Blog
Facilities
4 Signage Elements to Consider When Building an Effective Pylon Sign for Your Business
If you’ve ever walked down a busy street, you’ve probably seen dozens upon dozens of signs advertising local restaurants, haircut parlors, and knickknack shops. Signage is one of the most efficient ways to extend a business’s reach beyond the storefront. In fact, FedEx’s 2012 Office Survey reports that 76% of American customers have entered a store they’ve never visited before purely because of the sign. Having a sign clearly should be a high priority for business owners. If you want to increase your business’s reach, here are some of the things you should consider when designing your own. 1. Choosing the Materials for Your Pylon Sign | Signage Toronto Whether you want a banner hanging off the side of a building or a pylon sign simply sitting near the road, you need to choose a sign material that matches your use case well. Some of the most common materials include: Vinyl banners, which are fragile but allow a great selection of colors to be used Plastic, which is far more durable and weatherproof. Plastic is great for a low maintenance sign positioned outdoors. Metal, and especially rust-proof aluminum, is even more durable but may be more expensive 2. Sign Placement | Signage Toronto Even the greatest signs will be ineffective if no one can see them. When choosing where to place your sign, find where the most traffic occurs to maximize viewership. Orient the sign so that people walking or driving from both directions can see it. Restaurants and shopping centers, for example, use large pylon signs to advertise to busy streets. Make sure the sign is not obstructed by other objects like trees or bushes. Also, consider investing in lighting to make it visible at night. 3. What Content to Include | Signage Toronto Know what the focus of your sign should be. While it’s generally advisable not to use more than two fonts in a sign, vary your font size so the most important information is emphasized. Have the company name and service provided shown in big letters. Potential customers need to tell at a glance what your company offers. Contact information, like a phone number and short website link if applicable, is second in line with a medium font. Low priority elements like a slogan may be in a smaller font Most people just skim signs, by the way, so keep your text terse. Also, add some type of graphic (a logo or basic line drawing) so the sign doesn’t seem too dull. 4. How It Should Be Formatted | Signage Toronto Sometimes less is more, and business signage is no different. Having too many graphics and decorations may seem too gaudy and make reading the sign difficult. Ensure the typeface you use is readable. Cursive and all-caps typefaces can grab people’s attention quickly, but use them sparingly as they can be hard to read as well. About Vital Signs – Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Concord, Newmarket, and the GTA As you can probably tell, there are tons of aspects to consider when designing an effective business design. If you want to leave some work for the professionals, consider contacting us at Vital Signs. With over 25 years of experience, we can maximize your impact on the public’s perception of your company and help you take...
read moreThe Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Designing Your Business’s Sign Box
When it comes to business signage, you don’t want to cheap out. A sign is almost always the first impression potential customers get of your firm. According to consumer surveys, signs a responsible for half of a start-up’s consumer base, and signs, in general, have a greater impact than word of mouth, newspapers, radio, and television advertisements. Designing an effective sign box is no easy task. Sure, you may know the right things to consider, but what about the things not to do? Here are some of the most common mistakes in signage design for you to avoid. Making It Hard to Read | Sign Boxes Toronto Some of the most common mistakes small businesses make with their sign boxes are embarrassingly easy to spot. Their signs might be hard to read because of a lack of contrasting colors for instance. The fonts might be hard to read, consisting of narrow text, cursive, and all-caps typefaces. In an attempt to look fancy, some businesses go too far with the colors and graphics, using such a complicated design that it edges on gaudy. The text might not be concise enough and thus fly right over the public’s short attention span. Mistakes in the Text | Sign Boxes Toronto Double check your sign’s content before publishing. The last thing you want is for your sign to stand for weeks on end before you realize the phone number was printed incorrectly on it. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and incorrect contact information, all of which paints an unprofessional image of your firm. Not Choosing an Accessible Location | Sign Boxes Toronto Signs are best read straight on, but it’s almost impossible to guarantee every customer will have the optimal viewing experience. When choosing where to place your sign, consider: The size of the sign. Make it large enough that people reading from a distance can still recognize the words. Any possible obstructions. Keep your sign box away from trees, bushes, and buildings that could obscure it. Places featuring high traffic. Maximize your exposure by placing it on a busy sidewalk or the side of a building overlooking a busy street. Not Getting Professional Installation | Sign Boxes Toronto There are certain jobs out there that shouldn’t be DIY-ed. Opt for the professional installation, as some mistakes you might make doing it yourself include: Not weatherproofing. Sign boxes need to be sealed from the rain to protect the electronic components inside. Not fastening the sign firmly, resulting in it falling over. Loose components wearing down due to being installed improperly Not Maintaining the Sign Box No matter how durable your sign is, it’s still sitting outside exposed to the elements 24/7. Every now and again, take some steps towards maintaining it properly. For instance, Wash it to keep the dirt off, preserving the readability and beauty. Replace faded text to keep your company’s image clean. Fix burnt out lights. Missing letters can give your business a shoddy look. For that last one, consider opting for LEDs instead of neon lighting since the former requires less maintenance. About Vital Signs – Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Concord, and the GTA Need some help? Contact Vital Signs and let our 25+ years of experience boost your company’s sales through the design and manufacture of a...
read moreWhat Benefits Do Channel Letters Offer to Your Business? | Business Signs Toronto
If you're new to the concept of channel letters, you may just have stumbled on an extremely impactful and cost-effective marketing weapon. In simple terms, channel letters are icons that are custom-made from a host of materials, including plastic and metal. Suitable for both simple and decidedly complex, LED-illuminated designs, these letters are typically used in exterior signage to display an associated brand name or visual identity. Make no mistake; signage remains particularly important if you own a piece of real-estate, as this can provide an incredibly simple but effective way of raising awareness among consumers. In this article, we'll explore channel letters in closer detail and consider the main benefits that they offer to brands. 1. Channel Letters Build Awareness Around Your Brand and its Location | Business Signs Toron-to Despite the apparent dominance of digital channels, we live in an age where offline marketing outlets are more important than ever. This is thanks to the rise of integrated marketing campaigns, which strive to leverage multiple channels in order to maximize and enhance the typical customer journey. With this in mind, channel or LED letters can play a pivotal role in building awareness around your brand and business proposition, particularly within the local community. This may be particularly beneficial for small businesses, as entities of this type tend to establish a core client base within the local area before looking to evolve through organic growth or franchising. Lit letters can be especially effective in this respect, as they can highlight your brand name and ensure that it is visible to a larger audience for a longer period of time. 2. Channel Letters Are Likely to Engage Customers | Business Signs Toronto We've already touched on the importance of offline marketing channels, with traditional billboards offering a relevant example. Not only does is cost-effective and accessible medium especially engaging, but it also serves as a key driver of assisted conversions for brands. The same principle can apply to signage and channel letters, especially when it is eye-catching and utilizes vivid design or bold color combinations. Such lettering is certainly capable of attracting the attention of passing trade, while also driving customers into your store and potentially increasing your conversion rate. Much will depend on the quality and execution of your signage, of course, but there's no doubt that channel and LED letters can be leveraged as an organic and effective marketing tool in the modern age. 3. Signage Drives Repeat Impressions and a Higher ROI | Commercial Signs Toronto Not only is your signage an organic marketing tool, but it also an extremely cost-effective one. This has much to do with the relatively affordable nature of designing letters, while it's also important to note that effective signage serves multiple purposes on behalf of your business. Due to the prominent and eye-catching nature of good signage, it is also capable of driving repeat im-pressions without increasing your marketing costs. This sets it apart from more traditional channels like television and radio, as it increases the exposure of your brand while also delivering a higher ROI. Using Vital Signs for all your Business Signage Needs to Achieve Your Objectives These benefits are hard to ignore, which is why the design and execution of your signage is so crucial. Regardless of the...
read moreExploring the Key Benefits of Awnings for Your Business | Signs Toronto
While we may be wrong, we're going to go out on a limb here and suggest that you've never heard of awnings. Just in case we're right, awnings are simply described as sheets of material that are stretched on a frame and primarily used to protect the doorways of commercial premises. However, this basic description does not do justice to awnings or the multiple benefits that they offer to entrepreneurs, nor does it really provide compelling evidence as to why you should introduce them into your business venture. In this article, we'll explore three of the key benefits associated with awnings, and ask why modern business-owners should care. 1. Awnings Can Reduce Your Energy Costs |Business Signs Toronto While an awning may also be described as a canopy by some, this is another over-simplistic categorization of a truly revolutionary concept. Awnings also hold particular appeal in the current business climate, as they're capable of reducing the amount of energy that your business consumes over a sustained period of time. More specifically, awnings reduce the amount of direct solar heat that seeps in through your windows, enabling you to reduce your reliance on artificial heating and save up to 23% in your annual energy costs. This figure may increase further with retractable awnings, but the key consideration here is that a simple installation can save your business huge sums of money each year. As well as saving costs, this can contribute towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly brand identity, which is an increasingly important selling point in the modern age. According to some figures, one-third of customers now prefer and prioritize sustainable brands, and the use of awnings can help you to leverage this trend successfully. 2. They Protect Your Premises from Adverse of Extreme Weather Conditions Another natural benefit of awnings or specially-designed canopies is that they're capable of protecting your commercial premises and consumers from adverse or extreme weather conditions. This is great news for retail spaces, particularly those that market some of their products outside and strive to engage customers on the street. Not only do awnings protect an outdoor space from heavy bursts of rain or snowfall, but they also minimize exposure to direct sunlight during warm, summer days. This enables customers to browse products outside of the store whatever the weather, while also minimizing the risk of damage and discoloration to fittings and products. As a result, you can also protect your doorway and flooring from UV exposure, delivering long-term benefits to your commercial premises. 3. Awnings Add an Eye-Catching Dimension to Your Premises | Business Signs Toronto On a final note, you should not underestimate the visual impact of awnings and their ability to add an eye-catching dimension to your commercial premises. This is a deceptively important consideration, particularly when you own one of many shops on the high-street and struggle to achieve the desired levels of foot traffic. With various designs and colors available, you can even invest in awnings that are bold, attractive to the human eye and consistent with your brand identity. The latter point is especially important, as this helps to build awareness of your brand within the local area and drive recognition among regional consumers. This can be crucial for small businesses, especially those that operate in competitive marketplaces...
read moreChannel Letters Are Better than Flat Cut Letters
Many businesses consider adding letters to their storefront to better advertise their business. However, simply adding letters to your store is the first step. The second step is knowing whether you want flat cut letters or three-dimensional (channel) letters that can also be illuminated. There are obvious differences between the two, so you should know what these differences are and how they apply to your business. It is really important to know what signage you want, as your signage will be the first interaction many customers will have with your business. In general, both channel and flat cut letters serve the same purpose. Once installed on the storefront of your small business, they are utilized to advertise your business to people walking or driving by. Seeing the name of a business in large, stylized letters can make a huge difference in terms of the amount of people who visit your store and who ultimately purchase your goods and services. That being stated, channel and flat cut letters are a bit different. The difference between them may be important, depending on your signage goals. In this article, we will show you the difference between them, and why it matters to you. Flat Cut Letters Are Too Physically Shallow Flat cut letters are usually created with a base of either sheet metal or wood. They are installed on storefronts and do a good job of advertising the store to the local community. However, being flat, these letters lack the depth that may be required to enhance the visibility of the letters. In addition, illuminating flat cut letters may not physically be an option, which will reduce the visibility of the letters at night and in low-lighting conditions as well. Although flat cut letters are more affordable, they may not be right for you if you have a larger budget and are concerned with the visibility of your letters. Channel Letters Have Great Depth These types of letters are almost always three-dimensional. You can illuminate them with neon or LED lights. As such, these letters are much more visible than flat cut letters. You can use them to advertise your business at night, which is great because it means that your business does not need to be open to continue advertising. Finally, these types of letters are physically more visible, due to their three-dimensional shape. The more people that can see your signage, the more people that will visit your business based on your signage. You should always choose the most effective form of visible signage that you can afford in your budget. Channel letters are Budget-Friendly When it comes to determining the best signage for your budget, you must always consider how effective the signage will be. If it means stretching your budget just a bit in order to purchase much better signage, you should consider doing so. Channel letters, lit letters, and led letters, are all very effective forms of signage that you can use to increase your store’s visibility. Vital Signs, with customer outreach in Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Concord, Newmarket, Thorn-hill, the GTA, Brampton, Mississauga, and surrounding areas, can assist you with finding the perfect signage for your goals. For more information, you can visit us online at our website today. ● Flat cut letters may not be...
read moreHow Pylon Signs Differ From Sign Boxes
Every business needs signage. Some business owners only look at illuminated signage. Knowing which type of signage is right for your business is vital, as every expense must be justifiable, especially for new or young businesses. Making the wrong choice, even when it comes to signage, can have a financial impact on the business as you will essentially have to make the same purchase twice. Once purchase for the wrong type of sign, and a second purchase to correct the first one. In this article, we will show you how to think of the differences between pylon signs and sign boxes. When it comes to thinking about pylon signs, especially in their comparison to sign boxes, it is best to think of the former as a larger version of the latter. Both are signage that is illuminated and box-shaped. However, sign boxes are usually smaller. There are many other differences between the two which we will cover in this article. After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the type of signage that will best assist your business’s advertising and marketing efforts. Features of Pylon Signs These signs are like larger versions of sign boxes. However, you do not need to adhere to the box-shape. You can design these signs in almost any shape. You have to purchase the base as well as the sign, because these signs are very, very heavy and are usually transfixed into the ground with custom bases made with concrete, metal, or even brick. These types of signs are usually purchased and installed by stores and companies with large budgets. Think businesses like Walmart, government contractors, and medical practices. If a company has the budget to pay for large signage, it usually will. Companies know that the value they can receive from an expenditure are usually related to the expenditure itself. In order words, you have to spend money (wisely) to make money. You can see these signs at: ● Strip malls ● Big box stores ● Government agencies ● Businesses with large budgets, or just large advertising budgets ● In malls ● Outside outlet or factory stores ● Etc. Features of Sign Boxes Sign boxes are small, and generally either mounted on a storefront, or on a stand in front of the store itself. Usually no larger than a person, these signs are great for businesses with limited advertising and signage budgets, but who still want to enjoy all the benefits of illuminated, customized signage. You can often find sign boxes in front of stores like local shops like: ● Coffee shops ● Hardware stores ● Auto shops ● Libraries ● Consulting services ● Any “local” type of business that is not a franchise ● Etc. Local shops usually have limited budgets, so they make their budgets stretch as far as possible. These types of signs are perfect for local shops and small businesses for that reason. The Difference Signs Make Finding the appropriate signage makes all the difference when it comes to advertising. Make sure that the advertising you choose is the advertising that works for you. If you need pylon signs, or other types of signs and signage, and you own a business located in or around Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Concord, Newmarket, Thornhill, the GTA, Brampton, or...
read moreAdd Some Style to Your Business With Sign Boxes
Many times, businesses only do what is expected of them. A business owner will set up a storefront, purchase signage similar to the other businesses in the area, place signs in windows and on walls, and then focus solely on his or her business. This is a basic signage strategy that is expected of all businesses when starting out, but should be expanded and made unique once a business has established a steady cash flow. While this may work well, there is a way to make such a signage strategy more effective. You need to stylize your signage so that it accurately reflects your business. You should not simply copy what other businesses in your area are doing. They are different businesses. They have different advertising needs and customer bases than you. Using the same signage strategy that other, non-related, businesses are using, will simply curb the effective of your own advertising efforts. Instead, consider your own business, your own advertising needs, and learn how to stylize your business advertising to better reflect your business in your signage. We will show you how to do this, as well as explain why, in this article. With the information learned, you will be more capable of designing and installing great signage in front of your store. Here is how you can do this. Sign Boxes Provide Uniqueness to Your Business As long as you adhere to a box-like shape, you can design these types of signs to look like anything, and in practically any size. You have a realm of possibilities which you can explore to create signage that will better reflect your business. Many companies use this type of signage to display their logo, slogan, business name, or all of the above, along with their contact information. You can even illuminate this type of signage, making it possible to advertise your business at night as well. You can design them in practically any size that you want, making the task of finding space on your storefront very easy as well. Sign Boxes Are Incredible for Business Visibility Being visible is probably the most important factor that you need to consider when purchasing and installing signage in your store and on your storefront. After all, that is the main purpose of signage. If a sign is not visible enough, you need to ensure that it is. If a sign is not visible at all, it is a waste of space that could be better used in some other fashion. The goal of installing signage is to always increase the effectiveness of your advertising and marketing. Some ways you can increase the visibility of your signage, even sign boxes, are as follows: ● Illuminate your signage ● Install multiple signs ● Design your signage into a shape familiar to your business, like a wrench for a hardware store or a coffee cup for a coffee store ● Hire a designer, or design your sign yourself, to add a personal touch to your signs that accurately reflects the uniqueness of your business ● Design your signage with maximum visibility in mind Vital Signs | Sign Box and Signage Manufacturer | Toronto – Markham Vital Signs, which is active in Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Concord, Newmarket, Thornhill, the GTA, Brampton, Mississauga, and the surrounding...
read moreDesigning the Perfect Channel Letters For Your Business
Designing signage is hard, especially when consider what information to add, and what to leave out. It can be difficult to know if even adding a contact phone number to a piece of signage will result in effective advertising or not. When it comes to designing letters, whether lit or not, to be hung outside your storefront, this issue can seem more complex. However, with this article, we will evaluate the different types of information you can include. Designing letters is like desiging any other form of signage. The format is just a little bit different. Instead of working on a flat surface, your letters will be the only thing that is displayed. Much of the white space and wasted space on a sign will not affect letters. In fact, it is very possible that letters can enhance a storefront’s appeal due to its simplicity and marketing effectiveness. All Channel Letters Need a Name There are very, very few companies out there that can benefit from nameless letters. In these extremely unique cases, the logo is more famous than the name, crossing cultures and languages. One example would be the half-bitten Apple logo. Another example would be the Amazon logo that looks like a smile. Close your eyes and think of other big and famous international companies like this. You will find it hard to do. This is why you need to include your store’s name in all signage that you create. Unless your company is very famous, and people recognize your logo before your name, you cannot afford to do otherwise. The first information that you should include in your letters is your store’s or business’s name. All Channel Letters Need a Color Scheme Information is not the only valuable piece of information you need to include. Sometimes, information can be visual. When you think of a bumblebee, you think of the colors black and yellow. If you draw a very basic drawing of a bumblebee and you show the drawing to a stranger, that stranger will eventually guess that it is a bumblebee. This result can also be seen when you think of signage. Starbucks is identified by green and white. McDonald’s is identified by red and yellow. Walmart is identified by blue and white. If you have colors for your store’s promotional materials, use them. If not, consider creating a compli-mentary color scheme that captures the essence of your small business. Colors create a visually pleasing effect to customers, and it helps them remember your business signage better. Like the picture of the bumblebee, a customer or client can loot at your letters and have an easier time remembering your store or business and the services that you offer. Having an attractive storefront is a great way to attract customers. With custom-designed letters, you can make your storefront so much more attractive than your competitions’ storefronts. Having the better-designed storefront will provide you with more business, and more revenues. If you do not have letters on your storefront, or you want to update them, you should do so as soon as possible. Channel Letters Markham & Toronto | Vital Signs Channel letters, lit letters, and led letters are great forms of signage for your small business. Designing letters can be complex but we can help. For...
read morePylon Signs: More than Just a Sign
Designing a sign is always the most complex step of the sign-creating process. Common questions pop up like: ● What colors should I use? ● What information should I add? ● How big should the sign be? ● Should I redesign other signage as well to make them match? ● What is the purpose of designing this sign? In order to design an effective sign, you need to be able to answer these questions in-depth. If you cannot do so, either reformulate the questions, consider alternative answers, or ask a sign manufacturing expert for help. While the design process may be complex at first, creating a sign is not once you are used to it. All it takes is a little trial and error, and time. Typical Signage Typical signage follows a few conventions. The name of the business is displayed centered and in large bold font. A few contact mediums are available, like an address, a website, a telephone, or an email. You may even find a business sign with a Twitter handle or an Instagram handle. You want to include similar, if not the exact same, information on your signage. Think of business cards like mini-signs that you provide to customers and clients. A list of services may be present on the sign but this is not always present. Big box corporations like Walmart do not list their services. Finally, a logo and slogan may also be present, especially if the logo and/or slogan have name-brand recognition. The Apple logo is more famous than the slogan, while Nationwide’s slogan is more famous than its logo. Unless your company is as famous as Apple or Nationwide, you should consider adding more infor-mation than less on your signage. How Pylon Signs Differ Thinking of pylon signage as supersized business cards is really the best way to think of your signage in general. First, look at your business cards that you currently have. Consider why you added the infor-mation that you added. What do clients recognize when they see your business cards? Why do clients keep your business cards? Well, that same information that is on your business cards should be included on your exterior signage as well. Both the intent and the message is the same. You want to attract the attention of old clients, as well as attract new ones. If you are considering what information to include on your signage, and what to leave out, check your business cards. Pylon signs are just like any other signage. The only difference is the sheer size of the sign, the fact that it can be elevated tens of feet above the ground, and it may be multi-sided like a triangular prism. Beyond that, it is the same as any other sign. Therefore, your strategy to design such a sign should be similar to how you design any other signage or promotional material for your business. This is why we compared signage to business cards, which you should already have available at a mo-ment’s notice to study. Pylon Signs Toronto & the GTA | Vital Signs Designing effective pylon signs can be a quick and efficient process, provided that you use your business cards as a potential template for the information and design of your signs. For more tips and...
read moreCanopies and Awnings Are Good for Business and the Environment!
Consider the following scenario. Are you like Bob? Bob is an entrepreneur. He owns a shop. While business is good to Bob, Bob wants to lower his expenses in order to save more money in case the economy turns against him. Bob decides to lower his heating and cooling costs. He wants to lower his expenses as much as possible over the year. Bob does not know where to start, but he thinks that if he can regulate and control the natural temperature in his store better, he can pay less in heating and cooling expenses. Bob is right. Bob decides to install an awning above his storefront window’s exterior to achieve his goal. Using the information in this article, Bob has lowered his heating and cooling expenses, and the savings that he has accumulated have more than paid for the awning that he decided to install. Energy Consumption and the Environment How environmentally-friendly your small business is can be measured in two ways: how much energy you are using, and how much energy you save. Often, one of these methods will lead into the other. Installing blinds can lower the need for air condi-tioning in the summer. Installing solar panels can reduce your electricity bill all year round. Awnings Provide Energy Savings Installing even one awning on your storefront can result in energy savings. Shade is very important when regulating the indoor temperature of a store. Items placed in front of windows are often heated up with a higher temperature to items that are not placed there. With no protection from the Sun, these items and the surrounding area can heat up quite a bit. This is an issue all year round that all businesses have to deal with. Many store owners spend significant money on cooling their store, or business. If you sell food and beverages, your store needs to be cold in order to prevent the food and drinks from spoiling. Other industries that require cold temperatures include electronics, computers, and pharmacies. With increased shade, your store is protected from a greater amount of heat from the Sun. The more Sun you block out, the less energy you use, and the lower your energy bill will become. It is as simple as that. Awnings Provide Greater Weather Protection Exposing your storefront to the elements is not a good thing. If left untreated, here is what can happen to your storefront. ● The paint can chip and peel, and its colors can fade ● The storefront window can get dented by hail and cracked by ice ● Items placed near your storefront window like products and furniture can fade ● Rain can swell up around your window edges The more maintenance and repairs that you need to do, the higher your expenses will be. If you want a continuous stream of customers, your storefront needs to look nice. With an awning installed, it can look nice all year round. They are great tools to divert the weather away from your storefronts, and to keep your dry and weather-free all year round. Vital Signs | Canopies & Awning | Toronto and the GTA Help the environment, as well as reduce your energy expenses over the lifetime of your small business! For more information on the benefits of awnings...
read more