Plans for World Domination…in ads

Author: Amanda

January – March is normally the hardest months in the year for most companies. Not many spend their leisure time outside, travel more than they need to or desire much materialistic with holidays having just passed. This is the perfect time to plan and implement a project to help promote your business, when you have the time to sit down, take a breath and consider what’s the best way to project your image.  How do your clients or customers normally find you? Maybe if they are searching for you on the internet you’re easy to find, but is that really the only time you want people to look at you?

The answer is no, you don’t want just the people who need you to look at you. You want everyone to notice you, because while perhaps a person that notices your store doesn’t need your services they’re going to remember you. And down the road when they do need you, they’ll know where to find you, or they’ll refer you to people who do need your services. Don’t let this winter pass by you in a haze, jump on this opportunity. Next Day Signs is here to help, leave any questions you have about signage, vehicle lettering, feather flags or trade shows, and I’ll answer them as quickly as I can.

Virtual Cosmopolitan

Author: Amanda

Google maps is a very underappreciated application. For its intended use, it’s very helpful, giving us a chance to use satellite imaging to see a location that we haven’t traveled to. Now, if you use Google maps you may have noticed the ability to use the satellite mapping from ground level. Instead of seeing the map from an aerial point of view, you drag the little gold stick figure located above to the zoom bar and place it on the map. Where the figure lands you are given a street-view of the area, in this map format you can ‘turn around’ and zoom in on different locations. What makes this such a wonderful application for the Sign shop is the ability to view existing signs.

Often we have customers arrive wondering how much it would cost to replace an existing sign. Most have just moved into the store location, they don’t know the size of the current sign, the material it’s made of, how high up it is, or how it’s bolted in, from the top of their head. Before Google maps there wasn’t much we could do to help our customers without having to do an initial site visit. However, with the new application we simply enter the customers address and zoom in on their current address. We’ve worked in the business long enough that we can make a valid guess of the material, and how it’s bolted in just by seeing an image. We can judge how high the sign is and whether or not it will need scaffolding for install. This saves us hours of travel from extra site visits, and we’re able to give more accurate quotes to our customers on their first arrival, e-mail or call.

I personally also like clicking on random places on the map to see how cities look across World. With just a small drag I can see Kyoto, Japan or Lyon, France over lunch break.

The Telephone Game

Author: Amanda

This past Friday I was making a call to another business, I dialed the seven digit number and waited for someone to receive the call. After perhaps one or two rings the call was picked up by Sprint (which was not the business I had called) the automated message that played for me said the business I was calling was no longer in business. They had an idea of who I was calling because they informed that if I stayed on the line they would give me a referral list. Confused I hung up the phone before the list could be given, I had spoken with the owner only two days prior and they had made no indication of closing up shop.

I tried the number again, this time using the area code to help it go through. Sure enough my call went to its intended receiver and I made sure to pass on what had just happened. They said that yes, Sprint was their service provider but that they were not and had no plans to go out of business. Later in the day they contacted me again after sharing some words with Sprint (I wouldn’t want to be the person receiving that call). According to Sprint, soon all providers will move phone numbers to only 10 digit numbers, failure to put the area code in means not getting a connecting call. I still want to research this a little more, but in the mean time, in case anyone calls and cannot reach our store, please try the 10 digit number 614-764-7446.

Wall Graphics and Pirate Ships

Author:  Amanda

I’ve noticed there’s been a recent interest in wall graphics. It’s pretty easy to pick up on new trends since I answer the phone and hear what it is everyone is asking for. I think it’s a smart trend because wall graphics only take up the room you’re not using on a wall. They also add a touch of personality which can largely be a deciding factor for customers on who they want to take their business to. The wall graphics are also removable, so if the company needs to move or you want to change it there’s no damage to the wall or paint. I’ve had one customer get a motivational quote placed above his office doorway, and Cheryl has decorated her living room with them, which I thought was cool. We’ve done some research on how people have decorated their homes with wall graphics. In one apartment located in the city someone had thin trees with wispy tendrils reaching across the wall,  another had atlas maps placed in their office.

Cheryl has asked me what I would do if I decorated my living room. I’ve only mulled on the idea for a little bit, but I think I like the idea of a motivational quote, or perhaps some lines of lyrics from my favorite song followed with an image.  I know a friend of mine would love to have the image on an old pirate ship, she’s a bit of a historical nautical buff in that area.

New Outlook on ‘Dollar Menu’

Author:  Amanda

The first day back at work for the new year is refreshing. I feel motivated and energized for the new year thanks to all the changes we’ve made recently. For one, the lobby has been completely reorganized, only one part of it looks the same as before. Having a new perception of the store helped inspire little brain storms of how else we can improve the store. Before long we were going through the entire store, reorganizing and disposing of what was no longer needed. A new idea that occurred to us was to have a ‘dollar menu’. Left over materials from large cut boards would be placed aside for the ‘dollar menu’. A customer can purchase each piece for $1 as is, and then pay an additional amount for any lettering or pictures they would like to place on it. It may not be the best solution for a professional sign, but it’s perfect for people who want a small sign for fun, as a personal gift or something they can use to decorate their office, home, den, garage, tree-house, pet-house,etc.