17 replies to this topic

[sydenhamcentral]

House of linens is on Sydenham Road next to another What If we did a while ago (not one of our favourite ones admittedly).

We popped in a little while ago to get a few bits and pieces (we are going eco and are now fixing old clothes and buying 'vintage') and met the very friendly owner. He was talking about Billings so we told them about the What if Sydenham Project.

He looked all excited and rushed us outside to look at this sign which he wants to redo. We have been really busy and the few times we have had chance to pop by we haven't seen him in the store. So before we show them what we have come up with I thought it best to get some feedback on this.

If you comment, please say if you use the shop (and if you go in the store please mention it!).

This is the before



But what if:



Due to the restrictions on the amount of images I can place, you will have to visit the blog for the other routes. I've also added some approximate costs for the signs.

Regards

Lee
designedbygoodpeople.com

[sydenhamcentral]

Oops, I uploaded an old one with a typo, apologies!

OPTION 1b


OPTION 2



The rest are on the blog.

[miss emma]

I love this shop! It's one of the few places in the area where you can buy knitting supplies. They have a decent range of yarns plus needles and notions. The shop staff are all lovely and chatty, and their haberdashery knowledge is second to none.

I really like option 1a on the blog. I don't think the shop really needs an awning but that's just my opinion. Really love the colours and lettering of that design.

[sydenhamcentral]

miss emma, on 07 April 2011 - 07:59 PM, said:

I love this shop! It's one of the few places in the area where you can buy knitting supplies. They have a decent range of yarns plus needles and notions. The shop staff are all lovely and chatty, and their haberdashery knowledge is second to none.

I really like option 1a on the blog. I don't think the shop really needs an awning but that's just my opinion. Really love the colours and lettering of that design.

Thanks Emma for your comments. Mention it to them when you pop in next. I met with them today. They are really nice aren't they?

Enjoy the sun!

Lee

[Nanazola]

i used to go here (when I had a car) for knitting supplies and haberdashery bits and bobs. My daughter gets wool from here too, it's loads cheaper than John Lewis, which seems to be the only other shop that sells it. I can vouch for the staff, they are absolutely lovely and keen to help.

Re the designs, I prefer the second one. (I like the idea of the first one but a dotted line is a bit hard to read & inconsequential for a shop sign.)

But does the awning say 'Servicing customers since 93?' That sounds wrong 'Serving customers' sounds a bit nothing, so I'd suggest 'Serving Sydenham since 93'.

Good luck with the proj!

[sydenhamcentral]

Nanazola, on 09 April 2011 - 01:28 PM, said:

i used to go here (when I had a car) for knitting supplies and haberdashery bits and bobs. My daughter gets wool from here too, it's loads cheaper than John Lewis, which seems to be the only other shop that sells it. I can vouch for the staff, they are absolutely lovely and keen to help.

Re the designs, I prefer the second one. (I like the idea of the first one but a dotted line is a bit hard to read & inconsequential for a shop sign.)

But does the awning say 'Servicing customers since 93?' That sounds wrong 'Serving customers' sounds a bit nothing, so I'd suggest 'Serving Sydenham since 93'.

Good luck with the proj!

HI Nanzola,

thanks for the feedback and encouragment. I agree with what you say. I made the copy up and we would draw up the type on the first properly (I agree with you about the legibility, there is a lot of room for improvement). These are all things we would refine later. We were trying to get the look and feel right initially. These are just initial proposals they aren't final signs and they haven't been put in front of planning.

This one has been rather divisive. One person preferred the original sign, it's pretty much evenly split with all the other comments on this forum, the blog, pm's, emails and the Sydenham forum among the different proposals. Some people like awnings, some people don't for lots of different reasons. It's a problem with market research, which this is of sorts, to sort through the comments and work out which ones you agree with and which ones you don't. There is a danger with this sort of approach that it turns into an a version of 'shop front by X Factor'! But it's all good feedback and it's good to get people talking about how shops look in Sydenham which is why we set up the blog in the first place.

All the best

Lee

[Ziwa]

Nanazola, on 09 April 2011 - 01:28 PM, said:

But does the awning say 'Servicing customers since 93?' That sounds wrong 'Serving customers' sounds a bit nothing, so I'd suggest 'Serving Sydenham since 93'.

Where I come from (where spoken English is slightly different from here) 'servicing' is more of an animal husbandry term, if you know what I mean. Ahem. Perhaps not so good for a store selling bed linens?

Heed NanaZ' sense of words - as usual, right on target (though I'm delighted to discover a missing apostrophe in her suggestion! Pedant point to Ziwa!)

[Nanazola]

Ziwa, on 09 April 2011 - 10:56 PM, said:

Heed NanaZ' sense of words - as usual, right on target (though I'm delighted to discover a missing apostrophe in her suggestion! Pedant point to Ziwa!)

Well if we're being pedantic Zee, I was using online shorthand for '1993', and um shouldn't that be NanaZ's sense of words?

[jbphoto]

Nice to see the fascia back up at the top where it belongs. Its a shame so many shopfronts were shortened with lower fascias installed and suspended ceilings inside. I'm sure some of these must be concealing some lovely decorated period ceilings.

[sydenhamcentral]

Yes JB, it's true. THere must be lots of shops with hidden original features. We were lucky enough to get to see Mustis (CLICK HERE TO VIEW WHAT IF no9) just after the fire damage. The suspended ceiling had been partially removed as had some false internal walls. The original ceiling roses and wall panels were on view for the first time in years, as was the original wooden parquet floor that showed the original shop front outline.

It was recovered up and the wooden floor was covered in cement.

I can't understand why so many shops want to make them feel smaller by lowering ceilings and ripping out original features. It's not like it's cheap either!

[belle]

If you hadn't done this I'd never have known they sold so much wool -- and proper wool it is too!

I mentioned your redesign to them when I went in. They seemed a bit bemused but they were definitely interested in seeing them!

sydenhamcentral, on 01 May 2011 - 10:05 AM, said:

It was recovered up and the wooden floor was covered in cement.

That makes me feel a bit sick.

[sydenhamcentral]

They have seen the designs Belle, although I've only had discussions with the guy who runs it. I'd have hoped he would have shared them with the other staff.

Which one do you prefer?

[filmbuffy]

1B definetly. makes it look very lordship lane. havent been to this store but they may need to redo the layout inside to match the outside.
so what happens with what if's.... do you suggest to shop? has anyone taken the ideas up?

...is it just sydenham you do... how about doing some norwood signage. definetly needed.

Edited by filmbuffy, 04 June 2011 - 04:38 PM.

[Darcy]

Definitely 1B...

[belle]

1B though I'd say neither of the designs are your best work. I think the blue is great, but not sold on the typeface. But I'm just being picky -- either design is acres better than the current one! I love your Billings frontage. V. nice!

I hope