A lot of things have to be considered when you’re starting a business. Then, when your business is up and running, you’ll need to constantly come up with clever marketing strategies to keep your brand appealing and memorable to the public. Big brands typically spend outrageous amounts of money every time they launch an advertisement campaign. Smaller brands and businesses don’t have usually have that kind of resource, so they need to get creative. Some funny shops have won the attention of the public through their ingenious signs that we consider to be worth more than any fancy advertising we see plastered on billboards.
“Humor assists in making an idea go viral,” Petra Mainer, a blogger for mycustomer.com, wrote. This is apparently because people tend to remember things they find funny and they then share it with other people. Word of mouth has always been an effective marketing strategy. Once the shop’s hilarious sign or marketing props catch the attention of passersby, they’re sure to mention it to their friends at some point. Or take a picture, like the contributors of this compilation have, for all the world to see.
“My grocery store cheese counter has the right idea”
![funny shops cheese pun eurythmics sign](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-cheese-pun-eurythmics-sign.jpg)
“Best shop ever”
![funny shops ironic sign outside mall maintenance shop](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-ironic-sign-outside-mall-maintenance-shop.jpeg)
“A local computer repair shop thinks they’re funny. They’re right.”
![funny shops computer shop stages a computer mouse caught ina mousetrap](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-computer-shop-stages-a-computer-mouse-caught-ina-mousetrap.jpg)
“This smoke shop’s sign”
![funny smoke shop sign](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-smoke-shop-sign.jpg)
These funny shops have pretty brilliant signs
We can all probably agree that discovering comedy gold while you’re just going about your day with your errands and work is a great way to jazz things up. One brilliant employee at a local grocery store, for example, quoted Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams and switched out some words with cheese names. Several ice cream shop staff have also been found to make things a bit more fun in their workplace, take for example the jester who included a pinecone in their ice cream cone display. Some shops have also printed some meme content and handwritten jokes to make their customers grin and cackle.
“This tattoo shops signs are always on point!”
![tattoo shop has funny signs](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tattoo-shop-has-funny-signs.jpg)
“Donut shop in my area is doing renovations”
![donut shop puts sign to reassure patrons](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/donut-shop-puts-sign-to-reassure-patrons.jpg)
These shops use hilarious marketing strategies to win the attention of the public
Any business owner will know, the actual name of the business is just as important as the marketing strategy and management. This part of business-building usually stumps many, but it’s always rewarding when you figure out the perfect fit for your brand. And more often than not, business names and brands are results of clever wordplay that defy standard spelling rules. However, some are perfectly content with using normal spellings, like “Sorry Coffee Co.” in Canada. Keep on scrolling to see more awesome shops we’ve discovered from all over the world!
“Seen on the ceiling of an Istanbul shop”
![funny shops skateboard fan in istanbul](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-skateboard-fan-in-istanbul.jpeg)
“Local donut shop just posted this photo”
![funny shops posts picture of happy pug seeing a donut](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-posts-picture-of-happy-pug-seeing-a-donut.png)
“An actual Canadian coffee shop”
![funny shops sorry coffee co](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-sorry-coffee-co.jpg)
Other shops make use of fun visual guides to help their customers
Restaurant staff usually find themselves dealing with guests who don’t really know what they want. And more often than not, these ‘difficult’ guests tend to be kids. So, to help make things easier for both the staff and their parents, one sandwich shop came up with a “kids only menu” that features meal sets categorized under phrases used by undecided tots like “I don’t know!” and “I’d rather starve!”.
On the other hand, a coffee shop cleverly presented their coffee cup sizes in a way that suggested which size was perfect for the customer depending on the amount of sleep they got prior to stopping by the shop. It’s an absolutely clever way of connecting with one’s clients!
“I found this at my local supermarket.”
![supermarket uses a game of thrones meme to attract customers](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/supermarket-uses-a-game-of-thrones-meme-to-attract-customers.jpg)
“New seasonal item in the produce department at the grocery store!”
![supermarket staff labels carrots as snowmans nose](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/supermarket-staff-labels-carrots-as-snowmans-nose.jpg)
“Ad for local pizza shop. They’re getting my business.”
![funny shops pizza salad](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-pizza-salad.jpg)
“Coffee shop drink sizes based on how much sleep you had last night”
![funny shops coffee cup sizes matched with sleep duration](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-coffee-cup-sizes-matched-with-sleep-duration.jpg)
“My kind of shop..”
![funny shop has funny payment methods](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shop-has-funny-payment-methods.jpg)
“False advertising”
![appliance store employees post hilarious signs on a fridge](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/appliance-store-employees-post-hilarious-signs-on-a-fridge-scaled.jpg)
“The children’s menu at a local sandwich shop.”
![kids only menu at sandwich shop](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-kids-only-menu-at-sandwich-shop.jpg)
The jokes some of these shops make got pretty dark
Adding a bit of humor to one’s marketing strategy is fun. But some of these funny shops have also used some pretty dark humor to win our favor. Take for example the scandalous sign that a supermarket staff placed in front of their cucumber stock. This ‘innocent’ joke of theirs most likely earned plenty of chuckles from shoppers! Meanwhile, a photography shop certainly won the online community’s attention with their shocking poster. Scroll down below to see more of these fun shops and their hilariously clever signs!
“Shaving sign at a barber shop across the street from Trinity College, Dublin”
![funny shaving sign at a barber shop](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shaving-sign-at-a-barber-shop.jpg)
“Local hardware store with a sense of humour.”
![hardware store makes a joke about step ladders](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-hardware-shop-makes-a-joke-about-step-ladders.jpg)
“Interesting advertisement for my local printing shop.”
![disturbingly hilarious photography poster](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/disturbingly-funny-photography-shop-poster.jpg)
“At the coffee shop when you get hit by this unexpected quote of the day”
![coffee shop posts an unexpected quote for the day](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/coffee-shop-posts-an-unexpected-quote-for-the-day.jpg)
“Was sitting at my local coffee shop and randomly decided to flip over the plastic triangle menu they have on all the tables…”
![customer flips the triangle display case and finds a funny message](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/customer-flips-the-triangle-display-case-and-finds-a-funny-message.jpg)
“The children’s book section at this gift shop doesn’t candy coat a damn thing.”
![funny shops places a mean joke on display](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-places-a-mean-joke-on-display.jpeg)
“They mounted a vegan to the wall at my local butcher shop.”
![local butcher mounts a mannequin on wall](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/local-butcher-mounts-a-mannequin-on-wall.jpg)
“Someone at the Arts & Crafts store has a warped sense of humor.”
![someone at the local arts store has a warped sense of humor](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/someone-at-the-local-arts-store-has-a-warped-sense-of-humor.jpg)
“As somebody who works in retail, this sign should be posted in every store ever.”
![shop puts up a sign telling patrons not to abuse staff](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/shop-puts-up-a-sign-telling-patrons-not-to-abuse-staff.jpg)
Sugar-coating isn’t a part of these businesses’ vocabulary
“I noticed this bottle at a local coffee shop, and asked the owner about it. He said “health inspector asked ‘what’s this jar?’ and I said nothing, it’s empty, and she said ‘everything has to be labeled’ so I labeled it”
![sarcastic coffee shop employee labels empty bottle to comply with health worker](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sarcastic-coffee-shop-employee-labels-empty-bottle-to-comply-with-health-worker.jpg)
“Seen in a toy store in Austin, TX”
![funny shops toy store posts a sign begging shoppers to buy cups](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-toy-store-posts-a-sign-begging-shoppers-to-buy-cups.jpg)
“This pizza shop gets it”
![pizzeria does not beat around the bush](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-pizzeria-does-not-beat-around-the-bush.jpg)
“My local independent coffee shop uses a Starbucks mug for its toilet brush holder”
![funny shops independent coffee shop uses starbucks mug as toilet brush holder](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-independent-coffee-shop-uses-starbucks-mug-as-toilet-brush-holder.jpg)
“Aussie coffee shop tells it like it is”
![store labels honey as bee vomit](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shop-labels-honey-as-bee-vomit.jpg)
And sometimes, the hilarity is the result of employees getting a bit of power
“I was given the ability to control what gets printed on the receipts at the doughnut shop where I work. This is the first thing I did.”
![funny receipt](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shop-receipt.jpg)
“Found in a Florida grocery store. That’s how you sell some produce!”
![funny shops florida supermarket puts raunchy sign on cucumber display](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-florida-supermarket-puts-raunchy-sign-on-cucumber-display.jpg)
“This sign I found a an ice cream shop in Amman, Jordan.”
![ice cream shop](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ice-cream-shop-posts-a-funny-sign.jpg)
“For my last day of work at the pet store, I made myself Employee of the Month”
![permanent employee of the month](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/permanent-employee-of-the-month.jpg)
“Someone in the wine section at my local giant eagle has a sense of humor”
![funny shops attention-grabbing sign for wine selection](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-attention-grabbing-sign-for-wine-selection.jpg)
“Safety first.”
![shop staff place a comical sign on their wooden sword display](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/shop-staff-place-a-comical-sign-on-their-wooden-sword-display.jpg)
“The sign outside my local coffee shop”
![clever coffee shop sign](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-clever-coffee-shop-sign.jpg)
“This cone display at my local ice cream shop.”
![funny ice cream shop cone display](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-ice-cream-shop-cone-display.jpg)
“Went to a Mexican wrestling-themed taco shop the other night, was not disappointed.”
![funny shops fire escape plan in a mexican wrestling taco shop](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/funny-shops-fire-escape-plan-in-a-mexican-wrestling-taco-shop.jpg)
“My local ice cream shop has this on their dishes.”
![ice cream does not mince words](https://www.awesomeinventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ice-cream-does-not-mince-words.jpg)
I think we can all agree that coffee and ice cream shops reign supreme in this compilation of funny shops. And we’re not complaining! It’s always a treat to stumble upon a subtle joke or pun while we’re going about our usual routine. You’ve probably discovered plenty of in-store jokes on your own. If so, then go ahead and share it with us via the comment section below!