Parasols can really add something to your business, especially if you have outdoor seating areas for customers to enjoy. If you are thinking of ways to improve your business, add to the ambience, and perhaps even get ready for the busy summer season ahead of time, think about using commercial parasols. These clever pieces of engineering are designed for strength, resilience and durability, yet at the same time, they are going to be attractive and add a certain atmosphere. You can rely on a commercial parasol to help boost your business and give your customers the very best of hospitality.

Here are some of the ways you can enjoy a parasol:

• Shade. Provide your customers with shade during summer, and get more use out of outdoor spaces in autumn and spring. A large umbrella will also provide some degree of shelter, meaning that people can use them to block wind or to shelter from some light train.
• Branding. Choose a parasol that can be branded with your business name and logo. This makes you look highly professional, so make sure the printing is also carried out by someone who will do a neat and professional job. You can also buy branded parasols for the products you sell and serve – for example, a pub may choose to have parasols featuring the logo of their most popular drinks brands. This helps manage people’s expectations and immediately associated you with large, quality brands
• Brand recognition. Once you have a well-branded parasol, it is time to get it out there to show the world. Put parasols at the back of your building and if you can, at the front as well. This displays your name clearly to anyone who might be passing by.
• UV protection. A good parasol won’t just offer shade – it will actively protect customers from harmful rays as well. You should choose umbrellas that have built-in UV protection so that they won’t be able to penetrate the material.

What are the different types of parasol you can choose? 

Parasols come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. Most commercial parasols will be made of fabric, as this looks more premium than plastic. You should think about getting a waterproof material so that people can shelter from the rain under your umbrellas.

You can select many different mounting options depending on where you will use your parasol, including:

• Table mounting
• Ground base
• Decking mount, for use on wood
• In-ground base
• Mobile base

There are also premium features that can be installed with the umbrella. These might include LED lights, heaters, speakers, TV screens and cooling systems. This makes them perfect for use in pubs and restaurants, or any other part of the foodservice industry, helping to make customers’ experiences more pleasant. Make sure you choose durable materials for the pole and the cover, as these will be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions and you want them to last as long as possible. Fold commercial parasols down when not in use to make them last longer.