How to Demystify Pull Handles For Your Customers
If you use pull handles on your business's entrance door, then you may expect that people will be able to work out how to open your door easily enough. After all, putting this kind of handle on a door implies that you should pull to open. This doesn't always work, however. Watch just a few customers try to open your door and you're likely to see a number push rather than pull. Why does this happen and how can you make things easier for your customers?
Door Hardware Can Be Confusing
Everyone has brain freeze moments where they try to push open doors that should be pulled and pull open doors that should be pushed. Plus, there is no hard and fast rule that says that a handle should do what is obvious – some handles that look like they should be pulled are actually designed to push open doors. Some people get used to this with doors they open regularly and may assume that your pull handle actually pushes the door open too. In some cases, people just get confused, especially if they can see a handle on the other side of your door and don't know whether to pull or push to open from their side.
Spelling Things Out Can Make Things Clearer
Watching people regularly try to push open your door when it should be pulled may not be a big deal in the great scheme of things, but it may irritate you to hear your door constantly banging against its frame when someone tries to get in the wrong way. Plus, over time, if this happens a lot, then you may start to notice that your door and frame get a bit damaged by being forced the wrong way. Of course, anything you can do to make it easier for customers to get into your business is also a good thing.
So, if you've noticed that some customers are having problems negotiating opening your doors, then you can make it easier for them by using pull handles that have the word 'PULL' etched into their back plates. Your customers will then have no doubts how they should use your handles, and you should reduce the number of times they get it wrong.
If you aren't sure how pull handles with lettering will look, pop into your local locksmith and ask to look at their door hardware stock. Locksmiths will be able to help you choose general pull handle styles and lettering designs that both look good on your doors and give your customers better direction.
