Embracing the Future: Industry & Signage Trends for 2025

New year, new opportunities.

The signage industry is constantly developing. Each year transcends the last as technologies evolve and capabilities grow. In 2025, we are seeing advancements that are bringing in fresh opportunities and transforming the way we work.

As a signage company, staying aligned with not only industry trends but also to developments in broader sectors is essential to meeting client needs and staying competitive in an incredibly dynamic market.

With that in mind, we have explored the 2025 trends that are defining some of astley.'s major sectors - including retail and PFS - while also delving into new technologies and of course, sustainability.

So, buckle up and join us as we explore the exciting opportunities that 2025 has in store...

Retail: Bigger Stores & Brand Partnerships

Flagship Stores

Recently, retail has seen an increasing shift towards larger flagship stores and transforming these spaces into destination stops rather than mere points of transaction.

Many leading retail giants are focusing on the rollout of fewer, larger, more tech-driven stores in prime locations. These stores are offering improved omni-channel and immersive brand experiences to create experiential shopping experiences. From interactive displays to digital installations and luxury store design, these flagship stores are becoming the pinnacle of customer experience.

Recent data has shown that UK retail parks have become the most effective when it comes to footfall, experiencing a notable 7.3% increase in visitor numbers during September 2024. - Aoife Morgan, Retail Gazette

Retailers are therefore making the decision to follow their customers and open larger flagship concept stores in these one-stop retail park locations.

Recently, there has been an increasing shift towards larger flagship stores for retail brands in prime locations.

Concessions

Similarly, not only are these stores expanding their size and technological capabilities, but they are also expanding in terms of their concession spaces. Retailers are introducing new and improved spaces, including high-end cafés and bigger in-store brand collaborations. These store-in-store offerings are becoming more experiential, more creative, are hugely beneficial for customer engagement and increased footfall.

No longer are concessions just small in-store pop-ups, but they are now transforming into something bigger. The opportunities for concessions are endless as the distinction between sectors begin to blur and our one-stop shops are now capable of offering anything from DIY and clothing to food and coffee.

So, what does this mean for us?

These retail developments offer new unique projects for signmakers. We’re starting to see stores in a way that we’ve never seen them before, and it brings with it new creative opportunity.

We’re talking bigger signage, immersive branded assets, digital signage, and new concession branding. As retail spaces become more experiential, the demand for bespoke and high-quality signage is growing. This allows us to showcase our creativity and capability, and positions signmakers as essential partners in these new retail ventures.

Astley helps introduce Costa concession branding into Sainsbury's stores.

PFS: The Forecourts of the Future

Service stations continue to grow bigger and better, as FMCG and EV offerings grow even further. No longer are roadside retailers merely 'convenient' - they are becoming the next destination stop.

In the past few years, new energy solutions at these service stations have hugely progressed and still continue to do so. But what does 2025 hold for new energy services?

EV Signage

It's important to ensure that forecourts are marked as clearly as possible for drivers, especially when their services are extremely necessary - for EV drivers, this is a current dilemma.

A key topic of discussion in the world of EV revolves around their signage – or lack thereof.

Surprisingly, out of 73,699 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, only 25 of these on motorways are marked with official road signs. This has led to some of the UK’s biggest EV operators to lobby for official EV signs to be placed on major roads and motorways, in order to put EV drivers at ease.

While there are still restrictions surrounding the majority of potential EV signage, there are some plans to add EV symbols to roadside facilities by April 2025. As this demand grows, our industry will be ready to play a part in shaping this vital infrastructure and helping to reduce anxiety for EV users through essential signage.

Out of 73,699 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, only 25 of these on motorways are marked with official road signs. - Nicholas Hellen, The Times

Hydrogen Fuel

One of the latest developments in our forecourts of the future is the introduction of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen fuel is emerging as a key player in the transition to sustainable energy, complementing EV in the push toward net zero emissions. While still in its early stages, the development of hydrogen infrastructure is gradually gaining momentum.

The UK’s hydrogen strategy outlines ambitions to produce 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030, half of which is intended for transport and heating. Several hydrogen refuelling stations are already operational, and more are in the pipeline - in December 2023, there were 16 stations across the country with a further 16 projects set to open in Britain.

It’s important to keep hydrogen in the back of our minds as it continues to grow and develop, requiring new branded infrastructure that is accessible, safe, and visually recognisable.

As the hydrogen economy grows, the demand for innovative, sustainable, and technologically advanced signage solutions will only increase, cementing the signage industry's importance in this transition.

Hydrogen fuel is emerging as a key player in the transition to sustainable energy, complementing EV in the push toward net zero emissions.

A key topic of discussion in the world of EV revolves around their signage – or lack thereof.

AR & VR: Streamlining the Prototyping Process

Similar to the recent surge of AI, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are also emerging as hugely powerful tools in the signage industry. Not only do they enhance the client experience, but they also facilitate the signage production journey as a whole.

Visualisation and design are some of the most critical parts of the signage process. With AR and VR, clients are now able to experience their signage designs in a fully immersive, 3D environment even before they are produced and installed.

VR: Using VR, you can emulate large spaces i.e. retail parks, to help design and develop wayfinding systems, for example. By placing yourself in the totally virtual environment, you can test various signage placements and designs, ensuring that the wayfinding system is effective before installation.

AR: While VR immerses users in a completely virtual environment, AR allows clients to see their virtual signs in the real world. By combining digital items and real-world backgrounds, you can visualise what your sign looks in their actual, physical locations.

Visualisation and design are some of the most critical parts of the signage process.

While VR and AR are still in their infancy within the signage industry, it is an exciting development in terms of the signage design process. The use of these tools can help clients 'visualise' a product, streamline the prototyping process and ease the transition from design to manufacture.

Is VR the future of signage prototyping? Well, we look forward to finding out.

With AR and VR, clients are now able to experience their signage designs in a fully immersive, 3D environment.

Sustainability

Sustainability is not just a trend, but rather the new norm that is defining the direction of the industry. And it’s not just our industry, either. From retail to hospitality, every sector is being driven with one goal in mind – sustainability.

The use of more eco-friendly substrates and recyclable material is steadily on the rise. The hospitality industry, for example, are integrating more eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems into their spaces. We are expected to see an increase in reclaimed wood, natural stone, green walls, recycled fixtures, enhancing both the aesthetics and the sustainability of different venues.

Technology is also improving as a tool for sustainability, with AI now helping to contribute to the progress of sustainable efforts. For example, AI-powered systems are capable of optimising energy usage and reducing waste during the production process - supporting environmental initiatives as well as cost-saving goals.

In 2025, it’ll be interesting to see how new technologies will be used to facilitate the environmental impact of business’ operations in line with their net zero objectives.

Sustainability is not just a trend, but rather the new norm that is defining the direction of the industry.

Sustainably sourced/manufactured materials incorporated into scheme design.

In summary…

As an industry, we are continuously presented with new developments and exciting progressions – and 2025 is no different.

As always, technology remains front and centre as the leading contributor to industry progress in not only production, but also with sustainable initiatives. AI and VR are both key players in the industry and continue to show us just what we are capable of with the right tools.

From new retail flagships to new energy-efficient fuel solutions, there are so many impressive new developments in the sectors that we work in. That’s the beauty of signage – you aren’t pigeon-holed to one industry. As signmakers, we get to experience the endless innovations that each sector has to offer, and play a part in watching these developments come to life.

The start of the year invites us into 2025 with exciting developments and novel opportunities, and astley. is eager to embrace the journey ahead.

Care to join us?

astley. We do signs.

To learn more about how we can support you with your branded environment in 2025, please contact enquires@astley-uk.com 

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