Coffee Shop Growth · Think Local Reviews
Using In-Store Signage to Gently Boost Reviews in Your Coffee Shop
A good coffee shop is relaxed, friendly and warm. The last thing you want is pushy sales tactics that make people feel like they’re being marketed to instead of welcomed. That’s why in-store signage for coffee shop reviews is such a powerful tool: it quietly reminds guests to leave feedback without interrupting conversations or queues.
With a few smart design choices and placements, your signs can work all day in the background, steadily turning happy customers into honest, public reviews.
Design review signs that match your brand
Review signs shouldn’t look like they were dropped in from a corporate office. They should feel like part of your café. Use the same fonts, colours and tone of voice you use for menus and chalkboards.
- Artisan / indie cafés: handwritten chalkboards with playful doodles.
- Minimalist espresso bars: clean typography, simple icons, tidy layout.
- Community-focused cafés: signs featuring local photos or “regular of the month”.
Example copy: “Love your coffee? A quick Google review keeps us brewing.”
Place signs where customers naturally pause
Good placement is more important than having lots of signs. Look for “pause points” where customers have a few spare seconds:
- The till area, where people wait to pay or tap their card.
- The collection point, while they wait for their drink.
- Condiment stations where they add milk, sugar or syrups.
- Tables, especially near the wall or by the window.
- The inside of toilet doors or mirrors (used sparingly).
At each point, keep the message short and friendly. Your sign is a gentle nudge, not a lecture.
Use QR codes and short URLs to keep things effortless
Most customers won’t type a long URL into their phone, but they will happily scan a QR code or tap a short link. For best results:
- Create a direct Google review link from your Business Profile.
- Turn it into a clear, high-contrast QR code and test it on multiple phones.
- Add a short URL (e.g. yourcafe.co/review) underneath in case QR scanning fails.
Example sign:
“Enjoying your drink?
Scan here to leave a quick honest review – it helps local coffee lovers find us.”
Keep things compliant and genuine
It’s important to ask for reviews fairly and transparently. That means:
- Don’t offer discounts, freebies or prizes in exchange for reviews.
- Don’t only ask customers you assume are happy – your signs should be visible to everyone.
- Encourage honest feedback rather than “5-star reviews only”.
Genuine, balanced reviews build more long-term trust than a small number of suspiciously perfect ratings.
Refresh and test different messages
Over time, customers stop noticing signs that never change. Plan to refresh your review signage every few months, or around menu changes and seasonal campaigns:
- Rotate 3–4 short messages and see which ones get the best response.
- Test different layouts: vertical signs vs. table talkers vs. wall frames.
- Ask regulars if they saw the signs and what they thought.
You can track progress by watching how many new reviews you receive after each change. Tools like Think Local Reviews make this easier by centralising your review data in one place.
Combine signage with human asks and follow-up
Signage works best alongside your baristas and digital review requests:
- Baristas can gently mention the sign when regulars compliment the coffee.
- Wi-Fi sign-up or loyalty emails can include a link that matches the wording on your signs.
- Social media posts can echo the same phrases so everything feels joined up.
When your physical space, customer interactions and online presence all carry the same message, your coffee shop feels consistent, trustworthy and worth reviewing.
