A pastry shop sees a 10-percent sales increase in just two days after promoting its trending butter rice cakes through storefront signs. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Hangzhou's new commercial policy is giving local businesses a major boost, local media outlets reported.

Since Feb 17, shops can set up advertising signs within their own premises without complex approvals, as part of the city's "Ten Permits, Three Services" initiative.

At a lamb hotpot restaurant in Baijingfang Alley, new outdoor menu boards have drawn in curious passersby, increasing daily customers by over 10 tables and revenue by several thousand yuan. Similarly, a pastry shop saw a 10-percent sales increase in just two days after promoting its trending butter rice cakes through storefront signs.

Beyond signage, the city has streamlined the approval process for shop signs. A beef noodle shop owner, once hesitant due to lengthy procedures, replaced his aging sign within a week using a new one-click online system, saving both time and design costs.

The relaxed regulations extend beyond signage, allowing temporary outdoor displays, play areas in malls, and clearer real estate advertising rules. With a balance of order and flexibility, Hangzhou is enhancing both its business environment and urban vitality.

A beef shop owner has his aging sign replaced by using a new online system. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]