Shop signs: how do you know when it’s time for an upgrade?

Your shop signs are key when it comes to marketing your business, but it’s all too easy to take them for granted. You probably pass them every day without a second thought. If you’ve stopped noticing them, however, or pay them little attention, that probably means potential customers have stopped noticing them too.

We all remember well-made shop signage which catches our eye, and we all remember the run-down signs with the missing letters or wonky logos. If your signage is looking a little unloved or it’s simply fallen into that mediocre grey area where it’s easy to be overlooked, it might be time to shake things up. Here are some top reasons why it might be time to upgrade your shop signage.

You’ve stopped seeing them

It’s all too easy to stop seeing the things we pass by on a daily basis, but when it comes to shop signage, that over-familiarity can be dangerous. Familiarity can breed complacency. If you have stopped noticing your signs or have stopped paying them any attention, you might not see it when they start to look a little tired, outdated or run down.

Take some time to step back and reconsider your signs, to look at them with fresh eyes and weigh up whether you think they’re attention-grabbing enough and whether they’re likely to attract new customers. If the answer is no, it’s clearly time for an upgrade with some new shop signs.

They’re poorly maintained

If you have stopped noticing your shop signage, chances are you’ve also let the maintenance side of things slip too. Shop owners have so many things to think about that it’s all too easy to forget about keeping your signs in top condition, but a poorly maintained sign which gets noticed is far worse than a mediocre sign which goes unseen.

If your shop signage is looking in need of a little TLC, it might be time to start afresh with an upgrade, and to ask your signage company to put together a long-term maintenance package. With a maintenance package in place, you can sit back, relax and not have to constantly think about having your signs cleaned up or mended.

Things have changed

Companies go through all sorts of rebranding exercises, from a simple tweak of the font they use on their letterheads to all-out renaming or the redesigning of logos. If you’re changing something about your brand identity, it’s important that the changes are implemented across all the marketing platforms you use, and that includes your shop signs.

If change is afoot in your business, you should consider upgrading your signs to reflect your new brand identity. Bold, modern and beautifully designed new signs can make an immediate and tangible impact on the success of your rebranding campaign, bringing a whole new lease of life to your shop front. People notice change, so seeing new signage could generate that much-needed interest which will give your rebrand a boost.

The competition is heating up

Sometimes, a sign upgrade is needed if the local competition is hotting up. Many small businesses have been struggling since the economic crash and the long, financially painful years which have followed, and while the economy is slowly picking up post-recession, competition has never been fiercer. Even the big players, such as BHS, have had a hard time, and any small business with a High Street presence knows the importance of keeping up with the competition.

If there are other firms nearby operating in the same niche as you, making sure you are the first choice for customers is critical. If customers are put off by a lacklustre shop front or by shabby signs, they’re unlikely to enter your shop and more likely to head down the road to your competitors. New signs could be all you need to tempt them in and keep them coming back time and time again.

A change is as good as a rest

Never underestimate the power of change for re-energising and motivating you, your staff and your business. They say a change is as good as a rest, and there’s a lot of truth in the old adage. If you feel you are losing momentum, that morale amongst staff is sinking or that your business is not doing as well as you might like, implementing a few changes can put a bit of bounce back in your step.

If you’ve spruced up the inside of your store or introduced new lines and products to tempt customers back, it makes sense to show the same care and attention to detail to the outside of your business too. Your shop front is, after all, your calling card and the first impression customers get of your business. New signs over the door can be a real pick-me-up to both you and your customers. Upgrading your signs now could give your shop the new look and energy it needs.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we’ve had decades of experience in upgrading shop signs, providing small- and medium-sized businesses with the most beautiful, bespoke signage, alongside maintenance packages to see it stays looking its best. If you’ve ticked any of the boxes above and think it might be time for an upgrade, simply get in touch with us today and let our expert team of designers and fitters work with you to create the signage solution you need.