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.

The latest in Vehicle Livery for 2020

The vehicle wrap industry is a dynamic and ever-changing one, with new colours, designs and styles of wrapping emerging all the time. And while the latest trends may not be a match with your business now, trends have a way of filtering into the mainstream, making them more accessible and more affordable.

Go classic

This is a fun trend that’s becoming more mainstream and it might be a creative way to differentiate your vehicle from the competition. Go faster stripes, muscle car styling and even the tribal graphics made popular by the Ford Focus are being seen on different vehicles.

Colour crazy

Single colour wraps are giving way to colour changing wraps, pear finishes and even chrome – the kinds of finishes that are virtually impossible to achieve with a respray, but look sensational when achieved with a vinyl wrap.

Matte finishes are most popular of all, giving what could be seen as garish a real subtlety and sophistication. Strategically designed to highlight curves and body detailing, these colour shifting wraps can look sensational. If your business is fashion or beauty related, this kind of wrap-effect will certainly get you noticed.

Textured accents

Love the look of carbon fibre on high-end race cars? That look can be yours with affordable vinyl. This type of vehicle livery can add a huge amount of interest to your car graphics and can even be specific to your business – imagine wrapping your car in planks of ‘wood’ if you’re a carpenter.

Brushed metal, steel rivets, even leather, these are all textures that are being seen on vehicles and they can make a massive visual impact. There’s a texture to suit the image you want to project, whether that’s strong and tough or green and leafy!

See our vehicle gallery for ideas.

Design and installation is critical

Texture, colour effects and even classic symbols all look better if they’re properly designed and installed. If you want to incorporate these elements into your vehicle livery, then work with a professional designer for best effect.

Design elements can be tricky to handle across the bodywork of a vehicle. That’s where your designer, with their knowledge of bodywork, marketing and design, can create a wrap that uses those elements for maximum impact. It’s easy to overwhelm your message with clever vinyl effects – a designer will help you take a step back and get it just right, with a less is more approach.

Once you’ve nailed the design, then high-quality installation really delivers the goods when it comes to offering the longest lifespan possible. That, in turn, will maximise your return on investment and keep your unique and eye-catching design on the road for longer.

Leave your vehicle livery to us

At The Sussex Sign Company, our team of designers and installers offers a full spectrum service that maximises ROI and delivers your key messages with style and clarity. Contact us today and we’ll help you create vehicle livery that gets your East Sussex business noticed, whether your vehicles are parked up or on the road.

How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap Cost?

How much does a vehicle wrap cost? There are a variety of factors that can affect the price, and once you have taken that into account, an investment in a full vinyl wrap is a great low-cost marketing channel for your business.

How is the cost calculated?

There are several factors that need to be taken into account when costing car graphics. These include:
– The total area to be wrapped – this differs depending on whether you prefer a full or partial wrap
– The complexity of the geometry of your vehicle
– The length of time you want your vehicle wrapping to last
– Your design
– The state of your vehicle

Your custom quote will be based on these factors and any others that are relevant.

Factors that impact vehicle wrapping

A good rule of thumb, as with anything, is the bigger it is, the more it costs to wrap. Another factor that can drive up the price of vehicle wrapping is the type of vehicle you want to be wrapped – if there’s no pre-existing computer model, then designing your car graphics will be a more time-intensive process.

A car wrap is not designed to repair body damage or rust, but it can disguise dents and scratches. However, this can also push up costs, as different processes may be required. The better the condition of your vehicle, the more affordable your car graphics will be.

Perhaps the biggest impact on cost is the design itself. The more complex the graphics, the more expensive your vehicle signwriting is likely to be. Remember, you can make a big impact by keeping it simple. Be very clear from the start whether an intricate vehicle wrap is really the right fit with your business.

Vehicle wrap costs

Although a full car wrap is the most cost-effective form of marketing there is, with 1,000 impressions costing just 4p, there are ways to cut the costs of a wrap if you’re on a tight budget.

First of all, you can choose a partial wrap. This is a good option for small businesses with a strong local following, for example, if you’re a plumber or handyman. Keep the wrap to the rear end of the vehicle and you’ll still benefit from the fact that over 90% of people say they take notice of messages on the rear end of lorries and vans.

Lamination costs extra but will extend the lifespan of your vehicle signwriting. Alternatively, you can opt for door decals for your startup or a simple message that is more affordable – and often just as effective.

Finally, keep your vehicle wrapping well maintained and removal is a snap. It’s another way to drive down costs and maximise the return on investment.

Ask the professionals

At The Sussex Sign Company, we specialise in creating premium, cost-effective vehicle wraps for cars and vans in London and across the South East. If you want to know how much it would cost to wrap your vehicle, give us a call or drop us an email and we’ll be happy to help.

10 Tips For Effective Wayfinding Signage

Do you know how to find your way? Whether you need signs to direct customers around your store, or wayfinding signs for an exhibition or display in West Sussex, there are certain fundamental rules you’ll need to follow to create the most effective signs.

Creating effective wayfinding signage is an art, and there are a wide array of signs at your disposal. From directional to information signs, each piece of the wayfinding jigsaw needs to fit into a cohesive whole. Here are 10 design and display tips to help you and your customer’s make the most of your wayfinding signs.

1. Never make assumptions

Always treat your customers as if this is their very first visit.

2. Know your space

Always take the time to survey and walk through the space. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and consider all the landmarks on your way, including places that are easy to navigate and those that present a potential problem.

3. Look for the decision points

Where are the places that a decision needs to be made about the direction of travel? Staircases, lifts, entrances, exits and crossroads are all obvious places to locate wayfinding signs to help visitors make informed decisions.

4. Add travel distance

Adding a distance or an estimated time of travel is useful when visitors may have deadlines to meet. It clues your customers into navigation between points A and B by creating concrete details around your landmarks and helps visitors to plan their visit.

5. Keep it concise

When you’re designing wayfinding signs, there’s no space for visual clutter. Keep the message and the way of conveying it clean, clear and precise. Use as few words as possible or, even better, use a symbol or pictogram. Your signs are there to inform, not to impress with your use of vocabulary, so don’t use fancy terms for the sake of it.

6. Don’t reinvent the wheel

If other signage in your building uses a consistent set of symbols, fonts, language and colour scheme, then stick with them. If your reception area is known as reception, don’t suddenly redesignate it as the foyer or lobby.

7. Keep signage up to date

Make a habit of revisiting your wayfinding on a regular basis. If any routes have changed, then outdated signs will cause confusion and disorientation where you should be seeking to introduce order and clarity.

8. Take note of hazards

If you’re installing signs outdoors, what are the immediate risks to the longevity of your sign? Will it fade in strong sunlight or be exposed to high winds? Is it likely to get pranged by cars or be covered in mud, obscuring the message? Assessing the risks will help you find the ideal installation spot.

9. Use the right materials for the job

If you want your signs to stand up to the rigours of the job, choose long-lasting materials that are appropriate to the installation site.

10. Understand the options

Design, fonts, colours and materials – at the Sussex Sign Company, we can help you assess all your options to create wayfinding signage that is informative and useful for your customers. Want to know more? Contact us for details.

Supporting Our Military – The Sussex Sign Company Signs The Armed Forces Covenant

Military personnel including veterans have a new ally in their search for employment after The Sussex Sign Company has pledged its support by signing The Armed Forces Covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Businesses can choose to adopt it as a demonstration of their support for the armed forces community and, with so many of the armed forces struggling to adapt to civilian life, The Sussex Sign Company has done so.

It means the award winning Sussex Sign Company which employs 24 staff and is based in Sussex, will uphold the covenant’s key principles across its operation and advocate these practices to its customer base of 5,000 SMEs.

The principles of the Covenant are twofold – first that no member of the Armed Forces, past or present, should be disadvantaged compared to any other citizen in providing public and commercial services and, secondly, that they may be due special treatment, especially if injured or bereaved. The Sussex Sign Company has also committed to support any member of its team who are also in the Armed forces reserves.

In practice, the signing of the Covenant means The Sussex Sign Company will promote itself as forces-friendly, help Armed Forces personnel seeking employment recognise the transferrable skills they have. Support employees who choose to be Reservists and educate the company’s customers about the benefits of employing reservists and cadets.

The Sussex Sign Company is one of just over 1,000 companies in the UK to have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

It was signed in Brighton by the company’s Operations Director Linda Edwards.

Linda said: “The service men and women of the UK’s armed forces are not assured an easy transition back into normal life when they leave the military. All veterans both Long and short serving often have to take a huge leap from their experience in military employment to whatever they do next, and it is rarely easy. We at The Sussex Sign Company are committed to supporting wherever we can.

Contact The Sussex Sign Company here

5 Ways To Update Your Current Signage

Update your signage! Is your fascia looking a little tatty or does your signage no longer reflect where you are as a business? There can be several different reasons for needing to update your signage – so here are 5 ways to help you keep your signs looking fresh, to stay ahead of the competition.

Try rebranding

Even the biggest corporations undergo regular rebranding, no matter how subtle. How you handle a rebrand can turn it into a useful marketing opportunity and allow you to create a cohesive look for your commercial premises that might even extend to your vehicle fleet.

Whether you keep it as subtle as an overhaul of your colours and fonts or go for a full-scale change of logo, a well-executed rebranding exercise can generate sales, increasing revenue to pay for the change of look.

Update materials

The chances are that, since your signs were installed, the materials used have advanced significantly. Investing in premium quality signs is your ultimate marketing tool. If your signs can withstand extreme weather conditions and come up shining, then they’re worth the investment.

Coupled with a planned maintenance programme to keep your exterior signs in good condition, you’ll boost brand awareness and business reputation. When your signs look good, your premises are more attractive to your customers.

Expand your signage

Instead of replacing your existing signs, you can update your signage and rejuvenate the look and feel of your premises by adding extra signs that benefit your customer. Additional wayfinding signs can direct customers to promos and retail opportunities that enhance the customer experience while boosting your revenues.

You could also consider adding point of sale signs and displays that direct customers to a time limited promotion or a new product you’re keen to bring to their attention. The sales you generate with additional signs can offset the costs of your investment.

Add illumination

An illuminated sign means that you can truly maximise your marketing appeal, 24/7. Energy efficient LEDs have made sign illumination a feasible choice for any business and there’s no doubt that well-constructed halo letters with a strong illumination effect will set you apart from the competition and give your signs an instant update.

A cost-effective trough light is a quick and easy way to add a different dynamic to an existing sign. From halo lighting to the use of large scale monument signs packed with LEDs, ask your sign designer for their expert advice and add the power of illumination for a quick facelift.

Rethink design

If you want to create a whole new signage suite, then you’ll want to rethink everything from the ground up. Working with a professional designer is the savvy way to focus your ideas and maximise your return on investment. After all, a set of new signs may not come cheap, but as your biggest marketing asset, they offer surprisingly good value for money.

Whether your business needs an overhaul or your nearest competitor in West Sussex has signage that’s putting yours to shame, we can help. At The Sussex Sign Company, we make it our business to help you maximise your ROI with bespoke signs that help you utilise this piece of prime marketing real estate to its fullest potential, so contact us today.

What’s The Truth About Branding And Signage?

What is the truth about branding and signage and branding.

Want to stand out from the competition? Need greater brand recognition? Then you need exterior and interior signs that are clear, coherent and well-designed. Of course, you’ll have to do that yourself because no sign company is capable of creating the great design you need to differentiate yourself in a crowded market.

That’s a myth. In fact, a professional sign company can offer you the ultimate solution to your branding and design dilemmas. By having your sign company design, create and fabricate an entire custom sign package, you’ll maximise efficiency, streamline costs and minimise hassle.

Branding: art or science?

Branding is a unique blend of research and design that leads to the development of clear and imaginative marketing. Impactful signs are central to any coherent branding exercise and a strategic signage partner will guide you through the process, helping you explore the design options and make the right decisions on materials. Your partnership will lead to the fabrication of cost-effective signs that form a central part of your branding strategy.

Business led branding

Ever hear the expression ‘less is more’? Your business should dictate the marketing and design strategy for your brand. For some businesses, minimalism reflects their business values – think Apple design. But for your business, you may prefer to take a more playful, colourful and maximalist approach, because it chimes with your branding.

But you should also beware of keeping signage to a bare minimum. Again, let the customer experience dictate the number and type of signs that you need, from exterior illuminated signs to interior wayfinding services. Don’t compromise the customer experience because you feel you need to conform to a certain design stereotype. Let your sign company lend their expertise to your evaluations and needs analysis.

Beautiful branding vs the real world

There’s a common misconception that conforming to accessibility standards for signs is anathema to great design. In fact, so-called great design or branding is no such thing if it’s not flexible enough to be accessible to all.

Working with a sign company is the smart way to combine form and function in such a way that style doesn’t compromise readability and vice versa. Through consultation and thoughtful design, your branding can stay on point, whatever the style of signage, to deliver clear, consistent and clever branding.

In fact, paying attention to the use of pictograms and being sparing with text can help you to create signs that are inclusive, effective and visually appealing. When it comes to words, less is very definitely more and signs are no place for verbal overload. Use short headlines and keywords and be sparing with words – leverage the power of imagery to tell your brand story and focus on the quality of images to create an impression and sustain brand recognition.

Find your strategic signage partner

Rising above the visual noise can be particularly hard in a major city like London. But it’s not impossible if you partner with a sign company with the expertise to help you leverage your signs to create that all important brand recognition. At The Sussex Sign Company, we’ll help you maximise your return on investment and help you get the best out of your branding, so contact us today.

Creating Killer Vehicle Livery For Your Food Truck Is A Piece Of Cake

If you want to stand out in the East Sussex food truck scene, eye-catching vehicle livery is a smart investment. Using van graphics is a great way to drive brand recognition, engage your customers and boost your sales – and your truck will look pretty enticing, too!

But how do you create vehicle livery that gets the message across and doesn’t get lost amongst all the other well-dressed food trucks? These are the key questions you need to answer to create a killer vinyl wrap that your customers will look out for.

What’s your point of difference?

You might know five other trucks that are selling the same cuisine as yours. So what is it that sets your food truck apart from the rest? It might be the authenticity of the ingredients you use, or an iconic dish you focus on, or even the way you serve it up.

Whatever your point of difference is, that should be the starting point that drives your design forward,

Who are you?

For most people who run food trucks, it’s a real labour of love and you’ll have thought long and hard about your business ethos and core beliefs. Imparting the unique vibe behind what you do is another way to differentiate your graphics from the rest and thinking about your values really gets the creative juices going!

Is there a design you love to hate?

If there’s a truck out there that already has the ‘ideal’ design, don’t despair. A good designer will use anything and everything as the inspiration for an improved version of a favourite design. So don’t be afraid to include rival trucks in your inspiration mood board.

Is your food mouthwatering?

Of course it is – and if it looks as good as it smells and tastes, you might be tempted to use a mouthwatering image on your food truck. If this is the right choice for you, make sure you use a professional photographer and submit a high resolution image for the best results.

Is your vehicle livery design over complicated?

If it is, step away from the truck and think about ways that you can strip everything back. Simplicity and minimalism in design always creates a great impression, because it says that you’re confident enough in your product to let the flavour do the talking.

On the other hand, let your designer unleash their creative flair and never shy away from using vibrant colours that pop – they might create just the tasty vinyl wrap you’re looking for.

Collaborate with the professionals

At The Sussex Sign Company, we offer an end to end vehicle livery solution that takes your ideas from design to execution. We understand how important your brand and your ethos is to your business, and we’ll work with you in a creative partnership to create the tastiest vinyl wrap and graphics on the block.

For the best possible return on your investment and food truck vehicle livery that will whet any appetite, why not contact The Sussex Sign Company today?

Commercial Wayfinding 5 tips to make your signage a success

Good commercial wayfinding signage is all about putting your customer at ease in an unfamiliar space. Wayfinding should be intuitive and consistent – there’s nothing worse than allowing your signs to develop into a mash-up of styles, fonts and colours. If you’re renovating or remodelling, then now is the ideal time to reconsider your wayfinding strategy using these 5 top tips to success.

Keep it simple

You don’t have to spend a fortune to create a suite of informative and user friendly wayfinding signs. In fact, this is one area where digital isn’t better. It’s virtually impossible to set digital signage to please all customers – some will be frustrated if information scrolls too quickly, others if it’s too slow.

Make it easy for your customers to process information and get to where they’re going. Put yourself in their shoes and walk the building – how many times would you have to ask for information because a sign is unclear? Are signs displayed at the right height? And are they accessible for all your customers? By keeping your signs as simple as possible, you’ll satisfy more of your customers.

Pictures not words

It’s still true that a picture get the message across much more quickly and easily than words, and we retain that information for far longer. Pictograms are also the smart choice if you have a multilingual customer base, which is why they’re in common use for toilets, waste bins, cafes and restricted behaviour – why bother writing ‘No Smoking’ when the pictogram does the job?

The customer experience

In commercial spaces, things are often in flux and that can negatively impact on the customer experience. Designing for interchangeability is a smart way to save time and money and ease customer frustrations. Creating clear and concise signs is an easy way to enhance the customer experience and drive repeat business, while giving your customers the information they need.

Tried and tested commercial wayfinding

It’s tempting when revising your wayfinding sign strategy to go digital or try and get overly creative. Don’t – save the creativity for shop floor displays and stick with tried and tested sign solutions like colour coding. However old school it might seem, it works in a way that digital can’t match – there is a pre-established visual vocabulary that lets the customer see at a glance what the sign is for.

Don’t forget branding

Although commercial wayfinding signs are always designed with a purpose, that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your branding. Keeping consistency throughout your entire suite of signs from shop front to toilets helps to establish a pleasing aesthetic based on your brand colours, fonts, logos and other key design elements.

Commercial premises often overlook it, but this is an opportunity for branding that you shouldn’t miss. Reinforcing your brand package looks smart and attractive and gives your long term customers added confidence.

Ask the experts

At The Sussex Sign Company, we have plenty of expertise is creating suites of signs that deliver the kind of customer experience that will keep them coming back for more.

We can advise your West Sussex business on every aspect of signage, helping you to create a memorable visual aesthetic and maximise the return on your investment. Contact us today to talk about your project.

Is Vehicle Wrapping Effective For Branding In London?

The short answer? Vehicle wrapping is effective for branding anywhere. After all, anything your business owns is a platform for branding – from business cards to vehicles. In fact, your van or car can reach potential customers that your shop front or office signage can’t reach, letting you push your message out to your target audience.

The power of vehicle wrapping

Whether you opt for a vinyl decal with your contact details or a full wrap, vehicle signwriting is a powerful marketing medium with a lifespan of up to 8 years. There are no ongoing costs, because you own the vehicle, and there’s a positive impact on your professional reputation when you turn up to do a job in a branded vehicle.

A well-designed wrap not only puts your advertising right where you want it to be, but it can really grab the attention. Bold and eye-catching, your mobile advertising delivers a return on investment that no other channel can match.

Grand designs

Unless you opt for decals on your side and rear doors, there’s no denying that designing a full vehicle wrap can be tricky. That’s why working with a company that offers an end to end service is a savvy choice.

Designing in 3D gives you the opportunity to do something different with your marketing that really piques your customers’ interest. But unless you’re a skilled graphic designer, you need a professional to do the best job and maximise your vehicles’ potential to create brand awareness wherever they go.

The bigger the better

Any vehicle can benefit from wrapping, but there’s no doubt the bigger the vehicle, the stronger the impression.The most effective wraps in terms of costs per impression are lorry wraps – these vehicles cover long distances and move at a slower pace, making them an ideal showcase for your brand.

However, if you’re a local business and have a fleet of vans and cars, a vinyl wrap can effortlessly draw attention to your products and services, raising your professional profile and creating brand awareness, whether parked outside a job or in front of your office.

The point is, cost-effective vehicle branding makes the most of one of your underused business assets. With infinite options for customisation, it’s a marketing channel with costs per impression that make more conventional forms of advertising look expensive.

Highly effective

The bottom line for any business expense is the return on investment. Vehicle wrapping is easily one of the best investments you can make – not just in London, but anywhere in the country.

A well-executed wrap turns a neglected business asset into a mobile billboard, delivering costs per impression as low as 4p per 1000. That makes this channel ideal for startups and small businesses who may not have the budget for a big advertising splash.

Tie your social marketing campaign seamlessly into your vehicle graphics by adding your website or social media contacts – but remember to only do so if you truly are a social company who’ll respond to queries via Twitter or any other channel.

At The Sussex Sign Company, we can help you maximise the ROI on your vehicle wrapping, so why not contact us and turn your vehicles into your most effective branding weapon today?