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No Comments Spellbinding Custom Sign For The Toronto Harry Potter Themed Store Curiosa
Many Are Curious About Curiosa
Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of buzz about the Harry Potter themed store that popped up in Toronto. With both Halloween and Christmas around the corner, the timing for the store’s opening couldn’t be better. This shop is sure to be a favourite for eclectic collectors, board game fans, movie fanatics, aspiring magicians and “would be” wizards. Curiosa is a retail shop branded as Toronto’s Purveyors of Extraordinary Things. Their establishment stocks mystical, magical, magnificent items and they needed their sign to reflect that.
Custom Sign Crafted For Curiosa
The sign for the Curiosa store was created from western red cedar. The sign was sandblasted on both sides with the store name and logo. It was given a dark finish with white highlights. This keeps with the colour scheme of the the store but also makes it highly visible to vehicle traffic and those passing by on foot.
Findability is key when it comes to opening a new retail store. The storefront must be welcoming and the sign should generate interest about what can be found inside. In this case, the sign sparks curiosity about what can be found on the other side of the door through the use of the image of an eye peaking through the keyhole. It brings the idea of a “focal point” to a whole new level. Do you recall the FLYING KEYS scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone?
The idea that this shop might provide the keyhole for one of those flying keys makes it even more mysterious!
Crafting signs to reflect the business it will represent is something we take pride in and we are thrilled to see the attention this sign is grabbing.
We Want To Put A Spell On YouWhen it comes to creating business signs, we can create something spellbinding for your company too. All it takes is a visit to our CONTACT US page to connect with us.
How Custom Sign Design Can Be Defined By Lagom
What Is Lagom?
Last time we spoke of trends, the word HYGGE was a hot topic. Nowadays the LAGOM is on the tip of every tastemaker’s tongue. In fact it’s in Vogue – literally. Not sure what lagom is? The concept of lagom is similar to the old adage “everything in moderation”. By definition the same rings true when it comes to custom sign design.
What Does Lagom Have To Do With Sign Design?
Your sign should show your business offerings but not overwhelm potential clients. Just like lagom your sign needs just the right amount of contact information combined with your branding. You want your text, choice of font and logo to compliment your brand. When all three of these design elements work together you have a winning combination for your sign design.
By keeping the text on your sign simple and concise, people are able to focus in on your specialty. Choosing a clear font ensures your sign is legible from a variety of distances. Having a well designed logo gives everyone an idea what to expect from your company.
Alternatively, if you try to put too much messaging on your sign, use too many fonts and an oversized logo, then it looks too busy and people will find it confusing. You want your sign to be eye-catching but not an eye sore.
Find The Right Fit
So are signs HYGGE or LAGOM? We think they can be a combination of both. Just the right amount of information designed to add warmth to your establishment.
By putting these concepts together in one sign design creates a synergy that can elevate your brand in the marketplace, giving your company a high level of visibility and potentially attracting new customers to your business. The expert sign designers here at The Sign Depot are here to help you find the right fit for your business. Visit our CONTACT US page to speak with one of them. To keep up with signage trends stay tuned to this blog.
The Sign Depot Revamps the Look of Restaurant Signs with Their Rust Finish Signage
Over the years, The Sign Depot has perfected the art of rust finishing signs using a custom finishing process. It is a multi-step paint finish that requires steady hand when it comes to achieving the distressed look required for each custom sign. This trend has since caught fire in the restaurant industry, changing the sleek chrome look to create more of a vintage look in many establishments. At a time where businesses are constantly looking to find ways to be unique, the distressed look rust finish trend gives restaurants a one of kind sign that helps them stand out from others in their industry. By using their signage as a focal point for the area, it attracts both current and potential customers to their locale and it serves as a 24 hour advertisement for their business. Below are four examples of restaurant signs that were given a distressed look by The Sign Depot.
OAK + CRU Social Kitchen and Wine Bar
The sign for Kelowna British Columbia’s OAK + CRU Social Kitchen and Wine Bar is a mix of modern and vintage all in one sign. The juxtaposition between two eras in one sign was crafted through a mix of metal, rust and LEDs. It was created as welded metal sign box with cut outs for the letters. The sign was then fit for lit LEDs to light up the cut out areas. It was then given an all over rust finish creating a unique exterior showpiece for the local hot spot.
Belfast Love Public House
Belfast Love Public House in Toronto Ontario is branded as “A Proper Pub” and in turn required signage that reflected that statement. As a new restaurant in Toronto they knew they would have to get lots of eyes on their building and establish themselves as the top of mind place to be for traditional pub fare. This signage project required open can letters with neon tubing along with a paint and distressed finish to achieve authentic the look that the restaurant was going for. In this case the rust finish was strategically placed on the lit sign to create a patina look. For this project an exterior sign for the front entrance and a projection sign were created to catch the attention of both vehicle and foot traffic. The result is pub signage that looks like it’s straight out of Ireland.
Sociable Kitchen + Tavern
Retro is all the rage at Sociable Kitchen + Tavern’s Brantford Ontario location. So much so that their sign is actually a retrofit of sign that was already on the property. This multidimensional sign has several components to recreate the look of a vintage marquee sign. This project included refinishing the sign base to represent the look of an aged tin sign, LEDs faced with acrylic ovals to represent lit light bulbs, high density urethane that was CNC router cut to match the texture of a sea can shipping container, individual lit can letters for the restaurant name and a changeable message board to interact with their local clientele. The rust finish was the tie in that brought all of these items together. It created the retro look that Sociable Kitchen + Tavern wanted to achieve. Once combined, all these sign elements created a past meets present upcylced pylon sign that has quickly turned into a local landmark for the City of Brantford Ontario.
Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
In Las Vegas Nevada, the best way to stand out from all the flashing lights is to come up with something completely different. In this case, the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa wanted to replicate the look of a salvaged Gaslight Sign for their Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar restaurant. In order to recreate this look a three dimensional metal sign with can letters for the word Hearthstone was crafted. The letters were then halo lit with LEDs to give off a backlit glow to best replicate the hazy lighting of gaslight sign. Below the restaurant name, individual push through clear acrylic letters with the words Kitchen & Cellar were attached to let additional light from the LEDs shine through. After all of those components were in place, the distressed rust finish was applied to the sign base as well as the text and graphics on the sign. The addition of the rust finished suggested that the sign could have been a salvaged sign from the Las Vegas sign graveyard.
As you can see from the images above, the rust finish on each sign is used differently depending on the style each restaurant wants to convey to the public. Finding the best fit for each establishment is something that the expert sign-makers at The Sign Depot specialize in. They can transform signage from being brand new to a very vintage look with various sign making techniques and paint finishes. By choosing the distressed rust finish for these restaurants signs, it took bespoke signage to the next level. As a result of this, it makes each of the restaurant signs stand out showpieces that attract clientele to their establishments. These one of a kind signs show the public that they are in for a unique experience by choosing to dine there.
The Sign Depot strives to not only be “on trend” in the sign industry but also creates trends with their custom crafted signage. As they say at The Sign Depot “A Good Sign Is The Sign Of A Good Business”
To learn more about these and other sign projects by The Sign Depot, be sure to visit the following links
Website: http://sign-depot.on.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSignDepot
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSignDepot
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheSignDepot
or visit our CONTACT US page for custom quote.
The Sign Depot – @ The Top Of Canada
Peter Moir of The Sign Depot Heads To The Top of Canada
Last month Peter Moir, owner/president of The Sign Depot went on his yearly canoe trip. This year his trip took him to the top of Canada. He and his canoe group headed to Baffin Island, Nunavut to explore the Mount Joy area of the Soper River. The Soper River, now deemed a heritage river in Canada, is region full of wildlife, including polar bears!
The summer days are extended in Baffin Island. With only a few hours of darkness you can explore the area at length each day. As you can see Peter was able to find great scenery along his canoeing adventure.
A lot of planning went into preparing for this trip. Here are just a few things to think about when planning a canoe trip vacation.
How To Plan A Canoe Trip
- Research the area – Make sure you are aware of the rules and regulations for that area
- Travel light – Everything you need has to be transported by canoe or carried by you
- Make it waterproof – Keep your belongings in a watertight container to avoid damage
- Capture the moment – Remember your camera so you are able to photograph your adventure
These are just a few things to think about when planning a canoe trip. The best way to prepare is to speak to someone with a lot of paddling experience.
Summer Vacation
How are you spending your summer vacation? Are you planning a canoe trip or something else? Perhaps a long trek, or a relaxing time at a cottage or cabin? Which ever you choose we hope you get to spend some time enjoying the outdoors this summer. It won’t be long until the winter starts to creep in and we’ll be talking about hygge once again.
Signs Of Change In St. Jacobs Ontario
St. Jacobs
St. Jacobs Ontario is a well known tourist attraction in Southern Ontario Canada. Best known for its two shopping areas, The St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and the St. Jacobs Village Shops. Each area is a vibrant destination situated in a rural setting. To reflect both the heritage of the locale and the modern day shopping experiences available, The Sign Depot has made several signs for this area over the years. Many are featured in the video below.
Signs Of Change
After the fire at the St Jacobs Farmers’ Market years ago, a new building was erected and it showed that the market was able to withstand the obstacles that it had to overcome. The signage for the market was bright and cheerful just like the market vendors you can find there.
The Village of St. Jacobs is making changes as well. Recently we produced WELCOME signs for the area. These dimensional signs give travelers a warm welcome as they enter the village and serve as a landmark for this destination.
As years go by the retailers in St. Jacobs Village Shops change as well. Last month Nights of Napery moved into the shopping area and our expert sign-makers created a custom cedar sandblasted sign for the exterior of their shop. This eye catching sign serves as a wayfinding item but also give the sentiment of relaxation with the night scene that was carved into the sign.
Styles of Signs
When it to comes to styles of signs, we have quite a variety. We want to assist you in creating signs that reflect your business. For more information about getting a custom sign crafted for your company, be sure to visit our CONTACT US page. Then send us an email with your ideas and sizes. We are happy to provide you with a free signage quote.
Canadian Moose Replica – Custom Signs And Props
Crafting A Custom Sign To Create A Canadian Moose Head Replica
We often talk about our custom signs being shipped all over North America but today, as we enter the Canada Day Long Weekend celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday we thought we would show you a Canadian symbol that was recently shipped to a U.S. client.
In the image above you can see in the bottom row of images that the project was created in several steps. It began with creating a structure from High Density Urethane otherwise know as HDU. The pieces of HDU were carved to match the shape of the moose head, then they were layered to create dimension. Once the moose head took shape it was given a custom paint finish with a texture element to replicate the look of a moose’s coat. Then its features were finished to give it a more comical look. Once all of the elements were completed the finished project was shipped to our customer. It will serve as a wall hanging for the client which we are sure will become quite a conversation piece.
Creating Dimensional Signs, Props And Replicas
If you follow our blog you know that we get lots of requests that include the Canadian Moose along with other animals that are symbols of Canada.
If you find yourself looking for a custom sign, dimensional or otherwise, please visit our CONTACT US page. From there you can email us with the project you are looking to have created. Just send your contact info along with what you are interested in, the size you are looking for and another specifics would like included. Our sign designers will provide you with a quote for your approval and then the process can begin.
For more examples of our work visit our website and choose our portfolio tab. There you will see all the types of custom signs we can create.
Happy Canada 150!
Celebrating #Canada150 With The Signs Of Canada
Purveyor Of Canadian Signs
Being a Canadian Sign Company, we take pride in the all things Canadian, signage and otherwise. That is why we want to mark #Canada150 with our Canadian signs. Many of our custom wood signs are made from Canadian Western Red Cedar which means they are able to withstand the outdoor elements and their longevity makes them a great investment.
Not all of our signs are created with cedar. We also have award winning signs crafted from Barn Board, Metal, Aluminum, Acrylic and HDU (High Density Urethane).
Below are examples of the varieties of signs we make and their Canadian Connection.
Signs Of CanadaOur most popular cottage sign design is the Canadian Maple
Speaking of maple, nothing is more Canadian, food wise, than Maple Syrup
Beverage wise, we have been known to make a variety of Beer signs
and lots of other traditional Canadian symbols as well including wildlife symbols such as
Beavers
Moose
Loons
Geese
and Polar Bears
Other symbols include
Canoes
Niagara Falls
RCMP Mounties
Heritage Sites
and of course Hockey
When it comes to business there is the traditional ones Tim Hortons
Harveys
and the new start up businesses that are putting Canada on the tech map.
These are just some of the Canadian signs we have created. Being a custom sign shop we can provide you with the sign that best suits your style. Whether it’s signage for your company or a single custom sign for your cottage we can craft a sign that meets your needs. To get your sign quoted visit our CONTACT US page. Email us with the style, size, text and graphics you require and one of sign experts will send you a free quote.
We hope you enjoy #Canada150! Have a happy Canada Day!
Everyone Is Flocking To The Sign Depot To Check Our Our Custom Signs
News Travels Fast
It was just last fall that we mentioned that The Gray Jay might be the next big thing for custom cottage signs. Well we guess the word must have got out about it as we had some new visitors in our neighbourhood this morning.
What began as post on our facebook page about potential customers…..
….. almost became reality as this pair of geese ended up at The Sign Depot’s front entrance.
We assured them that they are still very popular choice when it comes to cedar cottage signs.
They seemed satisfied with our answer and were on their way to check out all of the fresh new lawns on the street.
Bird Watching
While the Canada Goose has always been a popular choice for cottage signs, other birds have made appearances as well.
Loons
Cranes
Cardinals
and even Chickens
Each of these signs were custom made to the clients specifications and bird preference. If any of the above images leave you feeling peckish for your own custom sign, you can see below just how easy it is to have one created to suit your needs. Perhaps you might want to get them for the whole family “because birds of a feather, flock together” or so they say.
Create Your Own Custom Cottage Sign
Here at The Sign Depot we can create any wood sign to fit your style. Just supply us with the size, shape, text, colour scheme and what type of graphic you would like to see on it and we can send you a free quote. All it takes is a visit to our CONTACT US page to get started. You may want to get on that quickly as these bird themed custom signs “are flying out of here” and the staff might be on a hunt for some Golden Eggs that the pair of geese may have left behind. Want to keep up on other bird happenings here? Visit our twitter page @TheSignDepot and send us a “TWEET”
Custom Signs That Leave A Lasting Impression
Who Said It First?
No one really knows who coined the phrase
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression!”
While, this rings true when it comes to storefront signage and reception signs, but our stance here at The Sign Depot is a little different.
Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression, make sure your signage leaves a lasting one.
We want your business to look impressive from the moment that a potential customer sees it, but we want your company signage to leave a lasting impression as well. Choosing to brand your business with custom signs is the best way to ensure your company is memorable. This is of great importance when it comes to current clients recommending your business to others. They want to refer their friends and colleagues to well established professionals. If your signs don’t convey that sentiment there is less of a chance that your will get that word of mouth recommendation.
What Do Your Custom Signs Say About Your Business?
Springtime is always a good time to take a look at your building’s curb appeal. Take some time to pass by your business. See how it looks to those traveling past in a vehicle or just walking by. Will they be impressed by what they see? What is your signage saying about your business? If it’s not conveying the message that you are the expert in your industry, it would be a good idea to change it. You may just change the impression of your business in your community.
Have The Last Word
Choosing to create a custom sign that elevates your brand is the best way to make a statement both visually and in your field of business. It acts as a 24 hour advertisement for your company, so be sure to consult the expertise of a professional sign company. They will make recommendations that fit your business and your budget. Your custom sign might start a conversation with a potential customer or help influence a decision maker looking for a new supplier. Here at The Sign Depot we want to ensure your company is always top of mind and leaves a lasting impression.
3 Dimensional Signs, Interactive Displays, Plinko Boards And More
Creating Engagement With 3 Dimensional Signs
Finding ways for companies to interact and stay engaged with their clients is very important. Being memorable is one of our 3 Keys To A Successful Trade Show. It keeps your business top of mind with your current and potential customers and helps to increase brand awareness about your company. Using 3 dimensional signs to create engagement with the public may not something you have thought of, but you can see by the examples below, interactive displays can get your info shared to a larger audience.
Providing Plinko Games To Gain An Audience
While many of our clients already come to us for unique signs for their trade shows and customer appreciation events, some really want to ensure that the audience takes the time to visit their display. This is when a PLINKO game can make an impact. While Heffner Toyota uses their custom Plinko game for customer promotions, The Great Canadian Meat Company is taking theirs to upcoming trade shows and the Portland Trail Blazers use theirs to interact with fans. Each of these circumstances create memorable experiences between the brand and their audience.
#SecretProject from @TheSignDepot has arrived. We can't keep staff away from it. Play at upcoming sales. pic.twitter.com/IdXfPON0ap
— Heffner Toyota Lexus (@HeffnerToyota) March 26, 2015
Interactive Sign Displays
When it comes to creating buzz about your brand, social media is one of the best ways to spread your message. Most people think of interactive displays as immersive virtual reality or augmented reality experiences, but any display that people interact with counts as well. Souvenir City came to Sign Depot to create a 3 dimensional sign structure to use as a photo booth prop for their Niagara Falls location. As you can see by tweet below, their visitors are putting it to good use by snapping photos and posting it on social media channels.
THANK YOU to @Radisson @NiagaraParks @NiagaraFallsTourism & @SouvenirCityNF for the amazing family memories! >> https://t.co/dXeSO8r2VK pic.twitter.com/sEJRYJ7Oy1
— Mar Ward (@toandfro21) January 30, 2017
Engage Your Audience With 3 Dimensional Signs
Whether you are looking for leads at a trade show or search for new fans online, using your business signs to display your brand is a great way to gain exposure. The sign-making experts here at The Sign Depot are here to assist you with your branded signage. Just visit the CONTACT US page to request a free quote.
