How Strategic Signage In London Can Boost Your Sales

Every sign you create is an opportunity for you to communicate with your customers. Strategic signs and consistent messaging will help communicate your brand’s story, boost recognition, trust and ultimately, sales.

Signs no retailer can ignore

Your signs should direct, inform and be located to give maximum impact. Outdoor signage should not only create interest but drive customers towards your store, while wayfinding signs make the customer experience a smooth and pleasant one. Seamless journeys around your store can include maps and decals that drive customer traffic to specific areas. Signing for social distancing and a set direction makes it easier for customers to navigate your store and feel safe.

Persuasive signage should be located at the point of sale and should feature a very specific call to action that drives your customers’ purchasing decisions. Finally, inclusive signs extend a great customer experience to everyone who comes through the door.

The benefits of effective signage

From getting your customer through the door to guiding them smoothly around your layout, good signs are appealing and well located, with a clear message. A sign that is designed clearly can take the pressure off your retail team by answering customer queries at a glance.

Signs can be used to create a clear directional path through your store and can even point customers towards displays of items your keen to promote. This leaves your staff free to create a superb customer care experience that helps to differentiate your brand from the competition.

Optimise size for success

The size of your signage in London is critical to attracting customers. Differently sized signs achieve different purposes and need to adapt to different viewing angles. Try the 10 to 100 rule – 10 inches of letter height for every 100 feet of visibility.

Be careful, however, not to compromise readability. Scale graphics and frames to maintain balance and legibility and give your customers a call to action.

Signs that are designed to drive sales for a specific product have a tough job. Unlike signs that alert customers to discounts and clearances, you’ll need to create a very clear idea of the product’s benefits.

Don’t confuse benefits with features, however. Your soft drinks may be low in calories, but thirsty customers would rather know that they’re refreshing and thirst-quenching. Let customers know that your product solves their problem or makes life easier in some way. Show them how and why they need to purchase your product right now to enjoy its many benefits.

The 15-word rule

Want to create maximum impact? Then keep your message simple and observe the 15-word rule. Even with a more complicated promotion, a 15-word teaser will create a call to action that drives your customers towards the product you’re selling.

Match messaging with graphics for a sign that is simple yet unique and eye-catching. Humour and colour are two effective ways to make your signs stand out from the visual noise that bombards your customers every day.

Ask the experts

At The Sussex Sign Company, we can help you create eye-catching signage for your London store that will drive customers into your shop and boost your sales. Well-crafted signage is your secret weapon when it comes to succeeding in retail, so contact us today for more details.

Signage Brings Art And Productivity Into The Workplace

Introducing art into your London workplace has a range of benefits. Opting for a splash of colour is proved to affect mood, while artworks from graphic glass manifestation stickers to digital wallpapers can help your workforce think smarter and be more creative. Proving that signage doesn’t have to be purely functional, art-based solutions are a savvy choice.

Stimulate creativity and productivity

Office design isn’t just about ergonomics or functionality. After all, out of the box thinking never happened in a plain white box. An Exeter University study showed that workers in an enhanced environment with art and plants were 15% more productive than their co-workers who were set tasks in a bare-bones environment. Where they had a personal input into their environment, that figure jumped to 32%.

Art in the office is about more than improving the aesthetics of the workplace. A digital wallpaper containing significant areas of red, blue and green can help employees focus on detailed tasks while boosting and stimulating creative performance.

Aesthetics not anaesthetic

A utilitarian office space filled with unmotivated employees sounds like a nightmare. Yet many office spaces are designed to be precisely that. Injecting art into a bland office opens up lines of communication between employees who are keen to discuss the meaning of the new digital wallpaper, and actively reduces stress – in a Forbes’ survey, 78% of employees surveyed responded that artwork in the office helped them to relax.

Because art elicits an emotional response, it can promote social interaction and foster personal connections. That can be important as working in an increasingly digital environment makes employees less social.

Reflect your visions and values

Including art in the office environment speaks volumes about the vision and values of your business. Bare walls can give the impression that you run a no-frills operation, but add some stylish digital wallpaper and you’ll be perceived as being dynamic and savvy.

83% of employees say art is important in an office. We all take notice of our surroundings because the design elements that surround us combine to create an atmosphere and convey the right message. Give your employees input into the choice of images they see every day and you’ll create a sense of alignment between your staff and your business.

Invest in signage as art

If you’ve discounted the use of digital wallpaper or aesthetic glass manifestations for your business on reasons of cost, think again. With the proven ability to improve productivity and creativity, reduce stress and connect employees who can struggle with motivation and isolation, signage as art is a worthwhile investment.

It makes sense to create a work environment that makes your employees happy. Beautifully designed elements like digital wallpaper can create superb aesthetics that your employees will enjoy day in, day out.

Ask the experts

If you’re interested in bringing elements of art and design into your office environment, innovations like digital wallpaper are a savvy way to change things up. At The Sussex Sign Company, we can take your ideas from conceptualisation to the finished product, creating an office aesthetic that leads to productive and creative employees, so contact us now.

Signage Your London Retail Premises Can’t Afford To Ignore

How long did it take you to get the design for your ecommerce site right? And the signage for your bricks and mortar premises in London? The fact is physical signs should never be an afterthought – they’re an important part of your sales team.

Signs can help your customers navigate your store, attract them to promotions and give valuable information. You pay close attention to the way your website looks. keeping it consistent with your branding. Paying the same attention to your signs will really pay off.

Getting your signage right first time

Before you start designing your signs, take a tip from the advertising business and narrowcast your message. By defining your ideal customer, you can target the right graphics and messages to make your signs effective and eye-catching.

– Keep it simple: the most effective signs have a clear and simple message. Too much information can be confusing and your signs will be ignored. If you can’t convey your essential message in 5 seconds, then shorten it or consider using more than one sign.

– Write a headline: use an effective message hierarchy of attention-grabbing headline, concise explanatory text, and a punchy call to action.

– Always add a call to action: every sign needs a simple, effective call to action that gets the customer to do something like call or visit your website.

The four signs you can’t ignore

Exterior signs

Whether you have a simple A frame outside your coffee shop or illuminated channel letters over the door, this is arguably your most important sign because it’s the one that captures your customers’ attention and gets them through the door.

These signs need to be branded effectively to convey an idea of the experience the customer can expect when they walk through the door. And they should make them want to cross the street to experience it.

Information signs

Wayfinding signs help your customers navigate easily around your premises and find what they’re looking for. Never underestimate convenience when it comes to attracting and retaining customers.

Once you start positioning your signs, you’ll become aware of any organisational snags that your customers will find frustrating, and can put them right. Keep these signs bold and colourful, but consistent with your branding.

Communicative signs

These will let your customer know about sales and promotions or they can showcase a new product. Done well, they can increase brand awareness, drive sales and even add a higher perceived value to a product.

Inclusive signs

When you’re appealing to customers, you need to be inclusive. That means complying with accessibility legislation not just in car parks and toilets but in the way you use your signs.

Signs should be both legible and readable and use pictograms and/or Braille where appropriate. Use san serif fonts and high contrast colours for the most effective signs and make sure they’re mounted at the correct height.

Effective signs for your store

If your retail premises need a new suite of exterior and interior signs, we can help. At The Sussex Sign Company, we have the experience and expertise to design, create and install signs that raise brand awareness and attract attention. Contact us today for signs that maximise your return on investment.

Signage For Sponsors: Connection And Communication

Event sponsorship, in London and across the country, connects your business to the community while communicating a positive brand message. Signage for sponsors is a savvy way to raise awareness of your brand, drive traffic towards your business and ultimately create more sales opportunities. Innovative signage puts your sponsorship front and centre for maximum impact.

By sponsoring an event, a business not only raises awareness but helps to bring an event into being, whether that’s a sporting competition or a trade show. In return, sponsors expect their branding to have an impact by being displayed where it creates most impressions, whether that’s over a podium or above the main event staging.

If you’re the organiser of a sponsored event, you need to think about the way your signs can create connection and communication while delivering awareness for your sponsors. Maximise their return on investment by creating a range of signs that keeps the sponsor’s name top of mind at every stage of the event.

Dynamic messaging

Sponsor messaging doesn’t have to be confined to the event itself. A promotional vehicle wrap including the sponsor’s branding, floor graphics or advertising at bus stops or on station platforms can all carry your sponsor’s message far and wide, connecting the journey directly to the event itself.

Creating dynamic messaging opportunities will bring your sponsor’s branding to life and can be communicated to a captive audience through wall, floor and table stickers. Think about the places where those attending the event will gather, from coffee bars to lifts, and create a suite of signs to exploit these ideal placements.

Improve aesthetics

Attention to detail can make all the difference between an also-ran and an Instagrammable event that creates a real buzz. Most stadiums and conference halls are unattractive spaces that can be improved by the addition of display stands and banners. Make sure that your sponsor’s branding features prominently on eye-catching signs that turns breezeblock walls into ideal canvases for attractive messaging.

Walkthrough your venue with an eye to framing sponsorship messages in clear and creative ways. Try wrapping a concrete pillar, framing up a poster as art or using digital wallpaper to display sponsorship branding in evocative and unusual juxtapositions that capture the attention of event attendees and create priceless impressions for your sponsors.

Get social

Maximising the reach of sponsorship branding should always include social media channels. One easy win is to use your event backdrops as customised photo backdrops with prominent sponsorship logos. This improves brand visibility for those attending the event and the media and raises the awareness of your sponsor’s brand.

Take it a step further with a branded handheld photo frame or even a selfie booth that puts your sponsor’s logo and corporate colours front and centre of every photo opportunity.

Custom signage

By using innovative placement and design, you’ll create a sponsorship package that achieves maximum exposure for your sponsors, generating a real buzz and optimising your event revenues.

At The Sussex Sign Company, we have the expertise to deliver the maximum exposure for your event and your sponsors, maximising the return on your investment while making the most of your budget. Contact us today to find out how we can help you create signage that delivers.

Signage For Temporary Use: Why, When And What?

Wherever your business is, from London to Edinburgh, the chances are that you’ll need temporary signage. You could be thinking ahead to the winter sales or considering running your own pop-up shop or restaurant for a few weeks or months.

Whether your business is well-established or seasonal, temporary signs are lightweight, cost-effective and durable enough to promote your business in the short term.

Why you need temporary signage

Temporary signs are the savvy way to communicate time-limited information to your customers in an eye-catching way. You may want to promote a seasonal product, a temporary exhibition or event, or even a flash sale. Temporary signs are lightweight and portable, they can be installed anywhere without the need for specialised hardware and expertise and they are typically low cost to manufacture.

The lower price point means you can afford to buy enough signs to make a real marketing impact with greater reach. Opt for recyclable materials and you’ll be able to dispose of your signs after use in an environmentally sustainable way.

When do I need temporary signs?

Look around and you’ll find temporary signs everywhere, advertising sales and providing directions. You’ll even find them providing safety information on construction sites. Whenever you have an event or product to promote that has a maximum shelf life of around 3 months, temporary signage is the answer – from banners and A frames to flyers and posters.

What are the right materials for temporary signs?

There are all sorts of materials you can consider for temporary signs, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, posters are a quick and easy way to get the word out to your customers, but their lack of durability means they damage easily in wet and windy conditions.

Foam board is a popular choice, thanks to its relative durability – properly looked after, foam board signs can last up to 2 years. Lightweight and easy to hang using tape, foam board can be printed to extremely high standards and the combination of this material with a knockout design can give your signs plenty of impact.

Foam board signs don’t stand up to rain and wind too well, but if the conditions are right, they can be displayed outdoors to great effect. They’re also rigid, so if you intend to keep them for the same event next year, you’ll need a place where they can store flat.

Sandwich boards may have been banned in central London, but a snappy slogan gives this type of advertising plenty of seasonal pizzazz. Who knows, you could even end up on Instagram! They may be bulky, but if you use reusable graphics, they will have the versatility you need from a temporary sign solution.

For annually occurring events, a vinyl banner is a smart solution. Extremely durable banners can last for years without looking weathered or shabby and are easy to mount using rope or even cable ties. When you’ve finished using them, just roll and store.

Seasonal signs from The Sussex Sign Company

If your business needs seasonal signs as part of your marketing mix, we can help. At The Sussex Sign Company, we ensure the best possible ROI for our clients, so contact us today.

Signage Size Matters So Get The Right Size For The Job

When it comes to creating eye-catching signs for your London business, size really does matter. It’s critical that you get the size right when it comes to signage – too large and you can ruin the aesthetic of your premises, too small and you’ll never get noticed and your potential customers will never know who you are.

The optimum size for your signs is one that catches the attention of passersby and is easily read from a distance. The easiest way to take a rough gauge is to step away from your premises and view them as a customer would. Proportionality is key when you’re sizing your signs – try not to let them dominate or be so large they block the natural light.

Measure twice, design once

When you’re taking measurements for your signs, be careful to factor in any windows and doors. Your signs should never block the light or stop customers being able to enter your premises. Measure and remeasure to make sure your design will scale accurately without causing any kind of obstruction.

Location, location, location

Another critical element in scaling your sign to the right size is its eventual location. This is the best way to begin to understand the optimal size for your new signs.

Just looking at the sign’s intended location should give you an idea of the right scale for your sign. If you’re competing with other businesses on a busy high street, take a look at what seems to work best in terms of size and design.

If your sign is intended to be displayed at eye level, you’ll need to to make it readable without your customers having to take a step back. If it’s being displayed at an elevated location, then it should be clear enough and big enough to be seen from street level.

Link size and design

These are the two factors that are most closely linked when it comes to creating proportional signs. You’ll start with a finite space where the sign is designed to be installed, but don’t be tempted to fill it all with information. Instead, prioritise your company name and determine how legible that will be from a distance.

Now start to work on the rest of the design, adding your elements individually to create the most harmonious aesthetic focused around the key text. This should help you to visualise the size of text and the size of sign that will work best in the given space.

Don’t forget your budget

Another important consideration will be the size of your budget. After all, the bigger the sign, the bigger the budget required, so you may want to scale back your original ideas if you’re in danger of going over your maximum budget.

Creating professional signage in East Sussex

When it comes to creating fantastic signs, it’s all about perception. This is the first impression a potential customer has of your building, so you need to get it right. The easiest way to do that is to work with us at The Sussex Sign Company – we’ll help you maximise your ROI with the perfect sign, so contact us today.

Signage Choices: Why Your Office Needs Digital Wallpaper

When a client enters your London office, what impression does it make on them? If your first impressions could do with smartening up, consider new signage in the form of digital wallpaper.

This is the innovative way to combine colour, pattern and corporate messaging in one aesthetic package that delivers real design punch with a host of other benefits that paint and decals can’t match.

If your office lobby is crying out for visual appeal, then digital wallpaper might just be the smart choice when you need to make a great impression.

Premium appearance

There’s no doubt digital wallpaper is firmly on trend. There are no limits to how you can dress your walls or the graphics you can use to create the right atmosphere, from abstract designs incorporating your logo to more overt corporate messaging. You can turn your lobby into anything from a tropical beach to an urban skyline with a bespoke digital wallpaper.

This combination of style, concept and cutting edge technology effortlessly creates visual impact and a premium appearance.

The budget option that isn’t

Paint might seem the cost-effective option and you’d be right – in the short term. But if you want to think long term and look as if you do, then investing your budget in digital wallpaper can give you a much better return. Paintwork can quickly look tired and scuffed, requiring regular retouching and a full blown revamp in as little as 3 years.

Opt for digital wallpaper and you can make over your office and deliver that all-important first impression of professionalism. A fresh, bold and timeless design that incorporates your logo, branding colours and other strong messaging elements will outlast paint by up to five times. That means your lobby continues to look fresh and smart when paint has already begun to look shabby, and definitely not chic.

Conceal your flaws with digital wallpaper

Cracks, flaws, damage – when you paint your office walls, there’s no hiding place. If the preparation isn’t right, then the finished result will always look rough and uneven – hardly the slick and professional face that your business wants to show to the world.

And that’s where digital wallpaper has the advantage. Excellent at concealing flaws and imperfections, this type of signage is ideal for creating an emphasis wall that focuses the attention of prospective clients on your brand.

Investing your budget in a bespoke design will create a consistent and dynamic interior that delivers a message about your professionalism and success as a business. When you have a captive audience, there’s no better way of generating brand recognition and awareness as an introduction to your business.

Maximise your return on signage investment

If you want to create an effortless brand identity that really maximises the return on your investment, digital wallpaper is a savvy choice. There’s no waste because we only print exactly what you need, meaning you’re not paying for any leftover materials. And the impact of a bespoke design will speak volumes about your business for years to come.

Interested in what digital wallpaper can do for your business? Get in touch with The Sussex Sign Company today to discuss your options.

Signage Trends That Make Your Business Instantly Instagrammable

Social media is a brilliant tool for building your brand. With 3 billion people worldwide now using social channels to directly connect to their favourite brands, shares and likes are some of your best marketing weapons. If you’re not working these signage trends, and you are a business in a major global city like London, can you afford not to have a business that’s Instagram-ready. Is your signage up to the job?

If you’re a business that relies on social interactions, then you’ll know that Instagram is one of the best social media platforms for business, with over 71% of global Instagrammers falling into the 35 and under demographic. There’s also a near perfect crossover with YouTube, with 95% of Instagrammers also using the video platform. That’s a lot of influence.

So where do signs fit into the equation? If you’re encouraging customers to snap and share, you need your branding to be absolutely on point. If a picture paints a thousand words, tired and worn looking signs are a quick way to put a dent in your brand image when they’re all over Instagram.

Signage: is yours Insta worthy?

If social is part of your marketing plan, then it pays to step outside of your business and ask yourself some questions. Try snapping some selfies with your signs in the background – do they look exciting, fresh and inviting, or could you be doing better? Do you need additional signs to create a more customer-friendly experience or could your entire branding do with a makeover to create a more Instagrammable result?

If you’ve dismissed Instagram as a platform for your business, here’s a statistic to make you think again. 60% of Instagram users – that’s upwards of 600 million people daily – search for new brands and products on Instagram. Is that a market your business can afford to miss out on? Are you picking up on these signage trends?

Get started by looking for similar businesses and seeing how they use their Instagram account and the kinds of images that guests are taking and posting. How does your signage measure up? Whether your brand would benefit from a minor refresh or a major overhaul, putting yourself in your customer’s shoes will give you the advantage of making yourself Instagram friendly.

Getting up to speed

If influencing Instagram is your goal, then investing in new signs and impactful branding is critical. If your aim is to get your brand on a social platform in a way that positively impacts your marketing, then you need to work with the professionals to create consistent and eye-catching signs that are worth sharing.

Consider illuminating your signs with low energy, low cost LEDs to ensure they’re well lit and more than just the background to a customer’s selfie. Innovative lighting effects created with channel letters allow your sign to project a message at all times of the day and night.

Professional signs in Sussex

At The Sussex Sign Company, we can create the kind of signs that influencers will take notice of. We can help you stand in your customer’s place and create branding that makes the most of Instagram’s social reach. Contact us today for more information on new signs for your London business.

Signage For Real People, To Maximise Your Event

If you’re holding an event in West Sussex, are you overlooking the basics such as your event wayfinding signs? These signs can help your guests move smoothly from place to place, which is why you need to put yourself in their place. People can get lost or become overwhelmed by the sheer scale of an event. Or they might just want to know how to get to the bathroom. By using well thought through signage that stays consistent with the branding of your event, you can help to manage what is often an undervalued aspect of your event.

Branded event wayfinding signs create a less stressful event. That in turn helps to optimise the event experience and creates positive feedback. By taking a visual approach to the challenges of event organisation and flow control, you contribute to a more organised environment for your guests.

Walk in your guests’ footsteps

Successful navigation depends on siting signs where your attendees are likely to see them when they need them. Directional signs for amenities like the restaurant or bathroom should be situated throughout the event, not confined to within a 10 feet radius of those locations. Walk through the layout in your guests’ shoes, asking the questions they’re likely to ask. That will help you to fine tune the positioning of your signs.

Use your branding wisely

Your signs need to be bold, bright and easy to read at a glance, otherwise the experience can quickly become frustrating rather than enjoyable. If your brand colours are suitable for creating easily readable signs, then use them. However, if they make your signs illegible, stick to approved high contrast accessibility colours and limit your branding to your logo. When you’re designing wayfinding signs, best practice in readability and inclusivity should always be your guide.

Keep signage simple

While it’s tempting to want to create a brand personality with your signs, you need to remember their primary purpose, which is to inform and guide your attendees. By all means, add your logo and use your branding fonts, but never let them obscure the message. Keep wording to a minimum and use universally recognised pictograms wherever possible. Only use personalisation where it’s appropriate and where it won’t obscure the primary function of your signs.

Think through arrows

Arrows are a part of the visual language of wayfinding, but think carefully about the way you use them. Never rely on them as the sole means of navigation and make sure that when you do use them, there’s no ambiguity in what they’re indicating. In fact, you may be better to use multiple signs rather than rely on arrows that could be interpreted in several different ways.

Professional wayfinding signs for your West Sussex event

When you need to create the right impression and ensure that you event is managed properly, you need to work with a professional sign company. At The Sussex Sign Company, we’ll discuss your wayfinding signage needs and put together floor and wall signs, A-frames and banners that help to create the optimum attendee experience. You’ll work with our professional designers to create the perfect signs for your event and to solve the challenges of event organisation with a visual communication solution that really works. Contact us for more information and advice.

Signage Design Trends You Need To Know About In 2019

Signage design in London is more important than ever. In fact, the biggest brands in the world are sitting up and paying attention to the importance of signs which means they’re now evolving into something new and exciting. From clever use of vinyl wraps and negative space to vintage and minimal design, the future looks bright.

Safety first

The love affair with glass in our public spaces shows no signs of diminishing with the transparent Tulip Tower set to become London’s tallest skyscraper. However, glass as a construction material has a raft of safety issues, not least of which is people walking into glass walls!

Anti-collision decals are a chic and practical way to prevent injury, but they can also be used to create industry-relevant displays and marketing while fulfilling their safety purpose. If you don’t have glass walls, create an eye-catching window display using vinyl.

Nice and easy

The days of over-complicated signage are over. For modern marketers, an interest in minimalism and pared back design is all about ease – no one wants to look as if they’re trying too hard.

Out go over complicated logos and messages in favour of sleek and straightforward designs that communicate their message in a simple and uncluttered way. Channel letters and halo lighting are one smart way to keep your signs slick and contemporary.

Use negative space creatively

With the rise of digital wallpaper, there’s no excuse not to get creative with those blank walls. Inject some brand personality and key into the trend for bright pops of colour and bold graphics by making the most of all the negative space in your premises – especially if you have oddly shaped walls or curves that can really make the most of a quirky and eye-catching design.

Try one of the new dynamic and highly detailed hand-drawn style illustrations. Or be influenced by the mainstreaming of futuristic influences such as geometric shapes, abstraction and 3D. Colour palettes are moving away from muted minimalism to a new bright palette that’s intense and vivid, adding a real playfulness to your business graphics.

Go retro

Vintage signs are having a moment, their strong typography and fun colours keying into a sense of nostalgia that millennials find appealing. Think vintage painted designs and neon lighting then replicate the look in the latest materials using LED illumination for beautiful, long-lasting and sustainable signs.

Use bold and easy to read fonts that project individuality and innovation and don’t be afraid to move away from the overly professional to the relaxed and relatable – personalisation is set to be an even bigger part of the customer experience in the future.

Professional signage for your business

You may not be a mega brand but that doesn’t mean you can’t borrow some of their tricks. To keep your brand relevant over the coming year, please contact the Sussex Sign Company. We can advise you on a range of sign solutions designed to maximise the return on your investment thanks to our end to end service from design to installation.