Picking a Quality Sign Company

Shopping around for a quality sign is a lot like shopping around for a new car—it takes a good amount of research, some face to face interactions and the time and patience to make the right decision, even when it’s so tempting to just pick the first one that peaks your attention. More than shopping around for a quality sign, however, is finding the right sign company to help turn your vision into a reality. This is an entire process in and if itself and is frequently barred by option after option, with no clear determining factor in sight to sway you one way or another. So what are you to do? How do you find a sign company that’s going to deliver a great product, at a great price, in a timely manner? Find some examples The first and best way to shop for a custom sign company is to take a look at undeniable proof of their work: existing custom fabricated signs! This can be done in a variety of different ways—viewing an image gallery on their website, asking for local references that you can physically go and inspect or looking at samples that the company in question bight have ready to show you. By looking at firsthand examples of their work, you’ll get a feel for their style, capabilities and quality. If you notice imperfections in the examples that you see or don’t agree with the style and trend of their signage, it’s time to move on to another option. However, if you’re blown away by their products, impressed with their capabilities and feel good about their workmanship, you may have found your match! Compare costs, and beware of Low Price Leaders Generally, price is a good indicator of what you’re going to get as a finished product in the world of signage—low costs generally mean cheaper materials, which generally leads to a lower return on investment. But, just because some prices are higher or lower, doesn’t directly mean that your finished product is going to be better or worse: it all depends on what you’re looking for and what different companies specialize in. One vendor may fabricate plastics and digitally print banners at an affordable price, simply because it’s what they specialize in, while another company may have the capabilities to produce LED signage at a more cost effective price, simply based on their vendor for materials. It’s a good idea to thoroughly research specific prices and, if possible, get quotes from several companies. Eliminate outliers that are of a lower quality or inflated for the sake of inflation and vet your remaining options on the other factors listed here. Communication is key Finally, one of the most important factors in signage fabrication is the ability to communicate what the project needs are. You’re going to want to find a company that you can talk openly with about your needs and one that will pay close attention to your exact specifications. Working with a sign company that’s forgetful of your needs, doesn’t pay attention to your intricacies or is overloaded with projects and is rushed on the job isn’t going to do your business any favors! Meet face to face with project managers, lay out your project and engage in open communication with that project manager—being comfortable during this process and having a feeling of ease is a good sign that you’re on the right path to working with a company that’s going to deliver great results. Whether you find a group of companies online, in the Yellow Pages, through word of mouth or just at random, it’s important to put each option through its paces before you award them your business. Remember, your signage is ultimately on the line: failing to pick the right company could mean a finished project that’s not up to your standards. On the other hand, picking the right sign company could yield a finished product that completely exceeds your expectations! Alphagraphics is a custom printing company and custom sign company. Give us a call today to discuss your next project. 508-793-0956 or click here to contact us.