class="tag"Posts Tagged ‘business sign’
1 Comment 3 Dimensional Signs Are A Smashing Pixels Success
Adding Dimension To Your Custom Business Signs
With winter just around the corner, now is a good time to look at your interior signs. They are one of the first things that your clients see upon entering your establishment, so be sure to leave them with a memorable image of what your company represents. The best way to stand out is to have a 3 dimensional sign custom crafted for your office interior.
Making A Branding Move
One of the best times to work on your business branding is when your company is moving locations. This was the case for Smashing Pixels. Smashing Pixels, a digital marketing and website design agency located in Brantford Ontario, was in the midst of moving their office when we first heard from Kevin Magee. Kevin was looking for custom dimensional sign with the Smashing Pixels logo that fit with the brand both he and Trevor Cherewka created in the Brantford business community. Trevor is no stranger to The Sign Depot either, take a look below when he first visited our workshop for our inaugural designers’ demo day (you can see Trevor’s comments at the 40 second mark in the video below)
With both Kevin and Trevor looking to give their office a professional look, the Smashing Pixels 3 dimensional office sign took shape.
Below are a few images of Smashing Pixels sign being crafted here in our Sign Depot workshop.
The Smashing Pixels sign was a mix of sign substrates. It began with a sandblasted cedar backer
Followed by custom cut acrylic letters mounted to the cedar backer. The combination of wood and acrylic adds dimension and interest to the sign.
The sign was then installed at their new location at Dunsdon St. in Brantford.
Business Signs And Branding
Just like the Smashing Pixels team can help with your online digital branding, we want to assist you in all aspects of your offline branding through our custom signs. If you require any additional info about 3 dimensional signs be sure to send us a tweet, message us on facebook or send an email through our Contact Us page.
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.
Business Sign Permits, Sign Regulations, And Variances – What You Need To Know
Where To Start With Business Signs?
If you are looking to put up outdoor business signs you chances are you will need a sign permit. A professional sign shop will be able take care of the paper work to make sure that you are following sign regulations and can make the sign permit process go smoothly.
Why You Need A Sign Permit For Your Outdoor Sign?
That’s any easy one, so you don’t get a fine! If the sign inspector realizes that you do not have a permit for your sign they can fine you and have it taken down at your cost. This is why you need to have a professional sign company prepare your sign permit. They know which drawings and documents are required for your corporate business signs.
It is also a good idea to make sure your company is in a properly zoned area. Most sign permits will go through quite easily if they are in a retail, corporate and/or industrial zoned area. If the sign permit does not fit the parameters of the sign permit, a sign variance may be required.
What Is A Sign Variance?
A sign variance is an approval for a sign that does not fit the set sign permit requirements. In other words it varies from the sign permit regulations. This process often requires approval from a sign variance committee. This is why it is very important to have your sign documents prepared by a professional sign maker that is making the business sign for your company.
Remember you are better safe than sorry when it comes to the outdoor business signs for your location(s). Always make sure that you abide the areas bylaws and get the required permits prepared by professional sign company that is familiar with sign permit regulations. Also factor in that there will time required to prepare the sign permit documents and there will be a wait for approval. Here at The Sign Depot we know the saying dotting the “I”s and crossing the “T”s applies to more than fonts. Being thorough and precise in all aspects of the sign making process is something we take pride in and how we became an Award Winning Sign Company.
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
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Is my business recognizable?
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What is unique about my location?
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Is my business dependant on walk in traffic?
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Would potential clients notice my business when driving by?
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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
Find What You’re Looking For – Findability And Wayfinding Signs
Somebody Give Me A Sign
Remember the U2 song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For ? Or how about when the lead character in a movie throws his/her hands up in the air and yells Won’t You Show Me A Sign ? How many times have you heard the line Where Do We Go From Here? Although these might be a bit dramatic we see these statements as FINDABILITY issues.
How To Improve Your Findability
Website Search
Findability is usually reserved when speaking about Search Engine Optimization but we think it goes beyond your online search engine ranking. While we agree that your Google search status is very important, we know that people are searching for your info elsewhere too.
Yellow Pages
You may have heard that Yellow Pages puts you in with your competition, but it is also an opportunity to out-shine your competitors. We had a client call and tell us that she chose to work with us because our Yellow Pages ad was well designed and she preferred it over the other sign shops listed on the page.
As you can see it is a black and white ad. It consists of the important info and how best to contact us. Along with our tag line that we have branded ourselves around.
Business Signage
As mentioned in the post You Want To Go Where Everyone Knows Your Name your outdoor business signage is very important. To see if others felt this way as well we did a POLL on our Facebook page.
25 people took part in our quick survey.
They were asked
How important is a visible sign when you arrive at a place you have never been before?
Their choices were
- Very important I don’t want to drive past the destination
- Somewhat important I try to know the closest landmark/look for the address number
- Not important
Landmarks increase your visibility which helps with the Findability of your business. Address numbers are also part of signage. How you scale their size to their placement is something a professional sign maker knows all about.
Did I mention no one picked answer number three?
So the next time you hear that someone has Lost Their Way, you’ll have some great suggestions for them.
Who You Know and What You Know Can Create A Business Sign of Delicious Proportions
Referrals and Recommendations
Earlier this year we had to opportunity to work on a project for Stephanie Page. It wasn’t business related, but when she needed a hand we were happy to lend one. We were pleasantly surprised when we received follow up emails letting us know that she recommended our work to her employer PINTY’S DELICIOUS FOODS. Pinty’s was in the midst of a business re-brand and needed someone to step in and take their designed logo one step further and create large exterior sign for the business.
Today we are proud to present Pinty’s newly installed building sign on the exterior of their building.
The Pinty’s outdoor business sign was designed to be very visible during the day and included a lit up feature for the building after the sun goes down. We are grateful for this opportunity to create a long standing business relationship with Pinty’s and thankful that Stephanie brought The Sign Depot to their attention.
We welcome your referrals as well. A great referral for us would be someone who is
- Starting out in a new business
- Rebranding a current business
- Moving locations
- Updating a building’s interior or exterior
- Has an existing logo that needs to be constructed
- Needs a logo to represent themselves or a business
They say it’s not what you know, but it’s who you know. Here at The Sign Depot we say it’s a bit of both! Want to get to know us better? We can connect with you and your business in several ways. Just send an email to sales@sign-depot.on.ca we can create a custom quote to meet your budget and exceed your expectations. We ship across Canada too! See why we we are Canada’s Award Winning Sign Company and lets chat about how we can help you with your upcoming sign needs.
