Sing on the marquee, please help

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AURAZ

Grumbler
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Jun 9, 2007
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Have been living in Fort Myers for 17 years
Grumblers:

I working very hard to be able to open the shop in October 1st. My question is when will be a good time to place my sign on the marquee, wich is pretty close to the highway, with a very heavy traffic, the marquee is very visible from both ways, N & S, I do not want to attract attention, when I am not ready yet...Please I badly need al the help about advertisment and all related with the opening..

Aura
 
Put it up now. The sooner the better.

What wording are you planning on putting up? Maybe some type of tease would be good. Or a countdown on the number of days until opening changing it one digit each day?

I'd draw as much attention as you can to the fact that your doors will be open in less than a month. When you finally open, tie some balloons to the sign.

Best of luck and I hope your hard work is well rewarded!

PS Love your avatar ...
 
I couldn't even take a guess without additional information!

What are the sign ordinances for your building?

Are you in your own independant building or a strip mall?

Is the marquee yours or are there other businesses on the marquee?

Can you easily change the sign when necessary or are you limited to business name only?

All of these questions could have a bearing on what you put out there for the public to read and when you put your sign out. Put it out too soon before opening without any additional information other than the business name and your viewing public will soon become bored with seeing a name with no business associated with it. If it is your sign and you can change the wording, you have a perfect chance to do some kind of countdown or other pre-opening advertising to tease the viewers into coming in when your opening occurs.

But many cities and counties have very strict ordinances on the size and placement and wording of business signs that must be adhered to or you will be the recipient of a healthy fine. We found that out firsthand a few months ago to the tune of $500!!! In our county you are allowed a business name only on a marquee that has other businesses listed and it has to conform to a strict size limitation and lettering style. Imagine that!!!

We got a $500 fine with no warning for having our delivery van parked out close to the road with our normal business lettering on the sides!! And we are not allowed to even put up temporary sale signs along the road, the kind that you do for periodic sales that are vinyl letters on coroplast with those wire type stomp-in-the-ground holders like the politicians use!! All this hassle because some filthy rich old blue haired lady had wanted her donated land to be sign free and the county highway to be unencumbered with signs .................. so the county board bowed down to her to get her land and passed a hoaky sign ordinance like we have to contend with now!!

I hope we are having to comply with an extreme case in Walton county, Florida because that kind of stupid sign ordinance would surely draw blood in other sections of the country!!
 
I was under the impression that you had a changeable word sign ...

As suggested, check your ordinances, but I'd get your sign up "Custom Framing" and then see if you can put out a banner with your shop name and "Opening October 1st!"

If not allowed, then still put up your sign and put banner paper across the inside windows with like message.

Generate as much interest and excitement as you can. Make sure everyone in your center knows who you are, what you're doing and when you'll open. Give them stacks of your business cards to hand out to their customers. Make friends with your neighbors.

You want to hit the ground running.

Are you planning a grand opening?
 
name on marquee...

Dave: What can be a changeable name? I had to pay everytime I need to do something with the sign...love your entusiasm, it is very helpful at these moments, when I feeling a lot of pressure...Of course a I would like to have a big opening, I have been thinking have a blessing from a catolic priest, and have like a coktails and food, for our guests that day...
 
name on marquee...tks, framerguy

Framerguy: I really do not know what are the building ordinances at the strip mall I am...I have to share the marquee with other businesses, and what I can see is that all the signs are different, and some of them do not have their name, but some related with a type of business they are... I would be very cautious whith banners or any other signs...Don`t you think if a just put Custom Framing, is going to let anybody the type of business is going to be? I really appreciate your input, the voice of the expirience is what I am looking for...:thumbsup:
 
I thought you had a changeable marquee sign like the portable roadside signs with the flashing arrows. If you are able to rent one of these prior to your opening and your sign ordinance allows, then by all means do it.

I personally hate these portable signs but they are very effective ...especially for your circumstances. You can buy a new one for about $ 500.00 or a good used one for about half that. Or rent one for short term use. I'm on a busy somewhat rural highway and have one. I took the arrow off but left the flashing lights on the top on. It has proven to be quite effective and I try to use cute tasteful sayings which I often get customer's comments on.

I put my store name permanently on the top of both sides then skip a line and have 2 more lines for changing messages. Traffic coming and going gets exposed to the sign.

I would suggest having coffee, soda, cookies, etc. for the first week but hold off for a Grand Opening for a month or so if you have the budget to promote it right. Skip the cocktails except for yourself ...for medicinal purposes only, of course ;). Start a mailing/email list as soon as you can even if you don't envision using it for some time.

At my old store I had a beautiful masonry one constructed, but it cost me almost $ 8000.00 and I just can't justify that in this location.

Go at it enthusiastically. It'll be a little rough to begin with but willpower and taking the bull by the horns will win over in the long run.



:thumbsup:

By the way, having a priest bless your new enterprise and premises never hurt anyone and I'm all for it. I didn't do that here when I opened, but always have a blessing when I move into a new home. Besides, priests have things framed too! ;) Some of my biggest clients are the University of Notre Dame and various local churches and other private religious colleges and universities.
 
Thanks for reminding me, Baer! That's going up this week.

:D
 
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