront signage or "Welcome" displays just inside the door. They include details about Happy Hours, such as discounted beer prices. Again, a touch of humor is never a bad idea ("We can't beer it without you!"), as it is a great way to entice customers to check out your place.
Many bars also have chalkboard menus on the wall, making it easy to update drink offerings. Some are even more creative and use chalkboard trays—food trays covered with a chalkboard surface such as chalkboard contact paper or vinyl sheets. The trays allow the serving staff to display their “best sellers” right before customers' eyes as they deliver cocktails. It is an innovative and effective way to let your customers know what they simply must try from your menu.
In addition to storefront chalkboard signage, chalkboard trays, and chalkboard menus, coffee shops can make mornings more exciting by using chalkboard mugs and chalkboard coffee cups. Yes, you read that right, chalkboard mugs! Instead of just scribbling down names on to-go cups, baristas offer smiley faces, quotes and "Thank You" messages to customers on chalkboard cups and mugs. It makes customers feel more valued because that cup of Joe has been personalized, just for them.
And café owners love the fact that using washable chalkboard mugs is economical. The personalized messages encourage customers to linger, which means using fewer to-go cups. And of course chalkboard mugs can be redesigned using liquid chalk markers every time they come out of the dishwasher.
Some coffee shops also use chalkboard tabletop menus. A simple framed chalkboard placed on the table can remind customers that they can't leave without trying the cake of the day.
Benefits of Using Chalkboards
Chalkboards are cheap to make. Simply purchase chalkboard contact paper or vinyl sheets and packs of liquid chalk markers and you have everything you need! You can put up the sheets on the wall or frame them and you’ll have your own DIY chalkboard menu, ready to go.
You won't have to repurchase your signage every time you want to make a change. You can simply wipe off the existing design and create a new one using liquid chalk markers.
So many crafty possibilities exist with chalkboards. The ideas are unlimited! You can make chalkboard menus, trays, mugs, tabletop boards, hanging chalkboard displays and much more to help your business flourish. They are all budget-friendly and easy to make.
Whether you use chalkboard materials for your DIY projects or purchase ready-made chalkboards, they are durable and will last for years. Adhesive chalkboard sheets protect walls from the three "killer D's"—dust, dirt and damage. Just be sure that you pick the highest quality chalkboards and chalkboard materials to ensure durability.
Chalkboard materials are easy to use. DIY projects will be a breeze even if you aren't very artistic by nature. And since the materials are readily at hand and so versatile, you will constantly find new ways to use chalk art to advertise your business.
Any potential customer passing by your diner will be captivated by the artful appearance of even your simplest chalkboard. With all the similar printed signs, tarps and banners found almost everywhere, chalkboards will definitely stand out as a unique craft. They will never go unnoticed.
What Are the Best ChalkBoards and Chalkboard Materials to Use?
If you are planning to create a menu on the wall, then using chalkboard contact paper is an excellent option. It is similar to wallpaper, except that you won't get sick of it after a month! The sheets are super adhesive, but you can easily reposition them if you didn’t get it right on your first try.
Chalkboard contact paper can be cut to any desired size and shape, so it serves well as stickers. You can use it to cover trays, mugs and tables to turn them into chalkboards.
These sheets are thicker than contact paper and are perfect for indoor and outdoor use. They are made of high-quality materials and last for years. You can create banners, signs or a chalkboard wall calendar. They are sometimes also used on tabletops or as easy-to-label shelf liners in restaurants.
They are also highly durable—microwave, dishwasher, fridge and freezer safe.
If you don’t have the time to create your own chalkboard for menus and other displays, you can easily purchase a ready-made one. Here are some of the most commonly used ready-made chalkboard types, and some ideas on how you can use them to advertise your business.
- Kickstand Chalkboard - You can use this as a tabletop menu chalkboard. You can display your specials for the day and make it easier for customers to know what you have to offer.
- Hanging Chalkboard – This is typically used as a decoration in business establishments. Some business owners create a unique design or logo on the chalkboards and hang them in every corner of their diner or coffee shop. Some also use them as hanging menu boards. You can choose either framed or a frameless chalkboards.
- A-Frame Chalkboard – This is a great choice for storefront signage. It is highly durable and can last for years even outdoors. An A-Frame chalkboard sign is a must-have for any local business owner looking to raise their establishment's profile.
- Liquid Chalk Markers – most business chalkboard users prefer liquid chalk markers over traditional chalk. The benefits chalk markers offer include:
- They are nonpermanent and easy to erase. With liquid chalk markers, you can customize your chalkboard designs as often as you want. It only takes a wet cloth to remove previous markings and redesign your chalkboard.
- Liquid Chalk Markers are dustless. You will never have to worry about breathing in messy chalk dust or getting it all over your sleeve.
- They are perfect for creating designs. Liquid Chalk Markers create sharper lines than traditional chalk, making more complicated designs possible. They also produce brighter and smoother lines so your designs will have that professional look.
- Liquid Chalk Markers are the practical choice because of their versatility. You can write on all non-porous surfaces such as glass, plastic, metal platters and faux-wood. Decorating ideas have no limits with these amazing markers. Plus, you can take them anywhere and everywhere. They easily fit in your pocket without the dust stains that traditional chalk sticks leave behind.
With the endless possibilities offered by chalkboards, more and more business owners are getting in on this new form of advertising to help them grow their profits. Chalkboard advertising displays are affordable, easy to make, durable and allow you to create unique and customizable displays.
So what are you waiting for? Get those amazing chalkboards now and start raising your sales to the roof!
