In a post-pandemic world, maintaining clear communication with customers while keeping safety top of mind has become vital for businesses across the UK. Whether you run a retail outlet, café, gym, or corporate office, conveying business hours and health guidelines clearly can influence foot traffic, customer satisfaction, and overall brand trust. One underrated but highly effective method? Bollard covers, specifically designed for safety messaging and operational details.
Let’s explore how social distancing bollard covers serve as an excellent medium to promote your business hours while also reinforcing public health practices.
Why Bollard Covers Matter More Than Ever
Bollards have long been a fixture in urban planning protecting storefronts, managing pedestrian flows, and acting as safety barriers. But in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, their function has evolved. By adding custom-printed bollard covers, businesses are transforming these once purely functional structures into powerful visual communication tools.
Unlike wall-mounted signage, which can be easily overlooked, they are placed in high-footfall areas right where customers walk, queue, or enter a premises. Their cylindrical shape offers 360-degree visibility, meaning your message is seen from multiple angles, not just head-on.
Dual Utility in a Single Solution
It combine two essential purposes:
- Reinforcing health & safety protocols – Messages like “Please keep your distance”, “Hand sanitiser available inside”, or “Face masks recommended” can be presented clearly and consistently. This not only helps with compliance but also reassures customers of your commitment to their wellbeing.
- Promoting essential business information – From opening hours and service availability to promotional offers or delivery details, it makes key messages unmissable.
This fusion of safety and branding makes them a cost-effective and multifunctional signage solution, especially for businesses needing to update messaging regularly without relying on digital screens or expensive installations.
Key Benefits of Using Social Distancing Bollard Covers
In a competitive retail and service landscape, standing out while maintaining safety is no easy feat. Social distancing bollard covers offers an effective solution balancing visibility, compliance, and customer engagement. Let’s explore the key benefits more deeply and how they translate into real-world advantages for businesses across the UK.
Table: Summary of Core Benefits
Feature | Benefit |
Visibility | Positioned at entrances, they ensure maximum exposure to all foot traffic |
Dual-purpose | Combines safety messaging (like social distancing) with promotional content |
Durability | Weather-resistant materials ensure year-round utility |
Brandability | Fully customisable to reflect your brand’s colours, logos, and tone |
Cost-effective | Reusable and long-lasting with no recurring expenses |
How to Use Bollard Covers to Promote Business Hours
Displaying your business hours should never be an afterthought. Relying solely on a sticker in the window or a poster behind the glass can often lead to missed opportunities especially if the signage is obscured, outdated, or simply overlooked. With if, you can ensure that your operating hours are communicated clearly, professionally, and effectively.
Here are some smart, strategic ways to use social distancing to promote business hours while enhancing customer experience and confidence:
1. Entrance Messaging: Make Hours the First Thing They See
Place a branded bollard cover directly at your main entrance whether it’s the shop door, a gated entrance, or the pathway to a car park. Include key information like:
- Opening and closing times
- Days of operation
- Changes to usual hours (e.g., bank holidays, strike days, or match days)
2. Consistent Colour Coding: Guide the Eye
Visual cues help customers absorb information faster. Using distinct but cohesive colours can separate different message types while still looking on-brand.
Type of Message | Suggested Colour Scheme |
Health & Safety | Soft blues, greens or reds (calm but alert) |
Business Hours | Bold brand colours like navy, charcoal, or gold |
Promotions | Bright accents – yellow, orange or lime green |
3. Seasonal Updates: Stay Relevant Year-Round
One of the strongest features is how quickly they can be changed without any tools or fuss. This allows you to adjust your messaging throughout the year keeping your visuals fresh and relevant.
Here are some seasonal examples:
- Winter: “Festive Opening Hours: 9am–4pm” or “Open Christmas Eve 10am–2pm”
- Summer: “Late Evenings in July – Open until 9pm”
- Back to School: “New September Schedule – Open 8am Daily”
This flexibility makes them ideal for promotions, public holidays, and unpredictable events such as transport strikes or local events like festivals or parades.
4. QR Code Integration: Bridge Offline to Online
With mobile browsing now being the primary method for local business searches in the UK, integrating QR codes into your social distancing is a no-brainer.
What to link the QR code to:
- Your Google Business Profile (for live updates)
- A page with detailed opening hours
- A click-and-collect booking system
- Your latest safety protocols or FAQ section
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Another reason businesses across the UK are switching to bollard covers is their sustainability. As environmental responsibility becomes more central to customer and corporate values alike, it provides a cleaner, greener alternative to traditional signage.
Here are the key eco-friendly advantages of using bollard covers:
- Made from recyclable plastic or corrugated polypropylene
Most covers are manufactured using Correx, a lightweight, durable, and fully recyclable material. - Often reusable for different campaigns
Swap out and store covers between seasonal promotions, special events, or recurring announcements without the need to reprint. - Reduce need for paper-based posters or vinyl banners
Helps lower paper consumption and avoids PVC-based signage, which is less environmentally friendly. - Lower carbon footprint
With fewer printing runs and less frequent deliveries, businesses reduce overall transportation emissions. - Compact and easy to store
When not in use, covers can be folded or stacked flat, requiring less storage space and reducing the need for bulky packaging.
Conclusion
Businesses across the UK must find smarter, cleaner ways to communicate essential information in a competitive and safety-conscious environment. particularly those promoting public health messages, provide an effective solution. With social distancing bollard covers, companies can clearly display opening hours while demonstrating care for customer safety. These covers also offer excellent branding opportunities and support sustainability goals by being reusable and recyclable.
For businesses seeking professional, long-lasting signage that combines safety and style, Printed Bollard Covers offers expertly designed solutions to help you stand out on the high street and maintain clear, compliant communication.
