Added on 31 March 2016
By TopMade
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As a pedestrian, you may experience one of these scenarios (usually while window shopping on a day off):
- Getting caught suddenly in a downpour.
- Or, walking under the blazing sun for too long.
In both cases, you might be lucky enough to spot the awning or canopy of a nearby business as a temporary solution to your plight. And, perhaps, while standing there, your curiosity is piqued and you decide to go into the shop.
These two examples illustrate just one of the ways awnings can create organic moments that benefit the customer and the business owner. Awnings and canopies also offer a number of other, more overt, advantages:
- Marketing your message. Awnings and canopies are commonly used over entrances, walkways, patios, terraces and windows. Your company’s logo or contact info can easily be displayed, and lit from above or below, so it continues to capture attention well into the evening. If you have a free standing store with multiple windows, for instance, you can potentially advertise in all directions.
- Reinforcing your visual identity. Instead of using a logo, you can also rely on fabric patterns, awning shape, and/or graphics to support the tone of your brand in a subtler way. This extra touch adds to the character of your business, demonstrates your attention to detail, and, literally, helps you stand out from your neighbours.
For example, a business that desires a vintage look might use the classic white-and-red striped awning with a scalloped trim. To the potential customer, this is a familiar image that conjures up warm feelings associated with an idealized past. In comparison, a company that caters to an audience that appreciates modern design aesthetics might decide on black canvas and clean edges.
- Generating savings. In a report by the U.S. Department of Energy, Cooling Your Home Naturally, they found that awnings “can reduce heat gain up to 65% in south facing windows and up to 77% on windows facing east.” Furthermore, their ability to act as a natural climate control system takes some of the pressure off of mechanical air conditioning thereby reducing the cost for cooling a building by 25%. And the savings don’t stop there! Direct sunlight on your windows can cause glare or can fade products in your displays. Awnings assist in preserving your wares, so they look good longer, while allowing people to do their browsing.
- Guarding against weather. As we talked about in the intro, awnings and canopies are not just “fair-weather friends.” During sunny days they provide precious shade and, when its snowing or raining, they’re a temporary escape from the wet and cold. Moreover, they facilitate keeping walkways clear of debris.
Over time, awnings need professional maintenance. Not sure what services are available? Check out our blog post on “Awning Refurbishing.”
- Building community. Perhaps the most surprising benefit is the potential to develop welcoming gathering spaces. Awnings and canopies accomplish this by permitting public spaces to remain usable throughout the year. In fact, most area redevelopment plans, and urban design experts, encourage businesses to invest in awnings and canopies because they promote walkability which, in turn, helps commercial areas and neighbourhoods thrive.
Awnings have a long, long history. Curious? Check out this great article by the U.S. National Park Service!
Thinking about an awning or canopy for your business? Give us here at Topmade a call. We offer expert signage consulting to help you through the process – from sign permits to final installation.
Added on 22 March 2016
By TopMade
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Banner signs can be used indoors and outdoors, at a variety of locations, and for a number of different event types. This means that a lot of thought goes into maximizing the impact of your banner for its specific use. For example, the design requirements for an indoor banner at an exhibit, where the audience has time to linger and learn, is very different than an outdoor banner that will be glanced at by passing drivers.
You can find banners used for a number of events, such as:
- Promotions and sales
- Festivals, concerts, fundraisers and sporting events
- Tradeshows and exhibits
- Grand openings/public business announcements
- As “fence covers,” to mask construction sites from view
Some advantages of banner signs include:
Offering novelty. Permanently installed signs, and even sandwich boards, can start to blend into the landscape during daily commutes. Temporary eye-catching banners can help your business keep the attention of potential customers. Banners can also be used in a variety of places other signs can’t. For example, your company might sponsor a team and advertise via a banner at a stadium. Or, if you’re a non-profit or a public event, you might invest in an overpass sign as a prime opportunity to boost awareness (http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Traffic/Permits/Advertising-banner-permits.aspx).
Low maintenance and simple to store. Signs can be kept clean with the occasional wipe down with a cloth dampened in warm water. When you’re ready to put your banner signs away, simply roll them up tight and stash them in a cool and dry area. Avoid placing anything on top of them, or else creases might form.
When designing your banner, here are a few things to consider:
1. Less is more. It’s best to keep text and imagery at a minimum. A focal point, such as a single interesting image or large bright text, can be used to draw the eye. Because your audience, most likely, won’t have much time to spend on your sign, you need to impart only crucial information as succinctly as possible. This could be an image of a product, its name, your business logo and a clear call to action. It’s about creating interest and presenting a way to find out more, rather than explaining everything upfront.
2. Easy to read. Fonts should be the correct size, which will depend on the viewing distance of the potential audience from the banner, and avoid decorative embellishes. “Slab” fonts, like you would see with transportation signs, are ideal for their clarity. Effective color contrast, and ample space between text and images, can also help words stand out against the background.
3. Mood and message. Tailor design elements based on its purpose. For instance, a banner informing viewers about safety concerns in the area should be more reserved and emphasize comprehension. It may also contain more text or diagrams than other types of banners. In comparison, a banner on an upcoming music festival would be more focused on encouraging excitement through vibrant visuals. Their text may only include the name, dates and website.
4. Environment preparation. Vinyl is a very durable material that can hold up well to the weather and the ink used when printing banners is specially formulated to resist fading due to sunlight. All the same, to get the longest life out of your banner, it is beneficial to install it in an area that limits the amount of direct sunlight and wind. Strong winds, in particular, can cause damage. However, this threat can be largely alleviated by proper mounting techniques that give the sign slight flexibility of movement.
Compared to other sign options, that might require the installation of complicated mounting or electrical systems, banner advertisements seem simple. In fact, ease of production allows for banners to be made quickly and cost-effectively. However, it’s the pre-production phase where the nuances of banner design become apparent.
For more information on banner options and design ideas, give us here at Topmade a call. We offer professional input to help you decide what sign is best for you.
We’ve already discussed how important an outdoor business sign is to gain the attention of a potential customer. But, if you’re a restaurant owner, how do you impact whether a customer makes a purchase once they’re in your establishment? Or, how do you turn a one-time customer into a loyal patron?
For many, the menu board is a key tool for creating a positive customer experience that leads to increased sales and efficiency during the order process.
Certain menu board types, such as back-lit menu signs, allow you to customize the entire piece to align strongly with your brand. Others, like chalkboard signs, are ideal for making quick changes. Digital signs offer these previous benefits, along with the potential for interesting animation.
In general, to create a winning menu board, you should determine a strategy and then a design.
Consider your layout options. For example, should your menu board be a series of portrait oriented boards or one big horizontal board? This decision may be determined by space requirements but also by how you want to structure your information.
Give your stars top billing. Research on tracking eye movements indicates that certain areas of a menu are prioritized over others. For indoor use, the center of a menu board is prime real estate. Therefore, you should dedicate this space to best-sellers or new promotions.
Organize content into categories. While creativity is part of the process, certain conventions are essential to ensure readability. For instance, foods should be grouped by type and clearly defined columns and rows allow for related information to be presented in a logical fashion.
Prepare the space. Make sure ample lighting is provided and that the menu board is placed in an ideal location. If a customer can only see the menu board when they’re at the till, a lineup bottleneck can occur as they try to figure out what they want.
Set the stage. Unless the customer is already a regular, you’re pretty much guaranteed that they will be checking out your menu board. This is your opportunity to communicate the tone of your restaurant. Through the consistent use of colours, imagery and fonts, you can create a strong impression on your customers, so they want to come back.
Some common design elements to keep in mind are:
Hierarchy: High level information, such as categories or special promotions, should stand out to help customers find the information quickly. This can be done by using different fonts or colours or by making the text larger or bolder. Borders, images and icons are another way to highlight certain areas.
It’s important that any images used reliably reflect your product, and are of good quality, so the customer walks away happy with their purchase.
Balance: While you may want to prioritize one section over another, you also don’t want any part of your sign to be ignored. If you’re using images, for example, place them carefully throughout your menu board, so the customer’s eye is drawn across the layout.
Readability: If the letter-size is too small, or there isn’t enough space between text or visual elements, your customers will have a difficult time reading your sign. At best, this can slow down the line and, at worst, the the customer can get frustrated and leave. Either way, there is a negative consequence for your business. For tips on improving sign visibility, check out our previous blog.
A menu board is an integral part of a restaurant’s sales strategy. If you’d like expert guidance on how to create a design that will help you meet your business goals, give us here at Topmade a call.
