Several years ago, in an effort to improve the appearence of State Rd 7, Margate banned all pole signs

Since then, many businesses have begun to use their trucks as an adjunct to their store signage. It makes sense considering the setbacks from the street most of these storefront shops have. It has been the center of some controversy lately, as the town council is allowing the exisiting regulations dealing with these uses to be overlooked. As more businesses struggle to survive, should signage regulations be relaxed, or should they be tightened to improve the area's overall appeal?

Article here: Margate News

The big banner on the roof is well placed and easy to read. It's probably an effective lure to catch the attention of passing traffic. Simple message and easily read at a glance.

The window graphics would probably be better at larger scale and eye level. An easy fix. Uniformity in hanging the window graphics would also improve the appearence of the restaurant. The small banner hanging from the eves should be relocated so as not to distract from the logo sign and the window graphics.

Yummy

Another waste of good window space. How about a photo or two, a description of a Filipino meal, and a menu? Maybe this is the next discovery of a great restaurant, but it won't happen unless they can get customers interested enought to actually order and enjoy a meal.

If you are paying for a store front, it's a false economy not to use it to advertise your product or services. It's like throwing away money every month.

Spring Sale

Spring is in the air, and we are having a sale. And here's a whole mess of  advertising to get you to come in and spend, spend, spend. Are the legging's the focus of the sale? What about all the other merchandise.

This doesn't seem like a big draw to me. One positive note, the contrast of the yellow paper and the black letterings has good visibility. Using more of the available space, and perhaps a photo of the leggings and easier to read text would attract more eyeballs.

Self Promotion

Look- it's an opportunity driving by! With close to 400 square feet of advertising space available on this truck, this is a shame. For heavens sake, this is a SIGN business. Vehicle graphics offer one of the best bangs for the buck in advertising today. This is hardly a confidence inspiring example of creative thought and craftsmanship. What prospective customer would be calling this company?

Mea Culpa

Lest I forget to add a healthy dose of humble pie to the servings on this blog, I'm sharing this photograph of our household junk mail collection device. After years of neglect, it is going to get a makeover!

As you can see, the South Florida Elements have taken their toll on my address sticker. Bad for curb appeal!
Stay tuned for MakeOver 2010 takes on the mailbox in the next week or so.

Le Bleu Plate Special

Ok, here is a window graphic at  a restaurant I have been going to for many years, Pho Hoa on SR7 in Tamarac. It's a really good Vietnamese place that consistently serves terrific food at fair prices.

Like many places  to dine in South Florida, it's in a strip mall back off  the road and it has very little signage. Posting a menu makes sense, because people in the strip mall  are walking by all the time. This menu has been up for at least 5 years, and has completly faded to blue from exposure to the sun. It's also placed inside the window, so the glare and window tint makes it hard to read. This is a shame, because printing this on an exterior-grade window vinyl and mounting it too the window is simple and inexpensive. The result would be an appetizing graphic that would catch people attention and draw them in. The food is so good that they would become steady customers.

Meyers Pride

I got a longer look at this truck graphics than I wanted while stuck in traffic on SR7 last week.
This is an example of the box in a box in a box with borders school of graphic design. Also note the generous variety of fonts, and the free use of aspect ratio crunching applied to the various words. No problem sir-we'll get that word to fit.

I think that there is a disconnect going on here. The branding calls for pride, but the graphics are old, tired and faded. A mixed message at best, certainly not one that makes me want to call for a quote.

Charburger in Paradise

Last night was date night, and wanting to watch the budget, my wife and I stopped at the Original Pancake House in Delray Beach for a quick dinner before going to the Caldwell Theater to see the play "Distracted", about a couple dealing with their child's AD/HD disorder. Any way, before I get too distracted, let me get to the graphics.

This sign was posted prominently at the door, and I can't imagine that it was very effective in promoting the Turkey Burger. Not only did the food have an un-healthy green tinge to it ( the bun looked moldy), but the burger was a mass of solid black char on the top. So much for grill marks. The quarter pickle slice looks like it was carved with a dull knife, and the toothpick looks crushed. I don't know what is hanging off the right edge of the burger, and I don't want to find out.

Maybe it was good that the sign was attached to the inside of the door, as the reflections of the street in the glass actually were a distraction. It was attached with wads of clear tape in the corners, and some non-functional ties were left in the grommets.

It's unfortunate that the photograph selected and the bad installation wrecked this campaign piece. A great photo and an exterior install would have been effective and inexpensive. The design deserved more.

That said, I have to say that we enjoyed our meal, the food and service was very good and the price quite reasonable. I'd go back, and hopefully see some better signage next time.