Plan the customer's journey before choosing your posters. Someone passing the window needs a reason to stop; someone entering needs to understand the offer; someone at the till needs the relevant conditions. Giving each position one job makes a small set of printed posters more useful than repeating every detail everywhere.
What signage does a shop actually need for Black Friday?
Start with a window poster carrying your main offer, an entrance poster confirming which products or departments it applies to, and a smaller notice near the till for details customers need when paying. This is a placement plan, not a compulsory bundle: a compact shop may need just a window poster and a counter notice.
Walk your shop from the pavement to the checkout. Note where customers pause and where fixtures block the view. Choose those positions first, then count the posters needed. For promotions beyond Black Friday, explore our Business prints.
Window posters: attract attention from outside
Use the window for the shortest version of the offer: Black Friday, the saving and the relevant range. A percentage-off poster should make clear whether the saving applies to everything, selected items or an 'up to' offer. Do not make a headline promise that the small print later contradicts.
Keep the main message away from window frames, reflections and crowded displays. Check it from across the pavement and from both directions of approach. If passers-by cannot identify the offer without stopping, simplify the wording before ordering a larger print.
Entrance posters: confirm the offer immediately
Once a customer steps inside, confirm the promotion and point them towards the right shelves or department. Keep the same offer wording as the window. Add dates or exclusions here if they help someone decide where to browse.
Place the poster where an open door or queue will not hide it. Avoid covering glazing needed for safe visibility, and do not let a display obstruct access. An entrance poster should reassure, not introduce a different deal.
Till and counter signage: reinforce the deal
A small notice works where customers are close enough to read the details. Use it for the offer end date, qualifying products or how a multibuy works. Keep these details consistent with what staff are explaining and what the till actually charges.
A5 or A4 can suit a counter holder or a nearby wall; check the holder's dimensions and orientation. A printed poster is not automatically a freestanding counter card, so arrange a suitable holder if it needs to stand upright. Keep payment equipment and the customer's view of the price clear.
Which poster size should you use?
A5 (148 × 210 mm) suits close-up till notices and small countertop holders. A4 (210 × 297 mm) gives short offer details more room on doors, counters or smaller displays. Neither is a good substitute for a street-facing headline when people are several paces away.
A3 (297 × 420 mm) is a useful starting point for a modest shop window or an in-store promotional wall. A2 (420 × 594 mm) makes sense when the window is wider or the main message needs to be noticed from farther away. A1 (594 × 841 mm) suits larger windows with enough clear space around the print.
Size alone does not guarantee readability: text size, contrast, glass reflections and viewing angle all matter. Measure the usable display area and mark the proposed outline with removable tape. Use the Poster Size Guide to compare dimensions before choosing.
Keep the message readable
Give the offer the strongest visual emphasis, followed by the product range and then essential conditions. Avoid several competing headlines. A short '20% off selected coats' message is easier to understand than a paragraph of promotional language; use only a saving that your business genuinely offers.
Choose clear letterforms and strong contrast. Do not place the main saving over a busy photograph or squeeze exclusions into an unreadable strip. Print a small draft to check spelling, then inspect the layout at its intended size and viewing distance. A screen preview cannot reproduce every reflection or lighting condition in your window.
Ready-made vs personalised vs upload your own
Ready-made posters suit a straightforward promotion when the wording already matches your offer. Read the design carefully before ordering: a fixed percentage or date needs to be correct for your shop. Personalised designs are useful when you need your own business wording; check the product page for the fields that particular design supports.
Upload your own artwork when the layout, branding or offer needs to be completely yours. Export the finished design rather than sending a screenshot. Keep the original file so you can correct a date or change the size without rebuilding it. You can Print your own Black Friday artwork once the design is ready.
What about cafés, salons and pop-up events?
The same outside–entrance–counter sequence can work for other customer-facing businesses. Keep the offer specific: a treatment, a named product or an event date rather than a vague storewide promise. A pop-up may need fewer posters, but still needs clear dates and a display that can be secured safely.
Checklist before sending artwork to print
Confirm the saving, eligible items, dates, exclusions and any business name with the person responsible for the promotion. Check spelling and make sure every poster gives the same terms. Remove draft notes and placeholder text.
Check the chosen A-size and orientation, the final crop and the space around important wording. Export in an accepted file format and check the actual pixel dimensions: changing a DPI label does not add detail. The Poster DPI Calculator helps assess resolution at your chosen print size, while Artwork Help covers file preparation.
Count copies by display position, including any separate branches, and check the production and delivery information before ordering. Prepare before the rush rather than relying on a last-minute arrival. If your promotion has a firm deadline, ask the studio about the requirements before committing; delivery estimates are not guarantees.
Choose the posters for your shop
With the offer agreed and the display positions measured, Shop Black Friday sale posters. Compare the live designs and use the product page to confirm sizes, prices and any supported personalisation. The commercial range is the place to order; this guide is your checklist for choosing what your shop actually needs.