Just like awnings and canopies come in all shapes and sizes and levels of quality, awning companies can vary tremendously as well. There’s no question you can get your perfect commercial awning, but you have to approach the process properly. The most important thing you can do is carefully select among awning companies to find the best fit for your project.
That’s true whether you already have something in mind or you need some help creating a vision for your awning as well as getting it built and installed.
A commercial awning is not a frivolous extra, it’s an integral part of your business. It establishes a visual presence, helping people find your place of business and creating a first impression for potential customers. It has functional value to create shade, protect pedestrians and patrons from rain and snow and create outdoor rooms where you can conduct business or entertain guests.
As you’re considering awning companies, you’ll want to keep all these opportunities in mind. The following three tips will help you evaluate awning companies. They’ll also give you a good idea of the kinds of specific questions you’ll want to ask your candidates.
1. Be prepared.
Doing your homework is an essential first step in making any business decision. You don’t need to become an expert on awnings, because you’re going to consult with one. But learning about the basics and thinking about what you expect to accomplish with your commercial awning will allow you to have the most intelligent and creative discussion with your awning pro.
So look around, to get a better feel for what business awnings look like and how they work on behalf of the business. Take notes, and take pictures. Go online to look for more images of commercial awnings and save the ones you like best to create a reference file.
And ask around, not only to get more ideas but also to get referrals for awning companies. Good looks matter, but you want an awning that delivers reliable performance and structural integrity. Great advice and top quality start with a company you feel comfortable with. Someone you trust.
2. Keep an open mind.
Even if you have very specific ideas already in hand – a mental picture or even a sketch of how you want your commercial awning to look, or some type of written specifications from a franchise or other corporate office – you should ask awning companies for their recommendations.
It’s their business to know what works, what looks good, what will last. They also know what won’t work, what will look out of place or what isn’t likely to hold up under your specific physical conditions. Factors such as the weather, your orientation to the sun, whether you’re on the water or an extra-grimy high-traffic thoroughfare, even the size and weight of your awning, all affect your awning’s performance.
You want to take advantage of all the knowledge and experience local awning companies have to offer. Otherwise you could just look up awning companies online and order some stock product sign unseen. But there’s too much at stake to do that. Custom-tailored design and production of your commercial awning will ensure the greatest return for your business.
3. Demand the best.
The better the company you work with, the better your results will be. So look for top-rated, well-established awning companies that have experience creating commercial awnings like yours, one that can handle everything from initial renderings and structural design through manufacture and installation.
Focus on awning companies that have a showroom, so you can check out potential fabrics first-hand. Ask about fabric and framing warranties to assure you’re getting top quality throughout. And on the design side, ask to see prior work from their graphic design department, because while you want an awning that will last, it has to look absolutely terrific every day for years to come.
