Store Aisle Signs & Markers

Solutions for all merchandising communication signage

Aisle directories (aka aisle markers) are informational signage that directs customers to find products throughout the store quickly and efficiently.  These signs are ideal for supermarkets, drug stores, hardware, convenience, wine & spirits or other retail stores.  The aisle directory is the first place shoppers look within a department to locate their desired products.  

CIP Retail designs aisle directories customized for a wide range of retail clients.  Our custom-designed aisle directories can vary from the most basic to advanced or complex designs to meet any budget and support your brand’s in-store image.  We start with understanding the store’s fixture plan, ceiling heights, and traffic flow.  We design the right size and scale to fit the aisle width and ceiling height.  For shorter aisles, one hanging double-sided aisle directory will often suffice.  But for longer aisles, you should consider having two aisle directories – one at each end or entrance into the aisle.  In either scenario, it is important to consider sight lines and to design a large enough font size and style for legibility.  Lastly, we always design an appropriate numbering system that is easily identifiable and logical based on the typical customer’s traffic flow.  

Besides aisle directories, there are numerous other styles of store aisle signage that serve as navigational signage in quickly and efficiently locating merchandise throughout the retail space.  Below are some examples of the various custom solutions CIP Retail provides:

 

Hanging Double-Sided Aisle Directories

This is by far the most often used style of identifying products down the aisle of a conventional supermarket design.  These hanging double-sided signs typically indicate the aisle number and numerous product panels on both sides.  Each is typically hung down the center of the aisle from either the grid ceiling or open bar joist ceiling above. 

 

Hanging Triangular Aisle Directories

This often used style of identifying products down each aisle is suitable for a number of store layouts and traffic flow.  Often, it is a matter of preference for the retailer.  Design professionals and store owners alike are aware aisle directories are some of the most visible real estate within the store environment and may prefer one style over another for customer communication signage.

 

Gondola-Mounted Aisle Directories

Instead of hanging aisle directories down the center of the aisle, another unique way to identify the product offerings within the department is to utilize gondola-mounted aisle directories.  These consist of an often metal bracket that is mounted to the spine of the gondola and various product panels hang from the arms identifying the products on each side of the gondola shelving.  This is a popular style within grocery store signage, drug stores, farmers markets, or any type of retail location that has the challenge of identifying and organizing an often overwhelming number of SKUs for the customer.  By keeping the organization at eye level, it helps the customer to quickly and efficiently locate unique and rather specific product offerings.  

 

Gondola-Mounted Commodity Signs

Large supermarkets have started to use these signs as a supplement to their overhead hanging aisle directories.  The hanging aisle directories give information at the entrance to each aisle about what product is located down that aisle; however, once the customer enters the aisle, these gondola-mounted commodity signs help the customer locate those individual items more quickly.

 

Aisle Invaders or Aisle Blade Signs

These are often shelf-mounted blade signs that intentionally invade the aisle just enough to grab the attention of the shopper looking down the aisle so that he or she can locate specific products.  Special hardware is designed to take thousands of impacts and let the sign bounce back into position.

 

Casetop Commodity Brackets or Outrigger Signs

Often referred to as “L-brackets”, these signs are often mounted to the top of refrigerated cases to identify the merchandising below.  These brackets are often used for frozen, dairy or meat cases to extend out a double-sided commodity plaque.