Did you know customers make split-second judgments about your business based on your signage? It&#;s true. Before they ever set foot in your business&#;or walk right on by&#; they have already formed a first impression. And once they are in your business, they continue to form opinions about your business depending on whether your signage is helpful in wayfinding, providing instructions, and properly conveying your brand.
Is your signage giving the right first impression? Does it accurately convey the professionalism and vibe of your business? Is it assisting your customers in finding where they need to go?
If your signage is confusing, hard to read, looks worn or dated, or just isn&#;t connecting with your preferred audience, it&#;s time to update your signage.
The first step to creating an effective, high-quality business sign is partnering with a signage and graphics company that can offer customized solutions to meet your unique business needs.
If you&#;re unsure how to begin vetting a custom sign studio for your business sign project, we&#;ve got your back. We&#;re going to give you the key questions you need to ask when choosing a sign company.
Ready to discover how to get the best sign for your industry? Then read on to learn more.
Be sure to ask your local sign company exactly what types of signs they offer. Of course, you want to ensure they specialize in the specific type of sign you have in mind, but they may also offer solutions you hadn&#;t thought of.
You may think that any sign company can create your business sign, but creating signs to satisfy various business needs effectively is an art and a science and requires a company with the appropriate knowledge and experience.
Here are some of the most common types of business signs and how they can help you reach your business goals.
Interior Signs
Lobby Signs & Directional Signs are effective at branding your reception area, lobby, or giving directions around your premises.
Architectural Films can help you maintain your open concept while providing privacy with a customized, branded look.
ADA Office Signs address the needs of people with disabilities and are fully compliant with federal and state-specific requirements.
Glass Whiteboards effortlessly blend form and function using your wall space to provide welcoming signage and encourage collaboration among your team.
Building Signs attract customers and let people know you are a business that is here to stay.
Channel Lettering Signs offer high-energy efficiency and low maintenance LED illumination to help your business stand apart from the rest.
Monument Signs are a unique, cost-friendly solution to catch the eye of passersby quickly, and are especially useful for multi-tenant buildings.
Sandblasted Signs are custom, handcrafted signs that can communicate your beachy vibe, whether modern and contemporary or traditional, for your Southern California business.
Wall & Window Graphics
Window Graphics catch the attention of folks passing by and are an easy and cost-effective way to create brand awareness and inform customers about promotions.
Wall Murals & Graphics can communicate your company&#;s vision and mission, reinforce your commitment to quality, safety, and service, or tell the history of your business.
Event Signs
Banners, Corporate Event Signs, Large Format Printing, and Trade Show Displays help you brand your business and market your products and services off-site at corporate and community events, driving more customers through your doors.
We&#;ve all seen signs that look slightly lackluster, haven&#;t we? The ones that look hastily thrown-together rather than carefully and thoughtfully designed.
Look for a local sign company that has a full-time design team who will give your sign the care and attention it deserves and will collaborate with you to create a sign worthy of your company.
Ask the sign company if they have an experienced, in-house designer. Ask about their design process &#; how do they charge for design, how many concepts will be prepared, and how many revisions are included. Ask to see samples of previous sign projects.
Getting a new sign entails more than just approving the design. Counties, cities, and municipalities may have their own set of codes and ordinances that govern the design, fabrication, and installation of signs. Look for an experienced sign company that will guide you through the process of permitting your sign to ensure your sign meets all the necessary requirements.
Installation and permitting go hand-in-hand, since the city will require a final inspection following completion of installation. It is beneficial to select a sign maker who will take the lead on every step throughout the permitting and installation processes. In the State of California, that means that you will want a sign company that is fully licensed &#; to pull permits and to do installations.
Who will handle the process of making your sign? Ideally, the sign-making company will make your sign in-house. If they do, there is less room for misinterpretation, no one else to contact, and no one else who can delay the process.
While you&#;re finding out these details, you should learn other facts about the sign&#;s fabrication. What will it be made of? What are your options for its construction?
You can also ask questions about maintenance and find out whether your local sign company will maintain the sign.
Any local sign company worth their salt will be communicative and give you a point of contact as soon as you sign up with them.
When you have a dedicated point of contact, it makes communication throughout the entire process much more seamless. If your local sign company doesn&#;t have a dedicated person to contact, it may indicate inefficiency in the company.
It is important to know the turnaround time before you okay a project. The company should be able to give you a clear estimate of when your sign will be made. This means that you can then schedule other tasks around it.
A sign company that flip-flops and changes its schedule regularly may be more likely to deliver a substandard product at the end of the process.
Before you agree to have a local sign maker begin work on your sign, you should ask them for testimonials. If they are a reputable company, they should have a large selection of positive company reviews for you to peruse at your leisure.
If they do not have testimonials to show you, it could be a sign of shoddy work. Proceed with caution.
If you are looking for a new sign for your business, Starfish Signs & Graphics caters to any industry and handles every phase of your signage process, providing you with a positive experience every step of the way.
To see our work, take a look at our portfolio. When you are ready to begin planning your custom sign project, please get in touch. We&#;d love to help you!
Purchasing an exterior sign can be a new experience for many business owners. It&#;s not something that you do every day so it&#;s a good idea to have some guidance to help you through the ins and outs of exterior sign purchasing.
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1) Is the exterior sign style you are interested in buying allowed in the city or town where your business is moving to or located at?
Most towns and cities have Bylaws and Sign Permitting requirements. You can find these usually by doing a web search for Town of &#;Sign Permitting or Bylaws.
There are usually restrictions on the types of signs allowed, what size sign you can have, what types of lighting if any are allowed, and so on. For example in many towns, you are only allowed reverse or halo illuminated Channel Letters as an effort to reduce the amount of light overflowing the sign.
Obtain a copy of your town&#;s bylaws, specifically the sign section. Read and understand what the allowed types and sizes of signs you can have. Inquire with the Building Department or Inspectional Services on what the permitting process is and how long it takes to get a permit. It varies greatly from town to town and can be anywhere from days to months. Need permitting help? Express Sign & Graphics has lots of experience with Sign Permitting.
Understand that if you want a sign that is outside of the parameters allowed in the Bylaws, you may need to go through a process of applying for a variance. This can be costly and time-consuming so be sure it is a worthwhile endeavor and that your sign will have a great ROI by understanding how well your sign type choice will work for your business.
2) What types of Exterior Signs are in my price range?
There are many types of signs for outdoor use. Many lighted options such as channel letters, light box signs and pylon signs have costs in the thousands. Be sure that the ROI for the extra cost is worthwhile. In general, internally lighted signs offer a much better visibility and ROI than externally or non-illuminated signs.
Other signs such as carved signs with gold leaf can be expensive depending on the thickness of the material, the number of processes involved in making the sign (i.e. shape routing, v-groove and raised dimensions, multiple paint colors, etc.). Work with your sign provider to minimize costs. Also keep in mind that when we say Gold Leaf, we do really mean 23K Gold, and therefore the cost of gold leaf reflects the cost of gold leaf signs.
Try using a full-color digital print or direct to substrate print in place of multiple vinyl or paint colors to contain costs. The newer printers and inks provide long-lasting outdoor full-color prints when done properly.
Remember that you get what you pay for. When comparing pricing or vendors, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Some sign companies might quote a lower cost by cutting back and using less expensive materials or materials with a shorter life span. At Express Sign, we strive to make the highest quality sign our customer can afford. The quality of your sign reflects the quality of your business!
Don&#;t be afraid to ask for a ballpark price from your sign vendor for different types of signs. Often pricing is as simple as a per square foot price so it&#;s easy to compare.
3) How long does it take to make the Exterior Sign you are interested in buying?
Many sign types can be done in a matter of days or a week. Others take several weeks to fabricate as there are several processes involved in fabrication.
Ask your vendor what their turnaround time is for the sign type(s) you are interested in. Be sure that they are capable of installing your sign or have a qualified sub-contractor who can do the installation. Also be sure they have sufficient insurance coverage to protect you from any issues arriving from the installation.
Ask your sign fabricator what situations might change that schedule (i.e. weather issues, product availability) and allow for some extra time in your schedule for installation.
Work with your sign company to coordinate permits, electrical work, construction completion, etc. to keep your sign project on schedule. Keep the weather in mind, specifically in the winter.
4) How long will the Exterior Sign Type you&#;ve selected last?
Different sign substrates have different lifespans. Remember, nothing lasts forever, specifically in advertising. Most companies don&#;t need a sign for more than 8-10 years. Name changes, logo changes, moves, mergers and other factors often create the need for a new sign anyway. More important to ask would be, can the sign be modified if needed, moved to a new location, or refurbished in time.
Remember you will have to do your part to maintain your signs lifespan. Cleaning your sign or awning, keeping electrical components in working order, repairing vinyl over time helps to make your sign last longer and work harder for you.
5) Can the Exterior Sign Type I&#;ve selected be updated if I change my name, etc.?
Consider whether or not you want to include your website, number, tenant names directly on a sign. If you do decide to have it, consider having that part done as an overlay, insert panel, or in vinyl to allow for changes when needed. This can save you money in the future particularly on dimensional letters signs or carved signs.
If you have a multi-tenant sign or directory sign, be sure that it can easily be updated. Again in winter it can be difficult to re-letter signs outdoors. In areas where winter weather is a consideration, removable panels that can be brought indoors work best.
6) What other potential costs involved in completing your outdoor sign project?
Many times your sign project requires additional work at your site. Be sure to have your sign vendor come on site to survey and be sure that you don&#;t need extra blocking or structure to attach your sign, that your electrical wiring is available, or accessible, that there is access for attaching your sign.
Ask what other vendors may be needed such as an Electrician, contractor, Attorney for special permitting.
Plan ahead so that your premises are ready to accept the sign.
7) What is the most visible location for my sign?
Location and visibility are critical to the success of your exterior sign project. Make sure your sign location is visible from as many traffic viewpoints as possible. Plan your lettering and graphic sizes to accommodate the length of view and speed of drivers if you are along a road. Plan for ease of view for foot traffic if you have it in your area.
Your sign should fit with your environment. A neon flashing sign in a historical area would look out of place and most likely would not be allowed. Plan accordingly.
At Express Sign & Graphics, we provide our customers with imposed scaled photos of how their signs will actually look in place. This is an important step to be sure your sign is the appropriate size, has good visibility and looks great before making a commitment.
8) What is my sign company&#;s experience fabricating this type of Exterior Sign?
Don&#;t be afraid to ask for references or referrals. Your neighbors and business partners may know the sign company you are dealing with and their capabilities.
You should feel comfortable with your sign vendor and their ability to explain different sign types, understand your requirements and work with you to get your sign project done on time and on budget.
At Express Sign & Graphics, we have a great showroom where you can visit and see photos of our work, view real samples and meet with our designers, fabricators, and installers to ask questions.
9) What can I expect for a Return on Investment on a large Exterior Sign?
There is no doubt that signs offer a great ROI on your advertising budget. No other type of advertising works in your neighborhood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
ROI will be determined by the signs visibility, appropriateness for your type of business and overall design. Consulting with a sign professional and allowing them to offer you suggestions based on their experience is the best way to get the best value for your money.
10) Is this the most-effect type of Exterior Sign for my business and my customer type?
Keep in mind what your business is and how you want to be perceived by the public. Are you an accounting firm or attorney looking to attract quality clients? A boutique looking for hipsters? A grocery store looking to attract customers away from the competition? Your signs should reflect your business and provide an avenue for your business success.
Again, keep in mind the surrounding area where your business is located. Are there competing signs with similar colors/style? Is there a lot in the viewer&#;s eye to weed through for signs and other distractions. How fast are drivers driving? This again is where a sign professional can be a great asset in planning. They are experienced at what works and what doesn&#;t.
Are you interested in learning more about Outdoor Wayfinding Signs? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
You may have many other questions for your sign provider. At Express Sign & Graphics, Inc., we have the experience to help answer all of your questions and get you on the right track. Our staff is available at our store Monday &#; Friday 8:30 am &#; 5:00 pm to help you.