There are plenty of reasons to work with a sign company, but here are seven of the most important ones:

There are plenty of reasons to work with a sign company, but here are seven of the most important ones:

1. Attention to detail – US Signcrafters will take the time to understand your specific needs and wants before starting on any project. We’ll ask questions about your business, your target market and what you hope to achieve with your signage. This attention to detail ensures the finished product is exactly what you’re looking for.

2. Professionalism – Working with a sign company is like having an extension of your own marketing team. We’re professionals who understand the ins and outs of signage and can provide valuable insights into what works best for businesses like yours, including appropriate sign styles and ideal placement for maximum results — a well-designed sign can do wonders for your curb appeal, making your business more inviting and enticing to potential customers.

A good sign should also be visible from a distance, day or night. This is vital for businesses that are located on busy streets or in high-traffic areas. If potential customers can’t see your sign, they won’t know you’re there!

3. Quality – When you work with a sign company, you can be confident that you’re getting high-quality products that will last for years to come. Signage is a long-term investment; our staff can help you choose appropriate materials and designs that will stand the test of time.

4. Creativity – A effective sign company will bring creativity and innovation to every project they work on. US Signcrafters pushes the boundaries of what’s possible to create unique solutions that get results. Whether you need environmental graphics, vehicle wraps or digital signage, we have a fit that’s right for you.

While we offer a wide range of independent services, we often collaborate with construction companies and their clients in creating effective signage and branding solutions — on time and on budget. By delivering eye-catching and memorable products, US Signcrafters has cultivated longstanding relationships with commercial builders and contractors.

5. Experience – We have a proven track record of success. For more than 30 years, we’ve been helping businesses stand out from their competition with eye-catching visuals that make a lasting impression. Our team of experienced professionals will work closely with you to understand your unique needs and develop a custom solution that meets your specific goals. We also know building code and understand the legal aspects of signage; applying this knowledge to projects helps to mitigate potential headaches for clients.

6. Cost-effective – A lot of business owners believe working with a sign company is going to be expensive, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, we pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing without compromising quality or service. We’ll work with you to tailor a project that fits your budget and meets your needs.

7. Turnkey solution – When you work with US Signcrafters, you don’t have to worry about the minutia – we’ll capable of handling the details from start to finish. That includes designing, manufacturing, delivering and installing your new signs.Your satisfaction is our top priority, and the job isn’t complete until you’re pleased with the final product. We also offer maintenance and repair services to ensure your investment is preserved.

U..S Signcrafters is dedicated to helping businesses achieve better results through high-quality signage, graphics, and wraps that are professionally designed, installed and maintained. With over 25 years of experience, we are experts in brand imagery and have a proven track record of success. If you’re looking for banner printing or trade show displays, monument signs or vehicle wraps, we have the products and services you need to make your vision a reality. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business achieve its goals!

Staff Spotlight

How did you enter the sign industry?

Just a series of always being able to get a job in this niche industry. So wherever I would travel, it was pretty easy. A sign company will usually take an experienced person, if you can bring some experience to the table. 

I went from working in the sign industry basically my whole life, learning how to do all the facets of the industry to being put into a position to have to become a sign broker on my own. And that transitioned into the ownership side of everything.

What’s your approach when consulting with a client who’s interested in working with US Signcrafters?

It’s kind of different for every client out there. We try to put ourselves in their shoes on what their wants and needs are, even down to what they can afford now and what they can’t afford now. Really just provide them with what we believe they need.

Why do you enjoy working in the sign industry?

You meet a lot of interesting people along the way — other business owners, people who are in a position to make decisions for companies. At the end of the day, you see the fulfillment side of things because these places need to be branded, they need signage. With many companies, we’re helping them get their whole design out the door, and once you see that implemented into everyday, driving-around type of situations, it gets pretty neat to see your work out there a lot of the places you go.

What’s your favorite type of sign and why?

My favorite type would be anything that’s never been done before. You have to think about how it’s going to built, transported, installed, serviced, its longevity. And just to do something different all the time is always fun because it hasn’t been done and you have to figure it out.

What’s a sign from your childhood that’s seared into your memory?

I don’t think there’s anything sign-related but I think as a young kid, taking wood shop class in middle school and metals class, and then having art classes, I think it came to a point with a profession that combined all of those factors. 

It’s a niche industry to where nobody is going to school to learn how to do sign work, but there are kids who go for construction or construction management. So it was neat to land into a profession that combined all those things, from the building of the birdhouse to building with metal — and artwork as more of your own design.

Which project would you consider a career highlight?

I guess just ending up where I ended up. Being a kid who just grew up in the industry wanting to learn everything.

There are a couple businesses I had wanted to get into the ownership side of but signs was never really one of them; there’s just too much — there still is too much. Some days it’s just not that fun.

But to just work here in town, with only two companies, I stuck my roots to one, and then becoming a sign broker really took off. After seven years of that, to end up at US Signcrafters, which is one of the larger companies in northern Indiana and the region, to be sitting here with a stake in ownership is pretty cool. 

Also known as internally illuminated signs (a channel letter is any letter, number or character used in a sign), illuminated channel signs differ from other types as each letter is separate from the others.

Vivid light radiates through the plastic channel letter face or it can be backlit, sometimes called halo-lit or a back channel sign. The open-face style features an exposed front where the lighting element can be seen; think industrial chic or retro feels. These durable, long-lasting signs are extremely attention-grabbing and capable of attracting eyeballs to establishments and companies.

They can be a cost-effective, energy-saving option as illuminated channel signs often include LED diodes, with neon as a common, more expensive alternative. LEDs run at a lower voltage than other light sources, resulting in a cooler sign interior.

Increased Visibility

Illuminated channel signs are highly visible, which makes them perfect for businesses aiming to cut through the noise of neighboring signage or real estate.

Pulling eyes of passersby and motorists, the sign can have a different look during the day than it does when illuminated at night and be built to be the unique shape of a customer’s logo; this is not the case with a traditional flat panel or sign cabinet. With an illuminated sign and augmented curb appeal, your business will be sure to get noticed by potential customers.

Improved Branding

Illuminated channel signs can help improve branding efforts by increasing awareness of a business. With a well-designed illuminated sign, you can effectively promote your brand and foster a positive image for your company.

Anytime you can build a sign that is not a cookie-cutter template, this will inherently be a more valuable asset to a storefront, strengthening a connection between the public and brand aspects, such as logo or company color scheme.

Enhanced Marketing

Illuminated channel signs can also help improve your marketing efforts by providing a platform for advertising your products and services. With an illuminated sign, you can easily promote your business and reach a wider audience.

Illuminated channel signs are an excellent investment for any business looking to improve its profile and marketing efforts.

US Signcrafters has 28 years of value, innovation, communication and experience to draw upon when constructing custom illuminated channel signs for our local, national and international clients. Contact us today.

Staff Spotlight

How long have you been in the sign industry?

I’ve been in the sign industry since 2014 and have been with US Signcrafters since 2017.

What’s your approach when consulting with a client who’s interested in working with US Signcrafters?

Typically, I try to see what we’re working with, first of all. Every building, every front yard area, every property is going to be a little bit different, so there’s not necessarily always going to be a cookie-cutter solution.

We’ll usually get a call in. I’ll try to schedule an in-person site visit, and that site visit really helps tell the story of what we’re doing there. Right away, I’m seeing if there are challenges, ‘Hey, this is blocking our sight lines,’ or there might be a downspout right where a sign would go. So, I’m taking photos and measuring space available and trying to find the best location for a sign and fitting it appropriately. The photos I take while on site are then used to put together renderings, where we’re able to show clients what the sign would look like at their location.

What do you enjoy about the industry?

I enjoy problem-solving and finding ideal solutions for our customers. Each sign is custom-built to best suit the storefront or road frontage the sign is placed on. Finding the right size, color combination, lighting style, all while adhering to brand standards, local zoning regulations and being budget-conscious — it’s like solving a unique puzzle that you get to point to and be proud of when driving by and say ‘Hey, we built that.’

What’s your favorite type of sign?

I enjoy doing a nice monument sign. Just by nature, this is put right by an entrance and put along a main road where it will be easily visible when driving by. Often times, we are doing a monument sign for an institution that has been in place for a long time and plans to be a key part of the community for years to come. When designing a new monument sign, we’re trying to complement the existing building, while also implementing the organization’s branding.

Can you recall a sign from your childhood that’s seared into your memory?

There’s a couple. The easy answer is McDonald’s, and every kid can relate to that one, where you see the arches and you’re begging Mom and Dad, ‘Hey, can we stop and get some french fries? Can I get a Happy Meal?’ And, you know, what do parents say? ‘No, we have food at home.’ That’s the easy response and maybe a copout.

The one that’s unique, and it’s not necessarily a sign, but I remember — and I don’t remember where this was — but somewhere in Chicago suburbs, before we moved to Indiana as a family … in front of a VFW, there was a big tank, and I remember just driving past and thinking that was the coolest thing, like a World War II tank. That’s a unique thing you can do. It’s really the same purpose as a sign: it’s grabbing your attention, it’s unique and letting people know a little bit of who you are.

Which project would you consider a career highlight?

Marian High School’s campuswide sign program featuring wayfinding directional signs, a refurbished monument sign and main identification signs. This sign package gave the campus a unified feel highlighting their updated shield logo and school motto, ‘Learn. Serve. Lead.’

But, you wonder, “what manner of strange and exotic light bulbs, colors and type font awaits in the land of signage?” Learn everything you could want or need to know about the options available for lit-up signage. Find out which types of illumination of best for what uses and environments. And, discover how ‘illuminating’ a refresh to your signage design can be to your business patronage.

Illuminated Signs: Types of Lighted Signage for Small Businesses

Illuminated signs serve a very practical purpose – to direct individuals to your location when it is dark. How you go about achieving this result, however, determines the marketing effectiveness of your sign. And, since the first thing that people usually see before getting to your location is the signage, your signage choice might be hindering your business from attracting new customers – or, at least, not actively helping. 

When it comes to an attention-grabbing business sign, the trick to drawing-in new customer traffic is in the design of your signage. Each different type of lighting offers unique qualities to your signs design. Talk to a sign design professional for more details on illuminated signs for your business.  

5 Most Popular Types of Illuminated Signs for Businesses

Outdoor illuminated signage often requires professional installation. The best option for installation is to consult your sign design professional. On the other hand, many indoor lighted signs are quick and easy to install without the help of a professional. 

The lighting sources of most illuminated signage relies on LEDs, which are the most cost-efficient option on the market. And, LED provides high-resolution capabilities for digital signage and message boards. Driving down Main Street in Anytown, USA, you see these types of lit-up signs in the front of movie theaters, restaurants, retail stores – and more:  

The Lightbox Sign or Cabinet Sign

Lightbox signs or cabinet signs are popular, effective, and versatile. The design of a lightbox sign is simple and affordable, yet it is implemented into the structure of several well-known brand chains like Burger King and Gold’s Gym. It is also the most popular type of signage for most storefront businesses. 

A lightbox sign consists of an inner-light, usually fluorescent or LED, and outer panels that display your business logo, name, or other significant brand information. When the light is on, it shows through the translucent panels, illuminating your business sign to be seen far and wide. Lightbox signs come in a wide range of sizes and can be small enough to hang like a picture, or large enough to need a crane for installation.   

The Neon Light Sign

The best reason to choose neon signs is the aesthetic quality of this style. Neon is one of the oldest types of illuminated signage that is still around, and it evokes the classic images of yesteryear. Neon signs work inside or outside, but they pose several drawbacks. 

Neon lighting is also notorious for causing problems. Neon signage lettering is made by blowing glass to the shape of each letter, and a single lighting tube only stretches so far. So, for larger signs, each neon letter is an individual piece of lighting, which causes problems when one of the letters goes out before the rest. 

Front-lit Channel Lettering 

 Front-lit channel letter signs are a very attractive and effective way to display your business to a wide view of the surrounding area. Front-lit channel lettering is a popular choice for hotels, like DoubleTree by Hilton, and department stores, like Macy’s. The biggest benefit of this design is visibility and cost-effectiveness. 

LED lighting is used behind the surface of the letters to shine through a colored screen. When illuminated, the color of each letter comes through clearly. When it comes to scaling, the sky’s the limit, and a great example of large front-lit channel lettering is the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park entrance sign. 

Backlit Channel Lettering

The difference between a front-lit and backlit channel lettering is how the lettering is illuminated and where the light comes from. With front-lit, the letter is illuminated through its front-facing side. Backlit channel lettering, on the other hand, features LED lighting on the back-side of the letter, which produces a backlit or “halo” effect. 

Backlighting channel lettering is modern and attractive for a wide range of businesses. It offers a sophisticated and distinguished aesthetic while providing visibility from a maximum distance. Ultimately, it comes down to your aesthetic preferences for your business’s brand identity.  

Signage with External Lighting or Externally-lit

External lighting is the most basic and simple way to make your outdoor sign illuminated. Externally-lit signs are simply illuminated by a lighting source shining from above or below the sign. External lighting, however, is a popular addition to backlit channel lettering to enhance visibility while enhancing the backlighting.

Your business deserves a sign that makes it stand out from the crowd. Channel letter signs are excellent attention-grabbers with a modern touch, while lightbox signs are the perfect choice for budget-conscious businesses. If you want to learn about the pricing and options for illuminated signs, talk to a signage planner today.