Win $50 by entering the Seattle Store Sign Contest!

Status
Not open for further replies.

l_strider_l

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 21, 2013
3,065
5,363
Minas Tirith, Gondor
If it is indeed intended to be a hanging storefront or "shingle" style sign A) I commend the local zoning ordinance B) I like the concept because it eliminates much of the clutter signage can detract from a store's facade.

As for the design, in addition to some of the excellent ideas previously posted I would contend that much of the aesthetics of a hanging sign can be attributed to the materials used in it's constriction and the impression of workmanship. i.e. cast iron rather than sheet metal; large steel/brass rings rather than flimsy chain; painted/actual dimensional lettering rather than decals and so forth. In addition I would suggest looking into signage used in some historic districts and towns across the country for ideas on how to tweak it, Colonial Williamsburg comes to mind.

good luck and thanks
 

morri

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 21, 2012
14,173
38,552
Texas
I agree with almost everyone so far. There has been so much of late with the public associating ecigs with cigarettes and trying to make them the same. If you could somehow show a difference in the sign with an ego or some type of thing rather than the similar ecig. I do love the rustic appeal and the red (barn) type colors. On wood this would have great appeal.

Again, what others have already said, accentuate the vapor and try to play down the ecig...... which I understand may be somewhat difficult since it is part of the name.

I wish you good luck on the new sign and I know it will be great. Good job on getting the ideas of other people to help!

Thanks for the contest!


Edit:


I am enclosing a pic so you can see kind of what I am talking about. Please excuse really ugly picture. I recently lost my computer with all of my art programs and I am totally helpless with this art program that I have never used before. I do not know what text you want to use or advertise with......... especially at the bottom, where I thought it might be better than the cigarette and I just took out the reversed text and could not figure out how to curve the text (lol) to put it back in. so here it is anyhow. Hopefully it will help illustrate my idea about the boards (planks). I have no idea about the expense of such an undertaking. I know that signs can be outrageously expensive, having had my own business in the past. Good luck and I know you are going to do great!!!



 
Last edited:

liblue1

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Good morning....Like everyone else I agree with the upside down writing..it just looks wrong....I also agree with the colors...I don't like the green, try blue......and change the finger to point to the door....
while I do live close enough to visit, I don't think it's very inviting yet......Congrats on the new shop...I can't wait to see the new sign...
 

Uncle

Resting In Peace
Supporting Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 15, 2011
32,527
116,452
(Using tablet - So Insert smiley with light blub overhead here) Just had an idea . . . You know those signs that were used so long ago that had the phase "Ye Old ? ? ? ? Shoppee" . . . Well - How about under "Your" Name - "ecigexpress" using the phase: "Ye New Vapor Shoppee" (maybe even in old English type too) . . . With a finger pointing to the store's door . . . Just a thought . . .:D


EDIT: Matter of fact, "You" could even have a Cigarette/Pack of Cigarettes with the "Universal" Ban Sign (A Red circle outline with a line through the middle) over them cut out of wood so you could see through it that is hanging down on the bottom of the sign like you have the cigarette instead of the cigarette you have now - hope that makes sense to you . . . :D
 
Last edited:

aikanae1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2013
8,423
26,259
az
It's been a long time since I've been downtown.

I agree with many here; fix it so a person isn't trying to read upside down, I'd loose the hanging cigarette since attitudes towards cigarettes are so negative in Seattle. I also like the idea of using 'personal vaporizer' / vapor shop / something to avoid cigarette being the biggest word on the sign. Even if you sold tobacco, a shop still wouldn't use the word cigarette.

It'd be fun to have a neon sign in the window in a pv shape with vapor coming from the tip (vs. the end like a cig).

I think your business will do very well there.
 

wishnibfishn

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Oct 15, 2013
397
94
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
I haven’t seen what your shop will look like but I’m guessing you are looking to go with an old time feel. I would suggest that you go with an old time elegance feel for your sign. This can be done using all kinds of materials as well as colors/fonts etc. I think your website layout supports this idea. An example of what I mean by “elegance feel” can be seen at King Ranch Saddle Shop http://www.krsaddleshop.com/ranch-home/c/2100/ . They manufacture high end quality merchandise and you know that before your hand hits the handle of their establishment just by looking at the sign. I’m not promoting them by the way. It was just the first thing that came to mind after reading this post. Remember that most companies don’t change the logo/signage after they are established so make sure you are completely satisfied with it prior to hanging it up so to speak. Had we been given more time I might have created a graphic for you to consider.
 

Racehorse

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 12, 2012
11,230
28,254
USA midwest
Other than the above suggestions, I love the colors, including the green! Since Seattle is called the Emerald City, I hope you can incorporate an emerald green, becausue it really makes burgundy *pop*.

The luxurious feel is not my preference, when I see something that screams "expensive" I run. (Home interiors are very different). As a vaper I want to quit smoking and SAVE MONEY.

Seattle is legendary for being an "eclectic" city, brimming with art, music, etc. and vapers tend to be modern, creative types of people anyway. That is who you are appealing to, not blue-bloods with old fashioned traditional values. :)

I like a sign that is playful, and the colors in yours is perfect...get some emerald green in there.


Seattle is known for it's skyline, mountains in background, and space needle. Would be neat if you could put space needle next to ego with clearo and somehow imply 'similarity", like vaping is to Seattle what space needle is to Seattle, a 'part' of the culture. Or ecig on top of the space needle or something. Or have moutain in background "spouting" your flavorings, etc. I am not good with design, just concepts, so link up vaping to the environment there somehow, show how vaping and seattle just "go together".
 

aikanae1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2013
8,423
26,259
az
Something like this.....

I really like "join the revolution". That makes me curious and it's an invite to come inside. I remember seeing signs that used to say "come on inside" and this is like a modern version of that.

Drop an association with ecig, cig, cigarette as much as possible. It's already part of the name, people know what it is. Signage is not a good place to create crontroversy. There may be other store owners who have a problem with a "smoke" shop.

The burgandy is good, but maybe add a little dark green for a shadow might make some elements pop, have more depth. Maybe as a border, but keep is sparse or you'll loose the simple feeling, which is easy to read, friendly and attractive. I'm not sure of your location, but a lot stores are brick in that area and having a contrasting border could help it stand out a little more. I also don't know if your restricted to 2 colors by zoning. Most historic districts have a lot of control over signage and require approvals. I'm kinda surprised your not regulated to a lonely suburban strip mall. Good work.
 
Last edited:

spartanstew

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 29, 2013
11,496
18,348
Wylie, Texas
Excuse the bad photoshop job, but I'd also make your logo the "main attraction"

ECE_zps373afb53copy_zps44f8b0e5.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread