A sign creates the first impression you make with your customers. Well-designed and quality signage makes people stop and shop. Having effective signage allows any business to compete in a highly competitive, fast-paced market. Signs offer continuous advertising and marketing seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Moreover, if your business is on a busy road, you need increased visibility to stand out among the clutter. Want to communicate effectively with visitors on your campus? Then, install aesthetic directional signs. If your sign can’t be seen at night, light it up with an LED sign. Want to be seen by speeding motorists on a highway? You need a pole or pylon sign. Also, skilled sign professionals know how to catch the consumer’s attention. They can advise on effective sign elements, finishes, and placement. They also ensure that your sign meets all local regulations and ordinances.
Choosing a Sign Design
Perhaps you have your logo and message ready to submit to a sign company. Before you begin the design process and start picking out colors, you should consider a few points.
Location affects the type of design you should choose. It also dictates the size and type of sign for your business or organization.
Furthermore, consider your budget. How much can you spend on a new sign? Vinyl graphics for windows won’t cost as much as an LED sign. The amount available to spend plays a major factor in the design and type of signage.
Moreover, the City Sign Code has a significant influence. Depending on where you do business, city codes often factor into the design of your sign. What is or isn’t allowed in a certain business district can affect your design options.
Signage for Growth
Businesses choose to have a sign for various reasons. It can help customers find their location, provide information about the business, or help them stand out among their competitors. To stay in business, you need to increase sales. To increase sales, you need an advertising and marketing plan. One of the best and easiest ways to market your business is with a sign.
According to the International Sign Association, there are 3 main ways a sign can be used for marketing:
- Attract New Customers. With increased visibility of a sign, you can reach consumers driving or walking by. Improved design can also entice new customers to utilize your products or services.
- Brand the Business. Make your business recognizable with consistency in color scheme, logo, and messaging. Everything should be the same, even on your letterhead and business cards, imprinting your business in the minds of consumers. They should know what they’ll get each time they see your sign.
- Create Impulse Sales. The design of your sign must relay what is being sold to attract impulse customers. The most important information should be recognizable at a glance.
The Design Process
Your sign should convey what you sell and enhance your brand. Consider the overall design of a sign as part of the architecture of the building. The design process should and can be easy, starting with a consultation between you and the sign company. During this meeting, the sign company will solicit your input and discuss your business’s messaging goals and budget.
A visit to your location allows the sign representative to assess measurements, traffic volumes, and visibility for the best placement. If you choose an electrical sign, they will determine electrical sources. A good sign company knows the local ordinances on what signage is allowed.
If you don’t have a logo yet, a sign company’s graphic designers can create one for you. Or, if you already know what you want your sign to look like, the graphic designers will work with the artwork or drawings that you submit.
Once a design has been drafted, all decision makers must approve it. The timeline for approval depends on the number of signs and decision makers. After your business approves the design, the following will take place:
- Permitting. Most exterior signs require a permit from your local municipality.
- Manufacturing. The time to fabricate a sign varies, depending on size and design complexity.
- Shipping. Different shipping options are available, with costs depending on the weight and size of your sign.
- Installation. Ensure your business site is ready for installation.
Schlosser Sign Options
No matter the industry, facility, or location, there is a sign for every business. Schlosser Signs offers many types of signs, including:
- Monument Signs: Stand-alone ground signs attached to a base.
- Channel Letters: Including Pan channel letters that are three-dimensional. Reverse Channel Letters have a solid front and clear back for a halo effect at night.
- Electronic Message Centers (EMC) project images and change messages, such as time or temperature.
- Interior Signs include directories, wayfinding, and regulatory signs.
- Pylon Signs capture the attention of motorists, typically displayed near highways.
- Wall Signs attach to the exterior wall of a building.
- Blade Signs are found in shopping centers.
- Cabinet Signs are used indoors or outdoors.
- Awnings & Canopies cover walkways, doorways, and windows. A canopy can also function as a marquee.
- Electronic Signs, including fluorescent, incandescent, LED, and neon signs, can be used indoors and outdoors.
- Flat Cut Out Signs come in various colors and finishes.
- LED Signs are available in various colors and are very energy-efficient.
- Neon Signs come in many shapes and colors.
- Pole Signs are placed beside roads for visibility to passersby.
- Sandblasted Signs feature designs etched using sand and air.
- Stone Signs often adorn entrances to neighborhoods and businesses.
Questions to Ask a Sign Company
Working with a sign company should be straightforward. There are certain aspects of the design process that you should be able to handle: design, permitting, manufacturing, and installation.
You want a sign that is durable, easy to maintain, and conforms to all local codes and standards. Ask the sign company for a list of signs it has installed in the area and visit them in person. Are they visible and legible from the street?
There are also some questions you can ask the sign company to determine if they are a good fit for your business:
- Do you offer installation as part of your services?
- Do you include the necessary specialized equipment?
- Is safety an important component of your service?
- Are you licensed for the job, and do you have all the necessary insurance?
- Do you offer routine maintenance plans?
- What types of signage do you have at your sign shop?
- What specific services related to the sign process do you offer?
- What steps are involved in creating the sign I want, and what is the typical timeframe involved?
- Do you allow visits to your plants so I can see the operation?
- What type of sign(s) do you recommend for my business and why?
- How much experience do you have in manufacturing the type of sign that I want or that you are recommending?
- Are you a licensed contractor? If so, could you please provide the license number?
- Can you provide a current copy of your insurance?
- Do you strictly adhere to accepted building structural requirements?
- Do you offer financing?
- What information do you need to begin?
- Where can I see this type of sign locally?
- Can you provide the names and contact information for some of your customers?
The Easy Solution
signage company that offers a full-service solution to your design needs is what you should look for when choosing a partner to help grow your business. Experience in all phases of signage is crucial. A reputable sign company should have evidence of their work where you do business. You want to see firsthand the quality you can expect.
If you’re looking for professionals to make your design experience seamless, Schlosser Signs is the choice for you. They have provided exceptional service and products for 23 years. Their sales consultants and project managers are knowledgeable and ensure the process is simple. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is evident in their work. If you are considering installing a new sign or updating an old one, contact Schlosser Signs to start your design.
