Did you know that the Roman Coliseum had awnings that protected spectators from the hot sun while they enjoyed the “festivities” that took place within the arena? You might say those were the first commercial awnings, since the promise of a shady seat undoubtedly assured greater attendance.
These early commercial awnings were purely practical, with little thought given to how they looked, as long as they served their purpose. Early commercial awnings were made of readily available materials of the day – wooden poles with a length of fabric stretched across them.
And that’s how they continued to look for centuries.
Style and steel enter the picture.
As towns and cities developed and distinct business districts formed, merchants started using commercial awnings to decorate and differentiate their businesses as well as to protect their delicate merchandise from the sun. They painted their business name on their awnings. Eventually, the more adventurous merchants switched to striped canvas, adding a jaunty air as well as more color to attract customers.
Steel came into play as a framing material, enabling an entirely new range of options for commercial awnings. Awnings could now be mounted directly onto the façade of a building, without the need for support posts. They could be left in place all year long, providing a permanent addition to the business.
And the retractable awning was born. That added a huge convenience factor, because commercial awnings could be cranked open or refolded as needed rather than the business owner having to build and then dismantle the entire awning for seasonal use.
And then several decades passed without many significant changes to commercial awnings.
Emerging technologies have radically increased the pace of change.
Since World War II, technology innovations have emerged at an astounding rate, bringing significant changes to commercial awnings as well as to every other aspect of our lives.
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The advent of aluminum as a new building material meant framing structures for commercial awnings could be much lighter weight, yet still strong and durable enough to withstand year-round weather. Aluminum offered new opportunities to shape framing, and aluminum needed less ongoing maintenance than steel. It’s still the most popular framing material today.
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Synthetic fabrics began to replace time-honored cotton canvas for covering commercial awnings, offering a greater range of color and design options as well as increased weather and wear resistance. The latest fabrics are scientifically formulated to meet a wide array of specialized performance needs, too.
They can virtually eliminate the sun’s harmful UV rays, protecting people, furnishings and merchandise. They can be flame-retardant. They are far more resistant to mold, mildew and stains than old-time canvas. They last longer, without stretching, sagging, fading or rotting.
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Digital printing enables you to put any graphic image literally anywhere on your awning. You can add your name and logo or a show-stopping larger-than-life image of your products. No matter how intricate or detailed, your graphics will look crisp and true to color.
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Commercial awnings now include styles from the traditional cantilever to domes and arches. Awnings can be free-standing tents, free-form tension membranes or latticed wooden pergolas.
The more things have changed, the more versatile commercial awnings have become.
They are now an indispensable business tool, for a variety of practical and promotional reasons. Awnings can benefit every type and size of business, in any industry, by:
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Upgrading exterior appearance.
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Identifying the business and making it easier to find.
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Promoting the business brand and products or services every day, around the clock.
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Converting outdoor areas to revenue-generating sales or dining space.
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Protecting pedestrians or outdoor diners from sun, wind, rain or snow.
Commercial awnings are always in style, a business essential because they are both enduring and reflective of the latest design trends and innovations. They change with the times, and yet they are ageless.
