ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Signage 101

Time to Refresh Your Sign? Focus on LED Retrofit

The sign outside your business is the first representation of your company, and in many cases, it’s the first impression customers get of your company. Having an old and worn sign with random burned out bulbs isn’t the best way to make a good first impression. Retrofit LEDs can improve energy efficiency, reduce service and maintenance, and have a longer lifespan. If you’re ready to give your sign a fresh look, consider retrofit LEDs. These retrofit LEDs are different from regular LED light fixtures, since they can utilize existing light fixtures and sockets. Here are some of the other unique benefits they offer. Improved Energy Efficiency, Reduced Service and Maintenance Compared to traditional light bulbs, retrofit LEDs can consume on

Interior signage plays a key role in providing functional and branded designs to your building. Whether they are there to provide navigation, safety or just to show your brand’s personality, they are an important element for your business. Signs that are mandatory can be compliant, while also showcasing your branding design elements. It is best practice for interior signage to be consistent with the rest of the built environment. At Metro Sign & Awning, we know how to develop the right interior signage with the highest quality materials that will perform well and last long all while respecting your time frame and budget. Branding Almost 86% of consumers believe that signs convey the personality or character of a business. Generally,

What is the best way to establish a significant and differentiated presence for your business in the market, one that attracts and retains customers? A big part of it is branding. An effective marketing strategy includes branding and reflects your business’ identity and values. And one of the best ways to establish your brand’s identity is through signage, especially exterior signage. A useful way to further your marketing engagement, signage will help you to convey your business message better and reach a bigger audience. Signage can play a vital role in creating awareness about your business and brand and help you reach customers, but this will happen only if you choose the right sign for your business. First impressions count,

Signage projects, whether big or small, can involve multiple moving parts. As a business owner, the last thing you want to do is deal with a complicated and difficult signage project. By right-sizing your signage projects, you can reduce headaches and end up with a signage project that saves you time and money. Metro Sign and Awning prioritizes lean management as a method to manage your projects and make your signage experience as smooth and cost effective as possible. Metro Sign and Awning implements lean management practices because they help us achieve the four Lean goals: Improve quality Eliminate waste Reduce time Reduce costs Lean management practices allow us to provide our clients with the highest quality products and fast

Awning enclosures are a great addition to any business or restaurant. Not only do awnings provide an aesthetically pleasing upgrade the outside of your storefront, they can also save your business money when it comes to businesses maintenance expenses and heating and cooling costs. Besides the advertising boost an awning or enclosure provides, investing in an awning, canopy or other type of enclosure often means gaining several operational advantages that can help you grow your business. Below we highlight some of the operational advantages of awnings, canopies and enclosures. How Awnings Enhance Safety Whatever the weather, having an awning installed outside your business can improve safety and comfort for both your customers and employees. Awnings and enclosures provide a barrier

Plastics often get a bad rap, but many are environmentally friendly. High-density urethane (HDU) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are prime examples. In fact, over a sign’s life cycle, some plastics are greener than wood. Because HDU and EPS suppliers know having minimal environmental impact is a competitive advantage, they manage their manufacturing processes to reduce waste. Also, many manufacturers use a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials in their products. Financial and Environmental Benefits of HDU and other Plastic Signage Materials In addition, from a construction, financial, and environmental viewpoint, the new materials offer tremendous advantages. For example, HDU weighs less than wood, yet is longer-lasting and requires virtually no maintenance. Unlike wood, the new plastics are impervious to water and insects.

We’ve enjoyed working with Fitchburg State University (FSU) for several years, and we sincerely appreciate the ongoing relationship we have with university officials and staff. From a clean, easy-to-read design to ensuring the perfect color match for that famous Fitchburg green to producing signs and finishes that are as durable as can be for the many outdoor wayfinding signs, virtually every member of our team has played a part in improving campus signage. Multi-tasking Wayfinding Signage Like all signage projects, wayfinding is advertising – but more than that, it must satisfy many different criteria. In addition to being visually appealing and brand-enhancing, wayfinding signage in particular must be functional – for someone unfamiliar with the area, clear directional signage can

Whether you’re in the early planning or construction stage of a new residential or mixed-use development or starting to think about a new sign (or signs for a new location) for a local business, at some point, you have to request a quote for that signage. In order to take your sign ideas from early brainstorming sessions into installed signage reality, there’s a process called “budgetary reality.” It’s probably safe to say that requesting a quote – and getting estimates on signage projects – is nobody’s favorite part of the job. At Metro Sign & Awning, we understand that – and we also know getting your signage quote right is a very important part of our job. How to

Can you see me now? Verizon Wireless, and many of its authorized dealers, depend on Metro Sign & Awning to see that their signage represents the company well on many sites. For some time now, Metro Sign & Awning has been an Authorized sign manufacturer for Verizon Wireless. And while the company has a comprehensive, 200-plus-page book of branding standards, there’s a surprisingly large “gray area” and much needed flexibility built into the process of design review. Accurate Information is Key to Best Signage Design, Installation Because every business location is unique, regardless of how many branding guidelines there are, there must be some room for interpretation. When a Verizon authorized dealer contacts us about updating or installing new signage,

Campus “Freshened Up” with New Wayfinding and Identification Signs Color matching is important, and trickier than it sounds. (Ask any parent of a fashion-conscious student who has recently been back-to-school shopping.) At Metro Sign and Awning, our back-to-school preparations were not about fashion, but about helping students find their way around campus. A shade off here or there may not matter to some, but when it comes to the consistency for an established brand it is critical. As at most universities in New England (and everywhere else!), the facilities, operations, and grounds crews at Fitchburg State University have been busy all summer. As a result the FSU facilities department has needed a number of new signs around campus for new and