Welcome to the wonderful world of custom floor graphics. Floor graphics are a unique and effective way to enhance your brand visibility and engage with your audience. We have been assisting big brands with making powerful floor graphics for over 40 years, but there are some nuances to putting printed media on the floor. Let’s break it down.
1. What Are Floor Graphics?
Floor graphics are a specialized form of printed media that are meant to be stepped on. They are most commonly used to direct foot traffic, promote products or services, convey safety messages, provide instructional information, or simply enhance the visual appeal of a space. They are designed to withstand heavy foot traffic and resist damage from spills, dirt, and other environmental factors.
2. Advantages Of Floor Graphics
Advantage 1: Increase in consumer retention rate
Apart from looking cool, a study by 3M found that floor graphics have a 5% higher retention rate than other types of advertising, such as aisle violators or standoffs.
Advantage 2: Added engagement
According to a study conducted by the Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), 70% of buying decisions are made in-store, and 30% of shoppers are more likely to purchase a product when it is advertised with floor graphics.
Advantage 3: Proven to reduce accidents
A study done by the UK government found that floor graphics can reduce the risk of accidents up to 90%. This study even helped the University of Warwick implement floor graphics to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases in hospitals by reminding staff and visitors to follow proper hand hygiene practices.
Advantage 4: Differentiation from the competition
The majority of print media is not found on the floor. This inherently creates an opportunity for dramatic distinction from the competition, regardless of the market saturation.
3. Types of Floor Graphics
Since there are new, innovative substrates developed every day, we categorize our floor graphics by purpose. Generally speaking, there are 4 distinct categories based on the purpose: promotional floor graphics, safety floor graphics, wayfinding and informational floor graphics, branding and decor floor graphics, or some combination of these
Promotional Floor Graphics
These are the most common floor graphics. Promotional floor graphics are printed onto vinyl or other durable materials and placed on the floors of commercial or public spaces to advertise a product, service, event or brand.
Safety Floor Graphics
Instead of promoting a product to increase sales, these graphics are designed to increase the safety of the environment. They can be printed on anti-slip materials or other durable materials, and placed on the floors of industrial or commercial spaces, even vehicles, to enhance awareness of potential dangers.
Wayfinding & Information Floor Graphics
Wayfinding floor graphics are visual cues, usually in the form of markings or signage, placed on floors to guide people through a particular space. In addition to improving user experience, these graphics can also be used to highlight important information or messages, such as social distancing reminders, safety instructions, or promotional offers.
Branding & Decor Floor Graphics
Want to promote your brand or elevate an environment? Decor floor graphics are decorative graphics applied to floors in commercial or residential settings to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the space.
Hybrid Floor Graphics
Hybrid floor graphics are a combination of different kinds of floor graphics. You don’t have to be stuck using one or the other type of floor graphic. For example in the picture below the client used wayfinding signage to also enhance their brand experience.
4. Applications / Examples
Due to Modernistic’s comprehensive all-in-house manufacturing capabilities, we are well positioned to print a wide variety of products – including floor graphics! Typical settings include retail stores, airports, grocery stores, gas stations, hospitals, schools, sports facilities, and vehicles.
Indoor Floor Graphics
These can be long-term or short-term, but the sole purpose is that they are meant for indoor spaces. Indoor floor graphics tend to be more cost-effective because they do not need extra print finishes, extreme adhesives, or special materials to hold up against the weather.
Outdoor Floor Graphics
Outdoor floor graphics can stand up to demanding use and environments. These are far more durable than indoor floor graphics but require more expensive substrates to handle outdoor challenges.
Short-Term Floor Graphics
Short-term floor graphics are meant to be removed within a couple of months and are typically cost-effective.
Long-Term Floor Graphics
Floor graphics won’t last forever but there are methods and materials utilized to provide a longer life.
Vehicle Floor Graphics
Vehicle floor graphics are often printed on an anti-slip material which helps the operator keep their balance.
Anti-Slip Graphics
Custom anti-slip graphics are an effective prevention aid in the dangerous world of slips and falls. These can be tailored for any size, shape, durability, or color (even luminescent and transparent) Learn more here.
Stair Graphics
Stair floor graphics are printed graphics that are applied onto the treads (horizontal part) or risers (vertical part) of a staircase to create an eye-catching and unique look. These are becoming increasingly popular, as they are hard to miss during the shopping experience, fairly cost-effective, and are typically free promotional real estate.
Display + Floor Graphics
Incorporating floor graphics into your promotional display can be a powerful way to enhance its impact and engage customers in a unique and memorable way.
Interactive Floor Graphics
Want more customer engagement? Give them a tactile objective within a floor graphic. In the example below, a remote is underneath a floor decal that triggers a display model.
3D Floor Graphics
While not actually 3 dimensional, 3D floor graphics give the illusion through effective angles in the design phase. Just another trick up our sleeve to capture the attention of a customer.
Standard Floor Decals
Standard floor decals are extremely versatile and effective. They get the job done and the only limitation is the imagination.
Custom Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats
Custom anti-fatigue mats are specialized printed floor mats (no adhesive) designed to reduce fatigue and discomfort for people who stand for extended periods of time (while also promoting your brand or product).
Custom Floor Mats
Custom printed floor mats are non-adhesive backed floor graphics. Typically printed on rubber or nylon these can be used for a variety of purposes, including promoting a brand or product, providing directional information, displaying safety warnings, and adding decorative accents to a space.
5. Facts
- In a study conducted by Sign Research Foundation, researchers found that floor graphics can increase brand awareness by up to 64%.
- According to a study by 3M, 96% of respondents said that floor graphics were more eye-catching than other types of advertising.
- In a study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of California, researchers found that people are more likely to pay attention to floor graphics than other types of advertising, such as posters or banners.
- A study by the University of San Diego found that floor graphics can increase sales by up to 20% in retail stores.
- According to a study by Nielsen, 72% of shoppers said that they noticed floor graphics, and 80% said that they found them helpful in making purchasing decisions.
- In a survey conducted by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, 82% of respondents said that they have entered a store or business because of an outdoor sign or graphic, including floor graphics.
Grow your company’s revenue while personally enhancing your career! Floor graphics are awesome, but they take more than good artwork or a well-structured design to entice a consumer to buy a product. It’s a balanced recipe of great design, affordable manufacturing cost, clever placement, and judicious use of resources. Stay tuned for next month’s knowledge drop to learn more!
On the other hand, if you can’t wait or want to cure your floor graphic issues RIGHT NOW – click here, and we’ll talk today!