As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, businesses face an often-overlooked challenge: the impact of daylight saving time (DST) on their outdoor signage.
When we “fall back” in autumn, the earlier darkness can leave many illuminated signs in the dark, potentially affecting visibility, brand recognition, and compliance. At Gable, we understand the critical role of well-lit signage in your business success. In this article, we help you shine a light on this seasonal shift.
How Daylight Savings Time Impacts Signage
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 3. As we set our clocks back an hour, we gain an extra hour of sleep (yay!) but lose an hour of evening light (boo!) This shift can seriously disrupt outdoor signage effectiveness when the signs aren’t illuminating correctly at the correct times of the day.
Reduced brand visibility during peak evening traffic
Potential loss of customers who can’t find your location
Non-compliance with local lighting ordinances
Fall Solutions and Best Practices for Illuminated Outdoor Custom Signs
To ensure your signage remains effective year-round, consider implementing these strategies:
1. Regular Schedule Adjustments: Mark your calendar for DST changes and adjust your lighting schedules accordingly. This simple step can make a significant difference.
2. Smart Lighting Systems: Invest in lighting systems that use photocells that automatically adjust to changes in natural light levels or time clocks that can be adjusted manually each season.
3. Remote Management: For digital displays such as programable message LED signs, opt for systems allowing remote monitoring and control. This enables you to make real-time adjustments from anywhere, at any time.
4. Conduct Regular Audits: Periodically review your signage performance, especially around DST changes. This can help identify and address any issues promptly.
How Gable’s Sign Solutions Can Illuminate Your Path Forward
At Gable, our expertise goes beyond traditional custom signs. We also specialize in digital displays and systems integration. Our expertise in LED display design, fabrication, installation, content management, and managed care services positions us uniquely to address the challenges posed by DST and other seasonal factors.
Our solutions include:
- Smart LED Displays: Our state-of-the-art LED displays have options for intelligent lighting controls that automatically adjust to environmental conditions.
- Remote Management Systems: We offer robust remote management platforms that allow you to control your signage lighting from anywhere, ensuring optimal visibility at all times.
- Customized Brightness Control: LED displays offer sophisticated hardware sensors that can be added to reduce the light based on ambient lighting automatically or can be controlled via the software to set the brightness to reduce or increase at specified times. This intelligent system can reduce brightness to as low as 10% during nighttime hours while maintaining full brightness during daylight hours. When daylight saving time changes occur, these automated adjustments become crucial — preventing displays from blazing at full intensity during early evening hours, which can disrupt your neighboring community.
- Ongoing Support and Maintenance: With our managed care services, we proactively monitor and maintain your signage, addressing potential issues before they impact your business.
Don't Be Left in the Dark
As daylight saving time approaches, take a moment to review your outdoor signage strategy. Are you prepared for the earlier evenings? Will your sign draw customers in or leave them in the dark?
At Gable, we’re committed to illuminating your brand, regardless of season. Contact us today to learn how we can keep your signage shining bright all year long.
About Gable
Gable has been a leader in visual communications for over 40 years. We are passionate about elevating how people perceive, interact with, and remember brands, buildings, and places. With a rich legacy in blending the timeless artistry of traditional signs with the dynamic possibilities of video displays & integrated AV systems, Gable continues to shape the future of visual communications. For more information, visit www.gablecompany.com or call 800-854-0568.
