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Is there anything more confusing than a big showroom and numerous offices and departments branching off from the lobby? How about a sprawling property with multiple departments that the same dealership owns and operates? As a prior customer of a Detroit dealership, you already know that finding the service department, contacting the sales supervisor and getting your financing in order can be time-consuming. Make it easy on the customers that you hope to welcome to your showroom by having the right signage in place.
- Window graphics. If your parts department and your finance manager keep different office hours, use window graphics to post their hours of operation on the department doors or windows.
- Clipart. Windowpanes are also excellent display areas for decals and other graphics that help to identify the departments. In addition to labeling the parts department’s windows and door with typeface, use decals displaying parts of cars. For the finance department, opt for decals depicting money and financial documents. The possibilities are – quite literally – endless.
- Posters. Sometimes a customer needs a quick question answered. Posters make it possible to answer this question right in the lobby. A customized lobby sign identifies the starting point of a car buyer’s process. Next to this sign, why not hang posters discussing your dealership’s payment policies. This is also a great place to put posters with the latest finance offers.
Suspended directories. Arrows are worth a thousand spoken directional words. Suspend easy-to-read directories above the receptionist’s desk. Clearly label the direction to the sales, service, parts and finance departments with arrows. If reaching one of these departments requires the customer to step outside, make a note of this fact on the directory.- Floor graphics. Larger dealerships have found it useful to install floor graphics with stylized footprints heading in different directions. These dealerships usually choose to continue this type of signage outside as well. If you operate multiple buildings on one lot, use large floor graphics to highlight that a customer has found the right building.
- Room signs. Each employee with an office should have a sign outside the door that identifies the name of the worker and the job title as well as the room number. Opt for a frame with exchangeable digitally printed inserts. When an employee moves offices, all you need to do is change out the inserts.
Banners. Identify waiting areas with banners, these are also effective wayfinding signs. Your customers will appreciate knowing where the refreshments are located and how to get to the bathrooms. By being clearly visible from across the showroom, these areas will be easy to locate for larger parties with children.
Help customers navigate your Detroit auto dealership with the right signs once they have located the right department. For example, the service department will need markers that identify the bays, the key drop off location, the pricing of the various services and the availability of courtesy vehicles. Adding posters that display your legal disclaimers and other policies is always a good idea. Since money changes hands at the parts department counters and the service counter, you cannot go wrong by repeating the payment policies.