Bakery window graphics
At eight in the morning your window sells itself. By four the trays are bare, and only the graphics are left working.
A window with two lives.
Design for both halves of the day. In the morning the bread, the pastries and the sight of someone working the ovens are the advert, so keep the glass at display height clear. Late in the day and overnight, when the shelves are empty, the lettering has to carry the name, the opening hours and a reason to come back tomorrow.
Take a photo of your window at closing time. If it does not tell a stranger what you sell, that is your brief.
Use the queue
A good bakery on a Saturday has people standing outside with nothing to read. That is rare in retail, and it is worth using. A panel at eye height beside the door can tell them what is baked on site, where your flour comes from, or how long the dough proves. Keep it to a few short lines. Think about whether it can be read through the reflection of the street, and put it where the glass is shaded if you can.
What the glass has to put up with
| Condition | Effect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Warm, moist air before dawn | Condensation on cold glass, especially in winter | Apply vinyl to dry, clean glass, at a dry time of day |
| Flour dust and grease | A film forms that stops new vinyl from sticking | Degrease first, and clean regularly around edges |
| Daily window cleaning | Scrapers and harsh sprays lift corners | Clean with a soft cloth and work towards the edges |
| Sun on the display | Heat on your stock, and fading on printed graphics | A printed or frosted band at the top can take the edge off the light |
If your shop is close to a vent or oven door, tell us. Heat can affect adhesive, so a placement slightly further away may save a repair.
Four common mistakes
- Covering the view. Printing a picture of a loaf across the glass that should show real ones.
- Fixing what changes. Vinyl is for your name and your story. Weekly specials and prices belong on a board or a card inside.
- Allergy wording on the glass. Recipes change. Allergen information has to be accurate on the day, so keep it off permanent graphics, and check what you must provide with your local environmental health team or the Food Standards Agency.
- Forgetting the sticker. Leave a clear spot near the door for your food hygiene rating. The rules on showing it differ across the UK.
Lettering and panels
Traditional gold or cream cut vinyl suits a bakery and leaves the glass open. For seasonal lines such as hot cross buns or Christmas orders, a small printed panel in removable vinyl goes up and comes down without touching the rest.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| A2 | £15 |
| A1 | £25 |
| A0 | £35 |
| 30in x 20in | £30 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
A simple sign above the door or on a pavement board covers the walkers who only glance sideways.
Glass that works after dark.
Your questions.
Should lettering go on the inside or the outside of the glass?
Inside protects it from the weather, but warm, moist air can be an issue in a bakery. Outside avoids the condensation but faces the rain and the street. Tell us your set-up and we will suggest which suits it.
Can you match our packaging colour?
Our cut vinyl comes in 3M vinyl and Pantone colours. Give us the reference from your packaging and we will find the nearest option.
What about a small window with lots to say?
Say less. Name, what you bake and your hours are enough, and everything else can sit on a board inside.