logo

How to Bring Customers in with Outdoor Signage

How to Bring Customers in with Outdoor Signage

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:

Readability and Typography

Your sign has seconds to communicate. That’s why we calculate:

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.

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:

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.

Pylon Signs

These are tall, freestanding structures — often seen in plazas or along busy roads.

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.

A-Frames and Sandwich Boards

Simple, movable, and versatile — these sidewalk signs are ideal for showcasing promos, daily specials, or welcoming walk-ins.

Window Graphics and Decals

Full-coverage vinyl graphics can turn your storefront glass into a dynamic billboard — without changing the structure.

Digital LED Signage

When done right, LED signs are dynamic, eye-catching, and easy to update remotely.

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:

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:

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.

Loading...