If you’ve ever driven down a country road with your grandparents, you might have heard them talk about the Burma-Shave signs. Starting in the 1920s, a small shaving cream company revolutionized advertising by placing sequences of witty rhyming signs along highways. Each line of the jingle was revealed one sign at a time, leading drivers toward a chuckle and, ultimately, the Burma-Shave brand name.
These roadside ads became iconic. They were simple, clever, and impossible to miss—drivers looked forward to the next line, and entire families would recite the verses together. Burma-Shave proved that signs aren’t just directions or labels—they’re a conversation with your audience.Why Signs Still Matter
Nearly 100 years later, the core lesson from Burma-Shave still applies: signs influence behavior. Whether it’s guiding traffic toward a new housing development or helping a business stand out on a crowded street, well-placed, well-designed signs capture attention and drive action.
Signs are often the first impression a customer has of your business. They tell a story—who you are, where you are, and why people should pay attention. Just like Burma-Shave’s roadside poems, today’s signage has the power to connect with people in real, memorable ways. Artisan Direct: Modern Sign Solutions That Work
At Artisan Direct, we carry that tradition forward with a full suite of commercial sign services:
- Directional Signs that guide customers right to your doorstep.
Burma Shave - Awareness Signs that put your brand in front of thousands of drivers every week.
- Installed Signs such as channel letters, window graphics, and vehicle wraps that bring your identity to life across multiple touchpoints.
- Custom Design & Proofing so your signs don’t just inform—they stand out.
We combine old-fashioned marketing wisdom with modern design, technology, and placement strategies. Where Burma-Shave relied on rhyme and humor, we rely on data-driven placement, geolocation verification, and creative design to ensure your signs deliver measurable results.The Takeaway
The Burma-Shave campaign may be a piece of Americana, but the idea behind it is timeless: signs work when they capture attention and make people move. Artisan Direct helps businesses harness that same power today, ensuring that every sign we design and place makes an impact.
Because at the end of the day, signs aren’t just signs—they’re your voice on the street.
To learn more, contact us here.
