If you've ever walked down a commercial block in Raleigh, Cary, or Apex, you've seen dozens of A-frame signs advertising daily specials, sales, and events. They're one of the most cost-effective ways a business can reach foot traffic, but the businesses that get real results from them are usually doing two things differently from everyone else: choosing the right frame for their situation, and designing the panel to actually be read at a glance.
We produce both metal A-frames and Signicade deluxe A-frames in-house at our shop on Pylon Drive in Raleigh, and the difference between frame types is worth understanding before you order.
Two Frame Types, Different Strengths
Metal A-frames use a black powder-coated steel frame with interchangeable coroplast inserts. They give a more polished, industrial look and hold up especially well in wind, thanks to a heavier, weighted steel base. If your sign lives somewhere exposed, a corner storefront, a parking lot entrance, anywhere that catches consistent wind, the added weight of a metal frame is the practical reason to choose it over a lighter alternative.
Signicade deluxe A-frames use a molded HDPE plastic frame with a tool-free quick-change insert system. They're lighter to move in and out each day, easier to clean, and their internal cavities can be filled with sand or water for extra stability without needing a heavy steel base. For a business that's setting up and breaking down a sidewalk sign daily, the lighter weight and faster insert swap are real, everyday conveniences.
Both frame types use the same standard insert size, 24 by 36 inches, so you can order new printed panels without buying a new frame every time your promotion changes.
Where A-Frames Actually Work Best
A-frames earn their keep in situations where foot traffic passes close enough to read a sign in a few seconds: cafes and restaurants advertising daily specials, retail storefronts running a sale, service businesses marking an entrance that's set back from the street, and event organizers marking a temporary location. They're less effective for anything meant to be read from a moving vehicle at any real distance, that's a job for a larger banner or yard sign instead.
Design Tips That Actually Move the Needle
The single biggest mistake we see on A-frame panels is too much text. A sidewalk sign has maybe two to three seconds of a passerby's attention. One headline, one supporting line, and a clear call to action outperforms a panel crammed with a full menu or a paragraph of copy every time.
Contrast matters more than color choice. Dark text on a light background, or the reverse, reads faster at a glance than similar-value colors next to each other, regardless of which specific colors you pick for branding.
Keep your logo and business name consistent across every insert you order, even as the promotional message changes week to week. Repetition of the same visual identity is what actually builds recognition over time, not any single sign.
Placement Considerations
A-frames are meant to be temporary, deployed during business hours and brought in at close. Leaving one out permanently, or placing it somewhere it blocks a sidewalk or ADA-accessible path, is the kind of thing that generates complaints regardless of the specific rules in your municipality. We'd recommend checking with your specific city or town before placing anything in a public right-of-way, since requirements vary by location and we're not in a position to advise on current code.
Ready to Order?
Browse our metal A-frame and Signicade sandwich board lineup to compare frame types and pricing, or visit our Raleigh A-frame and sandwich board page for more detail. We produce every frame and insert in-house at 553 Pylon Dr., STE D, Raleigh, NC 27606. Call us at (919) 977-7053 with questions on which frame fits your location.