Ironhand wine bar's revenue growth with outdoor shade.

Boosting patronage year-round with Shadowspec Unity™ 

At Shadowspec we’re always excited to see what our customers do with the Shadowspec range of umbrellas. Ironhand combined brand creativity and a spatial design approach for an eye‑catching outdoor setting, helping to boost their iconic roadside façade that works to draw new patrons in.

Before introducing Shadowspec umbrellas to their local winery, Ironhand’s outdoor patio area was being underutilised by patrons. In the winter, patronage of the outdoor space was low, and in the summer, the existing market umbrellas didn’t provide sufficient shade, forcing customers indoors where the air conditioning provided comfort.

“We had way too much sun on the patio and we weren't able to seat people during really hot days. People would have to come inside into the air conditioning; we had bar umbrellas that were a lot smaller and they didn't have nearly as good coverage as the Shadowspec ones”

Taking the time to look at what wasn’t working, it was determined that if Ironhand could seat additional patrons outdoors with more consistency, they could improve both customer satisfaction and revenue. With that insight, a redesign of the bistro area was undertaken. New furniture, plants, and branded Shadowspec Unity™ Duo umbrellas combined to elevate the space and increase patronage.

“Our priority was improving outdoor shade — more shade coverage, the better — branding, and also something eye‑catching from the road because we get a fair amount of traffic on the road that the umbrellas are on.”

The ease of use, outdoor shade coverage, and inherent modularity of the Unity™ were essential to the bar, enabling the umbrellas to be set up in ideal locations to create a comfortable, covered, and inviting space for more patrons. The results are now in, and the expanded outdoor shade area has Ironhand Wine Bar patrons enjoying the space, returning often, and dwelling longer. This increased time on site is leading to larger bills and supporting business growth. Ironhand made an astute decision to use custom‑branded umbrellas, combining Sunbrella® fabric with a print of their logo.

Custom branded umbrellas for enhanced street appeal

Taking advantage of the significant surface area and roadside position, Shadowspec umbrellas allowed Ironhand to leverage their outdoor space, transforming their outdoor dining experience into a comfortable, year‑round offering.

“My favourite feature of the Shadowspec Umbrellas would be, again, the shade coverage. Also, I love that they're branded, so people who may not even be dining with us will see it from the road. So, it's marketing in itself.”

Shade your customers and grow your business

If you’ve got an outdoor space that you think could be improved or repurposed for outdoor wining and dining, consider a cantilever umbrella. Shadowspec’s patented opening system is the perfect commercial umbrella solution — easy to deploy and offering outdoor shade in just five seconds. Staff can deliver exceptional service throughout the day with ease, and customers will appreciate the clean lines and open space created by the offset mast design.

“The Shadowspec Umbrellas have improved our short‑term and long‑term goals in that we're able to seat more people on the patio. The intention is that they're ordering more food and wine — therefore higher bills — which is helping the business as well”

Combining marketing efforts, custom branding, and roadside signage with the expansion and improvements to Ironhand's outdoor space has been transformative. It's proving to be an effective step forward for restaurant design and outdoor shade for many like Ironhand. We're happy to see the potential the location unlocked for both new and returning patron