• Why signage may be the most important part of your marketing plan, responsible for up to 50% of your new customers.
• How to choose what kind of sign to get, how big your sign should be and whether you need to have it light up at night.
• Does my business sign need a permit and how long does it take to get permits?
• Call or email us for a free consultation.
  

Business signs serve three valuable purposes

First, your custom business sign is a marketing tool, designed to grab the attention of potential customers. People driving or walking by your store will see the sign and if they use your product, come inside to check out what you have to offer. Even if shoppers don't come in right away, the sign is creating "top of mind awareness," which is a marketing term that means the sign will help them remember you when they search the web for your product or service. Signage is an investment that pays a high return many times over. A channel letter or lightbox business sign is the most important part of your storefront design and possibly even your marketing plan. It catches your customer's attention and leads them to the front door.

Second, a big and beautiful business sign helps first time customers find you. Let's say someone finds out about your store on the internet or from a friend and they want to shop. Your sign makes it easy to find you on that first visit and when they tell a friend, you know the shopper will say "look for their sign." If new customers can't find you, then you may lose a sale, or worse, a customer. So, make your sign big and beautiful and do everything possible to make yourself easy to find.

Third, your sign can tell a story about your business. Fonts, colors, graphics and good design are really important in sending the right signals about your store. A good sign designer knows how to use all the visual elements in their toolbox to get you noticed. Help shoppers give up the internet habit and shop local by putting up an extraordinary business sign, 100% customized for your needs.

A 1995 study reported that the number of signs at a particular location has a significant and positive impact on sales revenues.

Dealing with the building department and landlords

Just like any other product or service that you might buy for your business, there are a number of things that have to know before picking up the phone to place an order at your local sign shop.

Most minds gravitate towards the obvious: what should the sign say? What should it look like? What font's and colors are best? However, in the real world, there are sets of rules that need be followed, and a potential sign buyer is best served by playing within the bounds of those rules. Ask yourself “What kind of signage is legally allowed by the City?” “What kind of permitting do I need?” “What kind of signage will my landlord allow me to have?” and of course “What will be an effective and alluring design that will attract and inform customers”?

Almost every business sign on Oahu that's visible from the street requires permits issued by the Department of Planning and Permitting (the Building Department). This is mostly to ensure that signs are of a reasonable size, installed safely and the messaging and imagery thereon is appropriate for public view. If you don't get a permit, the building department can issue a Notice of Violation which includes fines and they may even make you take down the sign.

In addition to the city's requirements, business owners should know that most leases, especially at shopping centers, have landlord rules and requirements about tenant signage. Oftentimes a shopping center will have a Signage Standard in the lease or a Sign Master Plan that stipulates what the tenant is allowed, so it's important to have a good understanding of what the landlord wants BEFORE YOU SIGN THE LEASE. The landlord will usually specify the type of signs allowed, along with the appropriate size restrictions and color requirements. For example, Ala Moana Shopping Center and Ka Makana Ali'i require relatively expensive and very nice signs that help keep their upscale, high-class look and feel. A smaller shopping plaza off of Dillingham Blvd might have much more lenient standards, perhaps allowing more affordable signs such as lightboxes.

Finally, the design of the sign itself can be considered, but only after working within the confines of the City and the Landlord requirements. While it is certainly possible for a lay person to gather this information and produce an appropriate design, it's much easier to leave it to a professional who has done it hundreds of times. Sign Builders will send an expert to meet you at your location for a chat and a site inspection absolutely free of charge. We'll measure the frontage, take all of the required photographs, check the legality with the Land Use Ordinance and consult with your Landlord in order to deliver a plan of action that will be legal, tasteful, and effective. Sign Builders will not charge you for a site inspection or for presenting a sign proposal.

So, what's most important when planning a business sign?

The size of your business sign and illumination are the two most important things to consider when you buy a sign. Get the biggest sign you can and light it up. Even if you're not open at night, having an illuminated sign helps with that "top of mind awareness" thing I mentioned before. Some businesses even leave their sign illuminated during the day, because it creates a visual "pop." Don't worry about the power usage because modern LED signs use about the same power as a 100 watt light bulb.

Working with Sign Builders.

Our full service approach offers you a complete turn key solution for your business signage. We have the experience and resources to help make sure your new business sign will be beautiful and effective. At Sign Builders, we're not out to just make a buck. We're your partner, taking into consideration the cost, design, fabrication, permitting, and installation issues to present a complete solution.