Finding a sign supplier that suits your business need can be a challenge. In this week's article, we present some helpful tips in shopping for a sign manufacturer that fits your business model. Price Certainly price is a consideration, but shouldn't be the only, or even the most important consideration. You wouldn't buy a car merely because it's the least expensive. Cargo area, comfort, gas mileage, reliability, cost of maintenance and even the image you present are factors you might consider. The image you present for your company is no less important, and a bargain sign may reflect poorly on your company. The materials used to manufacture a sign vary depending on intended use and application. A matter of simple economics, if you don't ask, or are only interested in the least expensive, the quotes you get will likely reflect this. For example, if you need an outdoor banner, ensure that the material being used is suitable for your application. Unfortunately, many sign manufacturers will quote the least expensive material just to make the sale if it's apparent that price is your primary consideration. Design Customers often call for a quote on a banner, comparing the cost per square foot to other local sign companies, and even to online vendors. Many sign companies will quote only the cost to make the banner, assuming that production ready artwork will be provided. In actuality, very few customers are able to provide suitable artwork. Even companies with their own design staff may not have the internal experience needed to design large format graphics. Many prospective sign companies won't ask, but will quote production cost only. Once you've shopped price and begin the production process with the chosen vendor, additional costs associated with assumptions made in their quote become apparent. Chances are that one you arrive at their shop to place your order, you're not going to leave and start shopping again. If you have significant design experience with large format graphics and know you have production ready artwork, this isn't an issue. But be honest with yourself to avoid nasty surprises that will include associated design charges if you're not able to provide production ready artwork. There is a cost to your sign manufacturer for associated design services, and these costs will be passed on to you. You should know this before you arrive at their shop to give them a deposit on your sign. Do you truly understand the difference between raster and vector graphics? Do you have a hand drawn concept but no computer file you can provide? If you have computer based art, were any of the images in your design capture from an Internet browser? What file format and version can your sign manufacturer accept for production? Terminology Vehicle graphics are a very popular form of signage that is often misunderstood. When looking for a vendor, avoid using terminology you are unfamiliar with. You are much better off describing the need and having a sign professional present the choices. By way of example, we frequently have customers call to ask for a quote on a vehicle wrap, only to discover subsequently that "wrap" is a term they've heard but don't really understand what it involves. Partial wraps, stickers, vinyl lettering and full color, contour cut graphics can all properly be referred to generically as "graphics". Describing your need and  intended use along with the generic term "graphics" will save you and your vendor time in the long run. Communication If you need a quote and an email or web quote is all the effort you're willing to invest, be informed, and provide sufficient detail to make the most of your interaction. If you don't provide sufficient information, the proper response from your vendor should be to ask for clarification. Without this clarification, you really don't know what your vendor is quoting on. If you don't know what detail to provide, a phone call makes much better use of your time, and you are more likely to get an accurate quote from your vendor. Using a banner as an example:

• Will the content be mostly lettering in limited colors, or full color with images and logos?
• Will the banner be for short-term or extended use?
• Will the banner be used indoors or outdoors?
• How will the banner be hung or displayed?
• Are you providing artwork? If not, do you have an idea of how you would like your banner to look?

One final tip - be leery of any vendor that seems anxious to end the conversation. If they're only interested in the sale, they don't have your long term interests in mind. If they have your long term interests in mind, they'll make the time to ask questions and ensure you are getting the right product. There is truth to the saying: Quality and service aren't expensive - they're priceless. About Spectrum Signs Spectrum Signs is an independent, locally owned, full service sign manufacturing company located in south Orange County - Mission Viejo, California. We are affiliated with over 240 independent sign companies with access to resources nationwide. This affiliation provides significant discounts from sign suppliers, and allows us to offer competitive pricing without compromising in quality and service. For more information, contact: Spectrum Signs 23382 Madero Suite L Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (949) 297-3800 Spectrum Signs