Add My Company
Effective signage in a garden centre can make the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Yet, even the most well-stocked, visually appealing plant area can fall short if the labels and signs don’t deliver clear, accurate, and engaging information. In a retail environment where customers are often left to browse independently, well-crafted labelling acts as your silent salesperson—guiding, informing, and persuading. Unfortunately, garden centres frequently fall into common labelling traps that lead to customer confusion, lost sales, or costly reprints. In this blog, we uncover the top mistakes in garden centre labelling—and how to avoid them with smart, strategic solutions.
Why Labelling Matters More Than You Think
Labelling isn’t just about naming a plant. It’s about telling the customer everything they need to know—quickly and clearly. That includes not just the plant name, but essential care instructions, pricing, and occasionally even inspiration for use. Done right, it encourages browsing, builds trust, and increases customer confidence in their purchase decisions. But when labels are missing, unclear or unprofessional, shoppers are likely to walk away.
Mistake 1: Poor Visibility and Illegible Fonts
What goes wrong: Many garden centres use fonts that are too small, overly decorative, or light in colour. These can be hard to read in outdoor settings where lighting conditions vary. When signs are placed too low to the ground or not angled towards eye-level, visibility drops even further.
Fix it: Stick to bold, sans-serif fonts in high-contrast colours like black on white or dark green on pale yellow. Ensure key details like plant name and price are at least 18–24pt in size, and use adjustable signage holders to angle signs upwards. Always test legibility from a typical standing distance before printing.
Mistake 2: Incomplete or Confusing Information
What goes wrong: Some signs include only the plant name and price, missing vital details such as sun/shade preference, watering needs, or eventual size. This forces customers to guess or seek out staff, which isn’t always practical—especially during busy weekends.
Fix it: Create a consistent template for plant labels that includes the basics:
- Common and Latin names
- Price
- Sunlight/watering needs
- Height/spread
- Seasonal notes or planting tips
You can even include a QR code linking to full care instructions or video content.
Mistake 3: Inconsistent Labelling Across the Centre
What goes wrong: Using a mix of handwritten signs, printed A4 sheets, and different card stocks creates a cluttered, amateurish appearance. It can also lead to inconsistent messaging and branding across departments.
Fix it: Standardise your labelling materials and styles. Use a uniform colour palette, logo placement, font set and template layout throughout the site. A cohesive visual identity improves trust and reinforces brand professionalism—especially important for returning customers.
Mistake 4: Low-Quality or Weather-Sensitive Materials
What goes wrong: Paper signs exposed to the elements fade, curl or disintegrate, making them unreadable or falling off entirely. Lamination helps, but not all materials hold up to the British weather.
Fix it: Invest in weatherproof substrates like polypropylene, PVC or synthetic card with UV-stable ink and anti-glare lamination. These materials are designed to last outdoors, saving time and money on constant reprints. Haysdale offers a range of signage options specifically for garden centre environments—built to survive sun, rain, wind and soil contact.
Mistake 5: Overloaded Signage
What goes wrong: Trying to cram too much text onto a small label can make it overwhelming and unreadable. Bullet points run into each other, and important information gets buried.
Fix it: Focus on clarity, not quantity. Use headings, bullet points and icons to break up text. Consider splitting information over two signs—one for pricing and care tips, another for plant inspiration. Where possible, keep each sign focused on a single clear purpose.
Mistake 6: Using Temporary or Improvised Signs Too Often
What goes wrong: Staff often reach for handwritten labels or last-minute paper printouts, especially when stock arrives suddenly. While this is sometimes unavoidable, making it a habit can harm your store’s professionalism.
Fix it: Keep a stock of blank weatherproof labels and signage templates on hand for emergencies. Staff should be trained to use a central POS system or template for consistency, even in a rush. It’s also helpful to preprint signs for your bestsellers and seasonal favourites.
Mistake 7: Failing to Consider Customer Navigation
What goes wrong: Even if individual signs are well-designed, their placement across the planteria can be confusing. Customers get lost, double back or miss entire categories due to a lack of clear wayfinding.
Fix it: Map your store from the customer’s perspective. Add zone signage for key categories like “Shade Plants”, “Perennials”, “Fruit Trees” or “Gifts & Accessories.” Include directional signs at eye level or overhead, and make sure staff regularly review layout visibility as stock shifts.
Smart Labelling = Smarter Retail
Improving your signage doesn’t require a complete overhaul overnight. Start by auditing your current displays:
- Are the signs consistent?
- Are the materials holding up outdoors?
- Can you read the label easily from a metre away?
- Does the customer know how to care for the plant without asking?
Even small tweaks—like increasing font size or switching to waterproof card—can lead to better customer experiences and ultimately better sales.
How Haysdale Can Help
At Haysdale, we understand the daily pressures of running a garden centre. That’s why we stock a complete range of POS materials, from UV-stable signage to rainproof ticket holders, all tailored for horticultural retail. We also offer guidance on display strategy and branding, helping you present your products clearly and consistently.
Whether you’re relabelling perennials, setting up for spring, or preparing for a Christmas display refresh, our signage experts can help you avoid the common pitfalls—so your labels always do their job, rain or shine.
Final Thoughts
Great signage doesn’t just look good—it sells. By avoiding these common garden centre labelling mistakes, you can make a powerful visual impact, improve customer satisfaction, and save time and money in the long run.
Ready to rethink your POS strategy? Speak to Haysdale today about upgrading your garden centre labelling for a smarter, more weatherproof retail experience.
For more information on Sign Smarter: How to Avoid Common Mistakes in Garden Centre Labelling talk to Haysdale