Black Friday Window Posters and Foam Board Signs for Manchester City Centre Shops

Black Friday is on Friday 27 November 2026. CityCo lists it among its Major Manchester Events for 2026-27, and that tells you plenty. The city centre is going to be packed.

If your shop sits on Market Street, Oldham Street, Church Street or near Piccadilly Gardens, you know how it goes. People spill off the trams. They walk fast. They are cold. You get a second, maybe two, as they pass your glass.

So, what goes in that window? And what goes inside?

That is the job of Black Friday window posters, plus a few signs that work hard once people step through the door. We print posters, foam boards and banners for shops every week. This guide is what we would tell you if you rang us today: which signs people notice first, where each one fits, and when to order so it all turns up on time. For the wider picture of what we do for local shops, see our page on poster printing in Manchester City Centre.

Which signs shoppers read first

Picture Market Street on a busy Black Friday afternoon. Heads down. Bags in both hands. Nobody is reading. They are scanning.

In our experience, signs get noticed in roughly this order. It makes sense to plan your signs the same way.

1. The window, from a few steps away. This is the big one. A short line in huge letters. "Black Friday" plus one idea is plenty.
2. The door. A smaller sign at eye level. It answers two things: is the sale on in here, and are you open?
3. The shop floor. Once people step in, they want to find the deal fast. Price signs and a tall banner do that job.
4. The till. Your last chance. A flyer they can take home keeps you in their pocket after the day is done.

That last one gets forgotten a lot. Our A5 flyers are a handy way to tell people about your Christmas range, late opening or loyalty card while they wait to pay.

What makes a window sign work

• One message per sign. Two at the very most.
• Strong contrast. Dark text on a light background, or light on dark. Thin, fancy fonts vanish on a grey day.
• Big letters. Then a bit bigger.
• The across-the-road test. Stand on the other side of the street and look back. Can you read it? Great. If not, cut words.
• Think about the light. November in Manchester is grey, and the sun sits low. Shiny surfaces can catch glare, so where a product offers a silk finish, it may suit a window better.

Window posters versus foam board price signs

On screen they look much the same. In a shop, they do quite different jobs. Here is how we would split them.

Window posters: big, flat and easy to swap

• Thin and light, so they sit flat against the glass.
• Made for bold messages that face the street.
• An A1 poster (594 x 841 mm) fills a good chunk of a standard shop window.
• An A2 poster (420 x 594 mm) suits smaller panes, door glass or a neat row of signs.

Good habits for posters on glass

• Clean the glass and dry it well before anything goes up.
• Use tape or fixings that will not mark the glass.
• Cold mornings bring condensation on the inside of windows. Check the edges each day and wipe the glass if it is damp.

Foam board price signs: firm, neat and made to stand

• A light foam core between two firm outer layers. It stays flat and does not curl.
• It can sit on an easel or a shelf. You can also fix it in place with screws, nails or glue.
• Best used inside: by the rails, at the end of an aisle, next to the till.
• Our A1 foam board makes a strong statement by the door. The A2 foam board sits nicely on a counter or a shelf.

Here is one idea we really like for foam board price signs. Print the board with your design and leave a clear space for a small price card. If a price changes, you swap the card, not the whole board.

How we would mix them

• Facing the street and stuck to glass? Go for a poster.
• Inside, standing up, and needs to look smart all week? Go for foam board.
• Most shops end up with a bit of both. That is normal.

A word on prices and sale claims

We cannot tell you what your sale signs should say. The UK has rules on things like "was" prices and how discounts are shown. Before you print, read the guidance on GOV.UK or speak to your local Trading Standards team. It can save a real headache later.

Pull-up banners for the shop floor

A pull-up banner stands about two metres tall. That is taller than most of your shoppers, so even in a full shop, people see it over the heads in front of them.

Our pull-up roller banner (800 x 2000 mm) rolls down into its own base. Pull it up, clip it in, done. No tools needed.

Where it works best

• Just inside the door, so people know where to head.
• At the back of the shop, to draw people past the first few rails.
• Next to the till queue, where people stand still and actually read.

Getting the most from it

• Put your key words in the top half. The bottom often ends up hidden behind people, baskets or stock.
• Keep the date and offer small, or leave them off. Then the same banner can work right through December.
• Keep it clear of doors and fire exits, in a spot where it will not get knocked.

A working-day calendar to 27 November

Poster delivery times are the part that catches people out. So let us be clear.

Standard UK shipping is 2 to 3 working days of production, plus about 2 days for delivery. Working days are Monday to Friday. Same-day delivery is only for London and inside the M25, so for a Manchester shop it is not an option. Plan around standard shipping.

Here is how we would map it out, counting back from Black Friday.

Treat these dates as a guide, not a promise. Delivery can vary, and a late artwork file eats into your time. The earlier you order, the calmer that last week feels.

Things that keep you on track

• Order your posters, boards and banner together, so they arrive together.
• Pick the artwork check on the product page if you would like a second pair of eyes on your file.
• Make sure someone is in to take the delivery. A parcel waiting at a depot will not help you on Friday.

Checklist before you order

Run through this before you upload anything.

• ☐ Measure the glass. Width and height of each pane. Note anything in the way, like door frames, alarm stickers or opening hours.
• ☐ Match a size to each spot. A1 or A2 posters for windows. A1 or A2 foam boards inside. A banner by the door or the till.
• ☐ Write the words. One headline per sign. Read it out loud. If it drags, cut it.
• ☐ Check every price and claim. Ask someone else to read them too. If you are unsure, look at the GOV.UK or Trading Standards guidance.
• ☐ Get the file right. Set it to the correct size, use sharp images and keep text away from the edges.
• ☐ Spell-check twice. A typo in letters a foot high is very hard to miss.
• ☐ Keep your brand clear. Logo, colours and shop name should match on every sign.
• ☐ Diary it. Write down your order date and the expected delivery date.
• ☐ Think about afterwards. Store foam boards flat and roll the banner back into its base. Some pieces can come out again next year.

Get your Manchester shop ready in time

Black Friday will come round fast. Good Black Friday shop signage does not need to be fancy. It needs to be clear, in the right spot and up on time. A strong window, tidy signs inside and a banner people can spot from the door make your shop an easy pick on a busy street.

Choose your sizes, upload your design and we will print it and send it to your shop. Want to talk it through first? Call us on 020 7701 2515 and we will help you pick the right mix for your space. You can also see everything we offer for shops in Manchester City Centre.