“After really enjoying getting to know the Eaton Eagles and having such a great time watching the ladies go from strength to strength last season, it made perfect sense for us to extend our commitment to this fantastic local club by sponsoring the whole stadium.

“We don’t see sponsorship or community support as a short-term concept. Getting involved with a local organisation, helping out an individual, or supporting a team is a long-term commitment – and this is no different.

“We’re excited to see what the future holds for Eaton Socon!”.

David Hennessy, Motive Graphics Director

Come and cheer the Eagles on!

And you can do your bit for your local club, too! All of the men’s fixtures and ladies’ fixtures are on the Eaton Socon website, so why not come along and give them a cheer one weekend? You’ll find the Motive Arena at River Rd, Eaton Ford, St. Neots PE19 7AU

While you’re there, make sure you look out for the new signage and banners welcoming players and visitors to the Motive Arena.

Community at our core

Whether we’re helping our employees train both professionally and physically, supporting local charitable events, or sponsoring local sporting talent, the community is at the core of our culture.

Aside from the newly named Motive Arena, we’re also continuing our sponsorship of Huntingdon and Northstow Hockey Club, local go-karting prodigy Tyler Davis, and our ongoing support for MAGPAS Air Ambulance.

we’d love to hear from you

how to stand out using signs and graphics

A guide to help make your business stand out using signs and graphics.

You might be interested in?

> Where Do I Buy a Sign?
> Sign Fitting Project Guide
> What Type of Sign Do I Need?

7 great ways to stand out using signs and graphics:

1. Add an illuminated sign
2. Make use of window graphics
3. Add interior graphics to reinforce your brand
4. Make use of printed banners and poster in your local area
5. If you have a vehicle, use it to advertise
6. Make your sign interesting
7. Projecting signs can make a big difference

At Motive, we have a team of creative experts on hand, which can help you with your individual project needs. We’ll help you with ideas and graphic design through to manufacturing and fitting, to help you get the most from your signs and graphics.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or help with your next sign project, read on to find out more!

1. add an illuminated sign

There’s nothing worse than someone not being able to find your business, while this isn’t an issue in the summer – when it hits autumn and it starts getting dark early, an illuminated sign will be invaluable, especially if you have one and your competitors don’t!

It advertises your business even when you’re not there. If your business is on the high street or next to a main road, by having a lit up sign, you’ll be seen 24/7.

Backlit signs make your brand look more premium, and can be used both externally and internally to give an impressive effect. They can look great behind reception desks, in showrooms and in key spaces within your business or shop.

We have a range of illuminated sign options that can be customised to suit your brand. Popular options include Halo Lit Signs, Facelit 3D Letters, Neon Signs and Backlit Sign Trays.

2. make use of window graphics

While it’s important, your sign is not everything. Modern offices and shops have a lot of glass whether it be on your shop front, meeting rooms or as dividing walls and provides key real estate to make use of.

Window space is a great way to advertise promotions through window graphics and stickers. If you’ve launched a new product range, temporary window graphics are a great way to advertise to your customers.

If you’re a restaurant, windows can be a great space to add menus, posters and imagery to entice customers in. This can be done easily through window stickers or printed window clings.

If you’ve got a sale, a giant sale sticker or banner across your window can help communicate this to your customers.

Or if you want to add privacy, window frosting can be used to do this while adding branding

If you’re looking for help with window graphics, our team can help you make the most of your window space, from graphic design, printing right through to fitting.

3. add interior graphics to reinforce your brand

Signage shouldn’t stop once your customer is through the door, make sure they know where they are at all times. Reinforce your brand through use of interior graphics and signs.

Don’t just add a vinyl of your logo on every wall, think about your brand as a whole – do you have imagery or your products? Or inspirational taglines? Maybe a mission statement? Or simply a backdrop for selfies. This can be achieved through use of printed wallpaper, acrylic images, cut vinyl stickers or even 3D lettering.

Creating a focal point that customers will see as soon as they walk in will help them remember your business. For example, a feature wall with a printed wall wrap and a display for your products can be a great way to communicate what you do in your reception area. Or add floor graphics using your branding throughout your office or shop, to guide visitors around.

4. make use of printed banners and posters in your local area

Advertising in your local area can help attract new customers to your business, roadside banners are a cost effective way to get your name and services out there in your local town. These are especially effective at areas with traffic lights or on roundabouts, where road users will be at a standstill giving them time to see your banner.

Similarly, posters on local notice boards, at information points and in supporting businesses can help get you noticed.

5. if you have a vehicle, use it to advertise

Vehicle graphics are one of the most effective ways to advertise your brand, especially if you use a van or car to make deliveries. Think of all the potential customers that will see your vehicle when you’re on the road or delivering your product – why do you think Tesco and Ocado have such bright delivery trucks? How many times have you said “Next door are having their Tesco delivery” – that means their graphics do the job, don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Company cars or pool cars are another great way to get low cost advertising, when your reps are out on the roads, they are representing your business, make sure you have vehicle graphics to advertise every mile!

Find out more about the benefits of vehicle graphics.

6. make your sign interesting

There are a lot of signs out there, and it can be easy to blend in. Think about ways to make your sign different, as a lot of the time, it can be the first physical impression of your business.

Go 3D, adding depth to your sign can make a huge difference and really make your business look more premium than just another flat sign. This is cost-effective to do by adding raised acrylic lettering or go even more premium by adding built up lettering.

Sign trays are another great way to add depth and don’t cost the earth. They look better than a flat sign as they stand out from the wall and have hidden fixings to keep your sign looking clean.

There are a lot of different finishes that can look great on a sign, for example using premium vinyl can give you a huge range of finishes including chrome, gold, metallic, reflective or luminous that you can’t achieve with normal printing.

If you’d like to see some examples or samples of different types of materials, get in touch with the team today.

7. projecting signs can make a big difference

When walking along a high street or business park, it can sometimes be difficult to see your sign. This is where a projecting sign can come into its own. They will give you more visibility as they stand out from the wall and point to anyone walking up to your business.

Illuminated projecting signs can be added to help make the ultimate shop front, and are great when paired with an illuminated sign.

If you’re restricted and can’t make use of a projecting sign, pavement signs or a-boards can be a great alternative, with the added benefit of being able to move them in and out, or to a different location when required.

We hope this guide fills you with ideas for your next sign or graphics project. If it does, we’d love to hear from you and see if we can help you out. Simply get in touch with the team on 01480 597 444.

Or if you’d like to know more about the different types of commercial signage, check out our guide to commercial signage.

we’d love to hear from you

what our customers say about us

follow us to see more examples of our projects and satisfied customers

[instagram-feed]

where do I buy a sign for my business?

How to select the perfect business sign company for you

You might be interested in?

> Ideas for Signs
> What Type of Sign Do I Need?
> Types of Commercial Signs

 1. understand what you are looking for in a business sign supplier

What is it you are looking for your signage to do? Do you think that you could undertake the project itself or would it be an advantage to ask the help of a professional?

Fitting a low-level flat sign for your business can be a simple job for most capable DIY’ers or your maintenance person. In this instance, it is possible to ask for your signs to be delivered to you for you to arrange fitting.

Conversely, if you are looking at fitting multiple signs or illuminated signs, which tend to be above standing level or multiple stories up. Or interior signage such as wall graphics, printed wallpaper or window vinyl. It would be beneficial to use a sign supplier who can also provide a fitting service.  These types of signs and graphics are more tricky to fit  for the inexperienced.

2. have a clear outline of the cost of business signs

It is good practice to ask for a full written quotation before you agree to any work to be undertaken. Make sure you are clear on what you are going to be getting for your money. Sign installation projects can become quite complex due to factors such as height access, the supply of services, hours of access and planning restrictions.

Your quotation should  breakdown all the elements of your project, along with who is responsible for paying for each item, for example when ordering an illuminated sign, check who is paying for the electrician to fit the supply feed. It is important to know the costs involved in the project and when they are due for payment.

If you are supplied with a quotation for your business signs, that is not broken down – ask for more detail or the costs of each Individual item.

3. buying business signs locally might not be the best fit

We all like to support local businesses, people you know and certainly recommendations do count. We recommend to check the business you choose suits you, just because you have a local sign company, it does not mean that they are the ideal partner for your signage project. Not one size fits all and it is important that the sign maker you choose, fits your need whether it is large or small.

If you are undertaking a reasonable sized sign project, it is usually beneficial to choose a medium to large sign company. They will be more willing to travel to you to undertake the work and they will be better suited to guide you through the process from start to finish. Smaller sign businesses or self-employed sign fitters, are in theory an obvious choice, but on larger sign projects they are going to struggle to offer the same level of service and flexibility as they don’t have the teams of designers, production technicians and fitters to support them.

Likewise, if you are looking for a one-off shop sign, pavement sign, PVC banners or  smaller sign orders – smaller sign businesses can be a suitable option for you.

4. check reviews for customer service and sign aftercare

Signs for your business can soon add up to be a considerable investment, and it is advisable to look at referrals for a sign supplier, to check they are the best option for your business.

We would also recommend that you check for reviews either on Google Reviews, TrustPilot or Facebook, as these can be a valuable insight to finding out more about their work and service.

Be aware that not all business sign suppliers have a user-friendly website or have social media accounts. If you cannot find a review online, ask them for the contact details of a couple of previous clients and make a couple of calls to ask for some assurance. Do your research, make a good choice and don’t be left disappointed.

5. understand any costs upfront for your business signs

One of the drivers for where to buy a sign for your business will be undoubtedly budget. Depending on the project, costs can become considerable. If you’re a new customer or if your undertaking a larger project, a deposit payment may be asked for upfront of any work commencing. In an ideal world, your sign quotation will have payment terms outlined and should be approved and agreed upon before work is undertaken.

If you’re not sure, ask your supplier if there are any upfront costs required, as this will reduce any delays to your project.

6. find out who is fitting your signs

It is logical to assume that as you are placing your trust in a person to supply and fit your signs, that they will be doing the job for you, this isn’t always the case. There are many “sign fitters” who aren’t quite as they seem. It is not uncommon for some of these agencies to purchase and outsource the services they offer externally.

If you are going to appoint the work for your business sign project to an agency, it’s a fair assumption that they will be using an external company to make and fit your signs. This can sometimes result in a lack of control, and higher costs from the agency compared to a dedicated sign company, depending on the subcontractor. It can also lead to a longer timeframe on your project due to the additional layer of communication required between all parties.

While agencies can create some beautiful looking signs and graphics, which will look fantastic when fitted, this usually comes at a premium. There is nothing wrong with using an agency for your sign project, just make sure you are aware upfront of who will be fitting your signs, so there are no surprises later down the line.

7. sign franchises might not be as they appear

It is easy to find large sign supply companies online. Many of these businesses have big marketing spend and will often appear at the top of search results by using paid ads. While these might appear as national businesses, a huge number of these are run as small franchises under a national “brand”. Depending on the management – the levels of quality, service, and cost on each of these can vary. The size of each franchise will also vary and many of these, are in fact still only small businesses and might not be as big as they appear online.

8. be cautious when buying signs from the internet

As mentioned earlier, if you are confident of fitting signs yourself, you can find online sign companies who have websites that you can order basic signs from. This might be a good option as it can be easy and done at any time that suits your schedule.

There are a few things worth pointing out at this point, when ordering online you will need often need to provide artwork for your sign. You will need design your sign, make sure you’re colours, resolution of images or logos and dimensions are correct. If you’ve not done this before, it can be a learning curve and not all online platforms will point out issues before printing. This can result in getting your sign delivered only to discover it’s not what you expected.

A good sign company will have a graphic designer or design department who will go over a brief with you and help design your sign for you. Or if you send over a design you’ve done that has any problems, they will help you around this. Unless you have graphic design experience, we would not recommend purchasing signs via an “upload your artwork” type website as any perceived savings in cost will soon be outweighed by additional artwork, reprint and delivery charges.

9. look for companies who do offer site surveys

When selecting your sign company, it is good practice to see if they will do a free site visit. This is beneficial for two reasons, firstly this will give you a chance to meet a representative from the sign company. Secondly you can chat through your requirements for your sign project in detail and at this point any measurements can be taken by the company who will design, make and fit the signs. This puts the responsibility of taking all the details on the sign company, so you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to worry about getting the measurements wrong, or asking for the wrong material.

They will also be able to point out any special requirements needed to fit your signs or graphics, wether they can be fitted from a ladder or if a cherry picker will be needed. This means when you get your quote, it will be accurate, saving you from extra costs down the line.

If you would like to find out more about Motive’s sign project management service, or talk in more detail about your signage project then please contact us.