Signs of the Times - June 2020 - 34

The channel letter sign that Mandeville Sign (Lincoln, RI)
created for this Panera Bread location features .125-in.
aluminum faces with stencil-cut push-though clear
acrylic, 4-in.-deep returns, clear Lexan backs and a
white vinyl diffuser. The letters are pin-mounted 1 in.
from the wall surface and produce both front and
backlit effects.
through acrylic, internally illuminated fronts and halo-lit
designs. Poyant foresees greater demand for more color,
brighter, interesting and open spaces. "People will connect
with brands that they feel they can trust and that best
meet their ever-changing needs," Poyant said. "Those
needs are hard to predict. Whatever they are, our industry
will find the way to best meet them."
Faster fulfilment times once designs and permits are
approved lie just over the horizon, according to Security
Signs, as well an increased emphasis on information
updates. "Providing customers with project status,
installation dates and visibility into their projects," will
be more common, they predicted.
COVID-19 CHANGES EXPECTED
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the changes
expected, especially within the next several months to a
year or more. "A lot will now depend on the confidence
level of business leaders throughout the country as we
move out of the 'lock-down,'" Poyant said. "What will be
the short- and long-term effects on the hospitality industry,
brick-and-mortar retail, shopping centers, restaurants,
casinos, hotels, healthcare and education? Will the trend
of creating attractive, new work environments surrounded
by amenities like gyms, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.,
continue?" they wondered.
Security Signs feels that our entire culture may change,
with a "larger number of people working from home and
34

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

JUNE 2020

separated from peers. Exploring new ways to keep teams
connected and engaged during these challenging times"
will provide sign companies with new obstacles to overcome. An obvious need to highlight safety and health will
be paramount, especially at signshops themselves. "More
protocol and procedures to maintain healthy operations
and awareness at our facility and customer's premise," are
on Security Signs' docket.
Mandeville Sign is concerned that in the near-term
they could see severe budget constraints from customers,
and "maybe less focus on the wow factor of the sign and
more on the price/budget." They worry that there could
be "huge pricing pressure coming, as too many sign
companies compete for too few projects."
But aside from the omnipresent pandemic concerns,
Mandeville offered one last observation by way of Michael
Rogers, the "Practical Futurist," who addressed the annual
World Sign Association meeting 18 months ago. He spoke
of consumer need for experience to drive satisfaction and
envisioned AI experiences integrated with message-center
signage. "Imagine a feedback loop as you pass by a wall of
screens and a puppy appears to walk with you and interact,"
Mandeville recalled. "I have not seen anything close to
that as a product, but we are seeing the use of indoorlinked LED screens gaining a foothold in the market."
So, be on the lookout for that AI puppy and more, as
electric signs continue to evolve into a suddenly less
certain future.

Signs of the Times - June 2020

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