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No Comments Custom Vehicle Graphics Are Not Just For Cars
Promotional Graphics For A Custom Food Festival Vehicle
Is your promotional vehicle giving your brand all the credit it deserves? David from Bread Heads decided very quickly that his Wood Fired Pizza Trailer needed to be branded better. He was already creating a lot of buzz at outdoor festivals with his unique trailer but quickly realized that highway travelers were taking a second look as he was towing it to or from the festival site.
Big Branding Design Decisions
David came to The Sign Depot for assistance in branding his promotional vehicle as well as his company Bread Heads. Without having a true logo for his business, Adam (Sign Depot Designer) was able to come up with a concept that would work as vehicle graphics and transfer well into custom business signage for David.
A Fully Customized Festival Vehicle
When we say fully customized we mean it featured custom designed vinyl vehicle decals and a custom paint finish achieved by Ben otherwise know as our Vinyl Master.
With the large white decal text on the red vehicle the info stands out very well.
For the upper part of the vehicle a vinyl stencil was layed down and painted over to use the negative space as a way to highlight the designed logo.
Following?
Are you following them on the road or following them on twitter? Either way the info relayed on this promotional vehicle will help you find out where Bread Heads is heading to next.
Having a clear message that can be relayed through signs gives passers-by a way to contact or connect with your business. If you wish to connect with us, leave a comment below, follow us on twitter or post on our facebook page.
Thanks to The Sign Depot for doing a great job on the trailer! Look for us on the road to Simcoe tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/evAO6iYf9d
— Bread Heads (@heybreadheads) August 22, 2013
We would love to help you with your vehicle graphics whether it be for one car, or a fleet of busineess vehicles. We think you’ll be happy with the results too!
Custom Historical Site Signs And Wayfinding Signage
Signs For Historic Sites
Last month we asked our online audience what Historic Sites they enjoy visiting. It was a varied list including Pioneer Villages, Military Reenactement Sites, Historic Ruins, Heritage Buildings and Natural Wonders. Many of these places welcome visitors from all over the world, and how do they welcome them? With custom signs that are created to reflect the history of the site.
Custom Crafted Signs Made To Be Memorable
When the expert custom sign makers here at The Sign Depot are creating a sign for a historic site they consider these factors
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Visibility
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Close traffic areas
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Brand recognition
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Surrondings
With these four ideas in mind a custom sign can show off what the historic site wishes to convey to their visitors. With just a glance, guests get a good idea of what to expect from the site because of the traditional sign out front. Visibility is key to ensure that the sign is placed in the proper position. If you factor in the traffic near by you will know if it is predominantly drive by or walk up traffic (and sometimes it is both). Brand recognition come is the form of text, graphics, logo and colour choice and finally considering the surrounding area lets the sign designer know how to make the sign stand out but not look out of place. In addition to conveying a message to passersby, the custom sign also provides wayfinding for the historic site. You can learn more about the importance of wayfinding on our post about findability and wayfinding signs.
Let us know about some of the historic sites that you have visited recently and if you have pictures with their landmark signs we would love to see those too!
Custom City Signs Reflect An Area’s Best Attributes
City Branding and Custom Signs
This week I noticed a lively conversation on facebook regarding City Signs. The conversation began with Chris Farais of Kitestring‘s status about Hamilton Ontario and the CBC Post about City Signs. The CBC Show Me A Sign post talks about one person’s plight to have a Welcome sign created for Hamilton. Chris, being a strategic branding brings, up the question about what would best represent Hamilton Ontario on a city welcome sign? Should it reflect the historic attractions of the city or highlight things to come.
Our answer would be a long one which is what inspired me to write this post about custom signs in regards to welcome signs for communities and attractions.
Over the years we have created many custom signs for cities, attractions and heritage sites. Each one is very unique as the location itself. It serves the purpose of wayfinding but also foreshadows what people can expect from the locale. The graphics, text, font and choice of colours indicate what the sign is representing and in turn becomes a reflection of the site. In other words it serves as a first impression for that area’s brand.
Custom Sign Creations
The Clappinson Corner sign features a wagon wheel with spokes representing all the different areas that converge on one hub which is a reflection of their historic geographical area.
Tillsonburg’s Downtown combination of custom cedar and digital signage serves as an information centre while letting passersby know about the architecture of the area. This gives it both a traditional and modern feel.
Quinte West chose to focus their custom sign around their natural areas and that it why it is framed with log posts
New Dundee Ontario chose to mark the Doug Fischer Park with landmark sign that includes donor recognition
The Welcome To Dundas sign features the establishment of the area while not intruding on the surroundings, but instead complementing the garden where it resides.
While the Puslinch sign was created as a very tall pylon sign to capture the attention of the highway traffic and let them know about the local area.
As you can see there are several options when it comes to creating custom city signs. The city signs vaired by location, sign permit regulations and industrial locates. They are highly visiable without becoming an eye sore for the area. It is important to think about the surroundings when you decide on a permanent location for custom created sign. A great background can bring a sign to the forefront and be a great addition to a community.
Thanks to Chris for getting this conversation started and getting the residents in Hamilton engaged on the topic of their city signs. We look forward to seeing where this discussion leads.
What are some of your favorite City Signs? Let us know in the comments below or better yet post a picture of it on our facebook page! If we get enough we will dedicate a Pinterest Board to the images that are sent in.Artistic Sign Design – Finding The Font
Find The Font That Fits
There are so many factors when it comes to artistic sign design. Logo colours, graphics and text are all important elements of custom sign creation. With all these variables it is often the choice of font that helps unify the overall look of the sign. When it comes to displaying company names and branding messages it is important to find a font that fits.
Favorite Fonts For Designers
We took to twitter and asked our followers what their favorite fonts are.
What is your favorite #Font ? #design — The Sign Depot Inc (@TheSignDepot) June 26, 2013
As you can tell by typography fan responses there are lots of great fonts to choose from. We were then asked about the favourite fonts of The Sign Depot. Below are choices from our experts in sign design.
Peter’s Picks
Peter is the Owner/President of The Sign Depot Inc. If you come by our workshop many of the signs and artistic sculptures on display were created by Peter.
- Fute Bold
- Garamond
- Snell Bold
Ben’s Picks
Ben is the head of our vinyl department and also goes by the nickname of the Vinyl Master. He know how to best display all your window graphics, vehicle decals, and temporary signage
- Euro
- Flash
- Aura
Adam’s Picks
Adam is our Lead Designer. If you are looking for custom business signs, logo design and/or sign package consultations, Adam is your guy. Watch for upcoming posts about Adam’s design work.
- Geared Slab
- Lobster
- Duke
Custom Wood Sign Trends – Why Barn Board Is Hot In Artistic Sign Design
How Do Trends Start?
By definition a TREND is a general direction in which something is developing or changing. If that is the case then we are trendsetters here at The Sign Depot. We strive to always be unique and innovative when it comes to creating our custom signs. We approach each project individually and look for ways to help our clients get noticed. We have been recognized for the uniqueness of our custom barn board signs by winning Runner Up for Best Business Sign for the Spirithouse sign we created, but the real trend began when barn board started popping up in Kitchener Waterloo. When clients come in with sign concept in mind we work hard to create the vision they have in mind. This was the case with the Death Valley’s Little Brother sign.
Bringing Back Barn Board
When Death Valley’s Little Brother needed a rustic looking wood sign that would catch the eye of passers-by we knew this would be an out of the ordinary custom business sign.
Barn board was used as a backer for the rusted finish individual cut out letters. In order to give a lot of contrast between the wood and the letters the reclaimed barn board with given an distressed finish and the letters were pin mounted to add dimension to the sign.
And They Tell Two Friends
Once the Death Valley’s Little Brother sign was installed in Waterloo, we started receiving inquiries about rustic look wood signs. The Truth Beauty Compay. contacted us regarding their upcoming move and wanted to have a vintage-look wood sign created for their new location. You can read more about their sign creation over on our post Custom Vintage Look Wood Signs.
Another inquiry came from Cheeses Murphy. Cheeses Murphy is a late night grilled cheese eatery that was about to open a second location in Downtown Kitchener. They had noticed the custom wood signs that their Uptown Waterloo neighbours had and came to us to create a barn board sign for their new establishment. Take a look at our Reclaimed Barn Board post to learn about the process to make their sign.
Photo Courtesy of Cheeses Murphy
We’re Trending
Because of the many retro-look signs we have created over the past few years we are getting a lot of calls about signs made from reclaimed materials and even for new signs that have a distressed look.
It is a design trend that we love. Using a variety of materials and fabrication methods is something we specialize in. Finding ways to create dimension through artistic signage is what makes us unique in the sign industry. What makes you a trendsetter in the marketplace? Leave a comment with your answer! We want to know what makes you stand out!
Signs That Discovery Channel Took A Page Out Of The Red Bull Branding Playbook
Signs Of Branding Better
Several months ago in our post Better Branding – Red Bull Wins we discussed how the Red Bull Stratos sponsored Felix Baumgartner’s Live Jump. In that post we talked about how Red Bull took the opportunity to get the logo in front of the cameras that were broadcasting both online and on television. Further down in that post we spoke about the differences between the Live Jump and Nik Wallenda’s High Wire Walk across Niagara Falls.
Nik vs Felix
Just a few months ago Nik Wallenda crossed Niagara Falls on a high wire. It is believed that millions tuned in to watch the event live and has since been watched by a billion. Imagine if a company had their brand name attached to that event. How many eyes would have witnessed it? How many companies are realizing now that it was a missed opportunity for brand recognition?
Bring On The Branding
With Nik Wallenda’s Skywire Grand Canyon Walk, The Discovery Channel “harnessed” the power of branding by sponsoring the man who walked across the Grand Canyon without a “harness”.
For this event Nik Wallenda’s shirt clearly displayed The Discovery Channel logo and a few other company logos. Another clear logo was Mitsubishi Motors and their 2013 Outlander was also featured in the pre-recorded Discovery Channel spots of Nik Wallenda’s days of trainging leading up to the walk.
Signs Of Great Business Branding
Finding ways to bring your company’s branding to the forefront is of upmost importance when it comes to running a successful business. Although you may not be able to dole out the dollars to sponsor a world wide event, you can always contact local events and charities to see how your company can partner with them. Having your company logo on signs and banners can help establish you in your community and surrounding area. Brand recognition will help you make a mark in the marketplace.
If you require any additional info when it comes to custom business signs and logos be sure to contact a professional to see how you can take your branding across the board with Store Front Signs, Vehicle Graphics and Walkway A-Frames.
Custom Wood Signs Created From Reclaimed Barn Board – Cheeses Murphy
A New Business Signs With A Vintage Look
Our latest installation has brought us to a new area of Downtown Kitchener Ontario. Just blocks away from the new court house is where you can find the newest location for Cheeses Murphy. Just like the concept of this grilled cheese restaurant, the custom business sign for it needed to be unique and tasteful.
Reclaimed barn board with individual cutout letters were used in this framed sign. The fabrication took several steps.
The wood was given a custom finish to give it a distressed look and enhanced the wood grain of the boards. The barn board would serve as a sign backer for the business name. Individual letters were created by CNC cutting half inch PVC on our router table and they were then prepped for pin mounting. A handcrafted wood frame was constructed to surround the sign backer and painted to match the cut out letters. Together these pieces would create a modern sign with a vintage look.
Assembly And Installation
After all the various components of the Cheeses Murphy sign had been manufactured and finished it was time to assemble the sign and install it above the establishment.
The pin mount letters were flush mounted to the barn board backer to add dimension to the sign and the finished wood frame completed the look.
The custom wood sign was installed above the entrance-way and an additional vinyl decal was added to front door to attract the attention of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Photo Courtesy of Cheeses Murphy. Click the image to visit the Cheeses Murphy Facebook page
Photo courtesy of Andrew Coppolino of Waterloo Region Eats. Click the image to follow him on twitter
What Will Be Next?
What will be next? Be sure to watch our Sign Depot Blog for updates on what else is to come from this developing area in Kitchener otherwise known as the Duke St. Food Block. For more examples of 3 dimensional restaurant signs be sure to visit our portfolio page. There you will find a variety of sculptural signs that are sure to grab your attention!
Build Your Business With JR Waddell
This month The Sign Depot is featuring a few of our Sign Depot Demo Day attendees that are in the Business Marketing Industry. When we and issue with our industrial dust collector we called on the assistance of JR Waddell. He and the team at Hogg Mechanical made recommendations that were best for workshop. We chatted with JR Waddell of Hogg Mechancial about the changes in advertising and marketing over the years.
Get To Know JR Waddell
JR can you tell us the nature of your business/job description at Hogg Mechanical and how you got started?
Hogg Mechanical is a 138 year old full service HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) company spanning the era’s of wood/coal/oil/gas/geothermal/solar. We help residential and commercial properties with all of their heating and cooling needs by providing the perfect comfort level!
My title at Hogg Mechanical is Business Development and Communications which is a somewhat fancy name for sales and marketing. Business to Business sales for commercial buildings and marketing for residential houses. I met Ryan vanDyk (Sales and Operations Manager at Hogg Mechanical) in my previous position at the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce. Hogg was aggressively looking to grow their business and knew that online/social media was becoming a huge presence in the area. They wanted to capitalize on this fast paced emerging trend and we came to a mutually rewarding agreement. With this Hogg Mechanical’s online presence was born.
How much time and effort do you think companies should put towards their marketing/advertising?
We think all industries and companies are different. In our industry our leadership team dedicates approximately 45% of our time to marketing/advertising. The HVAC industry is extremely competitive in Southwestern Ontario and we feel that we are doing an amazing job staying ahead of the game. We allocate approximately 6 to 7% of our budget per year towards marketing and advertising.
How often do you see your efforts turn from leads to sales?
We have about a 60% conversion rate of our leads to sales. We constantly strive to generate the best leads and feel that Quality over Quantity is our competitive advantage.
Working for a company that has been in business for many years, what challenges do you face when it comes to implementing changes?
Our first step is to ensure that everyone on our team is brilliant at the basics. Setting realistic change patterns and taking baby steps towards an end goal. We have had success in accepting that co-workers change at different paces and styles. We approach this in a way that allows everyone to adapt and grow at their own reasonably oriented pace and style.
How do you stand out from others in your field?
We truly let our customers dictate what we offer and how we offer it. We found the old approach of HVAC companies selling what was best for themselves as opposed to what was best for their customers inhibited growth in today’s market. Ex. Our generously priced $45 tune up fulfilled a need in the market for homeowners to have a reasonable way to keep their heating and cooling equipment running safe, efficiently and with having an educated piece of mind about their Air Conditioners, Furnaces, Fireplaces, Pool Heaters etc.
Want to learn more about JR Waddell and Hogg Mechanical? Make sure to RSVP for our Sign Depot Demo Day on June 20th to network with JR and many other fantastic business industry professionals. We will have lots of onsite demos and our expert signmakers will be on hand to let you know how we can enhance your marketing through the use of custom business signs.
Build Your Business With Roshan Grossman
This month The Sign Depot is featuring a few of our Sign Depot Demo Day attendees that are in the Business Marketing Industry. Roshan Grossman is a Communications Specialist. She believes businesses are built by finding a target audience and engaging with experiences. We chatted with Roshan Grossman of Hot Quill Communications to find out how important clear communication is to a company.
Meet Roshan
Roshan can you tell us the nature of your business, Hot Quill Communications and how you got started?
Hot Quill Communications offers marketing and employee communications services to help businesses communicate more clearly with the people who matter most to them – employees and clients. We do this by creating experiences that get people talking about your business…in a good way. I launched Hot Quill in January 2013 following my maternity leave with my son. I spent the first part of my career working in a number of different financial services companies, and 8.5 years working for Sun Life Financial…and I decided I wanted to branch out on my own to see if I could bring my experience, creativity and ideas in communications to other businesses. I decided to focus on working with mid- to large-size companies in the tech sector because this was an industry that I hadn’t worked in before, but in which I was keenly interested.
Why should companies have a community manager/communications specialist?
Whether a company is large or small, bringing in a communications specialist is never a bad idea. The work arrangement will vary depending on your resourcing requirements and budget, but at the bare minimum it is useful to have someone either consult for a short period of time or come in for a longer-term to focus on audience/community engagement and strategic messaging. And, most seasoned business communicators will be able to add value beyond a communications perspective. As a communicator, you need to understand how businesses work, how people think and respond to ideas, and how to motivate people to take action – all of this requires strategic and critical thinking, and high social skills which are worth their weight in gold if you’re just starting a new company or if you’re looking to make an impact in a larger organization.
How do communications services differ for small business vs. large companies?
With larger companies, you’re usually dealing with integrated communications strategies and programs that span a number of months or years, depending on the business strategy. As well, you may have more time to build a relationship and rapport with your audience. With smaller companies, there is usually a tendency towards running shorter campaigns and addressing immediate needs of an audience, in addition to looking out over the next few months to see what’s coming over the horizon that needs to be anticipated and planned for from a tactical perspective.
What are some great ideas you have noticed companies launch with the help of a communications specialist?
There are too many to count or mention, but I will say that some of my favourite campaigns involve high audience engagement using a number of in-person and virtual events, as well as really clear and energetic messaging.
How do you stand out from others in your field?
There are some really excellent communicators in the Waterloo Region. While it would be tempting to look at this as a field of competition, I’m more inclined to see these people as part of my community of practice. My goal is to connect with and learn from the really excellent communicators as much as possible. If I’m learning and growing, my work will benefit from this expansion of ideas and thinking, and it will speak for itself. I also like to spend time with people and get to know them so that we can deepen our relationships rather than just skimming the surface. My hope is that by striving for excellence in generating and taking action on ideas worth pursuing, and in building solid relationships, people will naturally recommend me and my work to others.
Want to learn more about Roshan Grossman and Hot Quill Communications? Make sure to RSVP for our Sign Depot Demo Day on June 20th to network with Roshan and many other fantastic business industry professionals. There you will see how important your business messaging is to your brand.
Gold Leaf And Custom Artistic Sign Making
Go For The Gold
One of the custom sign making techniques that we get a lot of inquiries about is the application of gold leaf. There is no substitute for the shine achieved by 23K gold leaf. It is multiple step process which requires a lot of expertise in order to properly apply the gold leaf to a sign or artistic sculpture. The best example of well known gold leaf application recognized worldwide would be the Queen’s Flotilla. To learn more, you can read our post Fit For A Queen, to see how The Royal Barge was sculpted using many of the same techniques that we use right here in The Sign Depot Workshop.
See The Sign Making Steps
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First Gold Size Oil is applied. Gold size is an adhesive that is applied to the surface of where you want the gold leaf to be.
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Next the sheets of Gold Leaf are separated to ensure even application.
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The Gold Leaf is applied with a specialty brush
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The last step is letting it set. In order to ensure the longevity of the finish, you must make sure the Gold Size Oil and Gold Leaf are completely dry before moving the sign.
Below you can see a quick recap of how we apply gold leaf to our custom signs. It adds quite an artistic touch to the finishing process.
Custom Sign Making Techniques
Curious about other custom sign making techniques? We have a fix for that! Be sure to RSVP to the upcoming Sign Depot Demo Day by clicking the image below. There you will get a behind the scenes look at what goes on in our sign manufacturing workshop. Peter Moir and the staff of The Sign Depot will be on hand to answer any questions and you’ll be amongst some of the top marketers in the business industry.
Click The Image Above To Register for The Sign Depot Demo Day
