Archive for the ‘community involvement’ Category
No Comments Our Friends at The Charcoal Group of Restaurants Want You To PLANeT
#FridaysForFuture #CGPLANT4PLANeT
Today marks a new initiative by our friends at The Charcoal Group of Restaurants. The #CGPLANT4PLANeT came out last week’s global climate change strike.
As listed on their website, Jody Palubiski, CEO of The Charcoal Group of Restaurants was quoted as saying
“This all started when my kids asked me if they could miss school last Friday to support the climate strike.I told them that it is important to ensure their voices are heard but it is equally as important to understand that you also have the power to take action. Of course they asked, ‘what can we do’? To which I responded; Plant trees! I want to lead by example for them, for our community, for our planet.”
Below are some change-makers from the Chamber of Commerce CPN group that are ready to plant their seedlings that were supplied by The Charcoal Group of Restaurants.
Time To Get Planting
Not sure what to do with your white spruce seedling? These instructions provided by Cindy Perri, BRAND GUARDIAN for The Charcoal Group of Restaurants, are sure to help!
Isn’t it too cold to plant? NO! It’s actually the perfect time to plant. The seedlings NEED to go into dormancy to grow properly. (they actually need to freeze to live!)
What if I want my seedling but I can’t plant it this fall? IF you simply cannot plant it this fall on a sunny day, then you must put your seedling in the freezer for the winter. Or you can store it in the garage but DO NOT put it on the concrete. Put it on a piece of wood/shelf or in a pot off of the concrete ground. DO NOT keep it indoors, it will not survive.
Do I take it out of the Peat Pot? NO! you keep it in the peat pot and plant it in the peat pot as well. Plant it on a sunny fall day and make sure it gets lots of water!
The info-graphic below is a great reference as well.
So remember to visit on of the restaurants shown above and post your photo with the hashtag #CGPLANT4PLANeT
We’ll be following along and sharing them on our instagram story!
Do you have a great community involvement initiative that we should know about? Let us know in the comments!
Connecting In The Community
3 Community Events Within 7 Days
Community Involvement has always been a priority here at The Sign Depot. Whether it’s being involved in a community project, or learning about Social Enterprise, we want to take part.
Being connected to the community is a big part of my role here. I am present at most Chamber of Commerce meetings, I attend networking events, participate in Peer2Peer groups and do my best to support our clients with their endeavours.
This week is no exception. I attended the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery #CultureTalks last Thursday. I went to the D2L Night School #LearningCulture event last night and tonight I will be at the Shopify #ShopClass19 session.
Each event I attend is inspiring and I appreciate the information that is given and do my best to absorb it all and bring it back to implement here.
Here’s the recap of the week.
Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery #CultureTalks took place at the historic Walper Hotel and Caroline Robbie of Quadrangle presented about the “hub” culture that is happening in Toronto at The City of The Arts Launchpad. It is a space dedicated to creating synergy between different art forms. Learning about the design of the building and the projects that are emerging from it was very motivating. So much so, that I plan to head there this summer to tour the building and meet many of the creators that base their work there.
The D2L Night School #LearningCulture discussion was a fantastic event where John Baker-President-CEO of D2L, Nick Oddson-Chief Technology Officer and Chantal Thorn-Director of Learning and Leadership Development spoke about incorporating learning into the workplace as the labour force changes over the course of the next decade. It was conversation between the panelists and the attendees and everyone’s knowledge of the culture surrounding learning evolved. I also enjoyed the office tour given by D2L’s Dan Congdon (who also took my picture with their Moose Mascot). I have witnessed many of their signs being created in our workshop, but seeing them installed in their space at the Tannery brings it full circle for me.
Tonight I will be at the Shopify #ShopClass19. We are clients of Shopify for our cottage signs website and I am enthusiastic about tonight’s class. I have attended their info sessions before and which provide great networking opportunities and lots of valuable marketing information that I implement into our online advertising. Tonight’s topic is email marketing, so be sure sign up for our monthly newsletter and see first hand the knowledge I gained from attending.
Want to connect with us? Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @TheSignDepot or connect with us in person at our upcoming Open House by registering at https://guestlist.co/events/609114
KW Kiwanis Cash Calendar – Giveaway
Community Involvement
In earlier posts we suggested everyone should be preparing for 2019 now. Here at The Sign Depot we have been getting ready for the new year for quite a while now. One of the first things we did to prepare for 2019 was to sponsor a spot in the first annual KW Kiwanis Cash Calendar. We learned about it through Greater KW Chamber CPN Group member Ian Inglis. This fundraising calendar is raising money for local community organizations and we are glad to be a part of this inaugural calendar campaign!
Grab You Calendar
Now is the time to grab your CASH CALENDAR! The cost is $20 and there is a chance to win money every day of the year! To order you own calendar 2019 KW Kiwanis Cash Calender be sure to contact IAN before they are gone. Then keep watch at https://kwkiwaniscashcalendar.ca to see if you are a winner in 2019. Don’t worry about checking everyday. If you win they will contact you. It will also make a great gift to give someone. The timing is perfect for the holiday season as Christmas present, a stocking stuffer or a Secret Santa gift. Because it is affordable and helps the KW Kiwanis Club help others our community, you may want to get one for everyone on your Christmas List. Once you get your calendar we hope you flip it open to MAY 2019 to see our ad. We are so excited about it and want to giveaway a KW KIWANIS CASH CALENDAR to one of readers!
Enter To Win
Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it may take a minute to load). Make sure leave us a comment with your plans for 2019 and it may just win you your very own KW KIWANIS CASH CALENDAR! What a great way to start off the new year.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Carving Out A Spot In Our Community
Bring On The Buddy Benches
After the success of the Buddy Bench project last spring, 91.5 The Beat approached us to once again be part of their next round of School Tour Buddy Benches. We were so happy to see how well received they are at the local schools and gladly accepted the chance to sandblasted the cedar with donor recognition names and the BUDDY BENCH text for this next round of school visits.
Positive Community Involvement
Today the first of the fall Buddy Benches was awarded to St. Matthew Elementary School in Waterloo Ontario. One of our Sign Depot Facebook Fan Page members, Jennifer Beckett, sent us this emotional message regarding today’s presentation, along with a picture of her son sitting on the new St. Matthew’s Buddy Bench.
St. Matthew Catholic School in Waterloo had some sad times recently with the tragic passing of a student over the summer followed by the arson of the school’s only play structure a few days before school started. A visit from 91.5 The Beat and the donation of a Buddy Bench from The Sign Depot & Cedarland Lumber was just the warm hug this wonderful, caring school community needed! Thank you!
To see that this is going to make such a positive impact on the school that has experience such hardship recently is exactly the reason why community projects are so important. To learn more about this project and what exactly a Buddy Bench does for the school’s students, visit our post COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT – THE BUDDY BENCH. To give your school a chance to receive a Buddy Bench of their own, enter the contest at 91.5 The Beat.
Did your local school receive a Buddy Bench? We would love to hear about the positive impact it is making. Leave a comment below so we can learn more about our locally Buddy Benches.
Recognize Your Community of Donors With Donor Recognition Signage
Donor Recognition
According to LIFT PHILANTHROPY PARTNERS there are 3 strategies for proper donor recognition.
- Thank them
- Recognize them
- Tell the story
Each of these areas can be covered by choosing unique signage for donor recognition. Recently we had the opportunity to fabricate a donor recognition sign structure for St. Paul’s University College, which is on the University of Waterloo Campus in Waterloo Ontario. This unique design was developed here at The Sign Depot with the assistance of ABA Architects, also located in the Region of Waterloo. This sign structure has become a focal point in the building and incorporates the 3 strategies listed above. First it thanks the donors for their community involvement. Second it recognizes each donor and their contribution to St. Paul’s and third the arch structure conveys the message of the donors lifting up St. Paul’s and incorporating their spirit into the building.
Below you can see the beginning stages of the sign on the layout drawings and the final installation.
As the donor recognition sign came together it was decided that the sign should light up as the students, professors and staff of St. Paul’s walk through the arch-way. This signals how important their donors are to them by making them take notice of all those who chose to donate to St. Paul’s.
Donor Recognition Walls and Signs
Whether you are part of a University, a Social Enterprise or a Not-For-Profit, making the effort to recognize your donors is a great way to keep in touch with them and their community involvement efforts. It may encourage them to become lifetime contributors to your organization. We can create unique displays of for donor recognition walls, commemorative plaques and memorial signs. Visit our CONTACT US page to connect directly with the Sign Depot designers to see how your donor recognition project can be implemented into your establishment.
Social Enterprise and Small Business Signs
Community Involvement Means You Are Always Learning
The month of June was beyond busy with our cottage sign segment of the business, but we still take time to be involved in our community and find ways to learn about new ideas. Earlier this month The Centre for International Governance held an advance screening of the film THE SOCIAL SHIFT along with a Q&A with the creators of the film, Meaghan and Marie Wright of Mirror Image Media. Many in attendance were new to the concept of Social Enterprise and the positive effects it has on a community. The creators summed it up well when it was stated that many business owners wait until they retire and then become philanthropists. In reality they could be creating businesses that “do good” as their mandate, which then would be referred to as a social enterprise. You can learn a bit about social enterprises in Canada by viewing the film’s trailer below.
Throughout the filmed the audience learned about Canadian businesses that assist with environmental change, companies created that gave people a place to work and taught them new skills with a chance for advancement and so many many other ideas that help both locally and globally.
Signs With Social Enterprise In Mind
Last month we spoke about our community involvement with the BUDDY BENCH project.
Since then we been able to work on other signage that promotes inclusivity and social change. One was a donor recognition feature at St. Paul’s University College along with signage for their Greenhouse social impact incubator. Another project we were proud to be part of was the WELCOME NEIGHBOUR exterior sign created for the Victoria Hills Neighbourhood Association that was revealed at this year’s Neighbours Day.
As you have noticed in earlier posts we also enjoy being involved in our community, whether it be at sponsoring events or attending events like this above mentioned screening to see how we can be innovative with the way we make our signs and source our materials. For example our preferred metal provider donates and holds fundraisers for the Make a Wish Foundation, which is why we buy from them. When businesses take a look at how they run their company and the businesses they choose to work with they can learn how they can make a social impact. Even small tweaks can provide lasting results and social change.
Community Involvement – The Buddy Bench Project
Buddying Up With Our Community
Recently we were contacted by our local radio station 91.5 The Beat to see if we would be interested in their latest School Tour project. They were looking for a business that values community involvement to assist with their BUDDY BENCH initiative. We were glad they came to us and we could help with the project. This may have you wondering what we mean by “BUDDY BENCH” but we think the video below describes it best.
How A Buddy Bench Works
This 3 minute video is a great example of what a BUDDY BENCH can do. Many children often struggle with making friends, joining in and/or finding someone to talk to. The idea of putting a BUDDY BENCH in a school playground assists the children that need a little help in this area. They sit on the bench and a spotter will come and sit with them and strike up a conversation. This little engagement can do a lot to improve the mental health and/or self esteem in kids. It also assists with stopping bullying at school.
Bring On The Buddy Benches
91.5 The Beat is donating BUDDY BENCHES to 3 local schools. Together with our friends at Fiddlesheads and Cedarland Lumber we assisted them with this important community project.
Our involvement was to engrave the words BUDDY BENCH along with the sponsors names into the wooden bench. To do this we sandblasted the bench pieces to carve into the wood. Yesterday the first bench was donated to a local school and as you can see it was all smiles when it was received.
Proud to donate this “Buddy Bench” to #MillenWoodsPS – All thanks to @Fiddleheads_HN @TheSignDepot & @CedarlandLumber for making this happen 😁🙌 pic.twitter.com/dMKOCMUYWw
— 91.5 The Beat (@915theBeat) May 10, 2018
Thank you @915theBeat for your lovely donation of the Buddy Bench for @MillenWoods. Everyone deserves to have a friend. See someone sitting alone? Go say HI. 👋🏼 Be their buddy. 😊 #WRDSBlive pic.twitter.com/nsLL9ZAEa0
— Waterloo Region DSB (@wrdsb) May 10, 2018
Sandblasting wood is something we have been doing for over 25 years. If you want more info about our sandblasted wood signs please visit our portfolio and if you see something you are interested in please CONTACT US!
Small Business Week – Collaborate With Your Community
Small Business Week In Canada
The third week of October is Small Business Week here in Canada. It is a time for those in the small business sector to seek recognition or learn about business opportunities in their area. This year we are shining a spotlight on community involvement. We try to collaborate with local organizations and events that involve art and design. Recently we sponsored FLUXIBLE a UX Design conference with a theme of art meeting tech.
This year we provided in kind signage and Peter had the opportunity to present at a “BROWN BAG LUNCH SESSION”
Peter from @TheSignDepot is talking about sign design at today’s brown bag lunch session. #Fluxible2017 pic.twitter.com/4k8H3B5nQN
— Fluxible (@Fluxible) September 20, 2017
Later this month we will sponsoring the Grand River Film Festival. This year’s theme is about tech design which is something we are passionate about as we are always looking for ways to innovate and create new trends in the sign industry.
The Importance Of Community Involvement
As a small business we think it is very important to be involved in our local community. You can find us at Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Of Commerce events, local conferences, community gatherings, charity fundraisers and more.
We understand the importance of community involvement and we constantly look for ways to connect with others in the area. It helps us understand what people are looking for, know what they can expect from us, connect with our peers and find out what everyone thinks of our brand. It assists in finding out what is working us and where we can improve. All of these factor in our future goals and help us concentrate on our efforts locally.
Celebrating Small Business
How do you celebrate Small Business Week? We would love to learn more about your business as well. Leave a comment below with what Small Business means to you and how you help others with their small business ventures.
Flexing Our Custom Sign Design Muscle At Fluxible
Fluxible 2017
We are thrilled to announce our involvement with this year’s Fluxible conference happening in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario, Canada. Fluxible is Canada’s UX Festival and it brings those interested in the user experience fields together for a week long celebration. This year we noticed the theme of tech and design intersecting and we knew we needed to be there. In fact you can find us there in a few different ways. You can find us in person, on stage and through out the festival. All of these factors will contribute to our custom sign design theme we are creating with Fluxible this year.
The Sign Depot Enters Fluxible
Earlier this month we were announced as a sponsor for Fluxible via their twitter account.
Big thanks to @TheSignDepot for sponsoring #Fluxible2017. We couldn’t do this without your support! https://t.co/A3hldm3IrF pic.twitter.com/qkqiiWc5w8
— Fluxible (@Fluxible) September 4, 2017
As the custom sign sponsor sponsor for this year’s event we will be creating a stage item as well as wayfinding signs throughout the event spaces. We are collaborating with Fluxible by using their designs and logo to create signs that are highly visible for the conference.
Not only will be represented at Fluxible through sponsorship, our own Owner/President, Peter Moir will be the presenter at the BROWN BAG LUNCH that is happening at Noon on Wednesday September 20, 2017.
This brown bag lunch features Peter Moir of The Sign Depot, a local fabricator of high-end signage whose work can be found across North America. Peter will talk about how sign design impacts our experience of public spaces.
Looking to learn a little more about Peter before the event? Read up on his latest adventure at THE SIGN DEPOT – @ THE TOP OF CANADA and see what was happening in this pic.
To get all the info on Fluxible: Canada’s UX Festival visit the links below
Website: http://www.fluxible.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fluxible
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluxibleconf
and the link to Peter’s talk is can be found at https://www.meetup.com/Fluxible/events/242396280
We’re looking forward to seeing how everyone will be flexing their design muscles at Fluxible. Be sure to connect with us while you are there! We always want to be part of a “connected” community.
Ways To Increase Your Visibility In Your Community
Top 5 Ways To Improve Your Company’s Visibility Within Your Community
- Do Not Put It On The Back Burner – Many businesses say that they are going to eventually work on their company’s visibility, but you need to state when this will happen. Figure out how you will accomplish this and set a timeline for each step of the way. Once you have put these steps of action in place be sure to celebrate each milestone that you execute and achieve.
2. Get Your Business Involved In The Community – Sponsor local events that are a good fit with your brand. Be sure to bring signs that represent your business so that you can be fully present during the event. Always follow up with the people that you met during that time to get their feedback about how they liked the event overall.
3. Network Within Your Community – Join local business groups such as your local Chamber of Commerce and see what opportunities they provide for networking within the local business community. Make sure to contact the business representatives you connected with to see how you can work together going forward. A B2B relationship can be lucrative for both sides.
4. Find Local Influencers And Make Them Your Ambassadors – Check out who is talking about your local area on social media and connect with them. Find ways you can work together to increase your visibility to their audience, and be sure to reciprocate by sharing their content with your networks as well. It makes for a win-win situation for both parties.
5. Refresh Your Signage – Your business signs are 24 hour advertisements for your business. Nothing captures attention like a bold new custom sign in front of your company. Be sure to increase visibility by adding vinyl window graphics and A-Frame signs. The ensures your business is noticed by both vehicle traffic and those walking by.
These simple steps will quickly improve your company’s stature. By making a few changes it will make a positive impact on your business and your company will become known as an establishment that your community respects and connects with. This keeps your business top of mind with those within your vicinity, which makes it more likely that they will give their business to your company down the road.
