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When It Comes to Illuminated Signage, You've Got Options
What is Illuminated Signage?
Illuminated signage refers to any sign that includes lighting, either internal or external. From monument signs to custom channel letters, adding light to your business' sign will boost your visibility and increase foot traffic.
Under the umbrella of “illuminated signage”, there are a variety of options to choose from. For example: the type of sign, the dimensions of lettering, the type/placement of lighting, etc.
Each of these choices will have an effect on a customer's impression of your business. That’s why choosing signage should be a thoughtful and deliberate process.
Illuminated Signage = Better Business
According to a study done by FedEx, 8 to 10 consumers enter a store they’ve never visited before based only on its signage.
Now, add illumination and you've got an even more cost-efficient advertisement for your business. As soon as it's installed, an illuminated sign will catch the eyes of potential customers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Illuminated signage can also remind your current customers of your products and services, establish your business' identity, and help you recruit new staff.
With so many illuminated signage options, it’s important you pick the best sign for your business needs. So, what style of signage is right for you? To make the decision process a little easier, we’ve broken it down for you below.
4 Popular Illuminated Signage Styles
1.) Illuminated Channel Letter Signs
With a channel letter sign, a custom design lets you stand out from the crowd. Whether you have indoor or outdoor signage-needs, with channel letters, your creativity can soar as high as your budget.
Pros:
- Flexible design
- Durable
- Lower maintenance
- Interior and exterior installation
Cons:
- Higher cost
Channel letter signs consist of three-dimensional, individual letter signs that combine to form a word or phrase. Each channel letter is custom-made from either metal or plastic and can be fabricated to suit various fonts, sizes, or colors.
High creative power over design is one of the perks of this signage option. But, the customization needed for each letter can make this option pricier than others (especially if your business has a long name). Luckily, channel letter signs are durable enough so that your message will attract customers’ attention for years to come.
Channel letters are lit with either LED or neon lighting. There are two types of illuminated channel letters: standard and reverse-lit. Standard illuminated channel letters are lit from the inside and glow through the face of each letter. Reverse-lit channel letters emit a halo of light that makes each letter appear to float.
Both an indoor and outdoor signage option, channel letter signs are versatile. They can either be installed directly onto a building, or on a raceway (a metal box that holds all the letters and electrical components).
Pro-tip: make sure to double-check with your city ordinance or building owner for installation preferences.
2.) Illuminated Cabinet Signs
If your business relies on the recognition of its logo, then an illuminated cabinet sign is an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Large surface area for more graphics and text
- Durable
- Quick fabrication/installation
- Affordable
Cons:
- Less lighting options
Does your company name consist of a lot of letters? Is your logo intricately designed? While channel letters become pricier with each letter, illuminated cabinet signs provide an ample amount of space for your business name and logo’s graphics.
Cabinet signs are an enclosed signage option, consisting of a metal frame and an acrylic, polycarbonate, or flexible material face, depending on size. The face displays your company name, logo, and any other information you might want to add, typically in cut vinyl or digitally printed vinyl, and sometimes in paint.
Illuminated cabinet signs are lit from within by an LED light source. Because the sign is enclosed, the electrical components are protected from the elements.
While cabinet signs offer limited lighting options compared to other outdoor signage, their simplicity can result in a quicker fabrication process. That translates into a faster turnaround time for you, from order to installation.
This brings us to another great benefit of the cabinet sign: affordability. Easy fabrication makes this type of outdoor signage a great option if you're on a budget.
3.) Illuminated Monument Signs
Grab the attention of drivers and pedestrians day and night with an illuminated monument sign. If you need to communicate to your customers exactly what and where your business is, this outdoor signage option is for you.
Pros:
- Increased curb appeal
- Flexible design
- Cost-efficient
- Durable
Cons:
- Regular maintenance
A monument sign is a detached, freestanding sign, usually installed roadside in front of or near a business' building. Easy for drivers and pedestrians to see, these signs are excellent at attracting new customers and establishing trust.
The surface of the sign is usually an LED light box attached to a proportionate solid base or structural frame. The base or frame is made with either brick and mortar, stone, stucco, foam, metal, or a combination of these.
Either external or internal lighting can illuminate monument signage. External lighting shines onto the face of the sign, while internal lighting comes from within a light box. You also have a choice of either LED or fluorescent lighting.
If you're looking for design flexibility that allows you to express your brand identity, look no further than this style of sign. Rustic or modern? Vibrant or muted? Stone or stucco? With an illuminated monument sign, you can choose from a wealth of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials to make a statement about your brand. To see design options in more detail, check out our other blog post about the benefits of having monument signage.
To get the most out of your illuminated monument sign, you'll need to stick to a maintenance schedule. Just as great monument signage will attract customers, a shabby monument sign will scare them off. That’s why regular cleaning, damage inspection, and electrical system checks are all necessary parts of monument sign maintenance.
4.) Digital and Electronic Message Centers
Need to be able to regularly update your message to customers? Digital and electronic message centers will let you do just that.
Pros:
- High visibility
- Flexible messaging
- Versatile
- Durable
Cons:
- Higher cost
A digital and electronic message center (EMC) is a sign that features a digital display. The digital display allows you to control your content and messaging remotely or automatically, meaning you can change the content of your signage as often as you want.
With an EMC, you can update passers-by on everything from upcoming spring sales to the current temperature. You can also provide your business phone number, website address, and hours of operation. While usually a popular outdoor signage option, EMCs can also be installed indoors.
As outdoor signage, EMCs have serious stopping power. According to a report by RichMedia Technologies, 63 percent of people reported that digital signage catches their attention. That’s a higher percentage than most other advertising mediums, including TV, billboards, and even the internet.
These signs are durably constructed to weather harsh conditions. The display screen is lit with energy-efficient LED bulbs, and can come in either monochrome or full-color options, as well as in varying levels of resolution, depending on the application and need for detail.
As 85 percent of your customer base works and lives within a five-mile radius, an EMC is typically a great investment. Not only will your brightly-lit display catch the attention of locals, but it will also keep them consuming your content. Be sure to check with your city for specific ordinances related to EMCs, as they vary considerably from city to city.
Next Steps
Illuminated signs are one of the best ways to promote your business and brand at any time of day. Hopefully, you’ve gleaned some “bright” ideas about how to attract and convert customers and are ready to get started. Have additional questions or want Impression Signs and Graphics to help you bring those ideas to life? Contact us at the link above.
Project Highlight: Reell Manufacturing
Exterior Signage
The Ask: Create & replace illuminated exterior signage so they can be seen in the dark and update their brand identity at the same time.
The Project: Design, manufacture and install a monument sign cabinet that can be seen during the day and at night, and create an illuminated channel letters sign for the back of the building to help people find the building from both sides.
How We Did It: We worked with the city's planning department, an engineering firm, the client's electrician, and a landscaping contractor before ultimately building a monument sign with day/night film that allowed for higher visibility and contrast during both day and night.
Project Highlight: SPPS - Washington
SPPS – Digital Monument
The Ask: Replace an electronic message center sign that was destroyed in an automobile accident.
The Project: Create and install a digital monument sign with a programmable electronic message center to help raise awareness of school events, display recognition messages and enhance community pride.
How We Did It: We designed a monument that was similar to the original, but with several enhancements. A USA-based electronic message center vendor and a local fabricator then produced the monument sign while we helped obtain the required permit. The replacement sign was bigger than what is now currently allowed by the city, but since the original sign was grandfathered in, it was approved and later installed with help from the client’s electrician.
Project Highlight: Helix
HELIX – Multi-family Signage
The Ask: Update signage as part of a property rebrand & add additional wayfinding signage as part of a larger apartment building remodel.
The Project: Design and fabricate over 350 custom interior ADA signs, one illuminated monument sign, four post and panel signs, and a handful of custom parking signs.
How We Did It: We worked with the city’s planning department to ensure all exterior signage was properly permitted per city ordinance prior to fabrication and installation. Then we coordinated all sign installation with the client to ensure minimal disruption and maximum impact to all residents and visitors.
Project Highlight: Agiliti
AGILITI – Interior Signage
The Ask: Help create interior signage for a rebrand to enhance the corporate office environment, showcase the company’s products, and boost company culture through core values signage.
The Project: Work with the client’s design firm to create a company “Legends” wall, a wall mural, a dimensional sign for a curved wall, an illuminated lobby sign for the reception area, etched glass vinyl graphics for multiple conference rooms, and other multi-dimensional signs throughout the office.
How We Did It: We met with the client’s design firm to discuss possible solutions to bring their ideas to life then we performed a detailed site survey to validate the size of each space. We also provided suggestions that could help with their budget without sacrificing the project’s objective. From there, we continued to communicate with the client and their design firm until the whole project was approved, printed, and installed.
Project Highlight: Cobeck - Southdale
COBECK CO. – Comm. Construction Signage
The Ask: Provide signage for the new expansion area at Southdale Center as part of the Lifetime Fitness Edina project.
The Project: Supply illuminated channel letters, dimensional lobby signs, elevator signs, parking signs, and ADA compliant wayfinding signs for the new Southdale expansion parking ramp, elevator, and lobby.
How We Did It: After winning a signage bid on this construction project, we performed multiple site surveys at various stages of construction. We then created mockup submittals for all signage, and upon approval, manufactured and installed signage according to the commercial construction firm’s drawings and needs. We also provided extensive hands-on project management to source non-traditional fabrication requests and ensure on-time delivery to complete the firm’s entire construction project on time.
Project Highlight: Pizza Karma
PIZZA KARMA – Restaurant Signage
The Ask: Print and manufacture all necessary signage for a brand-new restaurant.
The Project: Manufacture exterior channel letters, swap out pylon sign panels in a multi-tenant pole sign, print and install large vinyl wall mural with a custom textured laminate, print and cut window vinyl, menu boards and various other interior wayfinding and branding signage.
How We Did It: We worked with an architectural design firm that specializes in restaurant builds to obtain brand assets we could use to design and layout several different types of signage. We installed all requested signage just in time for the grand opening, even with harsh weather conditions during the week of install.
Project Highlight: East Side Association
EASTSIDE NEIGHBOORHOOD DEVELOPMENT – Illuminated Signage
The Ask: Redesign and renew signage for businesses within the community to help foster economic growth and commercial development on the East Side of St. Paul.
The Project: Create exterior signage (both illuminated channel letters on a raceway and flat panels) to retrofit the space for 6 local businesses and help enhance visibility day and night while creating a more professional appearance for each.
How We Did It: We performed site surveys for each location, created design mockups for each business owner, and worked with the city to obtain required permits. From there, we coordinated installs with an electrician where applicable to ensure all illuminated signs provided maximum impact.
Project Highlight: Metro
METRO HEATING – Fleet Graphics
The Ask: Design & rebrand vehicle graphics to help build further brand awareness, build credibility, and enhance trustworthiness.
The Project: Create a new design, then print and wrap 30+ trucks and vans.
How We Did It: We created multiple design concepts to best incorporate Metro Heating’s ideas and represent not just their services, but also their values. From there, we printed the approved design, and scheduled install on both old and new fleet vehicles with a detailed weekly schedule to ensure on-time completion and minimal downtime for the client.
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