7 More ideas for Your Storefront Signage and Design

Consider the other elements of your façade in your sign design. That could mean surface texture, windows, doors, lighting, trim, awnings, or paint.

Turn the odd elements of your storefront façade into unique features to get you noticed. Use overly large or small windows to highlight your brand. You can add creative window vinyl to large windows, or paint the wall surface that small windows leave in a brand colour. The size, colour, location, and style of lighting, trim, and awnings can be used to accentuate your brand.

The Town of Whitby has a grant program for downtown Whitby and Brooklin businesses that can include signage, façade improvement, and design costs.

Check the Town of Whitby website for the Community Improvement Plan grant programs. There are maps of the Whitby and Brooklin downtown areas that are covered by the programs. If your business qualifies, you may receive 50% (up to a certain amount) of your signage and facade improvement costs, and there’s an additional grant to cover the design costs. Of course, there are conditions and requirements, but I think they are very generous and accommodating. Connect with the town directly, or I’d be happy to help you understand the possibilities.

You have more choices than you think in the size and location of your storefront sign.

Sure, you can make a sign the full width of your storefront, but you might make a bigger impact with a smaller sign. A smaller sign on a large area can be very attention grabbing…the breathing space around the sign means the sign stands out, and can help to distinguish it from the neighbours. You can use some of the surrounding space for distinctive lighting in a style that says something about you. Your sign can be at the top of your building, in a window or door, over the door, project from the building, or be on the property in front of your building. Anything’s possible!

Know what you want to say with your storefront signage.

Your sign will say something about you. Make sure you control what that is. Do you want to look professional, adventurous, sophisticated, or friendly? Your sign’s style, materials, size, and colours will contribute to this impression, and help potential customers decide if you are for them. Being clear about your messaging will help to ensure that the right people are attracted to your sign.

There are a lot of factors influencing the cost of your new storefront signage. Be sure to factor in the lifespan of your sign.

Don’t go crazy worrying about the variables. Talk to a professional to get a handle on the factors influencing sign costs:

• Type of sign: Will your sign be affixed to the building, or free standing?

• Materials: Do you want to price out plastic, vinyl, metal, or wood?

• Lighting: Do you need lighting? Is it part of the sign or separate from it?

• Surface: Are you mounting your sign directly on the surface of your building or do you need a backer?

• Size: large, medium, or small?

• Existing: Can we use mounting hardware from a previous sign, or must it be removed?

• Location: Is it easily accessible, or might it require special equipment to install?

• Exposure: Will the sign be exposed to wind and/or sun?

• Installation: The time of year and scheduling might influence the cost of installation.

Font choices convey meaning. The font style, the relative sizes of your text, and the letter spacing can change the feel of your sign.

Make your font choices consistent with your brand. Some fonts are more suited for a professional office, and some for a yoga studio, or daycare. You can also choose uppercase, lowercase, or a combination of the two. Which words do you want to emphasize? Will they be larger than the rest? If you stretch out the spacing between the letters, it can sometimes look more sophisticated or relaxed. Font choices can say a lot about your business. Don’t leave that message to chance, so consult a design professional for effective signage.

The best colours to use for your storefront sign are your brand colours.

Do you know what your brand colours are? It’s important to keep your colours consistent so that you can be recognized. When deciding on the colours for your storefront signage, consider the neighbours too. If their brand colours are similar to yours, it will be important for you to distinguish your signage in a different way. Maybe you can reverse the colours (green on black background or black on a green background) or put your logo front and centre. Most signage material—plastics, vinyls, metals—can be produced in a variety of colours so take advantage! If your brand colours are not consistent, better nail them down before working on a new sign.

FOLLOW me on facebook and instagram for more tips and strategies on Storefront Signage Design, or check out my zoom workshop VIDEO on the subject for the Town of Whitby here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9Da8K4s8s