Resource
Retail Hoarding Graphics Glossary
The definitive reference for retail hoarding graphics terminology — covering substrates, finishes, mall standards, and installation processes used in shopping centres across the United States and Canada. Part of our free resource library.
Talk to a SpecialistMaterials comparison
The five most common retail hoarding substrates, ranked by typical use case and relative cost. Material choice depends on duration, wall surface, and brand finish requirements.
| Material | Thickness | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foamex PVC | 3–5 mm | Short-term installs (<6 months) | $$ |
| Dibond | 3 mm | Premium flagship stores, exterior | $$$ |
| Self-Adhesive Vinyl | N/A (film) | Curved surfaces, glass, smooth panels | $ |
| Correx | 4 mm | Budget fit-outs, recyclable applications | $ |
| Tension Fabric (SEG) | Frame: 30–50 mm | Premium flush-finish hoardings | $$$ |
Price tiers are relative within retail hoarding projects in the United States and Canada. Final pricing varies by quantity, finish, and installation complexity. See our pricing calculator for project estimates.
Defined terms
Twenty industry-standard definitions used by retail brands, mall operators, and construction teams. Each term reflects current hoarding practice in the United States and Canada.
- Retail Hoarding Graphics
- Large-format printed panels installed around retail construction or fit-out zones to maintain brand presence, comply with mall standards, and drive pre-opening awareness. Industry data shows 73% of shoppers form brand impressions during the pre-opening hoarding phase.
- Hoarding Panel
- A temporary wall panel — typically 8 ft × 4 ft (2.4 m × 1.2 m) — installed around a retail construction zone inside a shopping mall, lifestyle centre, or high-street location. Most mall operators specify minimum 8 ft height for unobstructed sightlines.
- Bleed Zone
- The extra 3–5 mm (0.125–0.25 in) of printed area extended beyond the trim line. Bleed prevents white edges from appearing after cutting, panel alignment, or installation tolerance shifts.
- Substrate
- The physical material onto which graphics are printed or applied. Common retail hoarding substrates include 5 mm Foamex PVC, 3 mm Dibond aluminium composite, self-adhesive vinyl, and 4 mm Correx fluted polypropylene.
- Adhesive Vinyl
- A self-adhesive printable film applied directly to smooth wall surfaces such as drywall, MDF, or pre-painted hoarding. Accounts for roughly 70% of retail hoarding applications due to fast install times and clean removal.
- Lamination
- A protective overlay film applied over printed graphics to resist scratches, UV fade, moisture, and cleaning chemicals. Available in gloss, matte, satin, and anti-graffiti finishes. Matte is most common in retail because it eliminates glare from mall lighting.
- Mall Hoarding Standards
- Operator-specific requirements that govern hoarding height, materials, signage, branding, and installation hours. Major operators in the United States and Canada — including Westfield, Brookfield Properties, Simon Property Group, Cadillac Fairview, and Ivanhoé Cambridge — each publish distinct compliance documents.
- Pre-Opening Marketing
- The brand-led communication strategy executed before a retail store opens, typically lasting 4–12 weeks. Hoarding graphics, QR codes, social handles, and 'coming soon' signage convert mall foot traffic into opening-day awareness.
- Site Survey
- A pre-installation inspection where measurements, wall conditions, obstructions (columns, doors, utility panels), and access logistics are documented. Surveys produce CAD or PDF artwork templates used by designers to ensure print-perfect fit.
- Fit-Out
- The construction process of converting a vacant retail unit into a finished, brand-ready store. Fit-out timelines typically run 6–14 weeks, during which hoarding graphics conceal active construction from the public.
- Foamex PVC
- A lightweight closed-cell PVC sheet substrate (3–10 mm), commonly used for short-term hoarding panels under 6 months. Easy to cut, screw, and replace; rated for indoor mall environments.
- Dibond
- A premium 3 mm aluminium composite panel with a polyethylene core. Rigid, weatherproof, and dent-resistant — preferred for flagship store hoardings, exterior installations, and 12+ month durations.
- Correx
- A fluted polypropylene sheet (4–10 mm) used for budget short-term hoarding. Lightweight, recyclable, and waterproof but lower print fidelity than Foamex or Dibond.
- CMYK
- Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) — the four-colour subtractive process used for large-format printing. All hoarding artwork should be supplied in CMYK to ensure colour accuracy from screen to substrate.
- Pantone Matching System (PMS)
- A standardized spot-colour reference system used to ensure brand colour consistency across print runs and substrates. Critical for luxury, fashion, and beverage brands with exacting colour requirements.
- Tension Frame System
- An aluminium extrusion frame that holds a printed silicone-edged fabric (SEG) graphic under tension. Produces a flush, frameless finish ideal for premium retail and gallery-style hoardings.
- Permit Coordination
- The process of securing mall management approval, hot-work permits, after-hours access permissions, and insurance certificate submissions before installation begins. Typically requires 5–7 business days lead time.
- Deinstall
- The clean removal of hoarding graphics, panels, and adhesives prior to store soft-opening. Proper deinstall preserves wall condition and protects tenant security deposits with mall operators.
- DPI (Dots Per Inch)
- The print resolution measurement used for raster artwork. Hoarding graphics should be supplied at 150 DPI at full print size, or 300 DPI at half-scale, to ensure sharp output on large-format substrates.
- Soft Opening
- A controlled retail launch — often 1–2 weeks before grand opening — used to test operations, train staff, and refine merchandising. Hoarding deinstall is typically scheduled for the day before soft opening.
- COI (Certificate of Insurance)
- Proof of liability coverage — typically $2M general liability plus $5M umbrella — required by mall operators before any contractor accesses tenant space. Standard turnaround from a broker is 1–2 business days, and the certificate must name the mall operator and landlord as additional insured.
- Hot-Work Permit
- A mall-issued authorization required whenever installation involves drilling, cutting, grinding, or any spark-producing tool. Usually valid for a single shift, requires a dedicated fire-watch attendant on site, and must be filed 24–72 hours in advance.
- Vendor Compliance Package
- The bundled documentation — COI, W-9, safety plan, MSDS sheets, crew identification, and mall vendor registration — submitted to mall operations before install. Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties, and Westfield each maintain distinct vendor portals with operator-specific intake forms.
- Anti-Graffiti Laminate
- A sacrificial overlaminate film that allows marker ink, spray paint, and sticker residue to be wiped clean without damaging the printed graphic beneath. Standard specification on street-level, transit-adjacent, and unsupervised hoardings.
- Removable vs Permanent Adhesive
- Removable acrylic adhesive (e.g. 3M Controltac) lifts cleanly from painted drywall for 12–24 months without leaving residue. Permanent adhesive bonds aggressively and requires heat or solvent to remove. Retail hoardings should default to removable to protect tenant security deposits and mall wall condition.
- Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG)
- A dye-sublimated fabric panel with a silicone bead sewn into the perimeter that snaps into a recessed aluminium frame channel. Produces a frameless, flush, gallery-style finish preferred for flagship and luxury hoardings.
- Wayfinding Wrap
- A printed vinyl overlay applied to temporary directional signage during construction phases. Redirects shoppers around closed units while reinforcing the incoming tenant's brand identity and announcing the opening timeline.
Sources & references
This glossary is informed by industry research, mall operator standards, and our own production data across retail projects in the United States and Canada.
- ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) — Global research on mall traffic patterns, tenant fit-out cycles, and pre-opening shopper behaviour. icsc.com
- Shop! Association (formerly POPAI) — Standards body for retail visual merchandising, in-store marketing, and point-of-purchase display. shopassociation.org
- Westfield, Brookfield Properties, Simon, Cadillac Fairview, Ivanhoé Cambridge — Mall operator hoarding standards and tenant coordination guidelines (proprietary documents distributed to vendors).
- Rapid Retail Graphics production data — Aggregated from 50,000+ sq ft of monthly hoarding output across 25+ markets in the United States and Canada (2023–2025).
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