Advertising Laws

[ymwoods]

I am looking at adding some more advertising to a shop that has a larger chain just opposite and down the road a little. I was looking at putting an A board on the opposite side of the road to my shop (same side as the large chain) next to a car park that people use when visiting both shops. As the larger chain is right next to the car park (not owned by them) people generally, are lazy, so will go into the chain even if my prices are cheaper. I was looking to try and push a few people into my store by using the A boards just outside of the carpark and on the pavement so they can see it as they come out of the carpark.

What is the legality of this? IE, I realise I do not own the pavement and it isnt outside my shop. I have had a look online for answers but am mostly just finding information on the legality of what I can put in advertisements rather then the placement of them. I also realise that the big chain wont be happy about it but business is business as long as its not illegal.

[Magic919]

It's not really advertising law and your local council will have an interest in it.

[Mojooo]

Agree, its more a question of what your local council will allow.

In a nearby city to me they were looking to ban A boards so I suspect it varies in each area.

[dacouch]

Some shops in London get around this by chaining up an old bicycle that is sign written where they want to catch customers attention.

Whether this will get around your councils rules on pavement advertising I don't know

[Thankyou4calling]

This thread was quite recent. As you say, you don't own the pavement so legally you can't put something there.

The relevant legislation is also referred to, however, just because the law says you can't doesn't mean that many font :-)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[ymwoods]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I would imagine the chain store would have the Council involved within days if that is the case, so may mean the cost of the advertising (buying the boards, having posters made etc) will end up being more than any short term custom they provide until I get a knock on the door...as much I am a ask forgivness rather than permisson kind of guy!

The advertising on another premises wall has my ears pricked however...the chain shop is set back slightly and so there is a nice clean white wall that belongs to an estate agents that would potentially give me the ability to advertise my shop virtually outside of it...only problems is if its all leased by the same landlord as I doubt he would want to upset the chain shop. Investigation on Monday morning I think

Dont suppose anyone else has any other ideas that may help? I would be very grateful.

[uber]

You will be surprised how long it takes the council to get involved especially if a sign is not causing an issues. You can get banners the perfect size on Ebay printed full colour for around £10 so if they do rip them down you have not lost much.

If they do complain formally they will just give you a warning telling you to remove them. I know a chap that works as a middle man with many big companies (gym chains with 100+ locations etc) doing these sort of ads in big cities.

[WilliamWoollard]

Sign written van in the car park near the exit?

[anonymous-user]

Have a mooch

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/commo...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/outdoor...

Or NPPF Para 67 and 68

Hopefully a pointer

[insurance_jon]

Sometimes it is better to seek forgiveness rather than seek permission

[Pot Bellied Fool]

When I opened a computer repair workshop a few years back, there were pedestrian railings along the side of the road - bars often had banners on them so I thought "why not?" (And I only had a doorway, no shop window to attract)

So I got a cheap banner off eBay or Vistaprint and put it on the railings outside - just by some traffic lights. Thinking if I got a month or two out of it, it'd be fine. I recall it only cost me £12!

The Council eventually had a purge and cut them all down - 13 months later! The trick is not to then replace it & take the p*ss! I didn't even get a warning note saying not to do it again.

Do it & ask forgiveness afterwards.