While driving home in Austin, Texas day after day in late afternoon traffic, things start to blur after a while. Not too long ago, as I was picking up groceries along Burnet Rd after work when it was just getting dark I happened to notice all the bright neon signage along Burnet Rd, which is a well-known entrepreneurial district in Austin full of unique small retail shops and restaurants. It’s just a few extra minutes, I thought, and it won’t take me too long to catch Burnet Rd in all its glory. Sign after sign after sign. From a restaurant, to a gift shop, to a coffee shop, to a cupcake shop, to a tattoo parlor…
I know the staff at TMSP cannot stress enough how important good signage is. Not only can it affect your business, but it also affects the neighboring businesses and your own personal mood. So when contemplating new signage in your district, consider keeping in mind, what does the sign make you think of? Does it trigger a memory? Does it excite you and make you want to explore the business? You can go hog-wild in creating the perfect sign for your business, but although visual cues are important, don’t forget to create an experience for your store. For more information on creating an experience, check out a past Main Street Matters article we did in February, where we discussed Visual Merchandising for Main Street Merchants.
Although Austin is not a Main Street city, it’s full of good inspiration. Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World and there’s also the famous slogan, Keep Austin Weird. Well Austin does just that, and they do it right from funky sculptures, murals, and fun signage. So if you are looking for more inspiration on how to dress up your downtown, take a step back and remember what makes your community unique. Play up on your character, charm and/or appeal, and incorporate it into your signage. The skies the limit and the possibilities are endless.
- Kimberly Klein, Administrative Assistant