3 Storefront Sign Design Mistakes Professionals Can Help You Avoid

One of the first things your customers will notice about a business is their storefront sign. This simple element is a powerful tool that, if designed properly, can attract attention, create a memorable impression, and drive foot traffic to your store. However, there are common design mistakes that could turn potential customers away.

Thankfully, professionals in the sign-making industry can help you avoid these pitfalls. With their help, you can get storefront signs in Philadelphia that attract attention and boost brand visibility.

The following are storefront sign design mistakes professionals can help you avoid.

Poor Visibility

Your storefront sign needs to be more than just beautiful – it must be visible from a distance. You won’t attract customers if they can’t read your sign. That’s where professionals come into play. They use different strategies to enhance the visibility of your sign.

These strategies include:

  • Font Selection: Professionals understand the importance of a legible font. They choose fonts that are big, bold, and easy to read from far away.
  • Color Contrast: Experts know the proper color contrast can help your sign stand out. They pick colors that contrast nicely with each other and the environment, making your sign pop out.
  • Appropriate Lighting: By incorporating appropriate lighting, professionals ensure your sign is visible day and night. Whether strong backlights or elegant spotlights, they choose lighting that perfectly highlights your sign.
  • Size and Placement: Experts determine the right size and placement for your sign based on location, viewing distance, and municipal regulations.

With professional assistance, you can avoid the pitfall of poor visibility and ensure your storefront sign in Philadelphia creates the powerful impression you’re aiming for.

Complicated Designs

An overly complex storefront sign can often confuse rather than attract potential customers. This is another common mistake that professionals can help you avoid. Design professionals understand that simplicity embodies the epitome of sophistication. They recognize that a simple, clean, and effective sign can articulate your brand’s message.

Designers aim for clarity and readability over complexity. They use a minimalist approach, focusing on essential elements like your business name and logo. They avoid clutter that might confuse or distract from your brand’s message. By doing so, they create a sign that is easy to read and understand.

Ineffective Use of Space

Ineffective use of space is a common mistake in sign design. Too much text, oversized logos, or lack of space can make a sign cluttered and unapproachable. This is where professional sign designers shine. They have a keen understanding of the importance of balance in sign design.

Professionals know how to efficiently balance text, logos, and space to create an appealing and easy-to-read sign. They ensure your message is conveyed effectively without overwhelming the viewer. They also make sure the design is visually appealing and creates an emotional connection with potential customers.

We Can Help You Design Storefront Signs In Philadelphia

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Custom Neon Signs: 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs One

Sign for japanese restaurant in mall "Wasabi sushi & bento"

In the bustling city of Philadelphia, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to attract customers and stand out. Custom neon signs are an effective and visually striking solution that has gained immense popularity. 

These unique and eye-catching designs have proven to be an excellent choice for businesses of all types and sizes. Let’s delve into why custom neon signs in Philadelphia are an ideal advertising tool.

Unique and Eye-Catching Design

Grabbing the attention of potential customers is crucial for any business, and custom neon signs excel in this regard. These signs create an immediate visual impact with their vibrant colors and distinctive glow. Whether it’s a catchy slogan, a captivating logo, or an artistic representation of your brand, custom neon signs in Philadelphia ensure that your business remains memorable in the minds of passersby.

Easy to Customize with Your Message or Logo

Flexibility is a crucial advantage of custom neon signs. Businesses can easily personalize these signs by incorporating their message, logo, or brand identity. Whether you want to display your business name, a special offer, or a unique design element, custom neon signs allow you to convey your desired message visually appealing and captivatingly.

Long-Lasting, Durable Material That Can Withstand Weather Conditions

Neon signs are constructed using durable materials built to withstand various weather conditions. This makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Whether rain, snow, or intense sunlight, custom neon signs retain their vibrant glow and visual impact, ensuring your business remains visible and attractive regardless of the weather.

Cost-Effective Advertising Solution Compared to Other Methods of Promotion

Traditional advertising methods, such as television or radio commercials, can be expensive and may not reach your target audience effectively. Custom neon signs offer a cost-effective alternative with a high investment return. 

Once installed, these signs require minimal maintenance and can last for years, making them a long-term and cost-effective advertising solution for businesses.

Versatile in Terms of Size and Shape Options for Any Business Need

Custom neon signs come in various sizes and shapes, allowing businesses to select the perfect sign to fit their unique requirements. Whether you need a large outdoor sign to attract attention from a distance or a smaller one to enhance your indoor space’s ambiance, custom neon signs offer versatile options to suit any business need.

We Offer Custom Neon Signs in Philadelphia 

Custom neon signs in Philadelphia offer numerous advantages for businesses looking to make a memorable impression. Their unique and eye-catching designs, easy customization options, durability, cost-effectiveness, and versatility make them an ideal choice for any business seeking to enhance visibility and attract customers. 

With a custom neon sign in Philadelphia, your business can shine brightly, capturing potential customers’ attention and curiosity as they pass by. So, consider adding a custom neon sign to your marketing strategy and watch your business succeed.

Sidewalk Signage: 3 Fresh and Inspiring Ideas

Yellow sidewalk cafe barriers outside belgian beef cafe

Attracting attention from people passing by your store should be one of your top priorities as a business owner. After all, you need potential customers and clients to know you exist for them to come through the door. Sidewalk signs are an effective way to accomplish this. 

These custom signs in Philadelphia are an affordable and eye-catching way to advertise your business and draw more foot traffic into your establishment. They’re incredibly versatile marketing tools that can be used outdoors and indoors.

Uniquely using sidewalk signs can help you grow your customer base. Here are some fresh and inspiring ideas for using sidewalk signs to attract attention.

Promote Special Events With Sidewalk Signs

Sidewalk signs can also be used to promote special events. Whether hosting a grand opening, charity event, or even a holiday celebration, sidewalk signs are an excellent way to get the word out.

Here are some tips for words and phrases that draw attention to your sidewalk sign:

  • Use high-impact words like “Free” and “Sale” to grab people’s attention.
  • Try humorous terms or puns that are interesting enough to get people to stop and read your sign.
  • Use eye-catching colors, fonts, and sizes to make your message stand out.
  • Keep your message short and sweet so passersby can easily read it.
  • Motivate people to enter your store or attend the event with a call to action.

Custom signs in Philadelphia effectively attract attention and spread the word about your business, product, or event. With creativity, you can create signage that will grab people’s attention and drive them into action.

Change Your Message Daily

Creating unique messages on your sidewalk sign for each day of the week can help keep your branding fresh and consistent. You can use the days of the week to promote different products or events or to draw attention to a certain aspect of your business. 

Include these elements for creative sidewalk sign messaging:

  • Create a unique message that celebrates the day of the week. For example, on Mondays, you could write “Start the Week Right!” or “Monday Motivation!”
  • Take advantage of seasonal activities and holidays to create fun, creative messages that grab people’s attention. For example, if it’s the Fourth of July holiday, you could use the day to promote a special promotion or discount in your store.
  • Change your fonts, colors, and sizes to make them stand out.

Changing up your message daily will keep consumers in your area engaged and interested in what your business is doing.

Use QR Codes

Adding QR codes to your sidewalk signage bridges the gap between online and offline marketing. By including a QR code on your sidewalk sign, passersby can easily scan the code to access information about your business, such as your website or social media accounts. You can effectively extend your reach with the help of this technology.

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You can boost your company’s visibility with our custom signs in Philadelphia.

3 Tips For Designing An Exterior Sign For Your Business

structural canopy for Hotel Vintage fancy gold with lights and

Designing an exterior sign for your business is one of the most important steps in establishing a successful brand. Well-designed business signs in Philadelphia can draw attention to a company and create a lasting impression on potential customers.

Did you realize that 85 percent of your customers work or live within a five-mile radius of your business? This is why having an instantly recognizable and appealing business sign attached to your commercial building is so important.

You must realize that designing an effective outdoor sign is not as easy as it seems. Consider the factors below if you want to create an appealing business sign design.

Use Contrasting Colors In Your Sign Design 

Using contrasting colors for lettering and background on an outdoor sign is essential for making it stand out from the surrounding environment. Using a bold, bright color against a neutral or white background will make it easier to read, while adding some visual interest. It is also important to remember that the color should represent the business and its brand.

Some of the most iconic signs in Philadelphia use contrasting colors to create memorable designs. Drawing inspiration from these signs can help you iron out the details of your own design.

A Legible Font Is a Must

When creating an exterior sign for your business, choosing a font that is legible and easy to read from a distance is essential. The font should be bold and legible even when viewed from a far distance so that potential customers can quickly identify your sign’s message. Popular fonts for outdoor business signs in Philadelphia include Helvetica, Futura, and Arial.

Be sure to also consider the size of your font when you design your sign. Too small of a font may make it hard to read, while too large will make it look overwhelming. Consider experimenting with different sizes and fonts until you find one that optimally attractively conveys your brand’s message.

Choose The Right Sign Size 

Building an effective outdoor sign is not just about having the right design and font. You also need to ensure the sign size is proportionate to its location. This means taking into account the size of your building, how far away the sign will be viewed from, and other factors that might affect a customer’s ability to read your sign.

For example, if your sign will be viewed from a long distance, you may need to use a larger font to make the sign bigger. On the other hand, if it is placed close to an entrance or near foot traffic, a smaller font size and shorter message might work better.

It’s Time To Design Business SIgns In Philadelphia

By considering all these factors and following the tips above, you can create a great exterior sign for your business that will make it stand out from the competition. An effective outdoor sign can be a powerful marketing tool that attracts customers and drives sales.

Philadelphia’s Most Iconic Signs

Philadelphia's Most Iconic Signs

Philadelphia, one of the largest cities in the United States, is home to winning signs and graphics. Vintage signs, neon signs, modern signs – you name the variety, and you’ll find it here. Not only does Philly have a great variety of signs, but the city has some of the most iconic signs of all time.  We’ve put together a list of the most iconic signs in Philadelphia for all you design and history buffs. Read on to find out more.

photo credit: By Bruce Andersen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1032999

1. Love Park

While certainly this piece is considered a sculpture and not a necessarily a “sign” by the art world, we think it can be both.  Designed by Robert Indiana as a sculpture, this reproduction piece serves to tell visitors that they have arrived at Love Park. It also alludes to a bit of the city’s history.  In fact, Philadelphia’s knickname of “City of Brotherly Love” has its origins in something much deeper than the famous park which houses this magnificent reproduction of the famous statue known as the Love Statue.  The name Philadelphia actually comes from the Greek word philos,  which means “love” or “friendship”, and adelphos which means “brother“.  Philadelphia was named by Pennsylvania founder William Penn who had a very specific reason for founding the city with so much love.  Penn had witnessed and experienced so much religious persecution that he designed his new colony to be one where all religions could co-exist freely and equally.  This statuesque sign is not only a sign of where in the city one is, it’s a monument to the city name and it’s characteristic friendliness itself.

photo credit: By Bruce Andersen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1032999

2. Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market is one of the nations most famous and revered urban marketplaces.  Open since 1893- yes you read that correctly, over a century ago!-this market has been housed in the same place, the former Reading Terminal Train Station which is now a National Historic Landmark Building.  Packed to the gills at lunchtime and busy even in the off hours, Reading Terminal offers its patrons a wide variety of excellent fare at excellent prices.  One look at the carefully crafted sign that curves around the market corner and you’ll be in love with it’s obvious craftsmanship and seeming simplicity.  This sign just perfectly complements the building’s historic atmosphere.

photo credit: By J.reed. – Own work (J.reed), CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10547376

3. Geno Steaks

Nothing says Philadelphia more than a cheeseteak.  Everyone knows that cheesesteaks are the most stapled and favorite cuisine of Philadelphia. Stopping by Geno’s Steaks on Passayunk ave is one of the most time- honored traditions in the city. Whether it’s 2 pm or 2 am, you can count on Geno’s to be open and serving up this classic fare.  Night time is best for viewing the multiple neon boards decorating the exterior of Geno’s.  These signs are some of the most vibrant and beautiful signs in Philadelphia, a sight and experience not to be missed.  We highly recommend catching a buzz first, and then going to see what this buzz is all about.

By Italo2712 at Italian Wikipedia – Transferred from it.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38290707

4.  Hard Rock Cafe

Now we know that the Hard Rock Cafe is not exclusive to Philadelphia.  In fact, we normally would never think to include a chain restaurant in a review of uniqueness.  However, the beauty of the Hard Rock Sign cannot be denied.  In fact, many people do not realize that the artist who designed the Hard Rock logo itself, Alan Aldridge, also created a plethora of art in teh 60’s and 70’s ranging from book covers to album covers. He was asked to model the Hard Rock logo after the Chevrolet logo, which he did amazingly well in a simple way that speaks to the era of rock in roll in which his work  and this music genre thrived.  The spinning Hard Rock guitar on Market Street is a giant tribute to the brand and artist and pretty tough to ignore.

Photo credit: By user https://www.pinterest.com/pin/106819822385086167/

5. The Electric Factory

The sign at the Electric Factory, installed on an ancient water tower is a mix of creativity and quirkiness. From a distance, it looks like a 3D sign looking toward the south and pointing to the east direction. The signboard is made of two simple colors – white and blue. Visitors and locals visit the signboard to click pictures.

Photo Credit: By howard from Philadelphia, U.S. – Market Street sign (Philadelphia, PA), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3287949

Photo Credit: By Ericmc783 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2554518

6. Market Street and Penn’s Landing Arches

One of the coolest things about Philadelphia street signs is that they are everywhere.  Penn’s Landing and Market Street both have these neat over the street arch signs that light up and show passers by how to get from Penn’s Landing to Old City and vice-versa.  These signs are a pretty awesome sight when the sun goes down and the lights come out late at night. 

Photo Credit: By Boucher, Jack E.Related names:Howe, GeorgeLescaze, William – https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/pa1068.photos.139343p, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34467590

7.  PSFS Sign

Yet another National Historic Landmark is the PSFS building.  Built in 1932, it was the nation’s first modern skycraper. At the very top of this monument sit 2 sets of 26′ tall neon letters displaying the the initials of the building’s owner, the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS).  While the average Philadelphian probably doesn’t know what PSFS stands for, they for sure know where this sign is in the skyline and how much history it represents.

Photo Credit By User:Wasted Time R, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52379965

8. Tower Theatre

Built in 1927 and located just West of Philadelphia in Upper Darby, the majestic Tower Theater physically towers over its surroundings. This iconic sign includes a literal tower of neon letters leading the eyes downward towards a beautiful curving signboard of the old traditional theater style, complete with removable letters.  This beauty calls patrons to the famous theater night after night, signifying it’s historic significance as a music venue and recording hall for some of rock and roll’s most famous musicians and bands. 

Superior-quality custom signs in Philadelphia

As you can see from our synopsis above, Philadelphia is home to some of the world’s most iconic signs.  Next time you get the chance to tour the city and take a look around, you may want to take notice of the beauty of these signs and many others that line the streets and buildings.

If you have a business in or near Philadelphia and want to create your own epic sign, Philadelphia Signs and Awnings can help you do just that.   From designing custom graphics for your brand to manufacturing and installing your sign, we handle all aspects of the process.  It’s time for your business to get noticed!

Call us today at 215-783-0956  to discuss your custom sign or custom awning or fill out a form online by clicking the button below.