Every storefront needs signage to stand out from the competition and draw new customers in. Here are a few important things you should be thinking about before investing in signs for your new storefront:

Sign Placement

It's important to make sure you know exactly where you will be placing all of your signs before you actually design and purchase them. If you don't pick out the exact locations ahead of time, you won't know the exact sign dimensions you will need to fit into those spaces.

Then you might end up having to find a different location that's not as noticeable or user-friendly. And without knowing where you'll be putting the signs, you won't know what kinds of materials the signs should be made of so they'll stand up to the wear and tear of year-round weather elements.

If you'll be placing a sign in a windy area, it should be made of vinyl or even metal so it doesn't tear, rip, and break apart in general as time passes on. And choosing places for your signs ahead of time will help ensure that you're prepared with the right tools and materials to install them.

Your Message

You should also make sure that the message you want to convey to the public now will be the same message you want to convey later in the year or even a couple of years from now. If you'll be sharing nothing more than your store's name and contact information, you don't have to worry about your message changing later down the line.

But if you want to promote specials or your business is fluid and your products and services might change as you grow, you will want at least one sign that can be customized when necessary. So in addition to printed signs, you should make sure to invest in at least one changeable letter sign to install near the road where your changing messages can be best noticed by passersby.

Ongoing Maintenance

Maintenance will be necessary for any sign you decide to install near your storefront. But depending on the shape, size, and materials used to design your signs, you can expect maintenance requirements will vary. Some options to consider include:

Aluminum — It holds up well to wear and tear but can rust easily, so it typically needs regular paint inspections and touch-ups.

Acrylic — It's great for lightboxes and opaque signage and can resist high temperatures without warping. But it needs regular cleaning to maintain its appearance.

PVC — It works well for indoor applications but can break down and needs repairs when left to perform outdoors.

Your service provider should be able to help you decide what types of signs to install near your business based on the amount of maintenance you want to keep up with in the coming years.