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Sign Depot Business Client Spotlight – The Bauer Kitchen’s Amandah Wood

Get To Know Amandah Wood

1. Amandah can you tell us about your role at The Bauer Kitchen?

As New Media Culturalist for the Charcoal Group, I manage The Bauer Kitchen’s online community through their Twitter account @thebauerkitchen and their Facebook page. In addition I was brought on to update the overall online presence of TBK, by developing a new website, that functions on every device and represents the TBK brand more effectively. The new site reflects TBK’s upbeat, soho image and allows guests to make reservations, browse food and drink menus and check out upcoming events. I love being able to interact with TBK’s guests online everyday, the restaurant has a vibrant community and loyal regulars which makes my job really rewarding.

2.       What drew you to this role?

I was originally recommended to Jody Palubiski (Managing Partner of the Charcoal Group) and Cindy Perri (Brand Guardian) by a friend on Twitter who had been following the stuff I had been working on during my Bachelor’s degree. I reached out to Jody and Cindy and we discussed how my experience might make me the kind of person they were looking for. I was about to graduate from the New Media program at Ryerson University and was overjoyed at the possibility of working for a group that had been such a huge part of my life growing up in Kitchener-Waterloo region. Time and again the group has proved not only their excellence in service and food but they truly believe in supporting local, and hand crafting every possible element of the dining experience. They also embrace new technology and innovation and try to think outside of the box. I knew I would have no trouble representing a restaurant that aligned so perfectly with things I care so deeply about. This is what really drew me to the role.

3.       The restaurant industry has a lot of competition.  What do you do to make sure that The Bauer Kitchen stands out? 

The short answer to this is that the incredible team at TBK makes it easy. Conrad and his team are consistent when it comes to attention to detail, positivity, and passionate service. Chef Brian leads a culinary team as equally passionate in their craft and supporting the local food community surrounding them.

I believe this is what keeps people coming back.In terms of online I work hard to make sure our online presence reflects that of our restaurant. When someone tweets us, has praise, concern, or simply checks in on Foursquare when they visit, we reach out to them to thank them for coming. It’s also very important that we let the community see the ‘human’ side of the brand, that we are local individuals and real people just like them. Society also loves to share photos of their food and TBK guests are no different. There are hundreds of photos on Instagram from our guests enjoying cocktails, food and time with friends. We share these photos on our website and social feeds because guests enjoy seeing real people’s experiences. I work with two very talented designers who hand craft every design element on the website, our social materials and branding overall. They’re the ones who make everything look fantastic and maintain the TBK brand. TBK walks the walk the brand has so much to say and so much depth in character. It’s really because of the people who build it, and I just do my best to make sure we’re telling those stories.

4.       What do you think are some of the deciding factors that keep customers coming back to The Bauer Kitchen?

Consistency & passion. Business folks bring their clients for meetings because they know they’ll get the same great experience every time. Friends come back because they love the diverse selection of cocktails and the upbeat environment that makes it ideal for socializing. Wine lovers know they’ll always find something they like as our sommelier Jake keeps the extensive wine list ever changing and of course the delicious, delicious food. Together, this team exudes this passion that all of the Charcoal Group restaurants have, and that, is truly magnetic.

5.       How do you attract new clientele to the establishment?

By always thinking two-steps ahead. We use technology to our advantage. the maegan™ platform is a good example of this by introducing new ways for a guest to use the restaurant experience. We are always asking ourselves “what’s next?”.We also love socializing events like Cinq a Sept, that reflect the casual and social nature of The Bauer Kitchen and the community surrounding it. Every Thursday between 5pm to 7pm we encourage people to join us around the bar for drinks and good conversation, we also provide complimentary appetizers that offer a sample of our menu.  Teaming up with other local businesses is such a great way to build connections and introduce us to new markets. For example, using local suppliers like the Bauer Butcher and Caudle’s Catch on our menus, Promotional Elements for parts of our employee’s uniforms and retail program in the Bakery, Sign Depot for signage needs, local contractors for architectural elements, offer in restaurant promotion like our last one with Goliger’s travel, Centre in the Square and Spike Mobile for additional promotions, and supporting local arts and technology (ie. maegan and Communitech) in events. That’s just a few off the top of my head, there’s too many to mention but we are always interested in connections.Mostly we reach out into the community and leverage word of mouth via regular guests and those who have enjoyed their experiences in the past.

Custom Business Signs – Representation With Rebranding

Robins Goldsmithing Waterloo Ontario

When Robins Goldsmithing decided to open a Waterloo location they choose to rebrand with a new custom business sign.  The new modern sign was created to be bright and stylish to fit well with Uptown Waterloo.

Coming Soon Signs

They took advantage of the construction time by covering up the renovations with coming soon signs in the windows (see below).  The signs were teasers of what passers-by could expect to find in the new store once they finished the interior.  Coming soon signs help to build buzz about a brand and get people talking about what is to come.

Creating A Custom Exterior Sign

A custom exterior business sign must create a focal point for an establishment.  It is the first impression of a business and Robins Goldsmithing wanted to create a statement with their outdoor sign.  Individual letters were created and given a custom finish highlighting the letter o in both Robins and Goldsmithing.  This was achieved by painting the o’s in a bright yellow to stand out from the remaining letters that were finished in black.  These letters were pin mounted to white backer which would be attached to the building

24 Hour Advertising

Robins Goldsmithing knows that their new custom business sign will provide a 24 hour advertisment for their company and wanted to ensure it was visable at any time of the day.  The sign was halo lit with outdoor LEDs that provide a warm white glow around the business name.  LEDs are long lasting and energy efficient which makes them a great choice for business signage. Lit signs also increase the findabilty of your business which is something very important to consider when you want customers to find your new location.

As you can see the store was all set for opening in time for the busy Valentine’s season.  If you’re in Waterloo Ontario, be sure to stop in and see all they have to offer.  Want any more information about the sign techniques used in the Robins Goldsmithing sign package? Send us tweet and we’ll do our best to answer you inquiry.

Cupcakes, Custom Signs And Community Involvement

Creating A 3 Dimensional Store Front Sign For Cristina’s Tortina Shop

When we were first contacted by Cristina’s Tortina Shop to make a 3 dimensional sign for their cupcake business we were thrilled.  This cupcake shop knows what it means to create a community.  See what we mean by viewing the Global News Showcasing Capabilities spot about Cristina’s Tortina Shop in Brampton Ontario.

Update – City News has also done a segment

 

Finding Ways To Stand Out In The Community

As you can see this cupcake shop is great place to stop in and grab a treat, but it is also creating community awareness about the capabilities of individuals. Being a very unique spot, they wanted an out of the ordinary look for their exterior business sign. Creating a custom sign that qualified for a sign permit under the Brampton sign regulation by-laws was a challenge that the sign experts here at The Sign Depot were willing to tackle to accomodate the client’s request.

The final decision was to create a 3 dimensional sign that would suit the business and the surroundings. The sign needed to stand out, but not be viewed as an eye-sore. It was customized with vinyl graphics with the store name and logo affixed to the LED illuminated sign.

The end result is a sign that reflects the heart-warming cupcake business and provides the owner with a way to stand out from the surroundings.

If you find yourself in Brampton Ontario, we suggest you stop by Cristina’s Tortina Shop. The atmosphere is wonderful and cupcakes delicious! How do we know that the cupcakes taste so great? Let’s just say we’ve sampled the goods from Cristina’s Tortina Shop

Community Involvement Where You Live

Are you involved in creating a better community? We would love to hear your story of community involvement.  Leave a comment and link below and we will be sure to check it out!

3 Dimensional Signs – How Street Signs Can Increase Business

Sometimes It’s Helpful To Throw A Wrench In Your Plans

Here on Borden Ave in Kitchener Ontario we get a lot of drive-by traffic.  Finding ways to capture the attention of passers-by can prove to be difficult for some businesses.  We often suggest that you walk across the street from your business and take a look at your building’s exterior.  Do you think the company storefront will stand out to those passing by at 50 km/h?

When Integraflift moved into our neighbourhood last year, they encountered this problem and the solution involved throwing a wrench in their plans.

3 Dimensional Sign Displayed For All To See

The idea for the Integralift sign was to highlight all of the services they provide.  Everything from forklift sales, to automobile repair. The signage package included two exterior business signs with the company’s contact information and the services they have.  In addition to the exterior signs, a 3 Dimensional sign was added to the mix. Using High Density Urethane (a signfoam often referred to as HDU), the sign experts here at The Sign Depot created a oversized wrench. This scupltural projection sign was created to grab the attention of the passing traffic, and serve as a landmark sign for the business.

The Best Business Signs Make An Impact

When the project was completed and installed Dennis, the owner of Integralift, let us know that the new signs made quite an impact.  He received new business from people who thought they had just opened and had no idea that Integralift had been there for a year already.

Here at The Sign Depot we encourage our clients to think of their custom signs as an investment in their company.  They are a 24 hour advertisment for your business and a display of what your company represents.  These are things to think about when budgeting for your signage upgrades and branding designs.

Finding ways to show off your company’s assets through signage is something we excel at.  For more information on how street signs can increase business awareness and 3 dimensional signs, be sure to visit our Contact Us Page or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Sign Depot Business Client Spolight – Stephanie Tanner Of Little Mushroom Catering

Get To Know Stephanie Tanner

1.       Steph can you tell us what made you decide to get into the catering business?

Since I was a young teen I was often in the kitchen cooking for my family. My first job outside of babysitting was at a local restaurant called La Costa. I started out as the hostess, then learned other positions in the restaurant including some fun shifts in the kitchen prepping meat, making salads, and plating desserts. I worked in restaurants all through highschool and both of my University degrees, on my road to becoming a high school teacher. When I moved back to town with my first child only a year old I wasn’t so sure that teaching was the right field for me. I started working in the restaurant in the Centre in the Square and quickly moved up to having more responsibilities there, including managing our off-site catering functions. I had worked in catering businesses before and loved going into people’s homes for cocktail parties, or setting up party stations at larger events. When the restaurant eventually closed, I was left with a decision to make. Did I go back to teaching? Did I start on the bottom rung at another local restaurant? Or did I create my own job? It was time for me to venture into business ownership doing what I love to do – making people happy with great food & friendly service.  

2.       The catering industry has a lot of competition.  What makes your company unique?

I have several food sensitivities including nuts and shellfish. Many people have called me out as the pickiest cook they know because I can’t stand mushrooms (Ironic, I know!) and would never order a steak.  At Little Mushroom we take allergies, food sensitivities and even “particularness” into consideration when planning menus to make sure that there is something for everyone at the event. We also offer full-service catering for everything from breakfast meetings to business lunches, cocktail events to wedding receptions and even funerals. A lot of places in town just offer drop offs of sandwich platters but go beyond with our friendly knowledgeable staff and delicious local fare.

3.       How do new clients find Little Mushroom Catering?

We are active on social media @CateringFungi on Twitter, you can connect with me on LinkedIn and you can Like us on Facebook. You can find all our menus on-line at www.littlemushroomcatering.ca or call us at 226-929-7927.  We also have a consultation & tasting room at 32 Ontario Street if you’d like to pop in to say hello.  

4.       Can you tell us a bit about your new location?

I recently purchased Nom Nom Treats, a cookie company that puts your logo on edible swag for tradeshows, client appreciation events, or just to have out for people at the office.  The bakery for Nom Nom is located in the back half of the storefront at 32 Ontario Street.  I’m happy to now have office space and a place to meet with clients in the front half that isn’t surrounded by our fridges and stoves at our prep kitchen on Whitney Place.

5.       Do you have one kitchen tip that you can share?

Here’s a tip for life that definitely translates to the kitchen: be aware of your surroundings – for safety actually in the kitchen, but also in regards to what is available locally.

6.       How do you see your role changing in the coming years?

I’ve recently been stepping away from the kitchen and leaving things in the capable hands of my full-time chefs & baker. Instead my focus is on client relations and experience. I have a wonderful new business development coordinator and an event coordinator who also help keep the train on the track for me so I can focus on the tasks of a business owner & ensuring my clients have the best experience possible.

What Story Is Your Brand Telling? Is It A Sign Of Community Involvement?

Signs That Your Brand’s Community Is Looking For The Story

It has been almost two years since Budweiser created an impact through community involvement. By speaking to their community’s love of hockey through the 2012 Super Bowl commercial, they let their audience know they understand community spirit and comradery.  Since then many brands have began to realize that it’s their stories that resonate with their audience.  New messaging has become about emotional intelligence and brand images instead of the “buy now” ads of the past. Consumers are purchasing from brands they trust and are looking to see how companies understand their needs.

Duracell’s latest ad is great example of this. Duracell makes hearing aid batteries, but at no point is it mentioned in the ad

Duracell chose to let Derrick’s story take the forefront, ending the ad with their brand image.  To many, a logo is just a way to represent a company, but brands know that images provide a respresentation for reputation of their business. They are what make businesses easy to recognize.  Being memorable is the best way to stand out in your industry.

So What’s Your Story?

What does your company do to get involved in the community? Those are the stories that your audience is looking for.  Perhaps you sponsor an event or are involved in community awareness campaign. By making the world a better place you are letting your community know you are eager to be involved in what is important to them.  That is what makes you stand out.

Refresh Your Brand And Make An Impact

If you’re not sure how to involve storytelling into your brand messaging start with your company image.  Does it make an impact? Does it stand out from others in the industry? Is it good representation of what your company stands for? If not, it may be time to refresh your brand. Rebranding your company’s image to align with your new messaging can change the way consumers see your business.   For ideas on designing a new brand image be sure to check out our post on artistic sign design and start the new year off right.

Creating Custom 3 Dimensional Signs For The Next Big Thing – Thalmic Labs

Getting Geared Up

If you are following the #CES2014 twitter feed you’ll see that wearable tech gear is all the rage at this year’s event. While this may be big news out of town, here in Kitchener Ontario, Thalmic Labs makers of the MYO armband have made another big move in the marketplace by moving from the VeloCity Garage into a retrofitted building.  This is making the tech gear company big news both North and South of the boarder.

Diving Into 3 Dimensional Signs

When you think of digital companies, you imagine the next piece of software that is coming to a screen near you.  Thalmic Labs is taking your digital experience and adding dimension.  Their MYO gesture control armband stands out from the typical tech gear by incorporating their users’ movements into the mix.  They are standing out as the next big thing in modern gear and they wanted their custom exterior sign to stand out too.  Below is a step by step look of how their custom 3 dimensional sign was created using High Density Urethane, LEDs and a Custom Paint finish.

To begin the process High Density Urethane (HDU) was CNC Router Cut into the shape of the Thalmic symbol.

The logo pieces were primed and given a custom finish durable enough to endure our ever changing weather conditions.

The HDU pieces were wired with LEDs and then enclosed with an acrylic piece

Make A Statement

3 dimensional signs give companies a way to add impact to their branding. The make a statement without becoming an eye-sore. As you can see in the image from Thalmic Lab’s blog their exterior sign is standing up to our Canadian winter. This gives them ability to stand out from the surroundings and brand their new location.

For additional photos see our gallery below. We’re gearing up for 2014 in a big way! Let us know how your business is getting in gear for 2014. Leave a comment, send us a tweet, or post on our facebook page. We appreciate the gesture.

Custom Wood Signs Created To Weather The Outdoors

When The Weather Outside Is Frightful, Your Custom Wood Sign Can Still Be Delightful

Depending on where you live you may see a lot of ice in your community.  The wintery scenes we are seeing all over the internet made us pause for a moment to see just how wonderful a winter wonderland can look.  Being purveryors of custom wood signs we took a look at how our wood signs stood up to the icy elements over the last few days.

Here’s a close up look at our address sign.

As you can see it the ice ads an extra layer of texture to our dimensional letters on the wood sign.  Once the ice is melted the sign will still be in great condition, as it was given an outdoor finish meant to stand up to changing weather conditions.  Knowing what your custom sign will look in all kinds of weather is another way for your sign to stand out from its surroundings.

Glisten And Shine

Another outdoor finish the sign making experts here at The Sign Depot like to use is gold leaf.  As you can see in the image below, the gold leaf finish on the sandblasted cedar sign still shines through despite the frost buildup and lack of sunshine.

Infact the layer of ice makes the gold leaf glisten.  This sign has been outdoors for several years but is still in great shape.  Custom cedar signs are made to withstand the elements and are a great choice if you are looking for a sign with longevity. Finding what works best for the conditions your sign will face is our specialty. Feel free to visit our Contact Us page for more information and be sure to leave a comment on how your outdoor space looks during these icy days!

Business Branding With Signs – Why 2014 Will Be All About Brand Trust

Focus On Branding

In earlier posts we have discussed business branding and why focusing on branding better is so important to your business. Finding ways to make a visual impact with a custom sign to match your branding, adds to your company brand recognition, as well as brand trust.

You’ve Built Your Brand – Now What?

Remember your branding needs to be a representation of what your company stands for and how your clients feel about your business.  Use the quick checklist below to see which terminolgy best represents your brand.

 You can read more about this on our blog post about showing your best attributes.

Now that you have a grasp of how to best represent your brand, you need to ensure your company reflects that image.  You want your business to stand out among your competition by ensuring you are the best of the best. When you always strive to be at the top of your industry, you are building trust with your clients.  Brand trust helps increase the word of mouth advertising about your company.  Here are four focus points that can get others talking about your brand.

1. Quality – Everyone wants a well made product
2. Service – Taking the extra step to exceed expectations
3. Sourcing – They may come to you for additional projects that were not part of their orginal inquiry
4. B2B Relationships – Happy clients are sure to refer your company to others

While these may not be the top points for all companies and services, they are ones the expert sign makers at The Sign Depot focus on.  Well made custom signs that exceed our clients expectations. Full branding from exterior signs, interior wayfinding, vehicle decals and window graphics make it easy for our clients to refer us to their colleagues.

How Will You Improve Your Branding In 2014?  We want to hear about the steps you plan to take in the new year.  Leave us comment, send us tweet or update us on facebook with your branding ideas for 2014

     

Great Custom Signs Get To Share The Spotlight

Creating A Custom Sign For A Vintage Landmark

It’s hard to believe that 2 years have already gone by from when we created the custom sign for the exterior of Gusto101 in Toronto. The Going For The Gusto post was a step by step look at how the sign was created and given a custom faux rust finish to match the vintage building it where it would be situated, but there is much more to the story of Gusto101.

Adding To The Atmosphere

When it comes to custom restaurant signs we know that signage plays a big part in creating an atmosphere around a location from the exterior of the building to the architectural interior. Gusto101 took it one step further and made their vintage look sign part of their brand.  They choose to celebrate the former car garage location and keep reminders of days gone by while adding modern day touches like a retractable patio roof. The mix of traditional vs modern works in there favour and they chose to celebrate their unique establishment with a video.

I’m sure you can see why we really like this video.  Seeing the Gusto101 sign go from day to night gives a great representation of how important your custom sign is.  It is a 24 hour advertisment for your business and it can elevate your company’s brand.

Finding The Right Fit

When it comes to finding the right sign to fit both your business and your budget , our professional sign makers can assist you with several choices to streamline the sign design, permit, manufacturing and installation processes.  Being a full service sign shop our sign experts can suggest ways to customize the look of your sign and give it the unique style your business deserves.  Be sure to visit our Contact Us page to request your quote for your own custom crafted sign.