4 reasons why hand-painted shopfront signs are the perfect choice for your small business

There is something truly wonderful about realising that the shopfront signs you are admiring have been made by hand.
Maybe you noticed the feathered edge of a brush stroke slightly overextended, the slight overlap of 2 colours or the whole thing felt friendlier somehow.

A cafe with hand painted shopfront signs

If you're considering a hand-painted sign for your business or home, chances are you've been enchanted by one of these beauties before.

But as well as being eye-catching works of art they are also a great investment for many reasons.

Here are 4 reasons to make your new shopfront signs hand-painted…

1. They are completely unique:

A hand-painted sign is one-of-a-kind and can really set your business apart from the chains in a way that print design just can't.

By their very nature, well-executed hand painted sign communicates that this is a small business that values quality and craftsmanship. It tells a story about your brand and what you stand for, showing that you are dedicated to creating something unique and memorable for your customers.

Hand painted shopfront sign for an independent hairdressers

Here at Small Type Studio, I offer traditional signwriting as a service alongside branding, treating the sign as an opportunity to build on your brand identity, instead of merely reproducing a logo.

The aim is to ensure you have something created that is truly unique to you and that you'll be proud to display as your shopfront signs for years to come. And that’s just as well because…

2. They are one of the most durable options for shopfront signs available:

Timeless design is essential as these shopfront signs can withstand the elements better than many other types of signage (I’m looking at you vinyl).

That means you won't have to worry about replacing your sign anytime soon. When applied to the right background a hand-painted sign lasts upwards of 10 years, sometimes over 30!

At Small Type I combine the durability of traditional signwriting materials, from the days when things were built to last, with modern technology, for a quick and efficient process, giving you the best of both worlds.

Each job is tailored to suit the clients' needs meaning I can produce hand-painted shopfront signs quickly to a deadline. Or when it adds value to the final product, I can also do everything thing by hand, the old fashioned way for that extra character and authenticity.

Creating a sign template the old fashioned way, by hand, and taken from a logo design

3. They are attention-grabbing:

Simple hand-painted lettering, in one colour is beautiful but you can also opt for a huge number of embellishments to really make your shopfront signs stand out.

Incorporating additional details such as a 3D effect or gold leaf highlights can take your hand-painted shopfront signs to the next level, making them a work of art that is impossible to ignore.

Adding 3D effects to a hand painted sign ensures that that you get noticed

I am always delighted to add some colourful or classy details such as a 3D effect, coloured outlines or gold leaf highlights. Many of these effects are unique to traditional signwriting, maximising the impact of your hand painted sign and I can advise you on which additional details are most suited to your shop and business.

4. They are fully customisable:

Hand-painted shopfront signs allow a range of customisation options that set them apart from other shopfront signs. Signwriters can create intricate and detailed designs, incorporate personalised lettering and accurately recreate colour palettes.

Hand painted recreation of traditional a Korean Dancheong pattern

Here at Small Type Studio, signs can be cut to any shape, paint can be applied to almost any surface and my favourite thing in the world is adding unique little details that reflect the business I am creating for.

Take this traditional Korean Dancheong pattern for example, simply printing this design would not have replicated the temples it was inspired by and it would have been very hard to get all the authentic colours correct. By hand painting this design this gorgeous shopfront has become a talking point and compliments the authenticity of the Korean food inside.

So now you’ve learnt that hand painted signs shopfront signs are unique, hard wearing, eye catching and fully customisable, I hope that I have convinced you to ditch the vinyl and support your local signpainter.

If you think hand painted shopfront signs are the right choice for you…

Contact me, Rachel at Small Type Studio and let’s discuss the details of your new sign!

Or head to the sign studio to find out more…