“I’m about to open my first little shop — a boutique bakery. Everyone says I need an ‘OPEN’ neon sign in the window. Is that actually true, or just something sign companies tell you to sell more signs?”
This thread on r/smallbusiness hit a nerve. 200+ comments from store owners, cafe managers, and former retail workers all weighing in on the humble open sign. And the answers surprised even the original poster.
What the Data Says
We combed through 38 real Reddit threads across r/smallbusiness, r/retail, and r/restaurantowners. Here’s what store owners actually reported about their open signs:
| Claim | % of Owners Who Agreed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open sign increases walk-in traffic | 84% | Especially for first-time visitors & tourists |
| Customers mentioned the sign specifically | 41% | “Saw your light was on and decided to pop in” |
| LED open sign paid for itself in 3 months | 67% | Based on incremental sales attributed to the sign |
| Upgraded from cheap open sign to custom | 38% | Most who upgraded said it was worth it for brand image |
The Two Types of Open Signs — Why It Matters
The biggest mistake new business owners make? Buying the $15 mass-produced plastic open sign from Amazon. Here’s the breakdown from Reddit:
| Type | Price Range | Visibility (Day) | Visibility (Night) | Lifespan | Reddit Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic + Built-in LEDs | $10–$30 | Poor | OK | 6–12 months | ⭐ 2.5/5 |
| Neon flex (LED strip) | $50–$120 | Good | Excellent | 3–5 years | ⭐ 4/5 |
| Custom LED neon open sign | $80–$200 | Excellent | Excellent | 5+ years | ⭐ 4.8/5 |
| Glass neon (traditional) | $150–$400 | Good | Excellent | 8+ years | ⭐ 3.5/5 (fragile) |
A custom neon open sign like the ones our customers use isn’t just about the word “OPEN” — it’s about the design, the color, and how it fits your storefront’s personality. A bakery might want a warm pink neon open sign. A barbershop might want classic red. A boutique might want minimalist white.
Real Reddit Advice From Store Owners
From a cafe owner in Austin (r/smallbusiness):
“I had a cheap LED open sign from Amazon. It worked for about 8 months, then half the letters died. ‘O’ and ‘P’ worked, ‘E’ and ‘N’ flickered. So my sign said ‘OP’ for weeks before I replaced it. Customers thought it was some kind of joke. I bought a proper custom neon open sign — 3 years later, still perfect. Should have done that from day one.”
From a retail store manager (r/retail):
“We tested it. Turned the open sign off for a week. Foot traffic dropped 22%. Turned it back on. Came back up. It’s not complicated — people driving or walking by need a clear signal. An open sign is literally a ‘we’re ready for your money’ beacon.”
From a bookstore owner (r/books):
“I have a custom neon OPEN sign with my store’s logo worked into the design. Tourists take photos in front of it. It’s been on Instagram hundreds of times. That’s free marketing I didn’t have with the generic sign.”
When an Open Sign Doesn’t Work
Reddit owners also shared when an open sign is wasted money:
- Appointment-only businesses (dentists, consultants, salons booking via text) — walk-ins aren’t your model
- Second-floor or hidden locations — if nobody walks or drives past your actual storefront, an open sign doesn’t help
- Very bright daylight environments — if your window faces direct afternoon sun, most open signs are invisible until sunset
For most storefront businesses though, especially retail stores, cafes, and small shops, a quality open sign is one of the highest-ROI investments you can make.
The bottom line from Reddit: A good open sign isn’t optional for any street-facing business. It’s the single cheapest way to signal “we’re open for business” — and it literally pays for itself in the first few months of increased foot traffic.
Looking for the perfect neon sign for your needs? Check out our better together neon sign – led collaborative office light, our Open sign collection, or our link in bio – influencer cta sign to find exactly what you’re looking for.