The guy next door, your cousin Sal or even dear old Dad may mean well when they give you advice on running your business, but it’s not always a good idea to listen to them. Take fabric awnings, for instance. Awnings can do wonders for any type of business, but you don’t want to make any decisions based on someone else’s misconceptions.
We’ve heard some significantly bad advice about fabric awnings over the years. Some of it is just plain silly, and some of it is short-sighted, but it’s all wrong. Here are a few examples:
Fabric awnings look nice, but they aren’t worth the investment.
Even if the name of your business is Plain Jane, awnings can dress up your exterior. But awnings can do so much more than improve your outward appearance. They can:
- Identify your business, by displaying your name.
- Promote your business, by giving people an idea what you do or sell.
- Provide shade for your windows, to protect merchandise inside and reduce air conditioning costs.
- Shelter pedestrians from rain and snow.
- Create more usable space outdoors, for things like expanding seating for food and beverage service.
Fabric awnings are a poor choice for the New York area.
There’s no question that weather in and around New York City can be perverse – nasty cold and snowy in the winter, hot and humid in the summer. But that doesn’t mean fabric awnings aren’t right for your business. Today’s fabrics are amazingly resilient and durable. They’re specially-engineered synthetics created expressly for outdoor awnings.
So while there are certain circumstances in which all-metal canopies are preferable, fabric awnings offer a multitude of options that can withstand a broad spectrum of weather conditions and look good doing it for years.
Fabric awnings are a lot of work to maintain.
Modern awning fabrics aren’t just engineered for toughness, they’re designed to resist a long list of potential problems, including mold and mildew. A simple cleaning regimen will ensure grime, debris and moisture don’t accumulate, and those are the things that can cause fabric awnings to deteriorate or become stained. Periodic cleaning also ensures your fabric awnings look professional and inviting, too.
You don’t need to buy that expensive name-brand fabric.
Of course you want to get the best possible price. And for some things, the least expensive product works fine. But not so much with fabric awnings. So if someone says to you, “I know a discounter…” don’t pay any attention. Awnings are an important investment in your business success. The longer they last – trouble-free and looking good – the better the return on your investment.
With fabric awnings, you get what you pay for. Lesser quality fabric may cost less up front, but it will cost you more in the long run. And top quality fabrics come with quality warranties.
Retractable fabric awnings can be a hassle.
Perhaps when you were little you watched your Grandpa cranking his store’s awning open and closed every day. It looked like a lot of work. But those days are gone, because the hand crank is purely optional these days. Retractable fabric awnings can be operated with an electronic remote control. In fact you can get automatic controls that operate on a timer with pre-set scheduling, or controls that have sensors for rain or wind.
Custom-designed fabrics awnings are really expensive.
They are not. One of the many advantages of fabric awnings is that you can design them to be the size, shape and style you want, so they reflect your business and no one else’s. Awnings give your place a unique look, and they show off your personality. They can be surprisingly budget-friendly.
How do you know if the advice you’re hearing about fabric awnings is valid? That’s easy. Just give a call to your local full-service awning company.
