We complete approximately 35 sign projects a week. Those 25 sign projects probably come from 20 clients, so it’s fair to say that we deal with a lot of people and projects every week. The overwhelming majority are stress-free. Some, however, present challenges to our clients and us. After ten years in business, here’s what we’d like to share with people looking for signage with Kona Impact.
- Plan ahead! We usually complete signs in a few days AFTER design approval. The design stage takes time, and each revision pushes back the completion date of the sign. If you want a banner in your hand on Friday, it’s best to begin the conversation at least a week early. We are happy to do same and next-day turnaround on projects, but that is not always possible.
- Know measurements before you call. The variables for a sign project cost are size, materials, design time and production time. It all starts with size, so if you want a price quote on a window graphic, we need to know the size first.
- Let us help you with materials decisions. We often have new clients come in and want a sign made of wood covered in printed vinyl. This is a horrible idea, as wood expands, contracts, warps, absorbs water and is not a flat surface. We want your sign to last a long time, and your substrate (the backing material) is a key element, so talk to us about aluminum, PVC or glass.
- To be installed or to self-install? Some of our materials like see-through window coverings are very forgiving for self-installation. Others, like cut vinyl or traditional printed and laminated vinyl are much harder to self-install. We are happy to let you self-install, but our experience tells us that self-installation seldom results in a professional-looking sign.
- Temporary or semi-permanent. We like to say there are no permanent signs…anywhere! If you want to save some money consider lesser quality materials like coroplast (corrugated plastic) or even foam core for interior signage. Banners are inexpensive and make a good temporary sign. That said, if you are planning on using the sign for months or years, consider going for higher quality and longer lasting materials.
- Respect the designer’s time and judgment. No business can survive on an all-you-want model for design time. The Kona Impact sign designers have been doing this for years, and we are good at making things look good. Excessive nit-picking and changes on changes are often counter-productive.
- Ask for a price quote. At Kona Impact we have a pricing sheet for signs and are happy to give you a price quote. We don’t like surprises, and we are certain our clients do not either!
- Tell friends if you are happy with your sign; tell us if you are not. We really want our customers to be satisfied with the results, and if not, we want the opportunity to make it right.
Kona Impact is a sign shop located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. We work with clients for South Point to Hawi and Hilo to Kona. We make the following: real estate signs, banners, vehicle graphics/lettering, store displays, a-frames, building signs and much more! Give us a call at 329-6077 to discuss your sign project.