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LED Lights Save Lit Sign Costs For Our Customers and Create Great Christmas Shows

LED Lights Make Signs Functional And Fun

LEDs otherwise known as Light Emitting Diodes are brightening up everything, including the sign industry.  Wondering why?  There are so many advantages to LEDs. One of those advantages is longevity.  As quoted from Wikipedia’s LED lights post

Many of the LEDs made in the 1970s and 1980s are still in service today. Typical lifetimes quoted are 25,000 to 100,000 hours That is just one of the many reasons why we here at The Sign Depot choose LEDs to light signs.  They are also economical, very visable from long distances and environmentally friendly   Even some of our “retro-look” signs are powered by LEDs.  The Light Emitting Diodes help us achieve the look we want and the low cost sign maintenance that our clients are looking for with their lit signs. LED signs also give you lot of of choice.  They come in several different colours and well as ones that can be programmed to rotate colours constantly.  Giving our clients unique options for their business signs is something we choose to do.  No one wants to look like all the rest.  Finding ways to get noticed is what can give you an edge over your competition, while making sure it is affordable for your company. Take a look at one company did to attract customers with an LED Christmas Display.  It’s Gangnam Style all the way!   On their YouTube Channel they wrote

STATS: 41,000 bulbs, 2,000 light channels, 2kms of cable & 200 hours to set up. My past displays have raised more than $90k for community projects. And what does it cost in power? An extra $10/week

Reading further on their channel you will see that this display for 3 hours every night.  Chances are your LED needs won’t even come close to the amount of bulbs they used so doesn’t that make you think about savings for your energy costs?   Want more info about LED lit signs? Make sure to Contact Us

Brands And Business Sign Solutions For Companies in Kitchener Waterloo

Do You See The Signs Of  A Good Business?

Of course you do.  Signs are meant to be noticed.   Choosing the best way to show off your branding is where we come in.  Creating business signs that make an impact is The Sign Depot’s specialty.   Being a full service sign shop with options for store front signs, reception signs, wayfinding signs, vehicle signs, and temporary promotional signs, we can cover your business branding across the board.

Where To Start With Your Business Signs

Here are some questions to ask yourself when it comes to selecting business signs for your company

• Is my business recognizable?
• What is unique about my location?
• Is my business dependant on walk in traffic?
• Would potential clients notice my business when driving by?
• How does my brand stand out from my competitors? 

These are just a few things to consider when choosing signs that will represent your business.  There are some great examples of Kitchener Waterloo businesses that used signs to stand out in the video below

As you can see there is a lot of choice when it comes to selecting your company’s business signs.  To see more examples please visit the PORTFOLIO on our website.  There you can see how others are using signs to rise to the top of their business sector.  The sign experts at The Sign Depot can help choose the right style, size, materials, colours, text and graphics that will increase the find-ability of your business and help you grow your client base with better brand recognition. 

What We Do

When it comes to Outdoor Store Front signs we take into account where your business is located, how it will look amongst the surroundings, and how far the visibily reach can be. 

Reception signs are designed to focus on your logo, be a greeting for clients and show off what your company does best. 

Wayfinding signs become a guide for your business.  We cover eveything from Parking Lots to Building Entrances and Exits

Vehicle signs are mobile promotion for your business we make sure cars/trucks/vans look great driving by and parked.

Temporary Promotional signs can cover everything from SALE window graphics to A-Frame side walk signs with today’s specials

These are just some of the business sign solutions we offer.  We want to ensure you business looks great in all aspects of you branding.  As we say here at The Sign Depot

A Good Sign is a Sign of GOOD BUSINESS

 

Artistic Signs, Sign Supplies, Street Art and Sign Depot at SGIA

Let the Networking Begin – SGIA Expo 2012

Las Vegas was a whirlwind of excitement and the SGIA Expo had a lot to do with it.  Sign Depot was invited to attend the SGIA Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, and I knew I needed to make the most of it.  It is not very often that you are surrounded by thousands of people in your industry, including suppliers, attendees and leaders in the Sign and Print Industry.  Navigating my way through the crowd was the easy part.  Finding ways to leave an impression on those I spoke with was what I set out to do.

 

The video above was only half of the crowd.  I was on a landing and there was a second level of the show behind me.  The SGIA Expo was an enormous trade show with over 22,000 people registered and I was determined to get Sign Depot’s custom artistic signs on the radar of those in attendance.

Finding Your Niche

To get a good feel for the show I started by visiting some of our equipment suppliers.  I found out what they had planned for new year and to see what new products would be available to Canadian Sign Shops.  Knowing all the new materials that would soon be available gave me a good idea on how Sign Depot could incorporate their new items into our artistic signs.  We always strive to be sign innovators because we want your custom sign to stand out and be noticed.

I also asked the suppliers what most attending the show were looking for info wise so I could be ready to converse about the hot topics happening at SGIA.  With a good idea of what those at the SGIA Expo were looking for, I was off and running.  Well, not running but ready to network my way across the sign industry.

Interestingly enough many had heard of Sign Depot and the work that was happening at our Kitchener Ontario workshop.  It was the article in Sign Media about the Award Winning Beertown Sign that made us recognizable in USA. Not only was it a great jumping off point, I was able to elaborate further about the custom signs Sign Depot manufactures and how working with our wholesale sign department could bring them a whole new revenue stream.  This was of interest to many and I found my ID badge being scanned for further contact info over and over.  Knowing the niche market I was targeting made all the difference.

Finding The Fun  

All work and no play would take all the fun out of artistic sign making.  Choosing to stay on top of trends and looking for new sign innovations is fantastic but a little outside inspiration can go a long way.  So I decided to take it to the streets!

Watching some of the live demonstrations reminded me of the Sign Depot workshop.  It is always great to see those in the sign industry show their skills, but after the SGIA Expo I decided I needed some real outside inspiration too.

 

Where else but Las Vegas can you find artists creating right in front of you? 

 

They say What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas but I think these signs are meant to be displayed for all to see.  I think you may recognize a few.

 

 But it seems where ever I go, I always manage to find a pirate ship.

Do you attend conferences and events in your industry?  Let us know your experiences.  Leave a comment below, send us a tweet, or post your comment on our facebook page.  We want to know if it made an impact on your business.

 

 

Better Branding – Red Bull Wins

Red Bull Stratos Sponsors Felix Baumgartner’s Live Jump From The Edge Of Space

Where were you the day that Felix Baumgartner stepped out of the weather balloon’s shuttle will be a question that many may ask, but most likely it will be described as the Red Bull Stratos LiveJump. The Red Bull Stratos Mission was scientific mission backed by several companies but the only one you’ll remember is the one that claims it GIVES YOU WINGS.

What Red Bull Did Right

Over the years many public figures have been associated with wearing brands.  Think of Michael Jordan and Nike or which fresh faced celeb is now the spokesperson for Covergirl or the movie star sporting a milk moustache for the Got Milk? campaign. This has also been a trend with car races and now event venues IE The Air Canada Centre.  Finding a way to get a company name to be common place in everyday discussion is the right way to market.

 Think of it this way, how often do you ask for a Kleenex? What you should be asking for is a facial tissue.

Red Bull did it right, with just a few properly placed logos in the spots that the cameras would catch and adding their brand to the event’s name they will forever be associated with the historical jump.

http://youtu.be/s_PIyqZYVBk

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?

Better Branding

A few things to consider when it comes to branding

• Branding is about connecting with your current and future customers
• Find ways to be top of mind in your marketplace
• Be a leader amongst your competitors by staying orginal
• Be known as a reputable company
• Stand out from your surroundings

Whether you are building your brand, or rebranding to refresh your advertising, always consult a professional when it comes to the look of your company logo.  Colours, graphics, text and font choices are all part of corporate branding.  Make sure your logo is designed as a good representation of what you have to offer consumers, as they are the ones that decide which brand they are going to buy.

So the big question is, do you remember where you were doing during the Red Bull Stratos Live Jump?

 

Traditional Wood Signs Personalized To Suit You

Custom Wood Signs Are A Great Choice

With arrival of the chilly weather means that the gift giving season is close at hand.  Have you ever thought of giving a traditional wood sign as a Christmas gift?  Signs can be personalized to match any taste.  You will have lots of choice when it comes to how traditional your custom wood sign will look and what it will say.

How To Customize A Sign

It is always a good idea to know what the sign will symbolize.  A few good starting points could be choosing a

• Family Name
• Family Crest
• Heritage Farm
• Cottage
• Address
• Residence Name
• Favorite Quote

Sandblasting any of the info from the list above would make for wonderful personalized wood sign.  After the text is chosen the sign shape, dimensions, fonts, graphics and colours can further customize the look of a sandblasted cedar sign.  Below are just a few examples of the personalized custom wood signs we have made here in The Sign Depot Workshop.

If you see something that is of interest to you, we are able to craft as similar wood sign for you, or  if you want something different we are happy to accommodate you. Keep in mind that we have many different options to suit your personal taste as well as your budget.  The key is to ensuring your sign is ready is early ordering.  Don’t find yourself in the Christmas rush, order early to make sure your sign is ready in time.  Remember that the sign design is just the beginning of the production process.  The sign will still need to be sandblasted, and finished.  Finishing time includes drying time between each coat of paint.  Other things to consider would be where the sign will be hung.  Will it need a sign bracket or perhaps cedar posts finished to match the sign?  Will it be attached directly to brick wall or will it stand off from siding?  All of these factors will considered during the finishing process of the sign.

No matter what you choose, the recipient will be thrilled by how personalized their new sign is. Perhaps you’ll love the sandblasted cedar sign you’re gifting so much that you’ll create a custom wood sign for yourself!

 

Have Your Custom Business Sign Made From Wood Or High Density Urethane

Using 3 Dimensional Signs To Stand Out From Other Businesses

Have you ever thought of your business sign as a landmark?  When people give directions is your business often mentioned as part of the mix?  These are signs that your business sign stands out from the rest.  Your business is noticeable and recognizable to passers-by which means you are memorable to many.  Dimensional signs are great eye-catchers and  with the choice of Sandblasted Wood Signs or High Density Urethane (HDU), dimensional signs and structures can create a distinctive look for your brand.

Dimensional Cedar Signs

Custom western red cedar signs are a great choice when looking to create dimensional look.  There are a couple of ways which wood can achieve the desired look.

•  V-Cut Grove signs are carved by a router to sink the letters/graphics into the wood
• Sandblasted signs create dimension by blasting away the cedar to raise the  wooden text and logos to make them the prominent part of the sign

 Both the techniques are great ways to use wood for your business signs.

Dimensional High Density Urethane Signs (HDU)

High Density Urethane otherwise known as Sign Foam or HDU signs are becoming more and more popular in the business industry.  Finding a Sign Company that can easily manipulate that material is the key to having the sign look amazing.  By using a CNC machine and well designed sign file, High Density Urethane can be transformed into almost anything.

Either sign substrate choice will make your business sign stand out, and make your business look outstanding!  Need more info on how dimensional signs and structural signage can fit into your business?  Then contact The Sign Depot and one of our Award Winning Sign Experts will be pleased to help.  Looking for more examples of dimensional business signs? Visit our photo gallery on our website and our facebook page.

Artistic Singer, Artistic Design and What they Have in Common With Signs

Signs, Designs and How Bob Dylan Brought it All Together

Bob Dylan is often referred to as artist of a generation.  His unique sound and thought provoking lyrics have been heard by many but what brought Dylan to the mainstream audience was the clip of his song Subterranean Homesick Blues  in the film Don’t Look Back.  During the clip Bob Dylan uses several of rudimentary signs to grab attention to the messages in his song.

Flash forward to present day.  Film and video are still ways to express a message and Bob Dylan is still influencing others.  Take a look at how his lyrics influenced one designer to re-create the signs and messages from the original film clip, using several styles of artistic typography.

http://vimeo.com/49556689

 The video is a great representation of how fonts play into relaying a message.  Finding a lettering style that matches what you want to convey is something that designers do very well.  They choose the font that best tells your story and fits your brand.  Here’s a great example of the word scary displayed in two different fonts.

The choice of font makes a bigger impact in the lower photo because it also displays the feeling that goes along with the word. Your artistic font choice gives your text a voice.  Make sure to consider what your text says when picking a font. It can put emphasis on the message you want others to read and understand.

Finding Fonts Fascinating?

Then join us at the screening of the TYPEFACE Film.  Happening October 12 2012 at 7pm in Waterloo Ontario’s Princess Cinema.

Watch the trailer on our post The Sign Depot Presents Typeface and purchase your tickets.

Becoming a fan of fonts? See how to use them in artistic sign design from both a signage point of view in the links in this posts and look for upcoming blogs on the topic.

What is a Custom Sandblasted Sign and How are they Made?

What goes into making a Custom Sandblasted Sign?

We often have people popping in our workshop to inquire about the different types of signs we make.  We always want to give our clients a lot of choice and let them know all the signage products that are available to them.  Choosing the material that suits their style and their budget is what the sign experts here at Sign Depot pride themselves in.  A great technique is sandblasting.  Sandblasting allows for full customization of the sign.  This means that you have a lot of options when it comes to creating the sign best suited for you.

Materials

We have sandblasted several materials including stone, mdf and wood.  When it comes to wood we prefer to use western red cedar because of it being rot resistant.  Cedar signs have a long life and with a little bit of care your custom sign will always look spectacular.

Design

Here are some items that our designers will want to know when preparing your sign design

• Size
• Shape
• Colours
• Graphics
• Text

If you come in with some of these points ready, the sign designers can have some choices for you to pick from.  Once the design is ready you’ll be sent an image for approval.  After approval production can begin.

Pre-Production

There are few steps in the pre-production of a sandblasted sign. Once the stone has been selected or the wood has been cut to the desired shape, the rubber stencil made to match your choice of material.  The stencil is cut out on the plotter and then applied to the surface of the selected sign material.

Sandblasting

Once the sign is prepped for manufacturing the sandblasting can begin.  Sandblasting is a process when abrasive grit is pumped through a hose by forced air to carve the design and text into the sign’s surface.  The design is created through the cutout parts of the rubber stencil.  Those parts are sunk into the wood while the spots that are fully covered by the rubber stay protected resulting in a raised surface.  This Sign Depot block is a great example of the sandblasting technique.

The blue areas are the spots where the cedar was protected by the rubber stencil, and then natural wood showing through shows where the stencil was cut out allowing the sandblasting to cut away at the wood.

Finishing

After the sign has been sandblasted it will be sanded to a smooth surface for the proper finish to adhere to.  Finishes come in choices of stains, paints and vinyls.  The finishing is very important as it is the final step before your sign leaves the shop.  Finding a finish best suits the conditions where your sign will be placed is very important.  Whether your sign will be indoor or outdoor, if it will be in direct sunlight or a sheltered area are things to consider when choosing the finish for your custom sandblasted sign.

That is how a sandblasted sign created here at Sign Depot.  To see more examples check out our photo galleries on our main website and our facebook page.  Have additional questions about sandblasting? Tweet them to us, or leave a comment below.

 

Where Web Design and Custom Signs Meet

The Founding of #FontFanFriday

Connecting with designers is something we always do regularly here.  We enjoy seeing the works from Building Designers, Interior Designers, Web Designers, Graphic Designers or anyone that loves artistic design.  Over the past few months we have been conversing with  Amanda Wood Web Design over our mutual love of Retro Sign Design.  Soon after when The Sign Depot and The Princess Cinema announced we would be partnering to present the TYPEFACE film, we realized we also had the same fondness as Amanda for fonts.

Finding the right font that fits your needs is something that many individuals struggle with.  Choosing a script that suits your brand identity is something best left to a professional.  Although your personal preference is always considered, a great designer will know what best represents your business.  They will find font to incorporate you and your company that is complementary to the style of your logo.

After a quick poll on the facebook page it was apparent that everyone has a different favorite font.  The font that few did agree on was Futura Bold.

The description of the Futura Bold font from Adobe is as follows

Designed by Paul Renner in 1927, Futura is the classic example of a geometric sans serif type. Its original concept was based on the Bauhaus design philosophy that “form follows function.” Futura uses basic geometric proportions with no weight stresses, serifs, or frills, with long ascenders and descenders that give it more elegance than most sans serif typefaces. The wide range of weights plus condensed faces provide a variety of ways to set short text blocks and display copy with a strong, no-nonsense appearance.

Looking to find a favorite font? This is where we come in.  Today marks the beginning of the #FontFanFriday.  Every Friday follow @AmandaHWood and our twitter @TheSignDepot to see what design fonts we’re chatting about.  Join the converstation and let us know what fonts tickle your fancy.  Need some inspiration? Check out our You’re So Fonty Pinterest Page. Who knows perhaps your favorite font may already be on one of our custom wood signs.

What artistic fonts would you design with? Let us know by tweeting with #FontFanFriday hashtag,  repinning a font that you’re a fan of, or leave a comment below about your font of choice.

Finds From The Farm – The International Plowing Match 2012 and Custom Farm Signs

 

City Goes Country In Kitchener-Waterloo

When most think of Kitchener-Waterloo they think of the technology sector, but the area has so much more to offer.  Kitchener-Waterloo is part of a much bigger municipality known as The Region Of Waterloo.  The Region of Waterloo consists of  the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge as well as Wilmot, Wellesley, Woolwich and North Dumfries townships.  This mix of urban and rural communities is what gives this area of Southwestern Ontario a uniqueness and appeal to tourists.  It was no wonder that the International Plowing Match chose Roseville, a town just outside of Kitchener-Waterloo, to hold this year’s event.

From Farm To Table

The farming community in this area is vibrant.  With the shift in focus on locally grown food, this area has so much to offer.  The Buy Local Buy Fresh initiative that originated in this area was well intact before anyone had heard of the 100 Mile Diet.  We have several options for those seeking to support local farmers.

Here’s a list of a few popular places to support local food

• Kitchener Market
• St. Jacob’s Market
• Herrles Market
• Barries Asparagus
• Stemmler’s Meats
• Wellseley Gourmet
• Eating Well Organically

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

Agriculturally Accurate

Farm  machinery is also a staple in this area.  Finding the right tools and equipment locally is what helps our local farming community thrive.  This year’s plowing matches range from antique plowing to modern day methods.  This makes sense since much of the early day farm machinery came from Waterloo Manufacturing.  Finding the mix of old and new is something that The International Plowing Match has in common with us here at The Sign Depot.

Whether it is the process of making a sign look weathered or finishing a project with a unique finish the medley of  old and new can be easily recognized the moment you step into our showroom.  You are suddenly in a mix of pub, reception and Farm Signs.   We think it is a great representation what we can offer to the community and a relection of how the community has influenced us.

We think the International Plowing Match will also continue to display the mix of old and new by showing how far farming has come with making sure to respect the evolution of agricultural pursuits.  Want to learn more about what there is to see and do at the 2012 International Plowing Match? You can find it on their Schedule Of Events.