The humble A frame sign is a staple for any business that relies on foot traffic. It is used everywhere by every business from restaurants, salons, clothing stores, services and all types of retail stores. There are also a huge variety of A frame sign types available like metal, PVC, wood and more. No matter what you want your customers to know, you can convey the message effectively using A frame signs placed at high traffic sidewalks and areas. Vancouver Trade Show Supply carries them in a variety of sizes and styles to suit any purpose and budget! Other outdoor advertising options include our feather flags and trade show tents.
The classic metal frame A frame sign is our best seller. This is a timeless, durable and cost effective option. It comes in a variety of sizes and each has a handle for easy carrying. The frame is powder coated steel or aluminum, so it is suitable for any type of weather. Additionally it folds nicely for transportation and storage. The inserts are coroplast with a layer of printed vinyl graphics, with lamination highly recommended. The inserts are easy to replace as well, so if you are only looking for the inserts we can provide them. Commonly available sizes are:
The PVC A frame sign is a great alternative to our regular metal A frame for the customer who appreciates the higher quality and premium look that the PVC A frame provides. It is made with two PVC boards with plastic edge trim with either a 12″ or 16″ handle installed. For the graphics, printed and laminated vinyl film is applied to the surface. Thus the graphics are not easily replaced. The existing graphics must be removed or a new layer of graphics must be placed on top of the previous layer. There are ways to make it easier, like having a Velcro attachment system that will make it easier to replace the graphics. This doesn’t look at nice as permanent graphics. There is a detailed comparison between our metal A frames and our PVC A frames at the end of the page. Commonly available sizes are:
The wood chalk A frame sign is a great, natural wood sign. It is double sided, with wood frame and legs. This is a great chance to show off your artistic abilities to your customers! You can use both chalk and dry erase markers on these chalk boards. They’re really great for restaurants and cafes that have rotating specials. Better brush up on your handwriting skills! This product can be used indoors and outdoors under cover. Please note that this is a natural wood product and thus colour and finish are variable. (Always test erasable markers on an inconspicuous area prior to decorating chalkboard.) These are typically around 23″ x 36″. Please contact us for availability before you order.
The advantage of the wind resistant A frame sign is that it takes a beating and keeps on ticking. The bottom of the sign frame is attached to the base with two spring legs, which will bounce back of something hits it, although that’s not an invitation! It is good for mild to moderate windy conditions. This is due to the fact that the base is hollow and can be filled with water to weigh it down. The base also has wheels so that you can roll it from place to place. The frame is a snap frame, which makes it easy to replace the graphics. However, it is not recommended to use this in excessive weather. Commonly available sizes are:
The Signicade sandwhich board is made by Plasticade. It’s North America’s most popular A frame. The Signicade comes in a variety of colours, though sometimes they are harder to get than the white and black versions. Similar to other A frames, it holds two signs in the display area. The sign boards can be changed but will require simple tools. The frames themselves are hollow plastic which can actually be filled with water or sand to weigh down the sign, though few people use that option in practice. A better option is the Signicade Deluxe, which has patented quick change tabs that you can easily slide sign boards in and out of. Commonly available sizes are:
You’ve probably seen the snap frame posters. This A frame basically the same thing but on a much larger scale. It’s convenient and easy to remove the graphics, which can be printed on poster paper. A nice benefit is that it’s double sided and comes with anti-glare PVC films that you put over the artwork to protect it from the elements. We recommend to use this A frame sign indoors or outdoors under cover. It is not suited to rainy weather, unlike our metal and plastic A frames. Frame Size: 24½”W x 34½”H
View Size: 22″W x 32″H.
Ready to get started with creating your A Frame sign? If you see something you like contact us and we’ll be happy to help!
Q: What are some of the differences between a Metal A Frame and a PVC A Frame?
A: So there are two main options when it comes to choosing an A Frame sign: Metal frame for PVC board. The advantages of choosing a metal A Frame is that it has replaceable sign panels that can be easily switched out if you decide to change your advertising or if they get damaged. They are also cheaper than PVC A Frames. The advantages of choosing a PVC A Frame is that it has it is better looking and cleaner, since it does not have the metal frame around the graphics. It is also harder to damage than a metal A Frame. At larger sizes, it can also be heavier than a similarly sized metal A Frame, making it withstand wind better. In general, we’d recommend metal A Frames for the budget conscious business or if your advertising changes frequently. We would recommend PVC A Frames where the environment is more windy than usual and where you don’t need to change the artwork often. If you would like to do handwriting on your A Frame sign frequently, we would also recommend the PVC A Frame with chalk or dry erase film applied. Here’s another detailed comparison of A-frame signs.
Q: What are some good information to put on an A Frame sign?
A: Some good information to put on an A Frame sign include: Your branding, special promotions, directions(make sure arrows are pointing the right way on both sides!), events and handwritten or drawn messages that show people your personality. Here are more common uses for A-Frame signs.
Q: What should I keep in mind when creating the design for an A Frame sign?
A: Keep it simple. We recommend that the sign only has one thing that you want people to focus on, whether that is promotions, your brand, etc. The sign needs to have good contrast and large enough copy so that people can easily read it and get the message in a couple seconds. In addition, you should have your brand and logo on it if it’s important to you. Here’s another great resource for A-frame sign design info.
Q: Can I buy the inserts without buying the frame or just the frame without the inserts?
A: Yes, please make sure the exact dimensions of the inserts.
Q: What material is the inserts made of?
A: We use corrugated plastic as the insert substrate as a standard. If you have something else in mind, please let us know, we have other options as well.
We’re local, Vancouver based small business owners that care about our customers! Here at Vancouver Trade Show Supply we aspire to be the one-stop-shop for your next trade show exhibition! We love the hustle and bustle of a large trade show. It makes us proud to know we played a small part in the success of our customers. We believe that going the extra mile to make everything just a bit more special. So bring us your plan, ideas and visions and let’s turn them into reality together!