Signage FAQs | What is a vehicle wrap?
July 21, 2010
Vehicle “wraps” are becoming pretty popular. You probably seen the McDonald’s semi-trailer with the giant photo of a Big Mac on the sides or a panel truck with full-color graphics covering most or all of the vehicle. When the entire vehicle is covered, we call that a complete “wrap”. There are also partial wraps. The idea is to turn your car, bus, van, truck or trailer into a moving billboard. Any vehicle can be wrapped…busses, cars pickup trucks, even motorcycles. The design possibilties are pretty much endless. It can be most any kind of artwork, e.g., photos, murals and/or text. It’s a terrific way to advertise your business!
The cost of a vehicle wrap — or any vehicle graphics – is based upon the printed area (square footage), the complexity of the installation and the amount of design time. Installations on flat surfaces such as panel/delivery trucks are easier (and usually cheaper) because they are no complex curves. The high quality adhesive media we use for vehicle graphics is removable. When laminated and properly installed, the graphics will last for years.
If you would like more information about a vehicle wrap – or a quote for your vehicle - please email us or give us a call.
Signage FAQs | What type of signage is best for my business?
July 14, 2010
This is a hard question to answer because there are so many variables. What type of business do you have? Are you a service, professional or retail business? Where are you located? Are you in a storefront on ground level, in a freestanding building, an office complex, in a shopping center or strip center? What are the landlord’s requirements or restrictions on size and type of allowable signage? What does your city or village’s sign code allow you to have? Does the sign need to be illuminated? What is your budget? Are you a franchise of a national chain? (They often have their own specific sign criteria.) Get the idea? It can be pretty overwhelming and complicated!
There are a couple of general “rules of thumb”. If you are a retail business, you almost always want to have the biggest sign allowable. The purpose of a sign is so that your potential customers can easily see you and know what you are, e.g. a restaurant, retail shop, dentist, bakery, etc. Avoid “cute” signs that are hard to read. Avoid fussy logos, they’re great on business cards or on a website – but they usually make lousy signs. When it comes to signs, simple is almost always better!
In the many years that we have been in business, we have never had a customer say “I wish that I had a smaller sign.” However, we frequently hear the opposite. Keep in mind that your sign is your business’s most important permanent identification. Many customers fail to budget for signage in their business plan — and then try to get a cheap sign. Signage is critically important to the success of every business. It should be part of your business plan and budget. More important is that you should seek out the advice and services of a sign professional. Someone who will work with you on the design of your entire sign package and be your partner in making sure that your business can be seen and looks great!
Signage FAQs | Why do prices vary so much between different sign companies?
July 7, 2010
People often ask why prices vary so much among different sign companies. There are many reasons. First is that many are not really “companies.” Today, especially with the internet, people can sell signs, banners, etc., operating out of their home. Some don’t have employees or, if they do, don’t carry workers compensation, pay benefits, etc. Some sign shops sub-contract their work and don’t carry liability insurance to protect you if something goes wrong. At the other end, some sign companies have a very high overhead and operating costs.
We have been in business ten years. Our main location is a 3,400 sq. ft. production facility. Our employees are covered by workers compensation, have full benefits and health insurance. We carry two million dollars in liability insurance. Our manufacturing plant is 9,000+ sq. ft. and is certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). All of our vehicles and installers are insured. We offer warranties on all of our signs and sign products. We use high quality materials and don’t cut corners. We want things done right — even if they have to be done over.
Keep in mind that when comparing signs and pricing, it is not always “apples and apples.” It’s easy to sell a sign cheap — or to make a cheap sign. It’s important to know what you are buying. Moreover, people usually don’t pick a dentist, plumber or car mechanic based solely on price. They may refer to Angie’s List or ask a friend — but usually they find someone based upon their reputation. We think that the same logic should apply to selecting a sign company. Look for a company that is helpful and does quality work at a competitive price — and has a great reputation. (We list many of our customer comments right on our web site.)
If you buy a good product from a good company — then price will be the least important thing you’ll care about. However, if you buy an inferior product or get terrible service, getting the lowest price won’t make up for it. Most of our business comes from repeat customers or from new customers referred to us by other customers. We think of our customers as business partners. No matter what their sign needs may be, we will always do our best to take care of them.
Signage FAQs | Where are you located and what areas do you serve?
June 30, 2010
We serve the communities in Kane, DuPage, Will, Cook, Lake, Kendall and McHenry Counties. We help many loca businesses with all their signage needs but we also ship signs nationwide. Call us today if you have any questions.
4 Common Signage Questions – Naperville, Illinois
June 23, 2010
To start off our CityScoop column we’re publishing a short series on 4 common questions that we get. Over the next few weeks we’ll be answering each of these questions below in detail. When we’re finished we’re going to build a FAQ page and add them to the page. Over the course of the year we’ll be building out our FAQ page to help provide the answers you’re looking for.
- Where are you located and what areas do you serve?
- Why do prices vary so much between different sign companies?
- What type of signage is best for my business?
- What is a vehicle wrap?
Announcing the Signs and Signage News Column In Naperville, IL!
June 22, 2010
Welcome to the CityScoop column for Signs and Signage news in Naperville, IL. Check back soon for weekly updates.
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