Opening a new location can be a bit intimidating with so much to think about. Furniture, flooring, website, product to run your business, and thousands of other decisions have to be made. Partnering with a good company can help make your sign decisions easier. Signage can be the first impression for potential customers and an extension of your brand identity. Consider the following to make the sign buying experience a pleasant one.
1. Your Signage Should Communicate Your Service or Product
What are your trying to communicate to potential customers with your sign? If you provide a service or specific product, your sign should say that. Remember it takes time to build a brand. Utilizing just your logo may not be the best decision if it doesn’t clearly communicate what you do, especially for retail locations. It took Target, Walmart, and Panda Express years to put just a logo on their building and convey their brand.
2. Sign Size and Location are Important!
Every exterior sign is regulated by local code. An established sign company should help by analyzing the code applicable to your location and submitting all pertinent permitting documents. There should be an onsite sales survey performed by the sign partner so expert suggestions can be provided on size and placement with code in mind. Signs should be visible from the major street with the most traffic if at all possible. If your location has two frontages, you may be able to save a bit if one sign faces an interior parking lot. Having a local resource to help you determine best practices can get you the best value for your money.
3. Demand High Quality Materials In Your Sign
On-premise signage is an incredibly effective long-term advertising investment for your business. To make sure you’re getting good value for your company’s investment in signs, you will want durable, high quality materials that last and continue to look good for many years. This can include quality plexiglass or polycarbonate faces, digital prints with a UV laminate, and energy efficient LED illumination or most exterior signs. Take into account which way your sign faces, as materials should be sunlight resistant and have UV laminates built in to the material. Choosing a graphic film instead of a digital print can improve the longevity of your sign. If snow or hail is prevalent in your area, avoiding fragile neon is a good idea. LED “neon looking” options have come a long way in the past several years.
4. How Will You Pay for Your Sign?
Almost all signs are custom manufactured. Depending on the quantity of signs you need, along with size, materials, lighting, access, and a slew of other items, prices range drastically. Understanding what you have in your business loan dedicated for options can help signage consultants direct design to stay on budget. If you find that another method of payment is necessary, many sign companies can assist with financing or leasing options.
More information can be found HERE.
5. Plan Ahead!
We touched a bit on the process of buying a sign. Understanding the steps involved in creating a new sign will help ensure that your signage will be ready in time for the grand opening of your business! Our advice is to include signage in the earliest planning for your business, and be aware that sign companies are busiest during the summer months.
- A consultant will come out to physically survey your site.
- The sign design will be developed and approved (even if you have a logo ready to go).
- An estimate and quote will be prepared and submitted for your signage,
- A sign permit will be acquired from your local government’s planning office.
- The sign will be fabricated.
- Sign installation and electrical hookup will be completed.
Each of these steps can take from several days to weeks depending on your signage needs. And since signs are custom manufactured to your specifications, fabrication usually takes from four to six weeks. Permitting can also be a lengthy process that sign companies can’t control. Most jurisdictions don’t offer a rush fee to process permit applications faster. The length of that permitting is dependent upon city staff and any backlog they are experiencing. Most companies engage a sign company three to six months prior to the anticipated opening. Plan ahead and have a great sign purchasing experience!
BSC SIGNS is an award-winning full-service licensed sign contractor and custom fabricator based in Broomfield, Colorado. We design, build, and install signage for businesses and organizations in Denver Metro, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and throughout Colorado and southern Wyoming.
