Ways to Improve your Grocery Store Signs

Grocery stores offer an extensive range of products for their customers. Therefore, to make navigation easy, signs are placed at different corners of the store. While some signs list the items found in a specific aisle, others inform customers about promotional items or locally grown goods. Making sure that your signage is helpful and appropriate helps your grocery store attract more customers and provide an enjoyable shopping experience.

Talk to Customers

The best feedback you can get is through your customers. Ask them what they’ll like for sign sizes, colors, designs, lettering, and locations. Make a note of the most common style and color preferences. Apart from this, request your customers to suggest sign location. Find out if they prefer floor signs or hanging signs.

Remember, your signs should be written in attention grabbing, bold color and text. Keep the information brief and easily readable, and include prices and product names. Also, the color you choose must stand out and at the same time should not overwhelm the customer.

Choose the Right Material

Find out which material will best suit your needs. Every store has a different personality, so the sign material you choose should vary according to the environment you want to create. Normally, grocery store signs look good in plastic or wood. However, the size should vary. Smaller stores should stick to smaller signs, to avoid overwhelming customers. Large stores, on the other hand, need prominent signs due to the higher square footage involved.

Keep it Uniform

Make sure you decide on a unifying theme for your signs. Do not use different materials for different departments.

Use Outdoor Signs

Put up signs at your store front to attract more customers. These signs can promote particular items, sales or other specialties that make the store different. One of the best forms of outdoor signs is chalkboards. You can easily draw imagery or list your best products on these traditional but creative mediums.

Include Shelf Signs

Shelf signs display numbers, item descriptions, and prices. They are fixed to the edge of each shelf and make shopping extremely easy for customers. Many grocery stores also add barcodes to these signs for inventory purposes.

Signs Over Food Items

It is a good idea to put up signs over food items on display. This helps customers differentiate between items that are fresh and local from the ones that have been transported from far flung areas.

Contact a Sign Making Company

Sign makers do not just manufacture your signs but also help you design your signage from scratch. Due to their experience and expertise, they can help you decide which material and style will best suit the personality of your store.

From handmade signs to state-of-the-art materials, grocery store displays have come a long way. By doing some research and getting a sign maker on board, you can certainly come up with winning strategies that will help you attract repeat customers and increase business.

Easy Tips to Design a Company Logo

A logo is not just words and images, a well-made logo tells people about your company-- what you do, who you are, and what you value the most. Because, there is so much a logo can do, it's important to take out time to make one. Here are some tips to create a design that will brand you in the marketplace successfully.

1. Figure Out What the Main Function of your Logo should be

A logo is the representation of your brand. So, what do you want your logo to do for you?

1. Create trust in your company. Trust is a major part of any business relationship. Your clients should be able to trust you. A good logo should convey your integrity and honesty and should help you build credibility.
2. Memorability. People like to shop with their eyes; brand logos are a lot easier to remember than products, services and names.
3. Enhance admiration. If your customers already hold a good impression about you, you can certainly build on that by developing a logo that is admired for its cleverness, looks, or effective simplicity.
4. Understand your Brand and Customers

A logo should essentially be an introduction to your brand and must reach a particular audience. Hence, when creating one, you should keep your customers and brand ideology in mind. Make a list of what you consider your company represents. Research well and try to come up with something that will resonate to your potential customers and make them come to you.

2. Choose a Color Wisely

When choosing a color for your brand logo, you have to think of the personality of your brand. Bold and bright colors may seem attention grabbing, but can also look brash. Muted tones on the other hand exude sophistication, but can be overlooked.

1. Red: bold, energetic
2. Yellow: inventive, sunny, optimistic
3. Orange: friendly, creative,
4. Green: organic, growth
5. Purple: wise, spiritual, evocative
6. Blue: tranquil, professional and trustworthy
7. Black: powerful and credible
8. Pink: flirty and fun
9. White: pure and clean
10. Brown: historical, rural, and steady
11. Keep it Flexible and Easy

It is important to keep a balance between quirky and simple. You want your brand logo to be appealing, but you don’t want the viewer to sit and stare, analyzing the meaning of the design.

3. Do not Expect Instant Success

Logos take time to gain popularity. They won’t become iconic instantly, even if the design and combination is perfect. Ultimately, the success of your logo will depend on the popularity of your product and the market that you cover.

4. Use Online Tools and Resources

The internet offers a sea of information for those who require inspiration, assistance or collaboration when designing the company’s logo.

5. Hire a Sign Maker or a Designer

You may want to create a logo on your own; but, a professional will certainly do a better job. They have the right skills and equipment to help you come up with the right design. You can instruct them with what you want, your ideas and requirements. They will keep those in mind during the designing phase.   

Crafting a brand's visual identity is more than placing a name in a circle. A logo is a company's first impression, one that can influence a prospect’s brand perception, overall attitude and ultimately purchase decisions toward a product.

Most Common Advertising Mistakes

“Good advertising does not just circulate information. It penetrates the public mind with desires and belief”- Leo Burnett

This quote does hold a lot of truth. A well-made advertising campaign can attract the right prospects and get everyone talk about your product and service. While on the other hand, bad marketing can just as easily spoil your reputation and cost you thousands of dollars.

Here is a list of seven mistakes commonly made in the field of business marketing that you must avoid.

• Not Knowing your Ideal Customer - There are several companies that have no concept of who their ideal customers are. They keep a very product-centric view and believe that knowing who to target is not important since their product is so "hi-end". This is one of the biggest marketing mistakes businesses make. If you do not target the right audience, you will have a hard time increasing sales, no matter how “state of the art” your product may be.

• Lack of Testing and Research - Market testing and research should be done to determine how effective your marketing strategies really are. This helps you take the guesswork out of what your customer really wants. You should always make sure you have tested different prices, offers, and packages.

• Marketing without a Unique Selling Point - Your USP is the statement that singles you out amongst your competition. This should be utilized in every piece of advertising material. Do not market without it! Positioning your business away from competitors and making it distinctive keeps your business strong.

• Advertising at the Wrong Places - If you spend your advertising dollars at the wrong place then your advertising becomes expenditure and not an investment. It is important to get to know your potential customers. Give them a survey to fill out. Ask them what magazines or newspapers they like. You have to build a profile of your target market. After this, the advertising media will match you up with the right sections and stations.

• Listening to Wrong Advice - When it comes to advertising, everybody is willing to offer you advice. And, since you feel that you know so little, you take everything at face value. There are a lot of media salespersons who are just out to sell you advertisement. Hence, be careful whose advice you take.

• Concentrating on Product Features - There are so many businesses that talk about what their service or product has, not what it does. The truth is no one buys a service or product for its characteristics. Hence, evaluate every service and product you offer. What are the real benefits of each to your products? Are you displaying these benefits in your advertisements?

• Lack of Advertising Signs - One of the areas where businesses fail to invest is advertising signs. Banners, A-frames, and billboards are some of the most popular ways to attract foot traffic into your establishment. Make sure you get these graphics designed by creative and witty sign makers.

If your current marketing plan is making one of these mistakes then it’s time for you to take a step back from your present strategy, research prospective customer bases, and spend good time listening to the needs of your clients. It is never too late to start afresh.

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.