A Leopard and Shark are Let Loose on Golf Course

In Bloomington, Minnesota, there was a bit of a stir at a local Chamber golf tournament, when a leopard and shark were let loose on the golf course!

The culprits were Sue White and her Bloomington FASTSIGNS® team. They created the leopard and shark by wrapping two golf carts with bright vinyl.

Used as range shuttles throughout the golf tournament, the attention-getting creatures made quite the impression on tournament attendees.

Vehicle graphics can actually add up to 600 visual impressions for every mile driven – that’s a lot of eyeballs. From full vehicle graphic wraps that completely cover an automobile, to smaller, temporary vehicle magnets, there are endless options when it comes to the types of vehicle graphics available.

These golf carts, wrapped by Sue and her team, were quickly and easily restored to their former state upon the conclusion of the tournament by simply having the vinyl removed. However, the carts have never achieved quite the same level of golf course excitement since.

What Are Your Signs Saying…Really?

A FASTSIGNS^® owner in Texas spotted this post and panel sign in front of a restaurant, advertising it’s prices. Take a look:

Hopefully you noticed that the word “Height” is misspelled. Secondly, you may have wondered what exactly they meant about a kid’s height. If your first impression was the same as mine and many others, then you thought, “How do they serve these children, grilled or fried?!”

 Signs like these force us to again ask our favorite question: What are your signs saying about you?

Banners of Gratitude for U.S. Troops and Families

Two weeks ago Americans celebrated Memorial Day. Many paused and reflected on those who have made sacrifices for their country. For several FASTSIGNS® sign and graphic centers, that day also represented the hope of families who have loved ones serving in the military in a different part of the world who are waiting for their soldier to finally come home.

About two years ago, the FASTSIGNS in Louisville, KY, owned and operated by Doug Mier, has been offering “Welcome Home” banners to these families, at no cost. Each banner is designed in a patriotic manner and customized with the returning soldier’s name. In support of the efforts, a local supplier contacted Mier and donated a roll of banner material to be used especially for this project.

“Just in the last year we have done about a dozen banners,” said Mier. “My team and I really enjoy hearing from the families when they make the requests, because that means that someone is on their way back home.”

Chris Farr who, along with his wife Lisa, own and operate the FASTSIGNS in Conroe, TX, recently began doing the same thing: “It is something that we can do to show our gratitude and it’s certainly the least they deserve.”

When watching a local television news broadcast of a soldier’s homecoming, Wheaton, IL, FASTSIGNS owner Ern Kovacs became inspired in the same way as Mier and Farr. His team customizes the banners with their name and the seal that represents the returning soldier’s specific military branch.

A "Welcome Home" banner created by the Wheaton, IL, FASTSIGNS.

“There were dozens of people surrounding the front door to welcome their loved one home and I realized there wasn’t a banner anywhere to be seen,” explained Kovacs. “Banners and signs are what I do—making sure that a family has one to welcome their soldier home seemed like a no-brainer.”

They say action speaks louder than words. In many instances it says so much more than we ever could with words. By making and providing these “Welcome Home” banners at no charge, these FASTSIGNS teams are able to combine their passions and silently extend their gratitude to strangers who they feel have made the ultimate sacrifice. Hopefully, in the process, they also made a soldier’s homecoming that much more special.

UK Business Woman Shows Signs of Positive Thinking

Jenny Boreham, who owns and operates a FASTSIGNS® in Chelmsford (Essex, England), has been pushing through the dreariness of current economic conditions with positive action. Over the last few months she has served as an example of how one person can make a difference for an entire town.

During a local networking meeting, after discussing the credit crunch and its effects on the local business community, Boreham came up with the “Team Essex” idea. The goal is to keep business dollars in Essex by using local suppliers and vendors whenever possible. With the help of other local businesses and organizations, members of Team Essex have begun lobbying the public sector to better achieve these goals.

In other efforts to cast a more positive light, Boreham recently worked alongside the Chelmsford Borough Council Town Centre management team to have large graphics installed on the windows of recently vacated stores. The new graphics display colorful advertisements and reminders of the local shopping and attractions available, in an effort to minimize the negative effect of seeing empty shop windows.

How are you staying positive?

Bumper Stickers Refuse to Participate in the Recession

Everywhere we turn it seems that the news headlines continue to get worse.  The economy is sluggish and now bailout recipients are under scrutiny. Like many of you, I am ready for a change – something POSITIVE. That’s why when I found out what some FASTSIGNS® centers have been doing-or rather, not doing-in response to the recession, I wanted to pass it on.

The FASTSIGNS center in Vancouver, WA, owned by Teresa Kung and Barry Leung, decided to make a serious resolution-they are refusing to participate in the recession.  To motivate others in adopting a similar attitude, this wife and husband business team began printing “Say No to the Recession” bumper stickers in January, and offering them free of charge, to any interested customer.

Anti-Recession bumoer stickers made at Vancouver FASTSIGNS.

Kim Gilpin and his FASTSIGNS center in Grand Rapids, MI, are doing something similar. They have been printing bumper stickers that read: “Be Positive. Refuse to participate in the Recession,” and passing them out to friends, family members and customers.

"Be Positive" bumper stickers from Grand Rapids FASTSIGNS.

While each FASTSIGNS team doesn’t take credit for coming up with the motto, they do believe in it very strongly. “This isn’t about promoting our name; it is about encouraging people to see past all the negative media and take steps toward turning our economy around,” explained Gilpin.

The goal for each was to create positive thinking and encourage a united front within their local communities. Both say the feedback they have received so far has been all positive. Who knew? Something as simple as a bumper sticker can actually have a positive effect, even in these trying times. It just goes to show, change has to begin somewhere, regardless of how small it may seem.

Send us a comment about what you are doing to stay positive!

Signs Carry Messages to More People Per Dollar Invested

Times are tough and we are all trying to save money where we can.  Signs, because of their relatively low cost, long life, and 24-hour-a-day work ethic, can carry a marketing message to more people per dollar invested than almost any other medium.  Signs can generate hundreds – and even thousands of impressions per day for months or years at a time!  Depending on your type of business and the type of signs you use, a sign could potentially pay for itself with the first few customers it attracts.

Want to improve your advertising with signs while watching your expenses?  Signs are especially valuable to businesses that cannot afford to mount major advertising campaigns like large national corporations. Regardless of the economic situation or company size, signs help consumers remember your business’s location and offerings, prompt purchases, change purchase decisions and build brand equity.

Advertising during a slow economy can create a competitive advantage. In these tough times, consider the many signage options available, which are cost-effective and easily changeable. Studies show by rotating among several designs, you can keep your message fresh and your customers attentive.

Consider signs like these:

Custom banners Banner stands / exhibits Labels and decals Vehicle graphics Site signs

Point of purchase posters Window, floor and ceiling graphics Backlit displays Yard signs

How has your sign buying changed during these tough economic times?  We are interested in hearing from you.  We, at FASTSIGNS® want to understand your sign needs and we want to help you with your advertising efforts.  Share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Use Dynamic Digital Signage and watch your advertising come to life

When I was visiting my Doctor’s office I began watching what looks like a TV screen.  The information shown on the screen was about various procedures performed at the office.  By the time I had finished watching, I was convinced that maybe botox was in my future and perhaps I should consider a microdermabrasion treatment.  These digital signs have great impact because they can tell a complete story about a product or service you are offering.  These signs can be updated and changed as needed.

Until recently, Dynamic Digital Signage (DDS) has mostly been used by large corporations and locations such as airports, museums and shopping centers.  Now, FASTSIGNS® is bringing the DDS technology to the every day sign buyer.  The growth rate of DDS is expected increase and we at FASTSIGNS® have the technology to assist you any business with Dynamic Digital Signage. So whether you are responsible for purchasing and planning signage for a large corporation, several businesses or a single office you may want to consider digital technology.  Read more about  Digital Signage in this article from the Digital Signage Magazine.

Want to learn more about Dynamic Digital Signage?

How do People Learn About Your Business?

All of  my life I have been a sign reader.  I used to read signs out loud throughout town and in those early years it was really just about learning to read.  As I got older, those signs became informational tools and that was how I learned about new businesses and services in my community.

When my children got older I found myself encouraging them to look at signs around us so they could research theses businesses as a potential employer.  Apparently, I’m not alone!  According to a survey results posted by the US Chamber of  Commerce,  50% of those surveyed learned about a business from their on-premise sign.   2,475 shoppers were asked how they learn about a business.   Visit the uschamber.com/sb article and learn more about Signage: Your Voice on the Street.

Here are the results of that survey. 

How do people learn about a business?

 

How Have You Used Signs to Motivate?

During the month of November a large, cute and cuddly (yes, cuddly) banner appeared on a wall at FASTSIGNS® corporate headquarters, located in Carrollton, Texas. The banner had a teddy bear sitting next to a thermometer.  Why? To encourage employees to donate a teddy bear and watch the red “mercury” (translated:  red vinyl) within the banner’s thermometer to continually rise. The eventual goal was to collect 200 teddy bears for the Carrollton Fire and Police Departments.

Slowly, bears began to trickle in and made their way into the awaiting boxes next to the banner. As the vinyl mercury rose on the banner, so too did the number of bears being brought in by employees for donation. An internal department contest for who could donate the most bears helped surpass the goal within the first two weeks of the program. In fact, the thermometer gauge on the banner had to be “recalibrated” to handle the incoming stream of bears. Thanks to the motivation of a simple, colorful banner that was checked daily by employees, a little internal competition and a desire to provide bears to kids, over 700 teddy bears were donated, all ready to find good homes with local children.

Over 700 Teddy Bears donated by FASTSIGNS® Corporate employees.

700+ teddy bears ready to find homes with local children.

Members of the Carrollton Fire and Police Department came out to thank employees at FASTSIGNS® Corporate.

Boxes to Go – Sign Placement

There is a place in Dallas, TX just off of Hwy 75 where there is a Casket Store with a sign that reads Casket Store and right next to it is a restaurant with a sign that reads Boxes to Go.  The first time I passed by this area, I couldn’t help but laugh.  The placement of those two signs next to each other deserves a spot on Jay Leno.

Boxes to go and Casket Store

Those two signs, side by side, certainly got my attention.  So, let’s talk about more common methods of drawing attention to your signs.

Banners are an inexpensive way to keep your marketing fresh.  Changing out your banner monthly can draw attention to the specials and services you are providing.  How many times have you driven the same route every day?  You typically become so familiar with the scenery, you probably don’t notice all of the signs you pass by, but when there is a change, such as a new banner, you will probably take notice.  Consider talking with a sign expert at a FASTSIGNS® center near you for other ideas on how to make your business signs more noticeable.

That is my sign tip for today.  Have you seen any funny sign placements out there?  If so, feel free to share here by posting a comment.