Epic Signs & Graphics Blog

You're not alone if you've ever tried to hang signs, artwork, or plaques on freshly painted walls, only to watch your tape fail miserably. The culprit? Low-VOC paints. While these eco-friendly paints are great for indoor air quality and sustainability, they present a real challenge when it comes to adhesion.

But don't worry; Epic Signs now uses "SecureStick", a great new solution by Repros Engineering for installing graphics on Low-VOC walls.

WHY DOES TAPE FAIL ON LOW-VOC PAINTS?

Low-VOC paints have revolutionized the painting industry, making indoor spaces safer and greener. However, this innovation comes with some frustrating side effects, especially when you're trying to use traditional adhesives. Here's why regular tape just doesn't cut it:

• Softer, More Porous Finish. Low-VOC paints contain fewer harsh chemicals, resulting in a softer surface, making it harder for adhesives to bond appropriately.
• Extended Drying & Curing Time. Even if the paint feels dry, it may still be too soft to hold the tape securely.
• Alternative Resins & Binders. The ingredients that make Low-VOC paints safer also make them less compatible with standard tapes.
• Paint Finish Matters. Matte, eggshell, and satin finishes are common in Low-VOC paints, but their textured surfaces can reduce adhesion even further.

THE GAME-CHANGER: SECURESTICK TAPE

SecureStick was engineered to apply to "hard to stick surfaces" and it also works with Low-VOC surfaces. It is designed with superior adhesion technology to ensure your graphics and signs stick and stay on your wall. Here's why SecureStick is a great solution:

• Universal Compatability. It works better on Low-VOC finishes, including matte, eggshell, and satin.
• Reliable & Long-Lasting. Adheres securely even on softer, less-cured surfaces.
• Perfect for Business & Commercial Use. It is ideal for signage, wayfinding, ADA compliance plaques, and other professional applications.
• Great for Temporary and Permanent Installations: SecureStick is perfect for applying wayfinding signs, plaques, and ADA signs to walls with Low-VOC paint surfaces, but the foam allows for better removability when new signs need to be installed.

WE UPGRADED TO SECURESTICK FOR BETTER INSTALLATION RESULTS

At Epic Signs, we don't let tape troubles slow us down! Whether we are installing signage in an office, retail space, or public building, SecureStick ensures a smooth installation experience every time.  Say goodbye to peeling and failing tape and hello to a professional, polished finish! Just remember these steps we follow to get the best results when using SecureStick and other products on Low-VOC walls:

• Allow Proper Paint Curing Time. Even if your paint feels dry, give it the full recommended curing period before applying tape.
• Use a Primer Coat. A good primer can enhance adhesion and make tape applications more reliable.
• Test Before Full Application. Always do a a small test area to ensure SecureStick meets your needs.
• Prep Your Surface. Clean, dry, and grease-free walls provide the best adhesion results.

This is why Epic Signs uses SecureStick to make your graphics stick!

If you are looking for professional graphics or signs using SecureStick, contact Epic Signs & Graphics at (440) 799-8235 or email info@EpicSignsCleveland.com. We have developed a variety of solutions to address hard-to-stick surfaces.

WHERE TO GET SECURESTICK

For more information on SecureStick, contact Repros, Inc. at 800-666-3364 x105 or email Heather.Oneil@ReprosInc.com

As a business owner myself, I do understand there are a lot of unknowns right now concerning how to plan for the immediate future. But I do believe in the long run of the United States and North East Ohio in particular, we will pull out of it and business will carry on, although I admit we may not know how it will look. As part of the future, Epic Signs & Graphics can help business prepare for the future with signs and  graphics projects. It is a good time orient your branding to support your new plans.

Vehicle Graphics

Maybe you have new vehicles that came in recently or you have a new logo and slogan to help support that new company direction. We can help with the rebranding of one or many vehicles. We are experts at Wraps, decals, lettering and magnets.

Interior Signs

Employees and clients will need to return to facilities in most cases. It is a great time to plan and install new wall graphics such as wall murals, dimensional logos and lettering or new lobby and office signs. These types of graphics inspire employees and impress clients, why not make a splash when they return?

Exterior Signs

Why not extend the same philosophy for exterior signs? We can provide services for new wall signs, ground signs, lettering besides window graphics.

Event Signs

Let people know you're open, or make plans for future events, with nice weather and or appropriate logistics followed, signage can help facilitate people flow and information and at the same time create a fun atmosphere with banners, tents, yard signs, flags, and posters.

As Ben Franklin once quoted, "by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail". So contact us today as we want you to succeed!

If someone from outside of the Cleveland area were to be looking for services your business offers, would they be able to locate you quickly and easily? If your answer is, “maybe” or “I don’t know,” it’s time to take a look at how your business stands out amongst your competitors. Here are some ways you can increase your business’ visibility.

The mighty Google

If you’re not on Google’s radar, chances are that you’re not on anyone’s radar. Make sure your business listing with Google is complete, with the correct address, information, and hours. Once you’ve verified your data with Google, it’s time to tackle third-party sites, such as Yelp and TripAdvisor.

If you’ve not already claimed your third-party listing profiles online, you need to make sure that you do, and then review the existing profile to ensure that the information listed is accurate and complete. Google uses third-party sites to determine the importance of your business and rewards businesses by placing them higher in search results. Make sure you check to see that your business is listed on Google Maps as well and be sure to verify and correct any information there to increase your business visibility online.

Lastly, make sure your business information is complete on Facebook, and take the time to create a page to interact with customers; those small businesses who post to their Facebook pages multiple times per week see a higher ranking in Google search results.

Don’t forget the physicality

In this day and age, making sure your business is visible online is extremely important, but don’t neglect your business’ physical presence. Business signs still reigns supreme today, and having exterior signs and graphics that convey your business’ message and catch the eye of the consumer is equally as important as your digital presence.

GEICO Cleveland recently contacted us to help them increase their visibility in and around the city. With the GEICO Gecko both a people person and ambassador for excellent customer service and money-saving insurance quotes, it was a no-brainer to use the iconic figure in the vehicle graphics and window signs we created for them. With GEICO’s specialty being car insurance, we started by wrapping two vehicles so that the adorable Gecko could visibly promote the company while driving around town. GEICO Cleveland’s office now pops with the custom window graphics design we installed, drawing attention to the insurance company with the Gecko prominently featured.

If your business’ visibility needs a boost, don’t hesitate to call us! We’ve got a design team ready to work with you to create visual messaging that speaks to your customers and will keep you ahead of the competition.

We typically talk about signage that helps drive business on the blog, so we decided to change things up a bit today. While there’s no doubt that signs and graphics are an integral part of brand awareness, marketing and communication, signs can also serve to deter potential clients and customers.

Busy signs

Not only do potential customers stray away from signs they can’t read, cluttered or busy signs are skipped over and businesses are bypassed. Less is more, so keep your sign and message clean and simple, and opt for an easy to read font -- while scrolling, handwritten-type fonts may be pleasing to you, customers will likely have a difficult time reading your sign as they quickly speed by in their car. We see this often with truck wraps.

Size matters

One of signage professionals’ cardinal rules is that signs must be of sufficient size or height to be seen from the location in which it’s placed. If a sign is too small, or the lettering too small or crammed together, you’ve wasted your money on signage. Keep it simple, make it large enough to be read easily, and make sure that your sign is placed high enough for optimal visibility (and away from any obstructions).

Misspelling

Let’s consider that the Sign Research Foundation (SRF) reports that 34 percent of North American shoppers associate sign quality with store and product quality. If your signs look unprofessional, hastily put together, or worse -- misspelled -- what does that say about your business? Make the investment to work with a sign professional to ensure that your business signage has a clean look and is devoid of any embarrassing misspellings.

Illegible

Using a hard-to-read font is only the start to featuring signage your customers can’t read. When you work with a sign professional, they’re experts in proper letter proportion and spacing; we’ll work with you to create signage that both fits your aesthetic preference and will be easily readable. And last, but not least, sign professionals and designers can work with you to make sure that your color preferences work for you, not against you.

Unkempt

Sign maintenance is of the utmost importance to attracting and retaining customers. If sign quality is equated with store and product quality, consider what your exterior sign is communicating with a lighted letter (or more) out. If your business features an illuminated sign, what’s the point if a bulb is burnt out? Even worse, what is being communicated when signs -- either interior signs or exterior signs -- are grimy, covered in dirt or dust?

Not sure if your current business sign or fleet graphics is turning away customers? Contact us for an audit, to see how we can help your signage properly communicate your business to customers.

There’s no place like Cleveland.

We have our own culture, our own heritage, our own landmarks and our own successes....and yes our challenges. So why would you entrust your signage to those that don’t share your knowledge, passion and frustrations for our area? Who provide cookie-cutter solutions to your very specific business in our unique area?

Our company knows Cleveland and all the surrounding areas. So we partner with our customers to make sure that their signage reflects Cleveland as a whole and the individual personalities of the area in which they’re based whether that’s Lakewood, Shaker Heights, or any point in-between or beyond.

Every day we work with many types of companies, from small personal service consultants, to midsize retailers and any other company you can imagine. Our customers choose us because they know that we understand each client has unique challenges and every business has its own personality.

We partner with our customers to make sure their business signs reflects their own special business, personality, customer base and location. And works with their budget too.

We do that by talking to our clients, visiting their businesses and learning about their culture. Then we talk about their marketing and branding. We analyze their concerns and challenges. And then we partner with them to ensure their signage has the right look, the right message and the right design to suit their business and clients. Whether you need a window lettering for the front door, murals for the interior walls, lighted letter signs for the parking lot or something in between, come to us. We know Cleveland business signs.

There’s no business like yours. And there’s no place like Cleveland. Call us today to tell us about your sign challenge so we can develop your unique message.