Washroom Advertising: Capitalizing on a Captive Audience

If you own a restaurant or business with multiple washrooms, have you considered advertising as an additional revenue stream?

Several businesses already feature marquee boards on the back of washroom doors.  Advertisers then pay to promote an event such as a concert, or support activities such as Kids Help Phone.  Chances are, if you are in a stall with an advertisement, you read the ad.  Unless you are in a washroom with interesting graffiti, there is not much else to stare at.

Many businesses will also post flyers in the bathroom but the look is often unattractive and the flyer easily damaged.  Another washroom option is the Marquee sign.


But marquee signs are permanent and posters may look ugly...

Yes.  Advertising signs are often fixed permanently to the door.  The poster can be changed, but the frame remains.

 

 Marquee signs provide the benefit of protection for posters and easy changes at the end of advertising campaigns.

QR codes

QR codes are everywhere so lets take advantage of them.  QR codes are a small square shape.  They are usually black but other colours have been known to work. QR codes could be the only object on a poster or, used in conjunction with another image. And, they can be made to go on removable material!

 QR codes can be scanned by your smartphone. The code then brings you to a selection of targeted information such as a website or contact information.  As gross as it may be, studies have shown a large number of people to use their smartphones in the bathroom!!

Removable stickers

The best choice for a bathroom door would be a vinyl sticker.  It is a little harder to remove and may damage paint.  But, the look is clean and there are no glaring pictures taking away from general bathroom ambiance (yes I like a fancy Moxie's style bathroom).

Another option is removable adhesive wall stickers.  These stickers can simply be peeled off the wall when the campaign is over or to be saved for another day.  In addition, removable wall stickers can be used around sinks, on outside of stalls, and on bathroom walls.

In all, the back of your bathroom door can be used to obtain additional revenue or share news about events or issues.  Restaurants may wish to feature specials or upcoming events.  Casinos could advertise upcoming concerts or gambling assistance programs.  Another option is to promote organizations such as MADD or Canadian Designated Driver.

Put your washroom to work!

Choosing a Retail Wall System Part 1: Slatwall

When setting up your retail store, you need to consider your wall system options.  Your needs will be based not only on look, but also on functionality and type of product carried.

This post will look at MDF slatwall (aka slot wall or slat wall).

Slatwall

Slatwall (or slot wall) is traditionally found in many retail stores.  The product is made from MDF board (pressed fibre board) and is often finished with paint or laminate.
Many companies now offer metallic finishes or textured finished to represent metal, brick or other fancy patterns.

Slatwall often comes in a 4' x 8' sheet and holds approximately 10 - 15 pounds per square foot, on the centre of the sheet.  As you move towards the edges of the sheet, the weight load decreases as more pressure is put on the slat.  Each sheet weighs about 75 pounds.

You can strengthen standard slatwall with aluminum inserts that can be inserted at manufacture or after purchase.

Slatwall works best for light weight items.  If clothes or shelves are too heavily loaded, slats may break.  This results in broken, unattractive slatwall than can only be repaired by replacing the entire sheet.

A wide range of hooks, baskets, shelves and other accessories are available for this product.

Slatwall is just one of the many options for wall systems and the first of a series of posts.  We will explore grid wall and slat grid next.