On the fence about buying a patio umbrella for your business? Read this post and find out why you should go ahead and make that purchase.
When you think about patio umbrellas, your thoughts may go straight to a nice backyard with a swimming pool and a patio umbrella or two providing shade over some lounge chairs. While the backyard is indeed a pretty common place to find a patio umbrella, it’s definitely not the only place where you would find one.
There are several types of patio umbrellas out on the market today. Some are made for residential use, while others are made to be used for business purposes. For business owners whose stores/shops have a big enough outdoor space, a patio umbrella could be more than just a piece of furniture; it could also be a money-making investment.
In this post, we’ll share ten reasons you need a patio or outdoor umbrella for your business. If you’re still on the fence about buying one, we hope this post will help you make the best decision for your business.
Why Should Business Owners Invest in Patio Umbrellas?
To someone who doesn’t see its value, a patio umbrella may seem like an unnecessary expense for their business. However, outdoor umbrellas can be easily considered an investment to someone who knows how much value they bring. Here’s why:
1. A patio umbrella offers shade for your customers
Cafe/restaurant owners know just how valuable their al fresco dining space is, especially with unpredictable COVID-19 cases rising and falling. More and more people are choosing to dine in open spaces, and an outdoor umbrella can help make their experience a lot more comfortable, which, in turn, will make them want to come back to the establishment repeatedly. Outdoor umbrellas are not only useful for restaurants and cafes, though. Any business that caters to customers outdoors can benefit from one as well.
2. Parasol can keep products safe from the sun and rain
Business owners selling items in an outdoor marketplace setting, such as bazaars and farmer’s markets, can also benefit from having a patio umbrella. A patio umbrella can keep products safe from the heat of the sun. It can also keep products dry on a rainy day, so you don’t have to pack up and take it as another day lost. Most patio umbrellas are big enough to cover a standard table anyway, so business owners don’t have to worry about ruining their products on display.
3. Outdoor umbrellas make you look good
People are much more likely to stay loyal to a brand/business they deem good, and what better way to show your customers that you are one of the good guys than by showing them that you care for them? Opening a patio umbrella especially for them as soon as they sit down to shield them from the sun or keep them dry when it’s raining, letting them take their time to enjoy the outdoors comfortably in your establishment — these are just some of the little things that customers notice about businesses that make them want to be associated with the brand.
4. You can use them to make your business more visible and memorable
Advertising your business can drive sales growth by a lot. The only downside is that having an actual advertising plan in place can cost you thousands of dollars. If you don’t have the budget for this just yet, you can choose a low-cost advertising option: printing your business logo on outdoor umbrellas. Doing this will make your business more visible and memorable to potential future customers. Depending on what else you put on that canopy, this handy little "hack” could also attract new customers as they walk by the establishment.
5. A patio umbrella can boost curb appeal
Did you know that about 70% of first-time sales at businesses like cafes, restaurants, resorts and golf courses happen because of curb appeal? Your home is not the only one that could use a curb appeal boost. People are more drawn to businesses with pretty storefronts, and adding an outdoor umbrella to yours can make it look cozier and more inviting. The great thing about most patio umbrellas is that they’re easily customized, so you can match the colors and everything to your business’s aesthetic.
What To Look For In A Patio Umbrella For Business
When buying an outdoor umbrella for your business, remember that it will be used much more than your regular patio umbrella at home. You’ll want to look for something that can withstand natural elements like strong winds, heavy rains, and extreme heat. Here are some things you’ll need to consider when buying an outdoor umbrella for your business.
- Durable base - your patio umbrella will most likely be placed in a high-traffic area, so you’ll want something that won’t get knocked over too easily when people bump into it. Look for one with a heavy base weight. If you insist on getting a lighter one, at least make sure it’s the type you can mount on the floor so it can stay put wherever you place it.
- Easy to open - another thing to look for when buying a patio umbrella for your business is an easy-open mechanism like a crank lift or a pulley lift. Having your outdoor umbrella open at all times exposes it to natural elements, which can cause damage, so it’s best to leave it closed until a customer/client decides to sit on the table and use it. When this happens, you want your patio umbrella to open easily to avoid an awkward moment with your customer.
- The right size - take a good look at the space you’re where you’re planning to put your patio umbrella and measure how much of it you’re going to use, so you don’t end up with a gigantic one that barely fits or one that’s too small that it ends up being practically useless.
- Built-in lights - at night is when the al fresco scene comes alive. If your business remains open in the evening, a patio umbrella with built-in lights would be ideal for you. Some patio umbrellas even have built-in dimmable lights, so you can go from super bright (enough to illuminate the whole table) to dim (for a more romantic vibe).
- Reputable brand name - patio umbrellas aren’t cheap. This is why many business owners are hesitant about buying one in the first place. If you’re a business owner finally taking the plunge, finding a good, reputable brand name is important to ensure your hard-earned money won’t go to waste. Homful Group, for example, is one of the leading global outdoor equipment manufacturers you can trust for outdoor umbrellas.
Recommended Patio Umbrella
Still, looking for the perfect patio umbrella for your business? Check out this Solar Powered Banana Umbrella from the Homful Group. This outdoor umbrella features an antique bronze-coated steel pole, base, and ribs, so you can rest assured that it’s strong and sturdy. If you want something heavier for the base, you can replace it with heavy-duty weights sold separately by the Homful Group. This is perfect if you’re planning on putting it in a high-traffic area, so it doesn’t get knocked down easily.
The canopy is made with a water-resistant, UV-resistant, and fade-resistant fabric, so you can bet that it’ll keep you and your customers comfortable for a very long time. It’s easy to open and easy to adjust as well.
This outdoor umbrella is ideal for business because it also features solar-powered lights attached to the canopy ribs so you can lounge under its shade in the daytime and enjoy a few drinks at night. And, because it is solar-powered, all you need to do is to give it direct sunlight exposure.
Whatever your business may be, whether you are in the food/shopping space or somewhere else, as long as you can cater to your clients/customers in an outdoor setting, a patio umbrella is sure to be very helpful for you. You might need to spend quite a bit of money for it upfront, but it’s an investment that’s sure to give you plenty of returns in the future.
Publication Date: 10/17/2022
Category:
Patio Umbrella
