In a city as visually busy as Toronto, the fight for attention starts at the curb. It doesn’t matter how great your service is if no one walks through the door. Outdoor signage isn’t just a label — it’s a silent salesperson, working 24/7 to attract, inform, and invite. But too often, business owners settle for signs that fade into the background or break down too soon.
At Branditt, we’ve seen how smart signage — designed with intent, built to last, and installed with precision — can flip the script. If your storefront isn’t pulling people in, it’s time to look at why. This isn’t about louder signs — it’s about smarter ones.
Why Outdoor Signage Still Works
Even with digital marketing taking center stage, outdoor signage remains one of the most powerful tools for bringing customers in — especially for brick-and-mortar businesses in a dense market like Toronto. Here's why.
First Impressions Happen Fast
You have about 7 seconds to make an impression as someone walks or drives by your storefront. If your signage is hard to read, poorly placed, or doesn’t reflect your brand clearly, that moment — and that customer — is gone.
People subconsciously judge credibility, professionalism, and quality based on what they see. A well-designed sign isn’t just informative — it signals trust.
Visibility Drives Foot Traffic
According to studies from the Sign Research Foundation, 60% of businesses reported increased sales simply by updating or adding signage. Why? Because the right sign makes your location easier to find, more appealing to enter, and more memorable after a visit.
In walk-heavy areas like Queen Street, Liberty Village, or The Danforth, this matters even more. Your sign isn't just telling people who you are — it's helping them choose you over the business next door.
Signage Sticks in the Mind
Unlike digital ads that disappear in seconds, physical signs offer repeated, low-effort exposure. If someone passes your store every day on their commute, your name starts to stick. When they finally need your product or service, you’re already top of mind — no extra marketing required.
Common Pain Points for Business Owners
Most business owners know they need signage — but knowing what’s wrong with their current setup is where it gets tricky. These are the frustrations we hear most often, especially from Toronto-area businesses:
“People walk past but don’t come in.”
High foot traffic doesn’t mean high sales if no one notices your storefront. A sign that blends into its surroundings — or doesn’t clearly say what you offer — creates confusion. People walk by because there’s nothing catching their eye or making them feel invited.
“Our sign doesn’t reflect our brand.”
You might have a fantastic product or an incredible service — but if your sign looks outdated, generic, or off-brand, you lose credibility before a word is spoken. Mismatched fonts, clashing colors, or unclear messaging tell the wrong story. And in a city full of sleek, well-designed storefronts, that can cost you.
“We’re hard to find from the street.”
Some locations struggle with visibility due to trees, traffic poles, neighboring buildings, or poor angles. If customers circle the block or miss your entrance entirely, that’s a signage problem — not a location issue. We’ve helped businesses facing this exact challenge by designing signs that work with the environment, not against it.
“Our signage doesn’t stand out against competitors.”
If your business is on a strip with ten other shops, you can’t afford to play it safe. Faded vinyl, tired fonts, or underpowered lighting make your storefront look like background noise. Meanwhile, competitors with crisp, modern signage win attention — and customers.
“We’ve had issues with permits or durability.”
Some businesses rush into signage without understanding Toronto’s bylaws or weatherproofing needs. That leads to fines, delays, or materials that crack and fade within a year. A sign shouldn’t become a recurring headache. It should work hard for you — not the other way around.
What Makes Outdoor Signage Effective
Not all signs work — and not all that look good actually perform. If your signage isn’t bringing in foot traffic, one or more of these elements is probably off. At Branditt, we approach signage as both design and engineering. Here’s what we look at.
Location and Visibility
Where your sign is placed matters just as much as what it says. We analyze:
- Viewing angles — Is it visible from both directions of traffic?
- Height and placement — Too high or too low, and it gets missed.
- Obstructions — Trees, street furniture, neighboring awnings — all of these can block sightlines.
Readability and Typography
Your sign has seconds to communicate. That’s why we calculate:
- Letter height based on distance — A general rule is 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance.
- Font legibility — Clean, bold typefaces outperform script or novelty fonts, especially from a moving vehicle.
- Hierarchy of information — What do you want people to notice first? Your name, your offer, or your category? That order shapes the layout.
Too often, businesses cram everything into one sign. The result? Visual overload — and nothing gets read.
Color and Lighting
Color draws attention — but only when used intentionally.
- High contrast matters — Black text on white, white on navy, yellow on dark green — these combinations pop. Pale text on light backgrounds? It disappears.
- Lighting design — We help clients choose between backlit, halo-lit, front-lit, or even edge-lit signs depending on visibility needs and budget.
- Energy efficiency — LED systems reduce operating costs and last longer, even in harsh winters.
Lighting isn’t just a nighttime consideration. On cloudy Toronto days, good lighting gives your storefront a major advantage.
Materials That Last in Toronto’s Climate
Between heavy snowfalls, UV exposure, salt spray, and sudden thaws, outdoor signage in Southern Ontario takes a beating. We use materials chosen specifically for these conditions:
- Aluminum composite panels (ACP) — Lightweight, rust-proof, and strong
- High-grade acrylics — Great for illuminated letters and logo signs
- UV-resistant vinyl — For window graphics and temporary displays
- Protective laminates and coatings — To prevent fading, peeling, and cracking
Cheap materials might save money upfront — but replacing them every season doesn’t. We build signage to survive Canadian weather and still look sharp.
Types of Outdoor Signage That Drive Traffic
The right type of signage depends on your location, foot traffic, building facade, and branding goals. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective options we use to help Toronto businesses get noticed — and get customers in the door.
Channel Letters
These are the 3D, individually lit letters you see on storefronts, often mounted directly to the building or on a raceway.
- Why they work: Bold, clean, and highly visible — especially at night
- Best for: Retail shops, restaurants, medical clinics, and offices with strong brand identity
- Customization: Choose from halo-lit, front-lit, or dual-lit styles depending on how much pop you want
Pylon Signs
These are tall, freestanding structures — often seen in plazas or along busy roads.
- Why they work: High visibility from a distance, especially from moving vehicles
- Best for: Businesses set back from the road or sharing space in a commercial plaza
- Bonus: Pylon signs with multiple tenant panels can help landlords boost occupancy rates
Blade Signs and Projecting Signs
Mounted perpendicular to the building facade, these signs are designed to catch the eye of pedestrians walking along the sidewalk.
- Why they work: Great for foot traffic — they stand out even when shoppers aren’t directly in front of your entrance
- Best for: Boutique shops, salons, cafés, and downtown storefronts
A-Frames and Sandwich Boards
Simple, movable, and versatile — these sidewalk signs are ideal for showcasing promos, daily specials, or welcoming walk-ins.
- Why they work: Flexible messaging and direct placement in the pedestrian path
- Best for: Quick-service restaurants, barbers, salons, local events
Pro tip: Use chalkboard-style inserts or dry-erase panels to easily update your message
Window Graphics and Decals
Full-coverage vinyl graphics can turn your storefront glass into a dynamic billboard — without changing the structure.
- Why they work: Add color, branding, or even privacy without blocking natural light
- Best for: Spas, clinics, retail stores, and seasonal promos
Digital LED Signage
When done right, LED signs are dynamic, eye-catching, and easy to update remotely.
- Why they work: Great for rotating promotions, live updates, or multi-tenant locations
- Best for: Auto dealerships, schools, entertainment venues, and high-traffic intersections
Caution: Requires careful zoning and brightness control to stay compliant
Zoning and Bylaw Considerations in Toronto
In Toronto, putting up outdoor signage isn’t as simple as mounting a sign and flipping the switch. The city has detailed regulations that vary widely depending on your location, the type of signage, and even your building’s zoning classification. Missing a step — or misunderstanding a rule — can mean permit rejections, costly redesigns, or even legal issues down the line.
We’ve seen this happen more times than we can count, especially to business owners trying to handle signage on their own or working with vendors unfamiliar with Toronto’s system. That’s why Branditt doesn’t just design and build — we handle compliance from the ground up.
The first thing to understand is that Toronto divides signage into categories like:
- First Party (for signs that advertise your own business on your property)
- Third Party (like billboards)
- Temporary signage
- Permanent installations
Most businesses are looking for First Party Permanent signage — the kind that includes fascia signs, channel letters, pylon signs, and other storefront displays.
But the rules change block by block. A business in the downtown core won’t face the same requirements as one in a midtown residential zone. If your property is on a corner, in a plaza, inside a heritage building, or near a residential area, you may be subject to different restrictions on sign size, height, projection distance, or lighting style.
Even when a sign is allowed in theory, the permit process is rarely plug-and-play. Most applications require:
- Detailed elevation drawings
- Scaled renderings
- Proof of property rights or leaseholder permission
- Sometimes even engineered load reports
If the sign is illuminated, you’ll also need electrical schematics and energy compliance documentation.
We take all of that off your plate. Branditt’s permitting team is deeply familiar with Toronto’s zoning codes and has built strong working relationships with city departments. We know what documentation the city expects, what formats they prefer, and where the red flags tend to pop up. That means we can anticipate issues before they happen and push permits through faster — without surprises.
Some of our clients come to us after their DIY attempts hit a wall. Others call after installing signage that turned out to be non-compliant — and now they’re facing orders to remove or modify it. That’s avoidable.
At Branditt, we start every signage project with zoning in mind. We don’t just make signs that look good — we make sure they’re allowed, approved, and fully legal the moment they go up.
Why Outdoor Signage Still Works — and Why It Pays to Do It Right
In a digital-first world, it’s easy to overlook the power of a physical sign. But here’s the truth: outdoor signage is still one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways to bring in new business — especially for local companies. It works around the clock, doesn’t rely on algorithms, and speaks directly to the people who are already near your location and ready to act.
A well-designed sign doesn’t just inform — it builds trust. It tells people you’re open, established, and worth stepping inside for. It reinforces your brand every time someone walks or drives by. It creates familiarity, and in a city like Toronto, where competition is fierce and attention is limited, that kind of visibility is priceless.
We’ve seen it time and time again: a dated or poorly placed sign gets replaced, and foot traffic improves almost immediately. People notice. People respond.
But only if it’s done right.
Let Branditt Handle It — Start to Finish
Signage should be simple — but in Toronto, it rarely is. That’s why businesses trust Branditt to handle the entire process: design, permits, fabrication, and installation. No delays, no back-and-forth with the city, no cut corners.
We make signs that work — visually, technically, and legally. You’ll have one team, one point of contact, and one clear path from idea to install.
Let’s make your business impossible to miss. Reach out today.