What Are Strut Cards and How Can You Use Them?

A Simple Display That Earns Its Keep

A strut card is a printed card with a folding support (the "strut") on the back that allows it to stand upright on a flat surface. That is it. No power supply, no assembly instructions, no complicated setup. You fold out the strut, place it on a counter or shelf, and it does its job.

Despite being one of the simplest forms of point-of-sale display, strut cards are surprisingly effective. They put your message at eye level, right where customers are making decisions.

Where Do Strut Cards Work Best?

Strut cards are designed for surfaces where people are already looking, waiting, or browsing. The most common placements include:

• Shop counters and tills: Promote add-on purchases, loyalty schemes, or upcoming sales right at the point of payment.
• Shelves and display units: Highlight a specific product, a price promotion, or a "staff pick" recommendation next to the item itself.
• Window displays: Larger strut cards can face outward in a shop window to catch the attention of passers-by.
• Reception desks: Promote services, events, or special offers to people as they check in or wait.
• Waiting areas: Doctors' surgeries, dentists, salons, and car dealerships all have captive audiences sitting with nothing to do. A strut card on the coffee table gets read.
• Restaurant tables: Specials boards, dessert menus, and drink promotions work well in strut card format.

Sizes Available

Strut cards come in a range of standard sizes. The most popular are:

• A5 (148 x 210mm): Compact and suited to counter tops, shelves, and small display areas.
• A4 (210 x 297mm): The most versatile size. Works on counters, in windows, and on reception desks.
• A3 (297 x 420mm): Better for window displays and larger surfaces where you need the card to be visible from further away.

Both portrait and landscape orientations are available. Portrait is more common for counter displays; landscape works well for table-top menus and wider shelf displays.

Industries That Use Strut Cards

Almost any business with a physical location can put strut cards to use. Here are some of the industries where we see the most demand:

Retail

Strut cards are a staple of retail point-of-sale. They promote offers, highlight new arrivals, and draw attention to specific products. Supermarkets, independent shops, and high-street chains all use them. For a small retailer in Belfast, a strut card next to the till promoting a seasonal offer is simple to set up and easy to swap out.

Hospitality

Pubs, restaurants, and cafes use strut cards on tables and at the bar. Daily specials, cocktail menus, event listings, and loyalty card promotions all work in this format. They are wipeable (especially with a laminated finish), which matters in a food and drink setting.

Healthcare

GP surgeries, dental practices, pharmacies, and opticians use strut cards to promote services, flu vaccination campaigns, new patient registration, and health awareness messages. They are a cost-effective alternative to digital screens and require no power or maintenance.

Salons and Spas

Treatment menus, product promotions, gift voucher reminders, and seasonal offers all suit the strut card format. Place them at the reception desk, in the waiting area, and at each treatment station.

Professional Services

Estate agents use strut cards in their office windows to display featured properties. Accountants and solicitors place them in waiting areas to cross-sell services. Car dealerships put them on the bonnets of display vehicles.

Design Tips for Strut Cards

A strut card needs to communicate its message quickly, because people are usually glancing at it rather than studying it. Keep these points in mind:

• One message per card. Do not try to promote everything at once. A single offer, product, or message is much more effective than a cluttered card.
• Big, readable text. Your headline should be legible from at least a metre away. That means large fonts and strong contrast between text and background.
• Strong image or graphic. A good photo of your product, a bold colour block, or an eye-catching illustration draws the eye in.
• Clear call to action. "Ask at the counter," "Scan for 10% off," "Book online at..." Give people a next step.
• Keep it current. An out-of-date promotion is worse than no promotion. The good news is that strut cards are cheap enough to reprint whenever your offer changes.

Strut Cards vs Roller Banners

Both are display products, but they serve different purposes. Strut cards sit on surfaces and work at close range. Roller banners stand on the floor and are designed to be seen from across a room. Many businesses use both: roller banners for exhibitions and events, strut cards for day-to-day in-store promotion.

If you are weighing up which you need, think about where the display will go. On a counter or shelf? Strut card. On a floor next to your stand? Roller banner.

Ordering Strut Cards

Our strut cards are printed on sturdy board with a gloss or matt laminated front and a pre-scored, fold-out strut on the back. They arrive flat for easy shipping and storage, and take seconds to set up.

Browse our strut card options for sizes, quantities, and pricing. We print and deliver across Belfast and Northern Ireland, typically within 5 to 7 working days.