A short looping video with a friendly character turns the screen by your till or in your shop window into a salesperson for your offer of the week. Here is what to put in it and how to get it made.
The screen by your till or in your shop window is seen by everyone who queues up or walks past. Yet many of these screens show the same slideshow for months. A short in-store screen video, with a friendly character announcing your offer of the week, catches the eye, explains the deal in a few seconds and can be replaced when the offer changes. This guide shows you what to put in it, what a script can look like and what to watch out for with length, format and look.
Why an in-store screen video?
People in a shop have a few seconds to spare: waiting to pay, browsing the window, standing in a queue. Moving pictures draw the eye more easily than a printed poster, and a person speaking directly to the viewer feels more personal than a list of prices. A loop on your screen also means you do not have to reprint a sign every time the offer changes.
A video works for more than discounts, too. You can use the same approach to introduce a new product, remind people of a loyalty card, announce changed opening hours or point out a service they may not know you offer.
What goes into it
Keep the content tight. A good in-store screen video answers four questions:
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What is the offer? One product or deal per film. Two offers in 20 seconds means neither sticks.
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What does it cost or save? Say the price or the benefit clearly, and show it on screen.
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How long does it run? This week only, until Saturday, while stocks last.
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What should people do? Ask at the till, pick one up from the counter, try a sample.
Add your shop name or logo at the end so the film is clearly yours. One more point matters for shop screens: many of them run without sound, or the sound is drowned out by the till and the radio. Everything important should therefore also appear as on-screen text, so the message works even on mute.
Example script: offer of the week at a bakery
Here is how a 15–20 second loop for an invented bakery, Millbrook Bakery, could look:
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Scene 1 (about 6 seconds): The baker stands behind the counter holding a sourdough loaf. She says: This week at Millbrook Bakery: our sourdough loaf plus any pastry for just £4.50. On screen: Offer of the week, with the price in a gold star.
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Scene 2 (about 6 seconds): She gestures towards the pastry display. She says: Baked fresh every morning, right here. On screen: Baked fresh daily.
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Scene 3 (about 6 seconds): She smiles into the camera. She says: Just ask at the till. The offer ends Saturday. On screen: Ask at the till · Until Saturday, then the bakery logo.
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Loop: The last shot returns to the same framing as the first, so the film can run again without a visible jump.
Example film, made with ClipStage · AI-generated
Where you can use the video
Once the film exists, it can work in several places:
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Screen at the till: the main spot, where people wait and decide on a last-minute extra.
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Shop window screen: facing the street, to bring passers-by in.
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Screen at reception or in the waiting area: for a hairdresser, garage or practice, where customers sit for a few minutes.
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WhatsApp status for regular customers: the same offer reaches people who are not in the shop today.
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Instagram Reel or Facebook post: a portrait version for your followers.
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Website: on your homepage or a news page, so online visitors see the current deal too.
Tips on length, format and look
Length: 15–20 seconds is ideal for a loop. It is long enough for one clear offer and short enough that someone queuing sees it more than once.
Format: Most wall-mounted and window screens are landscape, so 16:9 is the usual choice. Upright displays and customer stands often need portrait 9:16. If you want both, order them together. Square 1:1 and 4:5 versions for social media can be cut from the same source.
Look: Make the on-screen text large enough to read from a few metres away and keep it short. Use decoration that suits the occasion: a price star for an offer, a This week only ribbon for a limited deal, a calendar sheet for an event date. Use your shop colours so the screen looks like part of your shop rather than an advert from elsewhere.
Sound: Keep music light and friendly. If your screen plays sound, the character's voice adds warmth. If not, the on-screen text carries the message.
How it works with ClipStage in three steps
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Tell the director about your offer. In a conversation with the AI director at ClipStage you explain the offer, the price, the duration and your shop. The director writes the script, checks it and creates a storyboard. The start fee of €9.90 (Deluxe €19.90) is deducted in full from your first purchase after it.
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Check a test video if you like. A test video is one scene of the real film, about 6 seconds, for €9.90. When you buy the film, €4.95 comes off the price. You can also order the film directly.
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Receive your finished film. The character speaks lip-synced, with music and on-screen text. Prices per second are Basic €3.50, Premium €4 and Deluxe €5, for at least 15 seconds, including three rounds of corrections. Every round you do not use is refunded after acceptance. A 30-second Premium film costs €120, or €75 if no correction is needed. Portrait and landscape together cost 60 % more. There is no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Does the video work if my screen has no sound? Yes, as long as the key facts appear as on-screen text. Ask the director to show the offer, the price and the end date as text in every scene.
Can I change the offer every week? Each offer is its own short film. Keeping it to 15–20 seconds keeps the cost manageable, and you can reuse the same character and setting so your weekly films look consistent.
Can the film be in German as well? Yes. Films can be made in English or German, so you can produce a version for each language if your customers need it.