What does your signage need to accomplish?
Are you looking to gain more foot-traffic? Do your customers have a difficult time trying to find your business? Are you opening a new location? Finding out what your goals are and what you are looking to achieve by adding signage will help determine the design the right type of signage and uncover the most ideal fit for your needs.
Do you have an initial design or concept that you would like?
Sign companies should be experts at designing the specifications and aesthetic look That best represents your brand. This is different however then designing a logo, or development. It’s not uncommon for a start up to contact a sign company with the expectations of designing a logo for their business. Usually it is recommended to consult with firm that specializes in developing creative content. Also it’s always good to reference similar signs that you want your sign to look like To help speed up the process. Before you do proceed with moving forward make sure you ask yourself these questions:
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Is my sign sufficient size and height, and not be hidden or obscured by intervening traffic or other visual objects in the consumer's line of vision (power lines, streetlights, etc.)?
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It must display content (text and/or images) that is legible.
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It must stand out from its background
Have you reached out to a sign professional yet?
The right sign company can guide you through every step of this process. Full service companies offer a range of capabilities from designing to fabrication and will take care of any requirements throughout your journey such as permitting to engineering. Check out our article on what to look for when partnering with a sign company.
Will it require permitting and what are the code regulations for that municipality?
There are numerous legal and regulatory issues that affect your signage rights. You should definitely know more about this subject. By reading about these basics, you can avoid costly mistakes in judgment, time, and your bottom line.
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If you do not own the property and are just renting, most of the time you will be required to obtain landlord authorization requirements for your approved signage
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Businesses must abide by commercial sign code regulations which most of the time are written by the local officials and authorities.
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sign type and material
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size (determined by factors such as storefront width, or maximum allowable square feet)
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placement
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height
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source of illumination
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zoning regulations that restrict some forms of signage in historical districts for example
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What have you budgeted for your new signage?
Having an idea of how much you would like to invest into your signage will allow the sales rep to get a better understanding of how to best utilize your costs.
How much do you plan to spend for your on-premise signage?
Learn more about how to determine the value of your signage by calculating the CPM or cost per impression; one of the four key metrics in determining effectiveness by clicking here.
Is a site survey necessary?
For any type of signage, especially exterior - It is always recommended that a site survey is conducted prior to any manufacturing or installation. This provides you the insight on what to expect during the installation process and if there is anything that has to be considered while fabricating such as the placement for electrical connections. For smaller jobs that may involve interior work; a site survey is used for getting proper placement, measurements, and an understanding of what the installation process will look like by assessing the mounting surface. Being properly prepared could be the different in paying an additional $150 for the field labor compared to the $5,000 mistake you might run into while in the field.
What is your deadline?
We always recommend that you reach out at the minimum of 8 weeks prior to your deadline. There are a lot of factors involved with finalizing the signage and it’s always good to anticipate road blocks. timeline would look something like this:
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Scope of project confirmed (Agreement signed/deposit received. Sizing, material, location, etc. all confirmed) - 1 business day
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Permitting Submitted (engineering, LL authorization sign off) - 1-2 business days
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5-7 business days to receive permit approval
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Materials ordered/received - 1-3 business days
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Fabrication process - 10-15 business days
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Install schedule - 1 - 5 business days
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Installation approx. 19 - 33 business days following project approval.
Unless you have a company That you already plan on working with, the next step is find the right company that is a good fit. Feel free to take a look at our article on how to find the best sign company for your needs.
Production process for signage
