Instant Custom Signs – Drew Brims' Blog

I often think of a fascia sign as the headline on the front page of a newspaper. At the top is the name of the newspaper in bold lettering and below is the day’s headline. This is how your sign should look.

That monument, ground or pylon sign standing outside your building should be a reflection of your image and brand. I once read, “A business without a sign is a sign of no business”. True enough. Not many businesses can survive without a sign to direct traffic to their doors unless they are a web-based company that relies on other methods. Not so the larger retail companies we recognize regularly. Shell, Esso, MacDonalds as well as The Bay, Sears, Canadian Tire and other bastions of retail excellence. Their pylon signs are not the only things that bring customers to their doors but it is an important part of the corporate strategy. It reflects the brand and broadcasts for blocks, where you should turn in.

Let’s talk about digital graphics as this is the hot topic in the sign industry today. We started making digital signs many years ago when the materials were not as robust as they are today. Also, the choice of manufacturer and supplier were limited as digital signs were in their infancy. Things have changed quite a bit in the last 8 years.

Your exterior sign is only a single point of contact. The hope is that your sign will help to create more points of contact. Keep in mind that a completely successful sign will only hold a person’s attention for 3 seconds!! That is not much time and you HAVE to make it count. Tell your viewing audience who you are and why they should care. ie: “ACME; Quality Furniture” The name is Acme and we can all get our quality furniture there.

In ancient times, the handshake was an expression of peace between two people. Always right hand to right hand (swords or knives typically held in that hand) which demonstrated that no weapon was being held. I was always taught to shake hands with a firm, not aggressive, grip and look the other party in the eye. Each party to this ritual can size up the other and see if the out-held hand is offered in peace and honesty or if there is some underlying malice that the eyes could disclose. I wanted the customer to know we were upstanding, honest people; ready and able to complete the tasks given.

Like it or not, winter is on its way!  Your sign will thank you for paying attention to it now, rather than waiting for problems to arise in a couple of months. Jim Clarke, Customer & Technical Services Manager at EM Plastic & Electric Products Ltd., a major supplier of electrical components to the sign [...]

In a well-known study of U.S. recessions, McGraw-Hill Research analyzed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that business-to-business firms that maintained or increased their advertising expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession averaged significantly higher sales growth, both during the recession and for the following three years, than those that eliminated or decreased advertising. By 1985, sales of companies that were aggressive recession advertisers had risen 256% over those that didn’t keep up their advertising (Integrated Resource Management).

So how large should the lettering be on your signs. “Go big or go home” is an appropriate saying here. If the lettering is too small to be easily read from the distance between your sign and the audience, you wasted money on the sign. I don’t like wasting money and I’m sure you don’t either.

Signs, Signs, everywhere is signs… Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind…

And so the song goes. Sure, signs can block out the scenery but they can also carry a message beneficial to the audience and hopefully, profitable for the advertiser. Signs are a great way to advertise your product or service but, like anything else, if improperly executed, things can go horribly wrong. Have you ever wondered what goes into a really great sign and how to get the biggest bang for your buck?