Most signs can be placed under one of two categories: either they are outdoor signs or indoor signs. Each category of signs has its own set of uses. Indoor signs are produced with the intention of engaging and guiding your customers while they are in your store, shop, or office. Outdoor signs are created to bring customers into your business by promoting brands, products, services, prices, or sales events.
1. Retail Stores
Retail store signage is often referred to as the "Invisible Salesman" due to the effective results it generates. Retail signs communicate with customers in ways that help promote sales events, promote products, or guide your store visitors through the entire shopping experience. Your store signs can be created to complement your stores decor or corporate colors, which has an added benefit of enhancing brand awareness. This is especially true if your store is located in a shopping plaza where all the stores look the same. Merchants have been using signs for centuries to advertise their shops or products and it has been proven to work.
2. Restaurants
This particular type of business benefits greatly by using sign products. There are also several sign options that are very useful in this business. First and foremost is branding. Use sign panels, dimensional lettering, or simple windows signs to bring attention to your restaurant location and name. Another way to entice patrons into your restaurant is to use window signs, window decals, or window clings to promote meal deals or new menu items. Once you have customers in your restaurant, give them indications of the food and beverages you serve. Menu boards and digital signage are perfect ways to display what is on the menu and what the items cost. Wall decals can be used to create a certain atmosphere for your restaurant. Sports pubs, for instance, could use wall decals that have a sport related theme to enhance the decor. Overall, creative restaurant signage increases your opportunity to serve more customers on a daily basis.
3. Gas Stations / Convenience Stores
While gas stations and convenience stores could be separate businesses, most people use the terms interchangeably. That said, sign products have a high ROI in this business. Advertising your products and on-sale items in the storefront windows has, arguably, the best revenue-generating potential. This can also be said for point-of-purchase displays. Window advertising can be accomplished with signs such as: decals, clings, vinyl banners, posters, and many more. Sign panels can be used for wall advertising and they come in a variety of material. Vinyl banners can be hung outside of the store for increased visibility to drive-by and foot traffic. Don't forget about promoting your products or services at the gas pumps. That helps encourage customers to come inside and purchase additional products. The potential of custom signage is unlimited when used to drive traffic and increase revenue for your convenience store or gas station.
4. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Shops
Almost everybody, at one point or another, needs their automobile serviced or repaired. Custom signage is a fantastic way to reach customers who may need your services. Increase your customer base by creating an attractive company sign to stand out from your competitors. Advertise your daily, weekly, or monthly specials with yard signs or sidewalk signs to gain more customers. Use sign displays to up-sell premium products or additional items like windshield wipers. Let the public know if you specialize in certain particular makes or models or if you do repair work on specialized mechanical components. Supplementing your superior mechanical skills and knowledge with eye-catching, informational signage is a recipe for success.
5. Community Banks
How can a small community bank compete with corporate banks? By combining great service, excellent products, and effective advertising. Great advertising starts with creative signage and product branding. Small banks should use monument signs, pylon signs, or exterior wall lettering, or even vinyl banners to display their business logo outdoors. In return, this would increase brand awareness and office or branch locations. Inside the bank, examples of effective signage would be wall posters for product or service promotions, hanging signs for customer guidance or directions, vinyl banners for bank events like special loan rates, and much more. Signs of all types can be used to present a professional and trustworthy appearance to your bank clientele.