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Outdoor business signs are crucial for promoting brands and messages regardless of their current company size, reach, and marketing budget. They help create a strong first impression, grow brand awareness, generate traffic, and communicate messages. Outdoor signs can do all this while being cost-effective at the same time.

The following statistics should make it easier for you to understand the importance of outdoor signs for business:

• 76% of consumers enter a business because they saw the sign
• 68% of consumers make a purchase due to a sign
• Almost 8 in 10 consumers believe the quality of the signage demonstrates the quality of the products/services offered by the business
• A great business sign can be compared to 24 full-page ads in newspapers

Given how important outdoor business signs are, you should know about the different options so that you can make the right choice.

Different Types of Outdoor Business Signs

The different outdoor sign options you can choose from include:

1. Fluorescent Illuminated Signs

Fluorescent illuminated backlit signs which were the industry standard for years which were considered excellent for outdoor signage have for the most part been replaced by LED illuminated signage for the following reasons:

• Exceptional Visibility: LED Illuminated signs are eye-catching and stand out from a great distance.
• Brand Awareness: These signs help grow brand awareness among new customers.
• Professional Impression: It can give a more professional look and feel to your brand name.
• Long-Lasting: LED signs stay brighter longer. They do not become dim over time due to leaking gases or other causes of deterioration.
• Low-Maintenance: LED signs do not need extensive or costly maintenance. They do not have any ballast, glass tubes, or harmful gases. Besides, they are durable and do not break easily.

2. Neon Signs

You would be amazed to realize that North America has almost a third of the global neon signs market share. It shows how popular these outdoor signs are even in this digital age. They are a must for outdoor business signs if you want to draw more customers while promoting your business.

The different reasons are as follows:

• Visibility: They are highly visible and allow customers to find your business both during the night and daytime.
• Eye-Catching: Neon signs are vibrant and bright and stand out from most other signs on a street.
• High Customization: Neon signs can be used to spell out messages and create unique designs. You can also create them in different colors.

With neon signs, you can make full use of color psychology based on your industry or niche.

3. LED digital display changeable message signs

Studies show that LED outdoor signs for business can draw 72% more interest compared to online advertising. Businesses operating in all sectors can benefit from this. Digital signage has become an integral part of almost everyone’s, everyday lives. You see LED displays at train stations, airports, and other places.

It is found that 6 in 10 people who see a product on an LED display desire to know more about it. 4 in 10 customers believe that their buying decision was influenced by LED displays.

As mentioned earlier, LED signs are durable, bright, resistant, and low-maintenance, making them the most popular choice for illuminated outdoor signage. They also have a modern, sleek appeal.

4. Vinyl Banners

Outdoor vinyl banners are also widely popular for their cost-efficiency and versatility. They are durable, waterproof, and lightweight can be hung on walls, on awnings, from the ceiling, or using specialized hanging devices. A vinyl business sign can also be popped up using an X-stand or a retractable stand as a ground-based outdoor banner. Vinyl banners are easy to install and clean. They are also easy to transport and store.

So, these are some of the most popular options for outdoor business signs. Illuminated signs are highly effective because they help promote your brand around the clock. This is why neon, fluorescent, and LED signs are so widely popular among both small and large businesses.

Feel free to contact X.L. Signs to discuss your needs and preferences for outdoor signs.

Sources:
https://customneon.com/10-business-signage-statistics/
https://outdoorsignsamerica.com/blog/research-confirms-the-power-of-outdoor-signs/
https://www.alphagraphics.com/blog/blog/2017/10/8-eye-opening-business-signage-stats-you-need-to-know
https://vidasigns.com/led-signs-business/

Both illuminated and non-illuminated signs can help you make a lasting impression while making your business stand out from the crowd. You can choose from a wide range of options including the traditional neon signs known for their timeless magic to the contemporary LED signs. Both these types of signs offer a wide range of benefits. X.L. Signs is a trusted name in the Montreal area for all your sign needs.

Illuminated signs provide a high level of visibility and help with brand exposure. You can have them custom-designed to your specifications, whether they are neon, backlit, or LED signs. On the other hand, non-illuminated signs and individual letter-based signs provide you with a powerful way to boost your brand visibility and promotional strategies. These signs are cost-effective and offer great flexibility in terms of location and positions.

Now that you know the benefits of different types of signs, it is important to choose the right sign shop.

Finding the Right Sign Shop in the Montreal Area

If you are looking for the perfect sign shop in the Montreal area, X.L. Signs is the ideal provider for a number of reasons. The shop offers comprehensive sign services including designing, manufacturing, and installation.

Your sign creates the first impression on your customers. X.L. Signs has been providing top-notch sign services to Montreal and West Island customers since 1976. The service provider offers high-quality sign designing and manufacturing services. Besides, you will not have to worry about installing or maintaining your signs. Once installed, the company also takes care of maintenance and future servicing. This helps ensure that your sign stays in top condition throughout its service life.

Every sign installation job begins with a consultation so that you can select the perfect material and service. Some of the key features of the company’s services are as follows:

• The company offers signs for both indoor and outdoor applications
• You can choose options ranging from illuminated signs to temporary banners
• The range of lighting options includes LED, fluorescent, and neon signs

X.L. Signs has a specialized custom designing team that helps you select the fonts, backgrounds, and other design elements to create your own custom sign. Besides, you can also make decisions on unique lettering techniques and installation.

Illuminated Signs

The sign shop offers illuminated signs to help highlight your brand, business name, and message. The highly creative team can help turn your ordinary sign into a powerful advertising medium. The company employs time-tested and proven state-of-the-art illumination principles and sign production technology.
It can help you make the most of illuminated signs, including:

• High Visibility: Illuminated signs stay lit around the clock. This means your signs keep working even after dusk.
• Low Maintenance: Since high-quality materials and lighting systems are used, you can expect your illuminated signs to last long.
• Fully Customizable: Customization allows you to represent your brand’s values.
• Simple & Effective: All illuminated signs, despite their complex designs, follow the simple principle of standing out and sending out a clear message.

Non-Illuminated Signs

X.L. Signs also offers non-illuminated signs that work perfectly in ambient indoor and outdoor lighting conditions. The sign shop specializes in creating non-illuminated signs that stay clear and visible under different conditions.
The shop also specializes in creating directional signs.

Long-Standing Expertise in Sign Making

The X.L. Signs team has experience in handling all stages of sign-making. From the initial consultation to design, manufacturing, and installation, the company has proven processes in place for delivering quality solutions and achieving complete customer satisfaction.

The team has the experience and qualifications required to study your vision. They can also create multi-lingual directional signs. Even if you do not have a clear idea of what your sign should look like, the team can work on identifying your needs before creating the perfect sign.

The company also specializes in creating individual letter signs for clients throughout the Montreal area. If you want to discuss your unique sign ideas, feel free to contact us.

Your business may be located on a busy pedestrian street or it may be on a quiet street. Whatever the location, the right store sign can play a big role in drawing your potential customers’ attention.

You can use signage to draw attention, promote offers, or encourage actions. Here are 7 ideas to help create a remarkable store sign.

i. Make Use of A-Frames

A-frame storefront signs can help generate more foot traffic while boosting your permanent signage. These signs are highly effective in attracting the attention of potential people walking by your store. You can also consider using these signs to promote special offers or products.

ii. Emphasize Readability

Your prospects will be on foot, on a bike, or in a car when they look at your store sign. So, it is important to make it as easy for them to read the text on your signage. The font style and the text size should be large and legible enough for them, even from a good distance. 

• Make sure the contrast between the text’s color and the background should support readability
• Set a dark text on a white or yellow background instead of a light-colored text

iii. Consider Lighting

Consider lighting for your signage, as it can instantly draw people’s attention. If you opt for a neon sign, it can also provide a retro look and feel.

If you want to display custom and dynamic messaging, consider backlighting your signs. You may also consider using programmable LED signs. No matter how your business operates at nighttime, illumination is an essential element of your business’ storefront sign.

iv. Use Bold Colors

An effective store signage should have a combination of contrasting and bold colors. Use colors that pop and attract attention. At the same time, it is essential to maintain the elements of your brand colors in the signage. This is important to maintain brand recognition and consistency.

v. Communicate Your More Affordable Pricing

If your product or service prices are lower than your competition, use signage to advertise it. If you have compelling prices, communicating them to your target audience can help drive more new customers. Besides, such store signs also send out the message that you are committed to delivering greater value for the products or services you offer.

vi. Create Intricate Designs

Precision-cut signs can have intricate shapes, patterns, and silhouettes. These design elements can help catch your prospects’ eyes by adding a touch of uniqueness.

When using this tactic, select a shape that aligns with your brand identity or logo design. The storefront signage should enable people to instantly identify your business.

vii. Invest Time, Effort, & Mind in Copy Design

You should also put your mind into your store sign’s design. It is recommended to follow the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle. Keep the design clean and clear, emphasizing minimal use of text.

Follow these tips when creating your store signage:

• Avoid Clutter: When it comes to storefront sign design, less is more. When potential customers read your message, keep things as simple as possible. Focus on creating a short message with a clean and simple background.
• Be Specific: Remember, there is limited space on your signage. Make sure to include only the essentials on it.
• Use Sentence Case: Avoid using ‘all caps’. The use of ‘all caps’ is similar to raising your voice. Signage is usually used to invite people to use your product or service. It is better to use sentence case.
• Create Short & Sweet Messages: Keep your signage messages short and sweet. At the same time, incentivize people to take action to initiate a conversation.

When you incorporate these ideas into your store sign, you can increase the chances of grabbing people’s attention. These tips can also help you incite curiosity and create a strong impression. 

X.L. Signs has been providing high-quality and versatile signage solutions since 1976.

Outdoor banners are quite different from their indoor counterparts because of their applications. They are exposed to the elements and have to withstand light, heat, cold, and wind forces that are virtually absent inside. So, when choosing banners for the outdoors, there are many things that work in favor of vinyl banners.

4 reasons you cannot ignore the benefits of using outdoor vinyl banner

i. Highly Effective

Banners are meant to draw attention and vinyl achieves that perfectly. Besides, they can be made to large dimensions and installed anywhere due to their design and weight. The material allows banners to be made to any size. This means you can position them anywhere and anyway to get noticed.

Whether you need banners for commercial or other purposes, vinyl allows banners that can be easily erected and installed. The use of eyelets and hemmed edges simplifies and speeds up installation.

ii. Convenient & Versatile Design & Printing

Custom designing and digital printing services allow you to have your vinyl banners printed and delivered to your unique specifications. As mentioned above, you can have the banner created based on the available space. HD photos, graphics, text, and branding can all be integrated into the design and printed in the same place.

These banners can be displayed in a wide range of ways. You can have them wrapped around a surface or hung from the side of a building. It is the lightweight property of the material that works greatly in its favor.

The material can render high-quality images. The semi-glossy finish further increases noticeability. In other words, they offer flexibility and are convenient to create while being highly effective for what they are meant to do.

iii. Affordable

Outdoor banners are typically large and can require more printer ink. The use of vinyl for outdoor applications helps set the right balance between cost, size, versatility, and durability. The result is a much more cost-efficient alternative compared to most other material options.

These banners are easy to transport and can be reused. This helps further lower costs while enabling you to use them in the future without losing quality.

While maintenance is not a big concern with these banners, they are easy to clean. Vinyl sheets can be easily removed and cleaned, making the process much simpler.

iv. Long-Lasting

These banners allow the use of weather-resistant materials and vivid colors. This helps ensure your banners look good for years. Whether you need to promote a short-term event or your brand for as long as possible, vinyl can serve the purpose without much worry of maintenance. Your banner can last for at least three years and can be easily stored away.

Vinyl Banner Applications

Everyone, including small businesses, industrial businesses, schools, event organizers, and homeowners can benefit from the use of vinyl banners for outdoor applications.

• You can use them to promote buildings for rent or sale, construction signs, grand openings, and more
• They can be used as advertising banners
• They can also be used to display temporary safety instructions

Vinyl also makes an excellent option for advertising your business while you are waiting for the permanent sign. Interestingly, zoning codes usually allow the use of these banners on a temporary basis. On the other hand, other signs can take longer to get a permit. This further translates into greater efficiency and cost savings.

Choosing the Right Outdoor Vinyl Banner Options

Based on the type of application, outdoor vinyl banners are available in different levels of thicknesses. You can choose greater thicknesses and heavier materials for higher durability.

The options range from 13-ounce vinyl to 18-ounce vinyl, with the higher end of the spectrum being meant for heavy-duty applications. Higher numbers mean both higher durability and tensile strength.

The use of UV-resistant ink for printing can add an additional layer of protection and longevity. Such prints can last longer in direct sunlight conditions.

Thus, there are many reasons why vinyl banners make the perfect choice for outdoor applications. If you want to use them for your commercial or other applications, feel free to get in touch with X.L. Signs. Reach out to us at (514) 695-5511 or write to us.

Custom neon signs have been helping businesses stand out from the crowd for more than a century. Interestingly, these signs have retained their effectiveness over the years even when LED neon signs tend to offer many advantages over them. If you are seeking neon signs for your business, there are still many places offering them in their full glory. 

Explore the key benefits of using custom neon signs before finding out the ideal places to get them.

High Degree of Visibility

Custom neon is highly luminous and acts as an eye-catching addition, giving a big boost to your business’ visibility. The human eye is naturally attracted to brightly-colored light and installing these signs can instantly make a difference for your business. Since they are affordable, anyone trying to announce their business can benefit from them.

Brightness is one of the most important characteristics that have made neon signs so popular. Besides colors that tend to be more vibrant than other forms of signage, neon signs have much more pronounced luminosity. This helps draw the attention of both passersby and customers.

Design Versatility

There are endless opportunities for lettering and logos with neon signs. You can have your own custom sign designed in almost any color and shape. Neon sign designs are so versatile that they allow you to create something unique and still stand out while adhering to local codes and regulations and building owner or property manager’s guidelines.

These tubes can take any form or shape in the hands of an experienced and skilled professional. Besides lettering, you can have illuminated signs featuring whole pictures. 

Durable & Easy to Repair

Neon signs were primarily designed for outdoor applications. So, they were made to be durable enough to withstand the elements. Besides, they last long. These signs are meant to last for up to 15 years, but when well-maintained they can last longer. 

However, when these signs get damaged, they are more difficult to repair than LED illuminated signs. Neon sign repairs should be handled by professionals. Refilling the gas is relatively simple and affordable.

Neon Signs are Safe

Contrary to misconceptions, custom neon signage is safe. These signs typically contain neon or argon gas. These gases are already present in the air you breathe in. Besides, modern neon signs no longer contain any traces of mercury vapor, which was occasionally the case decades ago.

Custom neon signs allow you to use any shape, color, size, and style. Create a work of art and your business will sell itself even before your potential customers walk in the door. But you have to know that installation is not as simple as for LED signs

Environment Friendly

Custom neon signs are environment-friendly signage options. When reducing carbon footprint is one of the objectives of your business, investing in neon signage can be a step in the right direction. Since these signs can last more than a decade, they do not produce waste as often. 

Where to Find Custom Neon Signs?

Most businesses that deal in illuminated signs offer custom neon signs, even if LED signs become a more popular option. X.L. Signs is an excellent example. You can find illuminated signs and lighting options including neon, LED, and fluorescent displays for both indoor and outdoor applications if you are seeking customized signage options in Montreal and its surroundings. You can work with the design team to select the lettering, backgrounds, and other elements of your liking. X.L. Signs specializes in both traditional neon signs and modern LED signs. This allows you to create a customized effect based on your preferences and budget.

When it comes to marketing planning, banner advertising is an important strategy to be included. There are many benefits to investing in banner promotion. Banner printing is cost-effective and offers excellent ROI. Besides, banners are durable and can last a long time.

When it comes to banner printing, one of the first thoughts that come to mind is the cost. So, how much does it cost to print banners? The following guide answers this question.

Banners are available in different materials. These include fabric, paper, and vinyl. Custom vinyl banners offer various benefits, including better weatherproofing and rip-resistance.

The biggest banner printing cost factor is demand. This rule applies to different types of signs.

Digitally printed advertising banners can be priced from $3 to $25 per square foot, depending on the size, media, design and finishing. Full-color banners with special finishes cost more, but the benefit of incorporating full-color graphics allows greater design flexibility, which helps strengthen other advertising strategies such as digital and electronic advertising. This helps boost ROI on the marketing dollar spent.

Design is also an important factor that affects the cost of banner printing. You can expect service providers to charge a design fee if you require design services as well. If you were to hire the services of a graphic design company, you would be required to pay for the job. Hourly design fee should be around $75. Some services can charge a flat fee for the work, with the minimum being around $150.

Banner Material & Cost

Vinyl banner is simply the most popular material for printing banners and is available in different qualities and weights. The following points should affect the cost of banners:

• The lightest banner materials are the most affordable, but they can deteriorate faster than their heavier alternatives
• If you come across cheap prices, chances are the material used for the banner is of lesser quality
• Vinyl banner materials can range in weight from 9 to 22 ounces per square yard
• Vinyl banner deniers can vary between 100 and 1,000
• If you seek longer-lasting results, you should be ready to spend in terms of banner cost

Cost of Printing

There are many different ways of printing banners, but digital printing using solvent or UV inks and large-format roll printers has become the most common method.

• Screen printing is a commonly used printing technique
• Bulk screen printing allows you to increase your cost savings, but it doesn’t allow you to customize each banner
• Digital printing provides an exceptional level of customization
• UV inks are widely used, as they deliver long-lasting effects and do not involve the use of harsh chemicals
• The use of UV inks for printing banners doesn’t release any odors which are usually there with solvent inks
• The use of UV inks allows banner customization based on colors and designs
• Whenever possible, it is recommended to consider vinyl lettering, as it is more cost-effective and durable compared to printing

Additional Costs

Grommets and hem are other factors that can add to the banner cost. Not every service provider will add the cost of these elements to the overall price. Some include them with all their banners of a certain weight.

If you want to determine the complete cost of banner printing and setting up the banner, it is important to consider the cost of the display options as well. These include:

• Bungees
• Rope
• Screws
• And more.

Some service providers can provide you with the display hardware along with the banner.

Vinyl banner printing has been in use since the late 1900s. Before digital printing started becoming popular in the 1990s, screen printing was more widely used to print on vinyl. With digital printing, fully customizable and on-demand banner printing became widely popular. Customers could customize their design whenever they needed. These factors played an important role in making banner advertising more popular. Today, you can place an order for printing just a single banner or hundreds of banners.

For more information and options in banner printing, X.L. Signs is the ideal place for you.

Everyone knows what neon signs stand for and what purposes they serve. These brightly colored illuminated signs have long served their purpose of drawing attention. They are now available in their newer iterations – LED signs. Neon signage has always been effective because of the innate human nature. The fact is that humans are visual creatures. If you can catch a person’s eye and attention, it’s good for your business.

While LED lights are much more widely used, some people continue to prefer traditional neon signs for various reasons. So, how LED and neon lights are different and which one should you choose for an illuminated sign? Get answers to this question in this guide.

What are Neon & LED Signs?

Neon lights are typically made up of glass tubes. The light is produced when the inert gas inside the tube releases energy. The tubes are elegantly made yet they are fragile. These lights come with unique open circuit protection that ensures safety against the current flow in case of damage.

LED signs are made using light-emitting diodes. These signs are typically light weight and more rugged, as they are wrapped inside a polymer jacket.

Differences

Both LED and neon signs have their unique advantages. The differences between the two in terms of different factors are as follows:

i. Energy Efficiency

Similar to other electrical fixtures, energy efficiency is a big factor in making a choice between LED signs and their neon counterparts. Neon lights require more power to operate. Any power fluctuation can cause your neon signage to stop working.

On the other hand, LED‘s require very little power to illuminate. In simple terms, LED signs have much higher energy-efficiency. They work without flickering even in case of power fluctuations.

ii. Brightness & Light Control

LED signs are brighter and are visible from much farther away. The brightness in LED signage is dimmable. This means you have control over the brightness. On the other hand, neon lights are warmer and some people consider them more pleasing to the eye.

LED lights also offer control over how the lights are displayed. You can purchase lights with systems that allow you to program and change certain parameters. The factors that are controllable include:

• Colors
• Brightness
• Dimming effect

On the other hand, neon lights are made for only one level of color and brightness.

iii. Installation

As mentioned above, neon lights are made of glass tubes and are fragile. Since more care is needed during installation, it can be a more time-consuming and costly process. Besides, you have to be careful where they are installed, as they cannot withstand harsh weather conditions.

LED signs are more durable and relatively easier to install. This further makes them more affordable to install. Another advantage of LED neons is they can be designed to be flexible. While neon signage has traditionally been used for outdoor applications, modern LED counterparts are more suited for the purpose.

iv. Durability & Longevity

As mentioned above, LED signs tend to be more durable and do not easily break. Besides, they can also hold up to the elements. While making a choice between the two types of signs, you should also consider their operational service life.

While neon lights come with a general promise of lasting up to 30,000 hours before giving you any issues, the LED counterparts can last much longer. Similar to other types of LED lights, LED-based neons can last three times or longer. It is recommended to consider how long you desire your neon lights to last when choosing between the two.

Modern LED signs, even when they do not have anything to do with the traditional neon lights, are sometimes referred to as LED neon signs. There is greater versatility with LED lights, as they can be designed and customized based on the application. Neon lights are perfect for signage options. Many people prefer the latter for their flickering effect when turned on. On the other hand, LED lights provide a more consistent and seamless signage experience.

Whether you prefer LED or neon signage for your business, X.L. Signs offers just the right options you will need.