There are so many commercial awning options available now, you can not only keep your customers cool this summer, you can attract more of them with your awning’s great looks. Awning options can easily be customized to match your branding and marketing needs as well as your desire to provide a comfortable outdoor experience for patrons.
Think outside the box.
Awning options don’t have to be rectangular, although that traditional shape lends itself well to so many applications. Instead, you can keep your customers cool this summer with a cool trendy shape. Tension membranes, or shade sails, can be any unusual geometric configuration you want. You can combine several to create a fan shape or a series of different shapes, depending on what you’re using them for.
Shade sails can give your place an ultra-cool look at night, if you light them from below. Try pastel colored lights, if your fabric is a light color. No matter what awning options you choose, you can create a “dining under the stars” effect by stringing little twinkle light underneath.
Or think curves when you think about awning options. Make your tension membrane round or oval, rather than a straight-sided geometric. Or add a scalloped edge to your awning’s valance, to give your entire awning a fresh new look. A custom-designed frame gives you even more awning options, so perhaps you’d like a wavy effect, rather than a flat surface.
Keep your customers cool in a room of their own by creating a gazebo-style shade structure. You’re not stuck with the time-honored Victorian octagon that usually comes to mind. You can design a contemporary, sophisticated structure that’s ideal for white-tablecloth outdoor dining as well as afternoon high tea. Or use a pergola as the primary structure for a more informal “landscaped” appearance.
Details allow you to customize awning options even more. Try retractable Roman shades to create a more textured effect. Or use clear or translucent awning coverings that let maximum light shine through. You can also add clear sliding side panels or curtains that protect patrons so they’re not only cool but unfazed by insects or a breeze that’s just a bit too much to feel comfortable.
Don’t forget the umbrellas.
Umbrellas are festive and inviting, whether you have room for just one or lots of them. They’re perennial favorites for poolside or streetside, perfect for your courtyard or patio. And they offer superb branding and promotional opportunities.
Enhance your awning options with cool new window blinds.
Roller blinds are all the rage again. Not the boring kind your grandmother had, but amazing new ones that do more than block sunlight and heat. New shades can do that, of course, and that makes them a great choice for keeping customers cool when they’re shopping or dining or visiting your office indoors.
Better yet, these high-tech new blinds allow natural light to filter through yet provide privacy for those inside. And you can print them to match your awnings or display promotional messages. Sell iced drinks or frozen yogurt? Roll down your shades in the hottest part of the day to reveal a glistening-cold glass or cone and a message that says “come in now and save 20%.” You get the idea.
It’s not just your customers who’ll be cooler with new awning options. Shading your windows protects outdoor and indoor furniture and merchandise from damaging ultraviolet light, and it can help you cut your air conditioning costs. That can add up to substantial savings, and that’s pretty cool.
It’s going to get hot, and customers go where they feel most comfortable. Call your awning pro now to talk over your awning options, and you’ll be ready to draw in more customers and keep them cool all summer long.
Thank you for reading our blog! If you would like more information about how Capitol Awning Products can help your business, check out our other Capitol Awning blogs .
Photocredit: Marie Coleman via Flickr