Sign buyers often have many of the same questions about signs and sign companies that are perhaps best answered by an objective source.  The Small Business Administration (SBA), whose mission it is to help Americans start, build and grow business, addresses many of the most common questions in a thorough and constructive manner on its website.  Rather than summarize or paraphrase, links 1-12 below take you directly to the SBA website in a new browser window. Questions 13-24 are more specific to Holiday Signs.

1. Why do I need a sign for my business?
2. What is the most effective signage for my business?
3. Do I need a lighted sign?
4. What should my sign say?
5. How do I effectively “brand” my business location?
6. Is signage expensive?
7. How can I determine whether my current sign is effective or what should be changed?
8. What are some of the alternative payment methods for signs?
9. Should I buy or lease a sign?
10. How do I choose a sign company?
11. What legal rights do I have as a sign owner?
12. What are my legal obligations?
13. Can Holiday Signs furnish any type of sign?
14. I’m convinced I need a sign for my business but don’t know where to start.  How can you help me?
15. What is Holiday Signs’ Service Area?
16. I’ve done a little research on the local sign ordinance but it’s hard to understand and the forms are a bit intimidating.  Is that something you can help me with?
17. I have an idea about what I want my sign to look like but don’t really have a firm design yet.  Can you help?
18. Do you have a catalog or brochure you can send me?
19. What are standard Terms of Sale?
20. Can I finance my sign?
21. What’s the lead time for a sign?
22. What type of Warranty comes with the sign?
23. I want to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  Any suggestions?
24. My existing sign isn’t working.  How much does it cost to repair it?

The Signage Homepage of the SBA website lists additional informative topics that are shown in detail under the “Resources” tab of this website.

Additional questions pertaining specifically to Holiday Signs are answered below:

13. Can Holiday Signs furnish any type of sign?

Holiday Signs specializes in manufacturing and installing custom-made electric signs typically used to advertise or identify businesses or shopping centers.  The Company manufactures and/or installs other signs and products that complement these core products and meet our clients’ “one-stop shopping” needs. 

See examples of our entire product line shown on Product Sell Sheets under the “Resources”  tab as well as the many photos in the Gallery tab of this website.

14. I’m convinced I need a sign for my business but don’t know where to start.  How can you help me?

If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help:

• One of our well-qualified Sales Consultants can speak with you over the phone to review the scope of your sign needs and to schedule an on-site meeting.
• The Sales Consultant will conduct a Site Analysis and a Traffic Analysis (if appropriate), discuss design ideas with you and research local sign regulations.
• A design rendering will be prepared based on these inputs.
• After your review and approval, Holiday Signs can submit drawings for Landlord Approval (if required) and to the City or County for Sign Permit approval.
• Once the Permit is issued, Holiday Signs can fabricate and install the sign and then service it so it’s always an effective asset of your business.

15. What is Holiday Signs’ Service Area?

Holiday Signs sells, installs and services signs throughout Central, Northern and Tidewater/Eastern Virginia.  The Company can efficiently reach most locations in these regions because of its location within miles of the intersection of I-64 and I-95.

The Company also fabricates and ships signs to local installers in locations throughout the United States for customers so happy with the quality of our  sign supplying relationship that they insist we take care of their entire sign project needs.  We gladly co-ordinate these projects from start to finish, selecting only qualified local installers with whom we have an existing relationship or that meet our qualification requirements.

16. I’ve done a little research on the local sign ordinance but it’s hard to understand and the forms are a bit intimidating.  Is that something you can help me with?

Our full-time Permits Manager is an expert in this area.  Most customers elect to have Holiday Signs obtain all necessary Sign, Electrical and Building Permits and Inspections.  Our Sales Consultant can discuss this with you during the on-site meeting.

17. I have an idea about what I want my sign to look like but don’t really have a firm design yet.  Can you help?

Our Sales Consultants and full-time Design Staff have lots of experience turning ideas into eye-catching designs.  We have the resources to work with you to define and refine your ideas, no matter where you are in the design development process.  This work is done on a Time and Material basis.

18. Do you have a catalog or brochure you can send me?

Holiday Signs specializes in custom-made products so we don’t have a catalog of standard products and pricing.  We do, however, have Product Sell Sheets that show examples of our entire product line shown.  There are also many photos in the Gallery tab of this website.

19. What are standard Terms of Sale?

Holiday Signs uses Standard Terms that are typical in the Custom Sign industry.  A 50% deposit is required with a signed contract.  The balance is due upon completion of the job.  If a job is delayed for reasons beyond the control of Holiday Signs, reasonable progress payment(s) might also be required.

20. Can I finance my sign?

Financing is used by customers who prefer monthly payments rather than paying for signs in lump sum.  Signs can be included in Small Business Administration loans or can be financed through bank loans.  Additionally, Holiday Signs can recommend several Leasing Companies that are experienced with sign leasing and have provided good service to our customers in the past.  Holiday Signs does not finance signs directly.

21. What’s the lead time for a sign?

Each client and project is a bit different.  Some know exactly what they want and others take quite a while before deciding.  Some signs are very large and others are average sized.  Consequently, we consider Lead Time to start when a design is approved, a signed contract is in our hands and a 50% deposit is received.  For an average-sized project, from this point, Permits typically take 2 – 3 weeks, Manufacturing takes 1 – 2 weeks and installation  takes 1 week or less.  A Lead Time of 4 – 6 weeks is a reasonable expectation, but it’s important to note that Holiday Signs doesn’t control the Permitting process so it’s subject to change.

22. What type of Warranty comes with the sign?

Signs are covered by a Limited Warranty covering labor and material for defects in material and workmanship.  The manufacturer’s warranty for certain components also conveys to the buyer.  Ask your Sales Consultant for additional details.

23. I want to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  Any suggestions?

Holiday Signs is an environmentally-conscious manufacturing company.  All our operations are constantly reviewed to be as environmentally as possible.

One big area of opportunity for our customers is in the use of LED’s.  LED’s consume only about 10% of the energy and have longer service lifes of comparable neon lighting.  LED’s are more expensive initially but often pay for themselves within just a few years through energy and service cost savings.  LED’s aren’t currently available in all colors and can’t be used in all applications.  Ask your Sales Consultant for more details.

24. My existing sign isn’t working.  How much does it cost to repair it?

The cost of repair varies with what is wrong with the sign so it’s impossible to guess what the repair cost will be.  It’s not common practice to provide estimates for repair because of the cost of sending a serviceman and crane truck to the site.  Normal repairs are done on a Time and Material basis.  Holiday Signs charges a competitive labor rate and sends fully stocked service trucks so most repairs can be accomplished in one trip.  Notable exceptions are when a second trip is required for neon repairs, when a non-standard replacement part is required and when repairs are more extensive than reported or expected.

Resources

The Signage Homepage of the SBA website provides valuable information and insight regarding these topics:

• Why Use Signage? Includes a list of Compelling Reasons for an On-Premise Sign and case studies illustrating different reasons for effective signage.
• Types of Signage  Includes good general descriptions and links to more detailed information and photos of the most common types of signs .
• Understanding the Value of Signage  Discusses The Functions of the On-Premise Sign, Branding a Site, Developing and Measuring Readership, Acquiring New Customers, Modifying Customary Purchase Habits, and The Signage Appraisal Process
• Obtaining Your Signage  The Working With a Sign Company section includes a description of What Does A Sign Company Do? and has  A Tool to Help You Research and Choose a Sign Company that’s printable and that readers should find very useful.  The Designing a Sign section covers Design Tips,  Lighting and Illumination and Evaluating Your Business Location's Signage Needs
• Legal Considerations covers FAQs About Legal Rights -the most commonly asked questions and their answers, U.S. Constitutional Amendments Pertinent to Signage - summaries of these constitutional protections and entitlements,  Government Regulations & Codes - a quick bullet list summary about what to know to obtain a permit or file a variance,  Legal Cases - a selection of documented cases illustrating legal considerations and court findings.
• Glossary/Resources includes a Glossary - signage terms "101", Resources - additional materials, publications, and other tools, as well as a handy order form for the same, Legal Resources - a presentation of additional well-known legal cases illustrating the application of the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Landham Trademark Act and Time, Manner and Place Regulations and the exercise of "Police Powers" as part of Zoning or Land Use Codes to signage., and References - biographical information about signage industry experts consulted and/or quoted throughout the SBA site.
• Sign Gallery  Click on a category to view its sign gallery.Building-Mounted Sign Gallery, Freestanding Sign Gallery, Interior Signage Sign Gallery