Exterior sign for a coffee shop by Iconography. Rustic and Unique Exterior Signage in Los Angeles! An exterior sign is the most important necessity for any business with a storefront.
If you do not have a sign, how are people going to know who you are? DUH! There are many different signs you can choose from. Signs can be illuminated, non illuminated, aluminum, foam, acrylic, wood, …really anything you can imagine! You should really think what best fits the look and feel for your business.
Why is an Exterior Sign Important For Your Storefront?
Storefront signage is critical for establishing brand identity, creating a professional first impression, and driving customer traffic. It acts as a 24/7 “silent salesperson,” enhancing visibility in competitive, high-traffic areas while communicating key information to passersby. High-quality, well-designed signs build trust, differentiate businesses from competitors, and boost sales.
Key Reasons for Storefront Signage Importance:
- First Impressions & Brand Recognition: A sign is often the first interaction a customer has with a business, setting the tone for the brand, and reinforcing its personality through consistent colors and logos. Approximately 76% of consumers have entered a store they never visited before based solely on its signage. It often serves as the very first visual interaction a potential customer has with a business, setting the tone for their entire experience.
- Visibility & Marketing: Effective, particularly illuminated, signage increases visibility in crowded areas, attracting pedestrians and motorists, and acts as a constant marketing tool.
- Driving Impulse Purchases. Effective exterior signs can increase impulse visits and overall foot traffic. Research shows that well-placed signage can drive customers to spend up to 40% more than planned.
- Customer Guidance & Information: Signs communicate crucial information like operating hours, services, and product offerings, helping to guide customers and improve their experience.
- Competitive Advantage: A unique, well-designed sign helps a business stand out from competitors, increasing the likelihood of attracting new customers.
- Boosts Sales: Eye-catching signage can draw in passersby, turning them into customers, and promotes special deals.
For our friends at Café Paradocs, they have a very rustic look and feel for their interior so why not have the exterior sign match? You want your sign to be an accurate reflection of your business so that you attract the right customers.
Best Practices for Effective Exterior Signage:
- Prioritize Legibility. Use high-contrast colors (e.g., dark text on a light background) and clear fonts. A general rule is 10 feet of viewing distance for every 1 inch of letter height.
- Invest in Illumination. Lit signs ensure 24/7 visibility and can increase store visits by up to 40% compared to unlit alternatives.
- Ensure Compliance. Signs must follow local zoning laws, building codes, and ADA requirements to avoid fines and ensure accessibility.
- Regular Maintenance. Cleaning and repairing signs (e.g., replacing burned-out bulbs) is essential, as dilapidated signage negatively impacts brand reputation.
Also, your sign can look expensive, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be constructed that way. For example, this sign was produced with foam letters and had a brushed copper laminate. These letters were then mounted on top of a brushed medium bronze aluminum rectangle backing. All of this material also had stucco edges. For foam exterior signs we strongly recommend using stucco finish because it protects the sign against the elements and particularly against birds – sometimes they like to pick at the edges of the foam. See more examples of our exterior signs here.
The colors fit perfectly with the interior and you really know the look and feel of the business before you even walk in the door! The colors and materials were picked out by the owners themselves and they work perfectly. The color contrast between the sign and the exterior wall is great! The sign really stands out and gets the much needed attention it deserves!
Here at Iconography we want to give you what is right for your business! Give us a call at 562-424-4353 and let us help you pick the right sign for your budget!
