Five Signs Every Restaurant Needs

Opening a new restaurant is challenging and knowing how to market is more challenging. So, once your business plan is in place get ready to address your advertising needs.  Begin with:

Interesting A-frame Signs

A lot of restaurant proprietors use A-frames in front of their establishments to attract customers. These menu signs are an easy and economical way of advertising specials or writing witty messages. In fact, the more creative a business gets with these boards, the more likely it is to generate interest of the passersby.

Why? Well, because witty signs play with human psyche and interest them to try out the eatery.

Way Finding Signs

Most restaurateurs talk about menu specials, interior design, and staffing. However, what’s hardly touched upon is the importance of way finding and the difference it can make between a good and bad experience.

If a customer enters an establishment and is not quite sure what to do, then that immediately causes debilitating anxiety. Should I wait for a seat? Where do I order? Where’s the hostess? The anxiety these questions pump, immediately demotes a Grade A experience to Grade B, all because of bad way finding signage.

So, what does “good” way finding look like?

To ensure good way finding, the owner should identify the main points of interaction- seating, ordering, restrooms, pickup, etc. These areas should be marked by using identifiable words and arrows. If a restaurant nails this part of the design, it will be a step closer to enhancing its customer experience to help build business.

Menu Boards

Menu boards intend to offer patrons with the information they need, such as specials or menu listings. To make a menu board an instant hit, the owner must always include three elements - list of food items being served, ingredients inside every dish and individual rates.

Proprietors will surely see an increase in return customers if they use their menu boards properly.

ADA Compliant Signs

ADA signs help protect customers with disabilities from any discrimination and ensure that they are able to dine as well as any other customer. To comply with ADA requirements, a restaurant must offer a minimum of one travel route accessible for those who wish to access the eatery from the parking space. There should also be wheelchair accessible seats in the dining area to accommodate disabled customers. Apart from this, restaurateurs must also follow explicit guidelines covering restrooms in the establishment.

Mobile Billboards

Advertising through a fleet of delivery vehicles is a clever idea. Mobility enables exposure at any place or time resulting in ads being exposed to a larger set of audience.

They say that advertisement is an important factor through which a business can bring its product to public view, and consequentially get identification. With a serious increase in the number of restaurants in California, the need for implementing good marketing strategies has become the need of the hour. The good news is there is still room for every food-service to do well. The secret lies in using restaurant signs more creatively and efficiently.

How to Protect Vinyl Graphics

Vinyl graphics are stick-on designs and shapes that personalize a surface with sports logos, saying or designs. These decals are easy to install, remove and wash. However, like any other graphic, they require regular maintenance to look brand new. If you fail to take good care of your decals they will chip, peel, and fall off eventually.

The first, and also the most important thing to keep the graphics going is to install them properly. Make sure the surface is completely clean. Even if the area looks uncontaminated it may still have tiny pieces of debris or dust on it, so always wipe and clean the surface properly first.

Cleaning the Graphic

• Use a soft cloth or a rag to wipe the vinyl graphic. Get rid of any loose dirt or dust.
• Use a plastic scraper or a plastic tool to press the flaking graphic down. Lift up the peeling portion with the help of tweezers – and try to pull it upward – in case it contains no adhesive.
• Spray water using a low-pressure water hose on your graphics. Never use a power sprayer or a pressure washer. These tools tend to damage the graphics.
• Apply a glass cleaner with the help of a paper towel or a cloth for stubborn areas. In case, the graphic does not clean with glass cleaner, rubbing small amounts of alcohol with a paper towel or cotton swab is beneficial. Also, in case you use alcohol or a chemical cleaner make sure you clean the area with soapy water again to get rid of the chemicals.
• Edges can also be cleaned by rubbing on a glass cleaner or alcohol. Use moderate pressure round the edges, and change the cotton when dirt becomes noticeable. Finish the job by washing the whole area with the help of soapy water.
• Wash out all soap from the application area and decal with clear water using a sponge, or a hose.
• Make sure the whole area is thoroughly dry by dabbing it with a dry paper towel or cloth.
• In case the decals are exposed to severe conditions, ask the sign maker about sealer application. Edge sealer helps in preventing moisture and dirt from penetrating, which can cause adhesive failure. Sealer can be added to existing and new installations.
• Slight application of natural wax (non-oil-based) on to the surface of the decal can act as an added protective measure. Make sure to remove bits of wax from the seams and edges with dry cotton after application.
• Do not use aggressive or abrasive applicators or cleaners on the vinyl surfaces. Abrasion of the surface can cause the vinyl to deteriorate faster, and ultimately fail.
• Never attempt to fill or repair cracks or chips in vinyl, as unprofessional repair or handling materials will damage the graphic further. It is best to get in touch with a local sign shop or the installer for advice.
• Users are advised not to use strong chemicals on the vinyl to increase its life span.

How to Install Vinyl Letters

Self-adhesive vinyl is known to be extremely versatile and flexible. The material can be utilized to make eye-catching logos and signs for personal and business use. However, one of the most common uses of indoor and outdoor graphics is for advertising. Adhesive vinyl lettering helps in generating professional looking text on windows, sides of cars and sign boards.

Vinyl Letters on Cars

Advertising your business helps build name recognition, especially when it’s on cars. Vinyl lettering on vehicles can be seen thousands of times every day. It markets your business to passersby, provides credibility and identity when you drive to a client’s site. And unlike other marketing techniques, you will incur absolutely no repeat costs when the truck is lettered.

Apart from vinyl car letters, the material can also be used to create other forms of ad campaigns. You can give out the same message through multiple platforms such as by sticking vinyl letter advertising on shop windows and wooden surfaces. This adds continuity and helps a business with its branding strategy.

Installation

Installing a vinyl graphic is a simple process but requires a lot of precision and patience. Here is the process:

• Complete text with the logo or artwork is laser cut by a sign making company as per your specifications. After creating the lettering, professionals attach it to an application paper to enable convenient installation.
• Clean the entire surface where the lettering needs to be installed with water and soap to remove any filth that might hinder proper adhesion. Once done, dry out the surface completely with the help of a lint-free towel.
• Now stick masking tape on top corners of the application paper and attach it to the surface.
• Gently lift the application paper and peel the protective backing away to expose the adhesive. In case the sign you’re trying to put up is large, you can cut multiple sections to make the removal more manageable.
• Gradually roll back the paper to the surface, make sure you smoothen it down with the help of a squeegee.
• Pull off the application paper from the surface, starting from the top corner and working your way to the opposing corner. Since the application paper has less adhesive in comparison to the lettering, the letters will remain stuck to the surface while the paper comes off.
• Get rid of any air bubbles that might have formed under the letters by piercing them with a pin.

Decorating your Child's Room with Wall Graphics

Watching the eyes of your children light up as they enter their newly decorated bedroom is certainly a great reward. Fortunately, there is no need to be highly artistic to add beautiful touches to a dull room. Wall graphics are extremely easy to install and make a great substitute to hanging pictures. Apart from this, they can also add a bit of style and color to a rented house where changing the color is not a choice.

How to Choose and Apply a Wall Graphic

• Select a wall graphic that reflects the hobbies and interests of the child. Wall graphics are available in a range of styles, sizes and colors. Stick to those that represent a favorite sport, character, color, or general style that the child enjoys.
• Decide on the location- look around the room and mark all the blank spaces of the walls. This will help you get an idea of how much area you have to work with and the size of wall graphics.
• Clean the space on the wall where you’d like to place the decal. The area should be absolutely free of dirt, dust, grime and grease for the graphic to stick properly. Make use of a de-greasing cleaner, and a soft cloth. Rinse carefully with water, and let the area dry out completely.
• Tear off a few pieces of a masking tape. Stick the top edge of the decal to the wall where you want the graphic to be.
• Peel the back layer off of the graphics, and stick them to the surface. Most graphics are created from vinyl and can be removed and reapplied easily. Hence, if you’re not able to get them just right for the first time, you will have the chance to change.
• Put up wall graphics in places that are unexpected. Graphics should certainly not be limited to walls. Place them on the windows, doors, mirrors, shelving and even tiles. You can even stick small wall graphics on plastic lampshades, wastebaskets, and the like.
• In case the vinyl decal you’re trying to install is too big, you might want a friend to help you. The ideal temperature of the room in which you’ll install the graphics should be somewhere between forty five and ninety degrees Fahrenheit.
• Eliminate small air bubbles in the vinyl decal after a couple of days. Just poke them with a sharp needle to push them down. Also, do not try to install a large vinyl graphics on a surface that has just been painted. Wait for a minimum of three days. Also, in case the area is very moist -- above ninety percent -- you can experience trouble when you install the large decal. Hence, wait for the right weather conditions.

There are several companies that offer a variety of wall murals and stickers. These products come in motifs and themes fit for any kid’s room. From small self-stick graphics to life-sized dinosaur graphics, there is something for every wall. Few of the most ingenious mural and sticker products even include vinyl growth charts, wall borders and popular themes such as, sports stickers, prince and princess, cartoon characters, Disney movies and a lot more! Some companies also allow you to create your own design. You can give them your feedback and the designers create murals especially for you.

There are several sign makers in California that use hi-quality material and prints to create wall graphics. They also have a team of designers who look after the quality of design. To find out about such companies look them up online. Most providers have websites depicting the services they provide and previous work.

How to Buy Vehicle Wraps at a Good Price

Whether you call them vehicle wraps or car wraps, they are mobile billboards, ready to send out your information to every pedestrian and passenger on the streets. You can certainly increase your client list with a vehicle wrap to a surprisingly large number. The concept of getting a car wrap is wise, but paying for it can change your mind. The good news is, if you know where to look and what to ask, you can find your wraps much cheaper.

Tips to find cheap car wraps

• Get several quotes for the wrap- in fact, it’s advisable to get no less than a dozen price quotations. Begin with the local companies within California. After that, check the World Wide Web for providers who deal specifically in vehicle wraps. These companies print in bulk on the vinyl, so there will be a big difference in price. The more you research, the more likely you are to find a provider that offers the best wraps at the most reasonable prices.

• Ask the provider if you can design the wrap on your own- designing on your own will cut out hundreds of dollars and is pretty easy. Most vehicle wrap companies have professional designers who charge a little extra to do the job for you. They have templates for the car model to fit the items into the image. The good news is, you can ask them for the template to create your own design. It will save you cash.

• Get a partial wrap- most consumers use completely wrapped vehicles, but partial ones also have the ability to attract as much attention. Consider getting small sections of your vehicle wrapped to save on your advertising money. The back and sides of the car can be wrapped while leaving the hood, roof and windows off. This will help reduce your square footage. Hence, reducing the money spent on vinyl advertising.

• Negotiate the installation rate- most providers are open to some negotiation. You can always request the installers if they’ll settle for a cheaper rate than what they’re asking. If you offer a reasonable rate, they might agree.

• Know the kinds of vinyl available and decide what will work best- if the car is going to be kept inside during the night and during bad weather, you will not require the premium vinyl which is more expensive. Instead get a reasonable vinyl, keep your car clean and avoid destructive elements such as rain and extreme weather conditions, as much as possible.

Car Wrap advertising technique is based on how many passersby see the wrap while walking or driving per day. This also includes parking the car in places that are high on traffic. Even though searching for cheaper ways to get your wraps is recommended, it is also important that the wraps that you ultimately use are of good quality and professionally made. There no use putting up a graphic that looks shabby. In fact, this can work negatively for a business by offering a very unprofessional image. It is best to get in touch with a reputed and experienced sign maker who uses the best material and technique at the most reasonable prices. There are several such providers in California.

It is also a good idea to not get the graphics installed on your own just to save on installation charges. With car wraps, you may not be able to customize properly to make the vehicle stand out from a sea of other cars in traffic. In fact, you are likely to end up ruining the polish of your vehicle due to bad installation techniques.

Illuminated Signs for Business

In the world of business, companies that attract the most consumers survive and grow while the others struggle and ultimately fail. Hence, a big chunk of the time and money has to be spent on advertising. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of the total income can be allotted for attracting customers. So the question is- how can companies make the best use of their available advertising money?

Illuminated signs for your marketing needs:

If your business is not as big as Adidas or Nike, then money is as limited as your options. Television, magazine, and full page newspaper advertising is likely to be out of the realm of possibility, at least during the initial years. Illuminated signs, in such situations, are a great solution for attracting consumers. These graphics are back-lit to make the message more obvious and can be created in any size or shape. Businesses can also go for individual letter signs that spell the company’s name on the building’s side. This is one investment that can last for several years, making it highly cost-effective. Another advantage of these signs is that they are light weight. Hence, can be suspended and moved from one location to another with ease. Additionally, the messages can also be replaced without having to buy a new sign all together.

What to look for when designing illuminate signs:

If you’re planning to invest in new illuminated signs to market your business, it is very important to get them created by a professional. These signs are highly effective in attracting new customers, and the more time you spend in looking into some of the different providers that offer such work in your area the better. Listed below are 3 must know facts that all buyers should be aware of before investing in one of these items.

Design: the fonts, design and the colors used for creating illuminated signs will affect the final result drastically. When created properly, these graphics can look professional and elegant. However, when created badly the signs can look tacky. Therefore, during the stage of designing, make sure you are very specific with the fonts, colors, design and images of the chosen signage.

Shapes and sizes: Illuminated signs or light box signs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. One of the most common signs is the LED signs made out of aluminum back tray with fluorescent or LED lighting. They also feature face panels created with acrylic materials or flexible flexi face system. One of the benefits of using flexi face systems is that they permit any sized area to be shown with the use of a single metal piece.

Go for quality: Illuminated signs are available in several different qualities. When buying LED signs it’s a good idea to go for the best quality. The main reason is that good quality graphics are durable which means they will last longer. Secondly, good quality signs will look more elegant and will attract the right kind of crowd. Buyers must also note that there are several sellers and retailers who create personalized signs. These providers normally operate via the internet and offer light box signs in various thicknesses. Interested buyers should visit the seller's website and get a quote.

Bottom line is, to attract consumers economically and with class, there is no better way than illuminated signs. Moreover, if you want to direct clientele inside the store to the higher profit areas then consider illuminated signs to be the right medium for the job. It is by far the best affordable advertising you can have, next to word of mouth.

A-frame displays for effective Advertising

If you run a business then you certainly understand the importance of signs. Signs are tools used for advertising your products and services in the market. You may have good clients and people might know you by name but if you’re only confined to a small region then you require something extra to sell your services beyond where your business originated.

A-Frames

Two identical beams are arranged at forty five degree angle and are fixed at the top. The structure formed is popularly called an A-frame.

A-frames or triangle frames are available in a variety of different materials. They can be made of plastic, steel, wood or aluminum. Due to their structure, these signs have good stability and are one of the most popular ways to advertise a business. They also come with several benefits. For instance, they are extremely easy to move from one location to the other. They can also fold down for easy storage. Apart from this, these signs grab a lot of attention from customers and potential clients. They can be two sided or one sided as desired by the business owner.

Types of A-frames:

A-frames are extremely economical and have several different types. For instance,

Chalkboard signs

Chalkboard signs consist of black board surfaces that can be used for writing. These signs work best in places such as coffee shops to display specials and menu items. In fact, owners can scribble in messages throughout the day using colored chalks. Chalkboards have several different types such as, porcelain magnetic signs that can be used to display decorative magnets and messages to make the display look more attractive.

A Dry Erase Board

A dry erase board A-frame utilizes colored markers. The messages are written on the designed area and can be replaced as many times as needed. These signs can have lunch specials, breakfast specials, and dinner specials written on them throughout the day. Apart from this, they can also be used in a variety of other ways to attract passersby. For instance, the owner can use them to display sales and other discounts. These boards draw attention and help owners offer different information whenever needed, making them cost effective.

One of the best ways to use these signs is to make them double sided. One sided signs limit the visibility and viewers of the message. If A-frames are double sided they add to the number of people who will see them. In fact when A-frames are double sided then people have better opportunity to read the message, which ensures better business for the owner.

Most people do not visit every lane when shopping or looking to eat out and if your business is located in the interiors then A-frames should be used to advertise your business. These signs can be designed to be self-explanatory so that customers get attracted towards what is offered. The frames can also be put on pavements so that people driving through can look and notice the business. The information provided on them should be short but impressive.

The best way to come up with great signs is to hire expert sign makers. Most such companies have a team of designers that recommend everything from color combinations to style, etc. There are numerous companies in California that offer great sign making services at reasonable prices. One of the best ways to learn about them is to look online. Most providers have websites displaying their previous work, client reviews, products and services. You can always call them for consultation or visit their physical address to know how they actually operate.