Advertising banners are a must-have for trade shows as well as window displays and outdoor advertising for special events. Good quality vinyl banners should last for years, and you can get the best use out of the investment you make in banners and signs with the right equipment and supplies.

Supplies for banner signs include equipment for transporting signs and setting up a banner display in any location. Which supplies you need to display a banner in a particular location depend largely on whether you plan on using a hanging or a free standing banner.

When shopping for supplies for banner signs, consider the following options:

1. Get stands designed for installation in the ground or on a table top a standing banner display.

2. Use grommets for hanging vinyl banners and signs.

3. Buy a carrying case for traveling with your banners and their stands.

Action Steps
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Get easy to assemble supplies for stand up banners and signs

Use a retractable stand for your custom banners and signs to display them with ease. Retractable stands are easy to store, transport and assemble quickly on site. Retractable displays also come in a variety of sizes for floor displays and table top displays.

I recommend: Creative Banner Assemblies sells retracting displays for setting up full- size banners on the floor. Post-Up Stand, in addition to full-size retracting banner display options, also sells table top retracting displays for smaller banners and posters.

Use grommets and tabs for hanging vinyl banners

Most vinyl banners should have the option of getting grommets installed when you buy if you get them custom printed. However, if you have a vinyl banner that does not have grommets, grommets can be easily installed either directly to the banner or using adhesive grommet tabs. Once the grommets are installed, rope or string can be used for hanging.

I recommend: Sign Stop offers several package options for grommets and other hanging and adhesive supplies you can order online. Kapco Graphic Products also sells Banner Ups grommet tabs and seam reinforcing tape for easy use with vinyl banners.

Keep your banner signs safe with carrying cases for banners and stands

Keep your banner design safe from damage when you travel by using a soft or hard carrying case. Many banner printing companies offer a carrying case when you buy a custom printed banner, but if your banner does not have a carrying case or if you need more room for a stand or other supplies, several options are available.

I recommend: Use the soft carrying case sold by 4imprint if you just need a basic storage case with shoulder strap. If you need a more protective case and want to carry other supplies in addition to the banner, Benchmark Imaging sells a hard carrying case for multi-purpose storage and travel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When using custom banner printing services, check with your printing company for any special supplies needed for banner displays. Some new designs for banner signs, such as signs that hang from the ceiling or flag-type signs, require specific stands or hanging supplies that may or may not come with the banner when you buy.

Hang a banner, hang a shingle, but don't open your doors without a sign. It's your absolute minimum form of advertising and can be one of your maximum draws of traffic. Shop around because there's wide variation in what you'll find for pricing, quality of graphics, durability of materials, speed of delivery and size options. And you'll want to consider both indoor and outdoor signs.

Here are some steps to guide you in deciding which type of sign is right for your business.

1. Banners are flexible and inexpensive, but many sign production services companies also offer dimensional letters, exhibit and display signage, point-of-purchase signs, illuminated signs, vinyl lettering, decals, and signage for vehicles
2. Most signage companies can work with your own logos and graphics while some offer complete design services as well.
3. Because signage can give customers a first impression of your business, you'll want to err on the side of quality.

To get started, your primary decision is to order online or use a local sign shop.

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Order locally

Local signage shops and services give you face-to-face ordering and service, but they might not offer the best price.

I recommend: Check out the Retail Sign Shop Network, FedEx Kinko's, FASTSIGNS.

Order online

What you don't get in face-to-face service can sometimes be mitigated by handy Web-based forms, design-your-own online options, less expensive pricing, and fast delivery.

I recommend: There are dozens of online stores – here are some that offer a good mix of services, price, and quality: Banner-Source.com, Bull Charge Banners, Creative Outdoor Advertising's OnlineSignShop.com, SignBanners.com, Display Signs & Design, SignOutfitters.com, and Sugar House Banners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't skimp on the proofing process. If you use an online form, you want to proof your design before it goes into production; otherwise, if you mistype your business name, you might find it in huge lettering at your doorstep soon.
• •  Vinyl banner signs are not always seamless, so you'll want to choose a seam design based on your durability needs. For instance, banner tape is the least durable, while chemical and heat welding, as well as double-lock stitching, are most durable.
• •  Before you order, make sure you understand your local signage laws and permit requirements.

Banners and signs are an excellent business tool for trade shows, window displays and street advertising, but buying can be a challenge because of how much the pricing and costs of banner signs vary. Custom banners can be printed on a variety of materials using just one color or a full color spectrum, and both materials and color spread influence the pricing of banners and signs; the more colors used, the more expensive the sign. You can often find pre-made banners for less than custom banners with the same color spread

There are three main product types to consider when determining the pricing and costs of banner signs. Vinyl banners and screen printed banners are the two main types of outdoor banner display, and are similarly priced for the number of ink colors used. Full color digital printing is another option, if you're willing to pay a higher rate for a higher quality image.

When shopping around for banner printing, consider the following printing options:

1. Cut costs with long-lasting signs using custom or pre-made vinyl banners.

2. Choose banner screen printing and get a great product at a low rate.

3. Investigate digital printing for top-of-the line advertising banners.

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Opt for vinyl advertisitng banners for fast, durable results

If you plan to save money by using and re-using advertising banners both indoors and outdoors, vinyl banners are a good choice. Vinyl banners are durable and weatherproof, so they will last for years. Many sign companies offer quick turnaround on customized one- or two-color vinyl banners, which are lower cost than full color banners.

I recommend: OCsigns.com offers custom vinyl banner project pricing online, with lettering starting at just over $60 for one color. BannersOntime sells custom banners as well as a wide range of pre-made vinyl banners, such as Sale and Now Hiring advertisements, which range from $40 to $120, depending on size and number of colors.

Get good results on a budget from screen printed banners and signs

Screen printing allows you to print a custom design over and over and can accommodate a variety of color options, depending on your budget and desired result. Screen printing is done on a fabric material rather than on vinyl, so screen-printed signs may require replacement sooner than vinyl, resulting in an added cost.

I recommend: Alphabet Signs sells screen printed banners for as low as $12 to $16 for the 24 by 60-inch size--depending on the number of colors used--or from about $70 to approximately $90 for the largest size, 48 by 120 inches. Project Graphics sells post banners using pre-made designs, priced from just under $50 to just below $100 each, with an additional fee of about $20 per banner for customization.

Use digital printing for top quality images on your advertising banners

Advertising banners with high quality digital images really stand out. Full image printing is the most expensive type of banner printing, but may be worth it if you really want to convey a high quality digital image. Many of the newer, more expensive banner set-up packages involve full color screen printing of photographic images as well. You can also use a kit to print your own digital image banner, which will have durability trade offs, but can save you money.

I recommend: Chicago Printing Center offers many options for digital printing. You can choose the type of material and get printing priced per square foot, from about $1.00 to just shy of $5.00, depending on the banner size. For printing your own digital image, Blue Squirrel sells a digital banner printing kit for about $60.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take durability into account when determining banner costs. Remember that vinyl banners stand up better to outdoor conditions, so if you're planning to use a banner repeatedly and plan to travel with the banner frequently, a less durable material can wear out quickly and add replacement or repair to your printing cost.
• •  Remember accessories like stands, carrying cases or hanging materials when calculating costs for banners and signs. Some banner set-ups may come with a frame or stand, so make sure you know what's included when you order.

If you are a business owner in need of banner signs to advertise your business, then your first job is to decide on the objective of your project. The banner sign printing process is very complex, and there are factors to consider, from pre-press through finishing.

In order achieve the best result from your project, you need to set up your files the right way, choose the appropriate materials and finish your banners according to their end use. To accomplish these tasks successfully, it is necessary for you to understand banner signs key terms.

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Prepress

This refers to how you set up your banner sign artwork to make it ready for printing. Prepress steps include providing the design in the required file format and picking from various proof options.

I recommend: Promotion Xpress provides a FAQ section that responds to queries regarding the prepress stage of printing banner signs.

Full color vs. spot colors

Full color images require the mix of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) to produce color. Spot color, in contrast, is the use of one, exact color. Full or process color is used for full color images, such as photographs, whereas the latter is used for images less than four colors. Spot color is also used in addition to process color, if a logo calls for exact colors that process color cannot match.

I recommend: InkD Spot describes the benefits of full color printing.

Vinyl, canvas and bioflex

Three common banner materials. There are a variety vinyl types available; bioflex is a material that looks a lot like vinyl but is fully biodegradable; and canvas offers a natural appearance that holds up outdoors.

I recommend: Sharper Imaging features a listing of banner material options and includes their features, benefits and ideal uses.

Digital Printing

Digital printing is the ideal method for printing banners. It is also the most popular printing method for banners.

I recommend: Banner-Printer.com offers information on various types of banner printing methods.

Bleeds

Refers to a design element where the ink falls off the edge of the printed piece. To get ink to print on the very edge of the banner, images are actually printed beyond the edge and then trimmed.

I recommend: Creative Latitude offers an extensive explanation on what bleed is and why it is a significant design technique.

Finishing

Finishing is the stage following the printing process during which the banner is prepped for use. For example, adding grommets and pole pockets are just a couple of finishing options.

I recommend: Jakprints features a section on various finishing options, and includes helpful images and a brief explanation on the associated benefits of each.