Epic Signs & Graphics Blog

First Impressions Count

When clients come into your company, what do they see? Does it make them stop and take notice because of an Epic sign on the wall?

A well designed and placed wall sign in the lobby area of your company indicates to visitors they are in an organization that is well run and efficient. Back that up with a genuine smile and a handshake....and whamo.....you have 'em at hello!

Judging by the pictorial journey in this blog, we hope you can see how a well executed sign plan can create a focal point that is hard to keep your eyes off. This project was started with a wall mural printed on our high quality vinyl material and digital printer and then installed from top to bottom....all 22 feet in height. A grand presence indeed!

The sign was constructed of aluminum fabricated into a shape we call in our industry a shoe box sign. Basically a box without a lid so that LED lights and power supply can be mounted inside to hide when installed on the wall. The face of the box was routed out for the lettering. In addition the acrylic was routed so that when applied to the inside of the shoebox, the acrylic pushes through the routed aluminum so that when the lights are turned on, it provides a nice glow of the letters. The vinyl was placed over the the face to keep the logo in-line for consistent branding.

How would you like a professionally designed and installed wall sign in your open office space? The employees feel good about working within an environment like this and they beam when we have the project completed. Give Epic Signs & Graphics a call and ask for a no hassle estimate for free! We will actually call you back and be happy to design a sign and a plan for you. You and your employees will be proud of the results and your clients will definitely be impressed.

Moving into an office park is a great move for some business owners.They provide an administrative hub at an affordable price. Parking is usually plentiful. The areas are well lit. Internet can be provided at high speed. Often times the building owner will work with you to accommodate your needs, this may involve buildouts and flexible terms.

However there is a downside to migrating to an office park.The downsides include:

• They lack signage and visibility for the average tenant
• Lack of signage equates to lack of customers.
• It is hard to stand out in an office park both physically and on the web.
• Google has the same address for you and a thousand other tenants.
• Your physical setting is confusing for those trying to find you.
• The rules of the facility prohibit critical sign program including,parking lot, directional and  billboard. The only methods to get found are costly in terms of time or money.

Before you move into an office park determine:

• Is my business best suited for the space?
• Can my customers see me or find me?
• Can I get found on the web without a lot of trouble?
• Is my business best suited for a retail space?
• Is it a big deal to trade without adequate building signs or directory signs?
• What are the pros and cons of this decision?
• How expensive are the consequences?
• How will my customers and vendors view this move?

Give me a sign

When faced with critical business decisions we find ourselves asking for a sign. My thoughts exactly. You need to be found physically and electronically.

We suggest:

• A-frames, window graphics or wall signs to be found from the road.
• Parking lot signs to direct you to the correct location.
• Directional signs to avoid confusion and wasted time.
• Office signs to reduce frustration and delays.
• Vehicle wraps for maximum visibility on the highway.

When business is great, now move into that office park and enjoy the fruits of your actions. You have made the best decison possible, by investing in yourself and your company with professional signage.

Remember, a highly visible and well known company will get the lead before you do. They have the signs to prove it.

Perhaps your company has not had a championship since 1964. Maybe you are mired in the struggle to get new customers or keep your players and team happy.

The struggle is all too real and very common. Many business owners do not have a stadium with a huge sign for all to see. In most cases there is no LED display, no play by play reporting. No newspaper coverage, no radio and almost no sales.

The lack of coverage  can be a major problem from the largest sports franchises to your team. All business owners need to get the message out. We all need to know who is on your team- and what type of product you are putting on the field. In the case of the Cleveland Cavaliers we are all so proud of them because we shared in their journey. They have a loyal fan base dedicated to their organization. Part of the success is because they are well known and beloved.

How can your organization be well known and beloved?

First you have to be found. This begins with signage to let others know you exist. The Cavs have a massive at the “Q “ . This tells all of the fans, you are at the right place. In the same way you need to be found and appreciated. It begins with some basic signage to tell your fans they are at the right place. There is no need for them to shop around. They are in good hands.

The signage includes a suitable “ stadium sign for your headquarters and workplace. You also need to be visible for the road games. When you are playing "away games” you need great lettering, decals or a wrap to maximize your visibility. Once you have better signage you can begin to overcome adversity. How can this be done?

Overcoming adversity

In every organization there is a tale of woe. There is always a drop, drive, fumble, game 7 of the world series or river on fire. But you have the responsibility to lead your team to the next level. It begins with recruitment and building a following of supporters. Your supporters expect to be able to find you .

They expect and demand:

• Elegant lobby signs that showcases your success to the world. All can see an eye catching sign that speaks to your professionalism. This is akin to the “ Q “ sign at the arena. There is no doubt the most celebrated companies use signs for maximum effect. In your franchise- you need to do the same.
• Sharp looking directional signs that guide your prospects to your office - so you can close the deal.
• Vehicle wraps for the "away games”. It's time for Cleveland to learn about you and support you!

If your organization is ready to win -take the steps needed to get there. Let Epic Signs & Graphics show you the way . Call to to get a free consultation and learn more about signage today!

Every day we are bombarded with messages telling us to buy goods and services. There is always a special ending in a few days, we are always told to buy now.

Given the saturation of visual noise from every angle, how can a person be expected to decipher the true value in a product from the poor quality high saturation messages pushing disposables?

There are simple steps to take to avoid excessive visual noise:

• Know quality when you see it. Use branding as a guide to recognize top brands
• Know value when you see it – When you know the standard value of goods and services it becomes immediately apparent when a good deal is a good deal
• Look for signs of trusted companies and local persons who have great integrity
• Work with legacy business. Do business with families who have worked in the industry for generations.
• Look at the quality of the signs you see. If the business is poorly signed, you can assume they are poorly organized.
• Look at the message and the messenger. A top quality message from a business owner of integrity is always worth calling. The sign should be of the highest quality and the message should meet your needs.

Taking it on the road

The road is a great place to see visual noise in all of its forms. When you see vehicle wraps of the
poorest quality assume the business owner is not investing in himself – he may not invest in you.

Knowing quality when you see it. When you’re on the road, look out for vehicle wraps that are crisp and easy to read. This shows the business person has taken great care to invest in himself. By investing in himself, the owner cares about his business- and is more likely to care about you.

When I see damaged vehicle signs and wraps I don’t expect that entrepreneur to want my business and value my account.

Types of signs that indicate a well-run organization

• Vehicle Wraps
• Directional Signage
• Office signs
• Lobby Signs

They tell me as a customer this organization cares about me as a person as they do not want me to be frustrated or lost when dealing with them.

We have all been there. Where is the business? Who is the owner? Where is the department? Where is the restroom? Those companies that are well signed are well run companies. They remove the stress of everyday life.  Key signs are not visual noise.

In summary watch out for the noise. Buy quality when you see it. Do business with those you trust and look for signs from great business owners who have made a top brand for themselves. Call today to have your full sign program evaluated.

What does it matter? It's just a silly little office sign! Yeah right. Wait until one is mispelled and see how important an office sign can be. Employees take pride in getting an office sign. It is a real source of self esteem for people deep down inside. It means you have arrived! All that hard work and training over the years has finally paid off and you have your very own spot in a company.

 Question is...what kind of sign is it? Can your employees take pride in the sign for their own office or cubicle? Or is it a print-out from the nearby printer created from a template which indicates how often people are shuffled in and around an organization like cattle?

Why not make a statement and upgrade that standard hunk of plastic and get something nice for hard working individuals? They spend at least 8 hours a day at the office, (I know there is a statistic out there that has pushed the average up over the years) at least squeeze out a few bucks from the profiteers and give it to the people on the front lines that battle it out day-in and day-out.

There are plenty of styles, materials and colors to choose from so there is no excuse for not having some
creativity and getting an office sign program in place that helps to identify your organization and your brand  as well. Taking a look through our sample book will show you there are hundreds of colors and textures to chose from. You can also have acrylic routed, shaped,  and engraved into all kinds of shapes and designs. Also, don't forget that we can print or apply vinyl graphics to the faces or backs (called second surface) for a very nice affect.

So if you need a sign company that reaches for superior service, give us a call and we would be happy to provide a consultation and estimate for the project you have in mind.

Time and again business owners complain to me that they can't get leads.When they do get leads they are 
no good..Business is bad. There is no hope. Maybe they will close the shop and call it a day.

When you ask the business owner what he is doing to fix it they say:

• We run ads in the same old places and get the same old results
• We have a website - but it does not work
• We have a web guy, but he is incompetent
• We have signs but they don't work
• It’s the customers fault  because of the internet. They wait for sales. No-one pays the right amount any more

So what are you going to do about it?

It’s time to change what you are doing. It's time to make your fleet highly visible with vehicle wraps. No-one can say they did not see you- or understand what you do. It’s time to transcend the postage size sign on your door. You need to be seen before you can be heard.

Benefits of vehicle wraps

• Better visibility in competitive markets
• Better leads as the right consumer understands what you do
• Better conversions as the product to consumer fit is better
• Less complaining in your office about consumers
• More productivity from your team - as they close on better jobs
• Less stress
• More money

Types of Vehicle Wraps

• Full vehicle wraps
• Partial vehicle wraps
• Decals
• Lettering

So why not do it myself

We live in the age of the internet and YouTube. Surely anyone can do this -Right? Well no have you ever seen those stick-on signs contractor's use or badly applied window tinting? Did you pick up the phone and call those guys?

When you see less than stellar vehicle wraps do you?

• Price shop them
• Go to their website
• Visit their location
• Talk to their salesman
• Assume your job will be better than their own
• Wait for the coupon to arrive before deciding

Chances are you would hold off on the purchase or go to a company with an excellent vehicle wrap and professional showroom.

To conclude that is why you need Epic . We remove the hassle and headaches of vehicle wraps and signage. We restore harmony to your workplace with better morale.

We are number one for a reason...

Call us for a free consult now!

Isn’t it frustrating driving around aimlessly? Time is important to you and you can’t find the person you are meeting. Often times it’s all local knowledge, but it can be tough finding someone to help sometimes. The locals could be a story unto themselves.

Do you have any idea what it's costing you if a customer can't find you? The costs are not only in lost sales but in tales of woe that focus on your hidden business address. This post will set you straight. Listen up team!

Siri can only do so much

Siri is great but she is not omniscient. She does not know everything there is to know about the places you are trying to go. She is not good at the door to door service. So when Siri lets you down its time to invest in signs.

What kind of signs do I need?

Let’s say you own a large distribution facility- or a large aprtment complex. You will need 6 critical destination drivers.

They are:

1. Parking lot signs
2. Lobby signs
3. Office signs
4. Wall murals
5. Directory signs
6. Custom plaque signs

The idea is to pick it up from where Siri left off. You want your friends and family to find you. It’s great to get your mail in your mail box- and pizza from the delivery guy while it’s hot. Making it happen is easy. Epic is all about solutions that are practical and fun to implement.  

Where will you find our signs?

If you are in Cleveland or anywhere in North East Ohio- chances are you have made it to where you are going because of one of our well placed professional signs. We were probably a silent partner in that last deal you made or the reason you met the love of your life. We like to think it happened because of a well-placed directory sign in the right place at the right time.

Taking it to the next level

That’s easy call  today and let’s get busy making you an even greater success!

You see it all of the time. A sign telling you what to do or where to go. Most of the time you don't have any real connection to the sign, it is just information or just noise. It's that lack of connection that is the problem.

Imagine you are enrolling your child in school. You are anxious about the big day, and you set off on your journey. Things are going well, your child is happy and healthy. But as you get closer to the new school you begin to notice signs that are weather beaten and tired. You think nothing of it - maybe its an old sign. As you approach the destination a billboard shows a picture of your school - but it holds no appeal. The picture has no "pop" and does not inspire you to really stop and look, it just looks like a regular photo some one shot quickly without regard for how it would look on a professional sign. 

So you continue on and pull into the school to see directional signs that are faded. Now you walk in and notice lobby signs, office entry signs and wall lettering that is old and not in style.

Now you meet the principal who tells you this is a great school with modern learning techniques and state of the art technology . What do you think?

• (A) This is a great school that does not invest in signs
• (B) This is a school that does not really invest in technology- since the signs are antiquated
• (C) You have doubts

The problem with choosing C for the school is there is no immediate sale. Your doubts will not be dispelled easily. The more you look into it you find other issues. Things like the bathrooms are old. The teachers seem like they don't relate well to the students and more.

The real issue is the drive to the school set the stage for the school to fail. If you are in business, you have to understand your customers, vendors and prospects. They are deciding what type of person you are, what type of business you run and what type of outcomes you can provide.

Epic Signs & Graphics can help you that impression. We are in the business of branding you strongly so your customers will have a great impression of you before you meet. We will design interior signs and lobby signs that showcase your business in the best light possible.

The lettering can been contemporary, maybe ii can be made with shiny new acrylic lettering or raised off the wall for a classic look. These types of options prevents any disconnects between your message and you. If budgeting is a problem. try updating in phases, no reason it has to be done all at once, also we may be able to tailor signs to meet the budget goal. The point is, there are lots of options to meet the goal. 

To learn more about classy well designed signs reach out to Epic Signs & Graphics today and we would be happy to provide a free consultation.

The business world can be very fearful..There are so many worries that stem from cash flow. The bills never cease- and payroll is always around the corner! The pressure is always on to do better and produce results before it is too late.

Every business owner has limited resources to work with. It is common to delay bills and take risks to improve the bottom line. Given the volatile nature of business and the ever present risk of failure what can be done?

Steps to succeed when it seems hopeless

1. The first thing to do is relax- take a walk. Know that there is help all around you.
2. Now, reach out to those who can help- begin with sign companies.
3. Install top quality signs for maximum visibility at your business and surrounding areas that are allowable.
4. Take advantage of the lead generation potential and close deals on profitable jobs.
5. Take advantage of a vehicle wrap to capture a wider market. Vehicle advertising is a powerful method of lead generation.Your customers will see this.
6. Park your well wrapped vehicle in high traffic areas at peak times.
7. Drive your highly visible and professionally decaled vehicle in the vicinity of parades and public gatherings.
8. Take advantage of the extra leads to close deals on profitable jobs.

Learn about vehicle wraps

Successful companies always make it look easy. We have all been stuck in traffic behind semi's showcasing truck decals with top brands. It is clear that the highest acheivers in our country have not failed to get our attention - and focus on their products.

There are 7 concepts we will discuss today:

1. Van wraps
2. Truck wraps
3. Custom wraps
4. Van decals
5. Truck lettering
6. Fleet graphics
7. Commercial fleet graphics

The van wrap

I am advocating today is a sophisticated marketing tool. It removes the frustration from the passenger cars that is caused in traffic delays.It sends a message to the motoring public of a service or benefit they can take advantage of now or in the future. The van must be attractive and lettered so well it serves as a mobile call to action.

Truck wraps

Truck wraps are a brilliant marketing strategy as the billboard is visual and large. The advertising can be very attractive with a call to action in lettering that is appealing and effective. This is the same strategies that are used by fortune 500 companies- If you have a truck you need to do this just to compete.

Custom wraps

A vehicle wrap can be as individual as you.Since no two people are alike - your personality should shine through.A custom wrap will have its own:

• Background
• Colors
• Color fades
• Layout
• Styles
• Text
• Highlights
• Images

Customizing your vehicle is fun- we really enjoy helping customers navigate the world of design and layout to produce a car scape that amazes all.

Van decals

The highway is congested with white vans. Why should yours blend in with the homogeneous sea of white fans. You only have one chance to make a good impression.This may be your only shot. Make it count.

As we said earlier, success and failure are closely related. In this case- one rival captured a lead that turned into a sale today - and maybe for generations of repeat business- because of a beautiful van decal.

Truck lettering &  Commercial Fleet Graphics

In business it is not good enough to be good. You have to be exceptional. This is because the competition will not rest until they have pitched to your accounts.

This is not something you can do yourself like a home tinting job on a passenger car. This is the domain of professionals who are enthusiastic about getting results for you.

In order to be exceptional your trucks and fleet have to look exceptional. It begins with hiring professionals who deliver results every single day. When you look great - better quality prospects will want to do business with you. They associate your success with their success

This is the domain of Epic Graphics. It's time to make the impossible possible. Make it Happen!

It is no wonder so many small business fail.So many small business owners overlook the value on signage and suffer from lack of sales or customer awareness. In addition to lack of sales they cause frustration and confusion every step of the way.

The failure points are:

• No signage and poor visibility that results in vendor and consumer frustration
• Antiquated or dilapidated signage that was once done professionally
• Amatur signage done cheap
• Poorly placed signs that compete with visual noise
• Signage that is too small
• Graphics that are hard to read. The writing is competing with the images.
• Professional signage that does not immediately convey the message clearly.

Carrying on in this manner is costly:

The hotel industry and astute business owners have realized that guest experience has to be high in order to capture repeat business. Repeat business is the key to solving cash flow issues and generating more profits.

The steps to take to earn repeat business:

• Be professional - Look professional, have signs that reflect your competitive advantage to your customers, prospects and the public
• Educate your customers with design, articulate signs that showcase your brilliance.
• End your customers heavy reliance on Google Maps to  find you. By the time they have found you they are too upset to buy from you.
• Invest in yourself and your business. Understand your company or enterprise will thrive when you have a system for lead generation. Those leads and prospects begin when you have a professional sign to showcase you.

The investment

• Directional Signs to guide an otherwise frustrated customer or vendor directly to you. The sooner your customer finds you the sooner business can begin. This is the first step in building your business. It can be as simple as a well placed professional sign to guide your traffic.

• Lobby Signs tell the customer that they are in the right place. In order to encourage investment in your company the signage has to provide a visual example of your brand, The sign has to be a reflection of you- therefore   it can be nothing short of the highest standards.

• Office signs that convey excellence to the beholder. The office sign has the power to reinforce the notion of success. Given the fact that successful people choose to do business with successful vendors this is a critical step in your customer's confidence in you.

• Suite signs are critical . Have you ever wondered who is wandering around your building with a personal GPS ? That is your prospect that could have been a customer had he been able to find you. It is clear in office parks a suite sign ends the search and lets business begin.  

• Office Door Signs  speak to your level of professionalism and expertise.Often times a paper tag on the door indicates you have found the right office- but it has to convey your brand in a manner that tells the reader they have made the right decision to work with you. A poor office sign done in a sub standard way reflects on you personally. Avoid the mediocre at all costs .

In summary

The evidence is clear. You need great signage in order to succeed . Your journey begins with directional signage and ends with an office door sign. Do nor frustrate your customers by keeping that old sign that is shrouded with visual noise.

Reinforce your brand and marketing by providing clear entry way signs. Make it clear to your buyers they have made the right choice to hire you. Amature signs reak of un professionalism. Do not skim on the pennies only to loose dollar bills from your back pocket. The time has come to take your company to the next level. To learn how, call Epic Signs & Graphics today!