Why Retail Companies Find Signs And Displays So Illuminating

In today's competitive world of retail where products and brands jostle each other to be seen and to be bought, signs and displays are of increasing importance, as are the decisions as to the type of sign or display used.

Increasingly popular are the various types of illuminated signs which are available. These are the signs which are lit from behind or within, making the entire sign or display that much more eye catching and appealing. A number of effects can be achieved which help to emphasise aspects of the business or product. For example, illuminated signs promoting a tanning shop or travel agency may utilise the lighting to suggest warm summer sunlight, and using a contrast of colours, the names or logos of products can be made to almost jump out of the signs.

The technology behind illuminated signs has changed drastically over the years. No longer are there ribbons of 100 watt bayonet light bulbs wired behind a plastic board. Today, a mixture of fluorescent, neon and LEDs combine to produce lighting effects which are superb in terms of light emitted, cost-efficient when running for long periods, and cooler to the touch, increasing safety.

These developments have resulted in two significant changes in use. As a result of the modern lighting methods available, illuminated signs can now be made very much thinner then older signs,meaning that they can be attached to walls and displays without appearing bulky or cumbersome. Additionally, because the newer lighting methods produce far less heat than previously, the displays have come down from high up above customers' heads, and are now placed prominently in the customers' own space, without fear of heating, cracking or burning.

Illuminated signs  are often used above shops and businesses to advertise their presence on the street. Many takeaway shops have their menus wall-mounted and lit from behind, which makes reading the quantity of information displayed there very much easier, and quicker to spot.

The materials with which illuminated signs can be made are wide and various, including acrylic, glass, plastics, including PVC, metal, wood (including MDF), mirrors and Foamex. Again, because of the lack of heat, especially from 'Cold Cathode Tubing', there is no danger here, which would not have been the case previously. Cold cathode Tubing is a form of bulb which includes a cathode (similar to the technology used by television screens) that emits light, but without the temperature rising above the ambient temperature. This technology has made a massive impact on the versatility of illuminated signs.

Illuminated signs can be made to a number of different sizes and specifications, from suspended information signs spanning several metres, to small shop counter displays little larger than an A4 sheet of paper. Many of these shop display or free-standing illuminated signs are referred to now as light boxes, and can be made for both internal and external use, and either lit from the back or from the edges of the sign. These light boxes can be produced with a sleeve at the front, meaning that the poster or advertisement can be updated and changed over time, adding the the flexibility of illuminated signs in retail.