2008-04-24 23:36:18 -

- In a culture with an ever shrinking attention span, many businesses find that the opportunity to catch the eye of a customer is becoming more difficult. Within seconds, a passerby can look at an establishment and seemingly learn everything they need to know.

"Almost every business uses signs in some way, but most don't take the time to

step back and assess their effectiveness," said Drue Townsend, senior vice president of marketing for FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "Companies should critically evaluate their signs and graphics to make sure they are communicating as effectively as possible."

As many as 35 percent of the people who pass your business each day could become first time customers based solely on your sign. Additionally, in a study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a large U.S. retailer discovered that 17 percent of its customers did not initially intend to stop there but did so after seeing the retailer's sign.

Consider these basic sign design elements when assessing what your signs say about your business:

-The message must be clear. Someone without any prior knowledge should be able to read your sign and get an idea of what your business does. According to the International Sign Association, passersby can comprehend messages related to a business within seconds based on the fonts and shapes used.

-Visibility is key. Keep in mind the distance between the actual sign and the person viewing it. For every 40' feet of viewing distance, letters should be at least 1" high.

-Maximize graphics. Well designed, colorful graphics are more likely to spark attention. Color emphasizes important points and improves reader retention by 82 percent. Utilizing a photo or image when creating your sign can help increase reader recall by 300 percent.

About FASTSIGNS(R)

FASTSIGNS(R) sign and graphics centers use innovation and technology to make the sign buying process simple by offering consulting, design, production, file transfer, delivery and installation for a full range of custom sign and graphic products. For more information, visit www.fastsigns.com.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
Jayme Cherubini, 214-346-5676
Corporate Communications
jayme.cherubini@fastsigns.com