"How much is a Sign?"
While I'd love to have $17 million dollars* for every time I've been asked "How much is a sign?", I just have to stop and smile at the innocence of the question.
(*Really, how much could anyone make if they only get a nickel for every time they hear a question?)
The reason I get asked "how much is a sign?" at least once a week is likely due to signmakers having made very little progress over the past 40 years in educating the public at large as to the very wide variety of types of signage, identification, branding and directional information systems. Even the word "sign" can mean to put your signature onto something and translates poorly. We just don't have the vocabulary for the myriad of products and categories of signs, so smiling and taking a deep breath is probably a good response.
I can hear someone's eyes rolling in their head already. Boring, perhaps but critical if you find yourself in need of a sign, or worse, if you're responsible for branding and a clean graphic image for your organization.
So what can you do to narrow down the almost limitless possible options in signage?
A little education goes a long way, so feel free to take notes. I'll do my best to "bullet point" the important stuff.
We can use a number of different ways to quickly eliminate about half the possibilities if the customer can't really describe what they want.
You can begin with the broader question of whether the sign is
[a] indoors, on a building or otherwise outdoors, or you can ask if the sign is
[b] lighted or not lighted,
[c] permanent or portable, or if they're looking for some way to make their own signs with
[d] sign making products and supplies.
Some examples of the signage listed in [a] to [d] above include:
[a] + [b] lighted or unlighted indoor dimensional wall lettering or placards, office or room identification, department signs or suspended ceiling panels for directions, as in a department store or hospital.
Outdoor signs include dimensional letters on buildings, carved signs, wayfinding plaques and directional signage, window graphics, marquees (like movie theaters and stadium signage and others.
[c] This category (permanent signage) includes electrical signs (mostly permanent installation, like school readerboards and lighted over-window sign cabinets) and popular portable signs, like sidewalk A-frame sign stands, movable barriers, banners, flags and perhaps printed fabric tablecloths as well.
If you work with a graphic artist or design and marketing firm, they'll already know many of the options available- but feel free to ask us, as that's our favorite reason for being here.
Finally, [d] sign-making products is a growing part of my business, as the trend towards DIY sign making, crafts and application means that we are on top of the curve with fresh products for your project, whether it is an advanced graphics application on your truck or simple magnetic signs; whether you're setting up a mold to create a concrete monument wall with lettering and need foam letters, or want lifetime warranty dimensional letters for an existing wall, we can advise you so that you get exactly what you want, and fast.
An educated customer is a good customer; a good customer recognizes a knowledgeable sign manufacturer.
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