Get More Than You Bargained For… At the Same Price

I was talking to the owner of another sign shop recently and he was telling me how he charges much more for a full-colour, printed banner, than a single colour vinyl-on-banner model.  He was shocked that some sign shops charge the same amount for either process.  I didn’t offer my opinion.  I just smiled as enigmatically as I could.

Yes, the perceived value of a full-colour printed banner is much higher.  It’s more exciting, can be vibrant and eye-catching compared to a plain old one-colour-of-vinyl-on-a-white-background banner.  But the truth is, it costs about the same amount to produce either banner.

I was a bit surprised by this fact but I ran the numbers several times and after taking into consideration the labour cost for processing the vinyl and applying it to the banner, we can produce a full-colour banner for the same price!  That’s why we only have one price for banners whether they be full colour or spot colour.  In fact, if there is more than one colour on a banner, we would print it anyway.

I’ve spoken of the advances of technology before and how they’ve allowed us to offer better products for the same or less.   In fact, looking back over the last 20 years, here at ICSigns, our prices have held quite steady.

What other industry can boast that fact ? !

Ten years ago, we produced most of our signs on computer-cut vinyl, laying one colour down at a time, only deferring to the large format printer if too many colours were involved.   Now the reverse is true.  Over 90% of the signs we produce are printed.  One reason for this is that designers are aware of the capabilities of sign makers who have the right equipment.  They send us files that are choc-full of colour, knowing we can reproduce them with a level of accuracy not possible 10 years ago.

We get excited about the signs we produce.  Just this week we made a huge banner for a customer that we thought was exceptional in design.  A picture of it is here at the top of the post.  It sits on a wall outside his boutique and looks dynamic.  You can’t help but notice this banner if you are in the area. It’s a lifestyle image and the colours are spectacular!  And the cost was very reasonable compared to the alternative of layers of coloured vinyl on a white background.   It’s a far superior product at a very reasonable price!

The full-colour print extends to most other signs we produce as well.  We now have materials that we can use on back-lit signs, POP signs, awnings, even parking signs (ever wish you could have a reserved parking spot for your customers with your logo or a life-style picture on it?  You CAN!). The possibilities are endless and it doesn’t have to cost any more.

I would love to hear about your experiences and  get your comments.  Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. That’s great for you bloggers out there. By leaving a comment, you can leave a link back to your own blog. But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I’d like to hear from all of you!

Happy signing,

Drew.

At ICSigns, We Take Customer Service Seriously

This will be the last ski-related blog for a while – I promise!

I have just returned from a week’s ski vacation at Big White in BC.  At the end of the last day, I was retrieving our skis from the lock-up but one of our locks refused to release.  I started to feel pressure because a shuttle bus would soon arrive to take us to the airport and if we missed that, we could miss our flight home.  I analyzed the situation and realized that the lock body and outer covering had become misaligned, trapping the bar which held the skis.  No amount of pressure or tapping (or swearing) would convince the lock to release.  My only resource was to go to the front desk and ask for assistance.  The lock was ours but it is the same model that the accommodation loans its guests to lock their skis in the lock-up room.  The man at the front desk assured me they had had the same problem with the locks and he knew how to resolve it.  With screw-driver in hand, he accompanied me to the lock-up and deftly released the lock.  I thanked him profusely and we were able to board our bus on time.

Why am I telling you this?  Not because I was impressed with the service at our accommodations, which I was, but because of what happened later.  Upon arrival home, I decided that the four locks we had were of little value if we could not retrieve our skis at the appropriate time.  So I sought a solution.

Ski Key (the name of the lock system) is a product that is used Canada-wide.  I wondered if the company had a solution to my problem.  On Sunday, I went to the internet and searched them out.  Their website has a ‘Contact’ button which I clicked on and sent a short note expressing my concerns and asking if there was any warranty for locks that were several years old.  To my surprise, later that day (Sunday!) I received an email from the president telling me that yes, he does warrant his products and if I was to take the locks to any ski shop, they would replace them with new ones.  And if they had any questions about the exchange, they should call him directly (he gave his phone number).  He informed me that some of the locks from a manufacturer had this problem but he has since changed manufacturers and the problem has been resolved.

This is the point of my blog this week.  Taking ownership for our mistakes and resolving the problem without question so that the client becomes a champion of your product rather than a detractor.  Here is someone who is passionate about the product he sells and stands behind it despite the fact he will have to replace probably thousands of locks.  He has decided that the reputation of his company is worth more than the cost of a large batch of locks.  I admire that and I also know how that feels.

Several years ago, we too had a product failure with a batch of large printed signs that were sent to Montreal and environs.  The laminate detached from the print, obviously an adhering problem.  These were no ordinary signs but a large and complex system suspended from the ceiling.  As soon as I was informed of the problem, I flew to Montreal and inspected all the locations where the signs had been installed.  I decided that all had to be replaced and even though it was not us that had installed them (the customer’s contractor had done that) we would go on site, take down the old signs and re-install the new ones.  We did that as soon as the new signs were printed, using a different batch of laminate that the manufacturer assured us would not come apart.  This was an expensive venture for us but the customer appreciated that we stood behind our product and we resolved the problem without any disruption to their operations.  Happily, the new product proved successful and we sold many more to the customer.

Yes, here at ICSigns, we stand behind everything we sell, even if that stance costs us time, material and money.  We will not compromise on quality or customer satisfaction.  To me, that is more important than anything.

How about you? Have you experienced these kinds of inconsistent results with your suppliers? I would love to get your comments. Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. That’s great for you bloggers out there. By leaving a comment, you can leave a link back to your own blog. But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I’d like to hear from all of you!

Happy signing,

Drew.

I am convinced that sustained success cannot be achieved in the absence  of consistency.  Consistency is one of the cornerstones to success in any enterprise be it business, or sport.

I was reminded of the importance of consistency while taking a ski lesson during our March Break vacation in BC. Mike, our instructor (a level 4 which is the highest ranking attainable) was speaking and demonstrating consistency in executing the three phases of a turn.  Without consistency in all three phases, we can never become good or great skiers.  I won’t belabor the details of the three phases but you skiers out there should know what they are (if you don’t, take a lesson and learn them).

While riding up the chair lift with Mike, we were chatting about life, where we come from and what we do in the off-season.  As it turns out, Mike has a landscaping business in the Peterborough, Ontario area.  He is the third generation to be involved in this business – now there’s consistency!  Bill asked what my line of work was and when I told him we make signs, he related his experience with his local sign shop.  Until recently, he had been very happy with the quality of work from his sign supplier and they had been doing business for many years.  However, something changed in that organization last year and the quality of a job delivered was not what they were accustomed to – inconsistency.  I didn’t get all the details but his issues were unresolved and now he will be taking his sign business elsewhere.  If Bill is experiencing this inconsistency, then the other customers at the sign shop will also be experiencing it. A steady decline in clientele can be expected.

Consistency in the face of adversity is also important. Managing staff issues or equipment failures sometimes requires us to adapt to ensure that the end result is a positive experience for our clients.  Sometimes that means using alternate methods to achieve the same result.  I began writing this on a piece of paper because my laptop crashed while on vacation and there was no-one there in the mountains, an hour outside Kelowna, to fix it.  Rather than wait until returning home and getting the laptop fixed, I hand wrote this, transferring it to a digital file later because it’s important that I be consistent in publishing my content.

One of our clients recently sent an accolade to us in response to a job we had done.  He said it was great that we consistently delivered what we said we would, when we said we would. Accolades to us are unsolicited remarks from customers which we read out at our weekly Production Meetings.  They are the first items on the agenda and the entire team is present.  For us to be consistent, I feel it is important for the entire team to be on board and to hear how our customers feel about our work.

Consistency is something we strive to achieve all the time at Instant Custom Signs and I know the results speak for themselves.  We could not have retained repeat customers for 10, 12  and 15 years if not for consistency.

How about you? Have you experienced these kinds of inconsistent results with your suppliers? I would love to get your comments.  Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv.  That’s great for you bloggers out there. By leaving a comment, you can leave a link back to your own blog.   But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I’d like to hear from all of you!

Happy signing,

Drew.

AT ICSigns, You Get More Than You Bargained For

As Mick Jagger sang….  ♫ ♪  You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, You get what you need! ♪ ♫

OK, so maybe I don’t need those extra pounds! But, I love it when I get more than I bargained for in a deal.  It doesn’t matter what it is or how small the extra. It could be that extra large scoop of ice cream or getting your windshield cleaned at a full-serve gas station (when was the last time that happened?).  We all love to get those little extras and I know it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to provide it.  Many businesses these days tend to concentrate so much on the bottom line that they lose sight of customer service.

Airlines are one industry that has lost sight of customer service.  It wasn’t enough that they used to lose our bags regularly.  Now we have to pay extra for checking bags, or even taking bags on the plane.   Snacks used to be supplied – not any more.  I used to get two hot meals on my flights to England (dinner and breakfast) but now it’s just dinner.  Breakfast is a stodgy ham roll and a fat-laden muffin. That does nothing for your constitution after sitting in a cramped position for 8 hours!

Okay, I’m getting into a rant here and that was not my intent.  I’d like to talk about one positive experience I’ve had recently and how I feel about the organization.

My 15 year-old daughter wanted to take her level 1 ski instructor course just before Christmas.  It was 4 days on the slopes and I thought it was a great idea.  Moreover, I thought I would also apply since I had thought about doing this for some time and because it would be me that had to drive her to the ski resort anyway, so why not?  We took the course and both passed.  My skiing has improved for the experience and I enjoyed the course immensely.  That was what I expected and I felt good about it.  The bonus came afterwards, at our ski club where we offered our services as instructors.  Unbeknownst to me, as part of the deal, the Director of Snow Sports and his supervisors put on a ski training session for instructors at the end of each ski day.  The Director is a level 4 ski instructor who can analyze a person’s skiing minutely and give amazing feedback on how to improve. Who wouldn’t appreciate that extra guidance? For me, this was a huge bonus.  Instruction by a Level 4 ski instructor is expensive and the best instruction money can buy.

How do I feel about this organization?  Great!  Will I continue to be an instructor there?  Absolutely!

What do we do at ICSigns that offers a bonus to our customers?  Well, for one, we’ve never charged extra for a rush job.  We pride ourselves in being able to shuffle our production schedule to accommodate emergency orders.

And we give other extras.  Recently, we made repairs to a sign frame for a customer without charging for it. The sign was in our shop for a new acrylic face and graphics and the repairs ensured the sign would give many years service.  The customer appreciated that.  Likewise, some customers need us to deliver product to them.  We do so willingly because we know that by doing so, we are cementing our relationship with the customer.  It may cost us a little to give these extras but what it does for us in customer relations is priceless!

Have you forgotten what it’s like to be treated to great customer service?  Or perhaps you are trying to find a business that believes in good, old-fashioned care for the client.  If so and you need great signs, please put us to the test.

In the meantime, tell me about your last great experience with customer service. I love to hear from all my readers.

Happy Signing,

Drew.

Professionally Speaking…

Recently, I was sitting on the chair-lift at our ski club, chatting to a fellow instructor about how great my kids are (okay, so I don’t always tell the truth).  My 15 year-old daughter skied by below us demonstrating graceful, even, controlled turns.(Man, I wish I could ski like that!)  My companion asked if I had taught her to ski.  I snorted!  There was no way that I could have taught her to ski that well!  No, I replied.  I left that to the professionals – ski instructors.  They did a much better job of teaching her than I ever could have.  Why do I bring this up?  Well,

a)  I love to talk about my children (what parent doesn’t?) and

b) Sitting on the chair-lift, just after responding to the question, I had one of those “Aha” moments.

We had professionals teach our children to ski because professionals have the unique skills, knowledge and experience required to do the job.  I hadn’t considered it much until that moment, but it became clear to me there and then.

We will pay for driving lessons, post-secondary education, tutors, music lessons, gymnastics and other sports or endeavours at which our children want to become proficient.  Professionals can do this – I can’t.  Well, I could try but I couldn’t do a good job and we both would be poorer for the experience.

Back in the day, I would climb under the hood of my 60’s era Pontiac Strato Chief and change the plugs and oil or set the points.  I could change the wires and do all kinds of simple maintenance.  By today’s standards, it was a very simple car.  But I wouldn’t touch the brakes or steering – that was best left to the professionals.  Today, I look under the hood of most cars and marvel at how much the engineers have crammed into such a small space.  No room for me to stand beside the engine and work on it so only a professional mechanic lifts the hood of my car.

I had lunch with a friend who is a graphic designer – a professional graphic designer.  We were talking about how some of her contacts spend hours working on a design themselves and send it to print only to be disappointed with the results.  Others, after spending hours on a design, turn to her and ask for help.  She charges for her time but the resulting graphic layout is worth the cost.  Spending time trying to do something you are not trained to do, something that you are not efficient at, or something you may not like doing, is a waste of time and energy.

What do we do that we should turn over to a professional?  I’m a big believer in using professionals for certain tasks.  At ICSigns, we have our printing equipment, computers and servers maintained and repaired by trained technicians; our website, printed materials, etc., – all done by professionals.

We are great at making signs. Our focus is to give our customers the best value for their signage dollar.  We are professionals who love to talk about signs and whether someone buys from us or not, we hope that they will take the knowledge we impart and put it to good use in making a decision about the signs they buy.

What do you turn over to a professional?  I would love to get your comments.  Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv.  That’s great for you bloggers out there. By leaving a comment, you can leave a link back to your own blog.   But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I’d like to hear from all of you!

Happy signing,

Drew.

ICSigns – Secrets to Saving Money on Signage

Some businesses do not need a full-blown illuminated sign. I’m talking about non-retail businesses that operate only during the daylight hours.  Some new start-up businesses may wish to mitigate the cost of signage until cash-flow allows them a little more flexibility in their sign choices.

For both of these examples, the “Face and Frame” sign is a great alternative to more expensive signs.  The term “Face and Frame” refers to the aluminum frame that is exactly the same materials as used in an illuminated sign box (without the box and electrical components) and the acrylic face that is again, the same as would be used in an illuminated sign.  Since we are not buying the box and all those electrical parts (ballasts, lamps, sockets, wiring, switch, plus labour to assemble) there is considerable savings to be realized.

So how good does this sign look?

In the daylight hours, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a Face & Frame and a regular illuminated sign. The only clue being that the Face and Frame is not as deep as a sign box.  Other than that, it looks just like an illuminated sign.  We’ve even developed a technique for mounting these signs on hidden brackets so that the brackets do not give away our secret.

If the plan is to install a face and frame sign today and back it up with an illuminated sign box later, the only thing you will need in the future is the sign box.  Our Face and Frame sign will fit on the new box so you are not throwing anything away.

We have made Face and Frame signs for corporations large and small.  It’s not just small businesses that like to save money.  If illumination is not high on the priority list, then go for a Face and Frame sign. Keep your image, maintain your brand and save money at the same time.  What a concept!

Here at ICSigns, we have lots of experience helping our clients find ways to make great use of their advertising dollar. We’d be happy to help you find the best sign to meet your needs.

I’d love to get your feedback!  For all you bloggers out there, by leaving a comment, you also can leave a link back to your own blog! I look forward to hearing from you.  In the meantime,

Happy Signing,

Drew

Channel Lettering – LED The Way to Go

There are several types of fascia signs (storefront signs) and some sub-categories, all of which have their place in the world of signs.  The type of business you are in usually dictates the type of sign and the budget for that sign.  High-end retail stores prefer top-of-the-line signage with big price tags.  They are often large channel letters internally lit by LED’s. It’s not hard to see who’s raking in the money!

At the other end of the spectrum is a small industrial shop which must  be identified but doesn’t need illumination or fancy designs.  Here we can suggest a face and frame sign which is similar to an illuminated sign box but without the box. It’s a professional looking sign without the expense of a fabricated box or electrical components.  At ICSigns, we can help you choose the right sign for your needs and your budget.

So, let’s start at the top of the scale – Channel letters.  Usually 5-6” deep with an  acrylic face and internally illuminated.  These used to be predominantly lit by Neon tubes but the expense of keeping Neon working has soured many people on that product.  Many manufacturers refuse to make Neon – lit signs any more because of the potential for damage before the sign is even installed.  LED is so much more reliable, durable and economical.  Like many things that are better for us, LD’s cost more to purchase but the cost savings in power and reduced maintenance costs far outweigh the additional up-front cost.  Power requirements are low as all the energy is turned into light, not heat, as is the case in incandescent or, to a lesser extent, fluorescent and Neon.

Channel letter bodies are usually metal, formed around a template and welded to complete the outline of the letter.  Then a back of metal or wood and a front of acrylic are applied to give it rigidity.  As an added attraction, some channel letters allow light to shine through the back of the letter creating a halo effect on the wall behind.  Another twist is the use of a translucent plastic body through which light shines to give another version of a halo effect.  All of these have their place according to the requirements of the customer.  As is usually the case, the fancier the lettering / lighting / layout, the more expensive the sign will be.  However, I would consider channel letters to be one of the most effective signs for a fascia sign.  The letters are bold and individually lit which makes for a most legible sign.

In future blogs, I’ll discuss other types of fascia signs.  In the meantime, I’d love to get your feedback. What kind of sign do you find most compelling?  Here on this blog, we offer comment luv. That’s great for all you bloggers out there.  When you leave a comment, you can add a link back to your own Blog! That’s great for Search Engine Optimization. But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. We want to hear from everyone!

Happy Signing,

Drew

ICSigns is a “Cut” Above

If you remember my last blog post, we talked about pylon signs and how their function is to stand out by the roadside and guide customers to your door.  Storefont (or Fascia) signs are the next step in guiding our customers to our place of business.   Once the prospect or client is on the property, the fascia signs now guide the customer to our door.  It can have a little more information than the pylon sign, as the potential customer is now a more ‘static’ audience than someone viewing the pylon sign.  However, if the fascia sign is the only means of attracting customers (for example no pylon sign exists) then my mantra `the best sign says the least` or KISS  – Keep it short and simple is the way to go.  I often think of a fascia sign as the headline on the front page of a newspaper.  At the top is the name of the newspaper in bold lettering and below is the day’s headline.  This is how your sign should look.

Let’s assume we already have a pylon sign and we are now designing our fascia sign.  What is the most important information we can put on it?  Certainly the name of the company is the most important and should dominate the available space.  If the product you sell is not incorporated in the company name, then certainly a one or two word description of your business is desirable.  For example, ‘Feckle Brothers’ could be the name of the business but if the products the Feckle Brothers sell is specialty hardware, then that should also be on the sign.

Phone numbers and/or a web address can also be added in case people are visiting outside your regular business hours.  Beyond this, any more information is just going to clutter the sign, reduce the space for more important information and reduce its over all effectiveness.  Here are two examples: One of a good fascia sign and the other one of a cluttered fascia sign.

Most leased properties have an existing fascia sign on which the lessee can put their graphic.  If the previous tenant had vinyl lettering on the sign, we can usually effectively remove the old lettering, clean up the acrylic and apply new lettering.  There are two advantages to this:

1. The cost of new acrylic is avoided (normally the cost of cleaning off old lettering is only an hour or so of  labour),
2. It keeps the acrylic out of the landfill – something we should all be concerned about in this age of recycling.

New fascia signs can be of several different varieties:

• Illuminated sign box
• Channel letter, illuminated or not
• Face & Frame
• Flat-cut metal or plastic letters

…to name but a few.  I will be elaborating more on the different type of Fascia signs in my next post.

Some landlords require that all fascia signs in a plaza be of a particular variety so that there is some uniformity throughout the plaza.  Typically, when a landlord dictates a type of signage, it is illuminated channel letters.  We’ve seen more of this lately and while it sometimes forces the tenant to re-think the sign budget, there is a definite benefit.  With all the signs being of a similar type, the quality of signage is usually higher and “budget” signage that could bring down the over-all image of the plaza is avoided. You can look forward to many years in a plaza with high standards.

In summary, Fascia signs are the “headline” above your place of business.  They should give a brief but effective hint as to what lies inside.  Keep it short and simple so that it can be recognized quickly.

We, at Instant Custom Signs, have been making fascia signs for over 17 years.  If you have a fascia sign project or a problem you would like to discuss, let me know.  I’ll be happy to pass on any useful  information .

Also, please feel free to leave comments and suggestions here on our blog.  And here on this blog, we offer comment luv. That’s great for all you bloggers out there.  When you leave a comment, you can add a link back to your own Blog! That’s great for Search Engine Optimization. But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. We want to hear from everyone!

Happy Signing,

Drew

Pylon Signs Help Drive Business To Your Door

That monument, ground or pylon sign standing outside your building should be a reflection of your image and brand.  I once read, “A business without a sign is a sign of no business”.  True enough.  Not many businesses can survive without a sign to direct traffic to their doors unless they are a web-based company that relies on other methods.  Not so the larger retail companies we recognize regularly.  Shell, Esso, MacDonalds as well as The Bay, Sears, Canadian Tire and other bastions of retail excellence.  Their pylon signs are not the only things that bring customers to their doors but it is an important part of the corporate strategy.  It reflects the brand and broadcasts for blocks, where you should turn in.

Not every company can afford a huge pylon sign like the major corporations.  But it still must be a part of the corporate strategy.  Many companies share space on a pylon sign with other tenants or condo owners.  While your space may be limited, don’t give up on making the most of what is available to you.  This means maximizing the available space.  Let’s say you are negotiating a lease for a building in which you share space on a pylon sign.  Try to negotiate with the landlord to increase the number of places or size of space available on the sign. If part of the sign is vacant, you might be able to negotiate using that space until the vacant space is required.  There are benefits to both parties here.  You gain extra signage for the beginning of the lease (when it is most important for customers to find you) and the landlord’s property will appear fully occupied (which benefits all the tenants since prosperity begets prosperity).  I remember my days in the gas station business when, if a station had no customers, we advised the managers to park a car or two at the pumps. You’d be surprised how this technique brought customers onto the lot!  An empty lot looks deserted and forbidding.  But a lot with cars on it attracts other customers.

How much information should go on a pylon sign?  As little as possible!  Remember my mantra: “The best sign says the least.”  Certainly the name and logo of the company must be the largest and most prominent items displayed.  After that, any further information will only detract from the main message.  The pylon sign is there to broadcast who you are and where you are, not give out a lot of information about your company.  There are other vehicles for that.

Let’s talk about the layout of the logo and company name on the pylon.  Sometimes, the configuration of the sign does not allow you to lay out the name and/or logo in the normal fashion.  Unless you are designing and building a pylon sign for your own purpose, be prepared to re-configure the layout to maximize the available space.  For example, your logo may quite square but the available space is long and thin.  If you don’t allow the designer to change the layout of the logo/name, it will be very small and very hard to see from a distance. That’s a short-sighted policy.  I’ve seen this happen in many instances where a corporation, with strict rules on how the name and logo can be displayed, moves into a rented property. The head office refuses to bend on the  layout of the sign.  The result is a smaller than expected presence on the sign and an ineffective sign.

Here at ICSigns, we can help you design and install a great pylon sign for your business. We have the expertise and experience to help you drive business to your door!

In summary:

• Be prepared to negotiate additional space for a short period of time
• Be flexible on the layout so that you maximize the space available
• Only put the essential information on the sign – name and logo

Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions here on our blog.  And here on this blog, we offer comment luv. That’s great for all you bloggers out there.  When you leave a comment, you can add a link back to your own Blog! That’s great for Search Engine Optimization. But you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. We want to hear from everyone!

Happy Signing,

Drew

Digital Signs Are Growing Up

I could write a book about the different materials we use in making signs.  However, my instructions are to be brief, so a few words will have to suffice.  If you need more information, please contact me. I’m happy to share my knowledge.

Let’s talk about digital graphics as this is the hot topic in the sign industry today.  We started making digital signs many years ago when the materials were not as robust as they are today.  Also, the choice of manufacturer and supplier were limited as digital signs were in their infancy.  Things have changed quite a bit in the last 8 years.  There are more manufacturers and more choices so that materials can be more closely matched with the use.  However, not all materials are as good as their manufacturers say they are.  There’s a surprise!

When considering what material to choose for a particular project, there are three things to consider:

1. Indoor or outdoor?
2. Life expectancy
3. Illuminated or not?

We already have many computations and many choices of material within this group.  Add to this, the choice of laminating or not and you double the number of choices. We’ve had great success with some manufacturers and less success with others.  We gauge success by how the sign performs in its chosen environment.

Printing onto vinyl or plastic has other complications.  Like the paper printing industry, we look at the white point of the material.  Some look very white.  Some are on the yellow side and some are on the blue end of the spectrum.  We prefer a true white material so that we can achieve a good match for the customer’s colours.  When you start with a material that has a different colour built in, you really are starting from an unknown point and trying to get to your destination by taking different routes by trial and error.  This gets to be time consuming, tiresome and expensive.

Let’s say the sign we are printing is to be used outdoors in an illuminated sign box.  We need to find a material that has the following characteristics:

• An excellent white point (for colour matching)
• Is translucent (so that it does not hinder the transmission of light)
• Has a clear adhesive (to not introduce any changes to the colour of the light being transmitted)
• Will accept a heavy application of ink (so that the colours remain vibrant when illuminated)
• And will not deteriorate in the UV rays of the sun.

Then we have to apply the laminate, which will add protection from chemicals, abrasion and the sun’s rays. The laminate also has to work with the vinyl.  We find it best to use laminate and vinyl from the same manufacturer. They know which laminate works with which vinyl so we tend to follow their instructions and it has proven successful.  Our customers are often surprised at how well the printed materials perform, both for longevity and colour vibrance.  It took our industry several years to perfect the materials and I dare say there is still some way to go.  However, today we have materials that can be printed in vibrant colours, will last many years outdoors and are reasonably priced.

Here at ICSigns, we work together with our customers to find the best solutions at the best price possible.  We also love to hear from our clients about their experiences. Feel free to leave a reply below! And here on this blog, we offer comment luv, which means, when you leave a comment, there’s an opportunity to provide a link back to your own blog. Great for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Happy signing,

Drew