Last week ended with our annual Bring Your Dog To Work Day which put smiles on all our faces! But a lot of preparation went into making it a success. We cleaned up our work stations in advance and stocked the break room with more doggy treats than necessary. With over 60 employees, we had quite a few dogs on-site but with that came a lot of responsibility.
The old saying goes that the best experience is someone else’s experiences. With that in mind, if you’re considering having your own Bring Your Dog To Work Day, we’ve got a couple pointers! So, how did Custom Signs pull it off? Check out these 3 top tips from those who made it a success.
1. Installing a Beware Of Dog Sign
What many people probably don’t know is that we actually have a physical location with a complete showroom of products for customers to browse. A number of which often choose to come in and pick up their orders in person. So in to keep things as safe as possible, we decided to install our very own Beware of Dog sign right on our front door just to give our customers a friendly heads up. A Beware of Dog sign is great for warning people not only about the presence of a dog, but also as a reminder to respect the territory of the animal. And while yes, our dogs are domesticated, like wild animals they won’t hesitate to react in the event that they feel threatened.
Here at Custom Signs, we’ve got an array of dog sign designs for you to choose from. From simple designs to more effective and ferocious designs, we’re sure you’ll find just the thing you need.
2. Important Employee Information
When giving our employees the option to bring their dog to work, obviously we had to set up a few rules just to ensure that everyone and their dog stayed as safe as possible. So what did we come up with?
– All dogs must be fixed.
– All dogs must be up to date on all of their shots.
– If you can’t control your dog, don’t bring it.
We love animals as much as the next company, but no one wants to see a terrier peeing on a laser engraver that costs way more than a year supply of dog food – especially our boss. And with all the other dogs around, we need our employees to be able to handle their own dog should some of our furry companions decide not to get along with each other.
3. Clean Up Work Spaces
We know we said it before but we cannot stress this point enough. Working in a custom sign manufacturing facility there are all sorts of pieces and parts of all sizes that are essential to what we do but that may be seen as edible to a dog. An emergency trip to the vet is the last thing anyone wants on a busy afternoon!
We can’t tell you how excited we were to get to play host to all of our dogs! We hope that when you plan your own Bring Your Dog To Work Day you keep these few tips and tricks in mind!
As any and all business owners will tell you, when it comes to the ADA, it is usually a good idea to keep up to date on any and all changes that they seem fit to make. Warning, fines, and all sorts of negative ramifications tend to follow if you choose to stay in the dark. But with so many new rules, regulations, and specifications rolling out on a near constant basis, keeping up on the absolute latest news can sometimes be a little difficult to manage.
Countless websites spring up detailing all the ADA regulation guidelines for Braille signs, among other things but then when more new and updates come out of the ADA, these same sites may fail to update their users with the new information. As a result an increasing amount of businesses fail may miss all important information that could save them headaches in the future.
Finally after years of these problems, the ADA has sought to rectify the issue and provide business owners with a most welcome alternative to navigating through countless pages of information in an effort to stay up to date.
Now when a business owner wants to make sure that their business is up to the regulations set forth by the ADA, all they have to do is visit their website! Just recently the ADA has enabled a chat feature on their website designed to give businesses and business owners more clarity in regards to their signage. Should you choose to not chat with the ADA, they have had a long existing option to sign up for email updates pertaining to any news or new sign regulations. Ultimately the company is truly making an effort to make things easier for businesses as well as their cause.
Are your signs up to code?
Once you talk to an ADA representative, rest assured that Custom Sign’s can get your ADA signs updated in no time and fit to pass any regulations that may have been implemented. Like you, we too need to stay up to date on all things in the signage industry. We offer over 30 different color options, 12 font choices, and multiple backing possibilities depending on what kind of material you plan to attach your new custom sign to.
All of our signs are made up of only the toughest of all PVC plastics and are either engraved or printed to your specifications. Available in a variety of colors, we aim to give all of our customers as many options and control over your final product as we possibly can while still keeping with all ADA regulations. We offer over 30 different color options, 12 font choices, and multiple backing possibilities depending on what kind of material you plan to attach your new custom sign to.
Are all of your signs needing to be replaced? Don’t worry about it! With Custom Signs, we even offer a quantity bulk discount when you order 25 or more signs! Score anywhere from 10% to 30% off of your order today!
Among the male population, there is an overwhelming opinion that every man is in need of his own private space – lovingly referred to as the “Man Cave”. It’s not that men don’t love and appreciate their girlfriends, wives, and children, it’s just that every once in a while they feel the need to retreat and just relax – much like everyone does in their lives. But while children long for the great outdoors, and women crave all day shopping trips & gossip enriched lunches with friends; men want all the comforts of home, without actually being home – a place to call their own but still be close to their loved ones.
Most guys ask “how do I build the perfect man cave?” While there are plenty of examples out there of awesome space ideas – where do you even start?
5. The Fridge
Remember that part I mentioned about a man cave having all the comforts of home? Well here’s where that kicks in. By starting this project with the refrigerator, not only will you be giving your brain the power it needs to come up with creative and cool ideas, but you’ll also be able to enjoy a great meal now and then whenever you want because it’s going in your new space!
4. The Alcohol
Now we’re not saying that immediately after eating you should start drinking- you’ll never get anything accomplished at that rate! What we are saying is that it never hurt anyone to have some on hand when watching a game or hosting a party. Besides, what is one of the worst things about a typical guy’s night out? The cost! Whether you’re watching the game down the street, or just trying to hang out, it’s nearly impossible to go out and do anything fun for free. What’s worse is that place down the street I mentioned is willing to charge you $8 for whiskey and $7 for a Bud Light- seriously? Now that you have your own designated masculine space and you don’t feel the need to go out somewhere to just get away, you can manage to actually save some money by mixing your own drinks or buying your own beer.
3. The Video Games
Speaking of video games, who says you’re too old to play them? You’re a fully grown adult with a day job, and nice car, and you pay your own bills – if you want to play video games in your spare time, that’s your prerogative and no one else’s! However, your wife certainly doesn’t seem to think so; so why not move your multiple generations of Xbox and Playstation’s into your new man cave, set up a display shelf for your games, and relax.
2. The Flat Screen
Perhaps one of the most essential things for any actual man cave to have is a giant flat screen TV. Well maybe not giant, but as big as you can find on craigslist within your budget – what else are you supposed to watch all of the major sporting events, or video games on? With the presence of a TV you’ll be able to host Superbowl or NBA Playoff Parties with your other friends!
1. Give Me A Sign
Last but not least- the most important thing that no man cave is complete without – an official man cave sign. After telling your wife and answering all her questions and concerns like “why?”, refuting the “are you unhappy?” questions, and violently denying the eventually “You don’t want to be with me?”- you’re finally allowed to utilize the garage / den / basement area of the house. First thing is first, get yourself a sign! Here at CustomSigns.com, we’ve made it our mission to provide the men of the world with as many quality sign design options as we can muster in order to help them define their space in any way they choose!
Now that you’ve got your very own Man Cave sign, a fridge, some drinks, a TV, and some video games- you’re good to go! Maybe throw some color on your walls or hang up some wall art for some added style while you’re getting used to your new space- invite some friends over, hangout, and unwind.
When we think about signs, typically it’s the massive billboards that line the roads on morning commutes that come to mind. Store hours signs, bathroom signs, and ‘Open’ and ‘Closed’ signs for businesses follow closely behind. It may seem strange that we have to take a moment just to think about all the different types of signs we see on an everyday basis but it’s not as uncommon as you may think.
The truth is that signs are everywhere, so naturally we no longer see them. Just like with Smartphones, GPS, and McDonald’s on virtually every corner, we’ve become desensitized and immune their presence. So how do you make sure that your sign gets noticed? Why not try something different!
Typically when people think about signs, we think about a big square or rectangular shape with some printed text or a flashy image, but it shouldn’t stop there. The fact of the matter is that there are multitudes of different signs of all shapes and sizes! Desk plates, office signs, business signs, even name tags are considered to be variations on the classic sign template. And while most signs are widely believe to be of a square, rectangle, or sometimes even oval shape- signs come in a limitless amount of shapes and can be made specifically for ones industry, or unique needs.
Here at CustomSigns.com, we know that sometimes your industry may call for a sign of a specific size or even a specific shape. At our factories, there are no limits to what our machines can do! Whether you manufacture fire trucks, need valve tags, or have a need for any other type of industrial sign, we’ve got you covered. Our engraved signs are made up of some of the most durable materials we can get our hands on, guaranteed to survive the toughest conditions.
Oftentimes, these industrial signs are used for safety purposes, to label, organize, and prevent injuries or costly mistakes when repairing homes, or operating industry specific equipment on an everyday basis. To ensure that the text on your signs remain visible and clear, we engrave our signs to your specifications and then double check your order before we ship it out to you just to make sure that you are getting the professionalism and quality service that you are paying for!
Lion’s, and tiger’s, and bear’s- oh my! Maybe throw in a couple giraffe’s, exotic birds, monkeys, and elephants and you’ve got yourself a zoo!
Here at CustomSigns.com, there’s no doubt we’ve seen some wild requests! As a result, we decided to do our homework on one of the worlds oldest institutions!
The history of zoo’s goes back over 3000 years ago to ancient Egypt according to some reports. At the time the practice was mostly limited to pharaohs but obviously in later years the concept of zoo’s expanded into what it is today. Now millions flock to the parks every year to see exotic and rare species of plants and animals. Parks like Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sea World, and Bush Gardens have heavily capitalized on their unique residents.
There’s no question that Zoo’s are places for families and especially children, but how many times have you visited a zoo and seen full grown adults or children banging, leaning, or screaming on or at the glass or fence enclosures that keep them separated from the animals. Does it make your blood boil? Does it make you wonder how they would feel if it was them being put on display instead of the animals? Well we’ve got signs for that and any other sign or situation you can think of!
While standard signs like “Caution”, “Do Not Enter”, and “Do Not Touch” are fine and do the job, they can still be pretty boring and lacking in the fun department- which is the opposite of what a zoo should be!
Dare to get creative with your zoo signage and make sure the smiles don’t stop when your guests take the time to look at a sign in between looking at all the animals! Make sure your guests stay entertained constantly while still managing to get across important information!
To illustrate this concept, we’ve compiled a list of the most effective and creative zoo signs we could find- all of which could easily be made right here in our Customsigns.com factories with our laser engravers!
1. For all those children (and adults) who like to dispose of their trash in all the wrong places such as animal exhibits, we’ve found the perfect sign to install:
2. Want to remind people to not block the best views and to be considerate of others? Problem solved.
3. While zoo’s can be hectic and you cant have a security officer at every door, make sure your guests know which doors are a part of the attractions and which aren’t.
4. Want to find a gentle way to remind your guests and their kids not to repeatedly tap on the glass of exhibits? This should do the trick.
5. And remember to always keep things fun and creative!
Ever stop to imagine your morning commute to work without signs? How would you have managed to find where to go for first job interview without signs pointing the way around the parking lot and hallways? Whether we realize it anymore or not, we are constantly surrounded by signs, especially signs for the workplace.
Cubicle signs, desk plates, restroom signs, sign designating where the stairs are or where the elevator is. At CustomSigns.com we know that as we get comfortable in an area, we learn our way around quickly and may no longer need the assistance of the signs as much as before- but they are still incredibly important to have!
Important visitors or even ones just passing through rely on these everyday signs to navigate around the office and even make it to important business meetings on time. Have you made sure that your office is well equipped with signs to help newcomers and visitors out? If not, installing some bathroom signs may be the best place to start. Nothing could make an interview or meeting more uncomfortable than failing to figure out where a bathroom is located prior to the start. You want your business to be welcoming- not uncomfortable!
In sticking with the idea of meetings and interviews, not every business can afford a receptionist who spends more time showing people around on a daily basis than actually sitting at his or her desk. Signs on or above doors at your place of business could save a lot of valuable time, and as every good business person knows- ‘time is money’! As an added bonus, for an office space with multitudes of offices and departments, signs will help your employee’s get to where they need to go much faster and with fewer wrong guesses.
Another major thing to consider, is properly marking all available exits whether it is stairs, elevators, or just plain doors. In the unfortunate event of a fire, the absence of proper exit signs could prove catastrophic and ultimately tragic for your workplace family. Which leads me to my second point of using signs to show where the fire extinguishers are located in your place of business, ultimately it proves far more beneficial to invest in signs in the workplace.
Unless you work for yourself and have your own office and see clients alone, you will at some point need to invest in some custom signs. Here at CustomSigns.com, we are capable of making ANY sign you could possibly ever think of. We’re here to help!
Storage Units. Nothing fancy; nothing exotic but ultimately extremely important. In their containers protected by keypads, locks, and bolts are family photos, furniture, keepsake items, antiques, secrets, and whole lives told through objects and items amassed over a variety of circumstances. Just looking at a storage unit, you could never guess all the items and treasures locked away safe but there they are.
So besides being the closest storage facility to your potential customers, how do you get people to choose to lock away their possessions with you? You make it look nice of course! Everyone knows that first impressions are key to any sort of relationship no matter if it’s business or personal.
It’s unsurprising that so many horror stories and crime shows feature scenes at storage facilities because they look seedy and are oftentimes worn by the elements. Owners have rows and rows of available units without a clearly marked organization system. Many opt to designate rows and unit numbers with spray paint and stencil- what could look tackier? A storage facility should never look seedy, unsafe, or tacky- that’s the complete opposite of what you want your potential customers to think!
Instead, opt for actual engraved signs. Durable when exposed to the elements and far more attractive than spray paint. Engraved signs are also easy to clean and maintain
Speaking of safety, it only stands to reason why that would be another of your prospective customer’s chief concerns. With so many person items in storage, people will be more inclined to sell somewhere that takes every possible safety measure to ensure the protection of their valuables. Besides basic theft, another potential problem that plagues storage units is fires. For your customers to know that you take active steps to lower the risk of fires breaking out in your units, will speak volumes when they decide who to store their valuables with.
Constructing your units with non flammable materials and having a fire extinguisher in every unit would help put customers at ease! According to the Seattle Fire Department Client Assistance Memo 5961, “Retail stores, storage facilities, and parking garages must have a Class 2A fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet. There must be at least one extinguisher on every floor. Fire extinguishers must be placed so that people do not have to travel more than 75 feet to reach one.” While obviously this law is strictly for Seattle and may vary state to state, you should double check with your local legislation and make sure that your facilities are fully up to code, and don’t forget your fire extinguisher sign!
With these helpful tips, you can continue bringing in new customers and keep them coming back for all of their storage needs!
New year, new clients, new makeovers! In light of the New Year, there is always a constant theme of wanting to ‘start over’. There is something so appealing in the idea of a fresh start and a clean slate that makes millions of people feel all warm and cozy each year. Bad habits, vices, and decisions can all become a thing of the past with just a single tick-tock of the hanging wall clock!
But while most people are focusing on eating healthier, and dropping those holiday pounds and then some, others prefer the more glamorous route as opposed to sweating it up in a local crowded gym. Ask any woman anywhere- a new haircut can do wonders for one’s confidence. Add some strategically placed color here and there, for a subtle but multidimensional statement, or try an all over color for a completely new look!
If you happen to own a small salon or spa, January can mean big business for you! But are you capitalizing on all the fresh start, New Year mojo that is happening right now? Whether you’re just starting out, or have been in the salon game for a while, there are a few keys to success that you may not have found yet. Think about your salon, would you be a customer there? Is it getting enough business? Are you utilizing all the tools you can to get your magnificently manicured fingernails on?
It’s a sad but true fact that for every four salons that open, one won’t even make it past the first year of business- that’s a whopping 25% of starting salons and spa’s won’t make it. So how can you make sure that your salon won’t fail whether it’s in its first year or its fifth?
Step 1: Retain your clients.
Get to know them! Learn the names and faces of your clientele; engage with them on a personal level. Now we all know that this doesn’t happen overnight, but why not go out of your way to make your customers feel more comfortable? Venturing into a new salon or spa can be a scary thing. You walk in, you sit by yourself with no one to engage with, and then you throw your carefully coiffed locks into the hands of a complete stranger. It’s terrifying. Why not offer your clients some water or a cup of coffee while they’re waiting? Engage them in conversation! Chances are they live nearby, and have chosen your salon out of a combination of convenience and price- give them a reason to come back!
Step 2: Listen to your customers!
When they’re paying, really ask them how everything went during their session; maybe give them a comment card to quickly fill out. You’d be amazed at what little golden nuggets of insight your customers may be able to give you into your business. Maybe the temperature is too cold, a bad experience with an unfriendly employee, or the hairdresser took off 2 inches instead of a half inch. These are all things to pay attention to when running your salon. A bad experience can have serious consequences! Not only will the client not come back, but he/she may also tell their friends not to bother either.
Step 3: Don’t waste time.
Now that’s not saying not to take your time when cutting a client’s hair- but at the same time, be mindful that no one anticipates a trip to the salon to be an all day event. If you have a string of clients waiting for services, make sure you don’t have employee’s standing around with their hands in their pockets. Nothing is more irritating to a client than to feel ignored and have their services delay for no apparent reason. Make sure that your employees keep in mind that while yes, clients are coming to them for a particular service; the clients are also paying them for it and will be more than willing to take their money elsewhere.
Also, keep your front desk as accessible as possible and not held up by a handful of customers asking about your hours, services offered and pricing. All of these things could easily be answered by investing in a custom sign or two. A little engraved sign stating your hours by the front door looks way more professional than a sheet of paper. Additionally, a large sign behind the front desk that clearly and efficiently displays the services you offer and your pricing, would allow your customers to look over their options quickly and either choose to make an appointment or go somewhere else. All this can be done in a fraction of the time it would take for a series of questions and answers to be exchanged between a busy employee and a wavering prospective client. Websites like customsigns.com specialize in making quality, custom signs for their customers at an affordable price always.
Step 4: Get out there, get noticed!
Let’s face it, not every salon has the luxury of a high-flying public relations team, with a string of marketers and advertisers at their beck and call. Chains like Paul Mitchell, Hair Cuttery, and smart cuts, spare no expense to get their products and services noticed. But while some places rely on their status as a chain, or their marketing teams to bring in clients, you have to rely on good old fashioned word of mouth and whatever kind of advertising, you can afford. Advertise online with a Facebook page or a Twitter account; encourage your customers to follow you for exclusive deals, and specials! You can also advertise in small hometown newspapers, flyers, or handouts to raise awareness for your store locally.
Step 5: Be passionate.
This last one is a big one! Those who get into a business solely for the profits, seldom reap the rewards. When an owner or manager is passionate and truly loves what they do, their enthusiasm rubs off on everyone around them and promotes more productivity and fosters a healthy work environment. By being passionate about ones job, you tend to take more pride in your work- floors and stations will be cleaner, more smiles will go around, and it’ll look more like you’re having fun as opposed to working- something that your customers will love.
Ultimately, despite all the tips and tricks this humble blogger can offer you, it is up to you as the owner of an establishment to take control and take charge of your surroundings. Would you be your own client? Do you have unprofessional paper signs in the windows of your salon? Do you not even have a designated bathroom sign? Are you, your employees, and your customers wasting time asking repeated questions about services and pricing? Customsigns.com has created custom and standard signs for a variety of customers for over 60 years. We have helped countless businesses big and small over the years to get noticed- let us help you do the same in the New Year!
Here at customsigns.com we make creating and owning your very own custom banner as easy as possible.
With all the fall festivals, pumpkin patches, county fairs, and community events going on this time of year the need for banners has never been so in demand! Not to mention all of the year round school functions, and fundraisers that could also greatly benefit from the use of a custom banner. An awesome tool for advertisers and far more portable than a monster sign, banners are flexible and can be rolled or folded up and easily transported from event to event. Given that banners are so easy to transport, they can also just as easily be conveniently stored and tucked away for the next event that comes along.
What better way to raise awareness for a cause or an event on-the-go, than with the use of a banner? This portable sign will undoubtedly attract attention from passerby’s as well as from cars on the road if you happen to be set up off to the side somewhere.
Whether you just want a banner with some simple text or your own custom artwork, we’ve got you covered! We currently offer four different size banners for you to choose from. To give you the best chance of getting noticed by as many people as possible, we’ve also thrown in a double sided option, in which your text, art, or both will appear (you guessed it!) on BOTH sides of the banner!
Because these banners can be easily transported and stored, you will have your for years to come if you happen to work for a charitable cause or oversee an annual pumpkin patch or set up your annual booth at your local county fair! By using a big banner you will increase your profits and ultimately be making more money, or gaining more donations than ever before because let’s face it, if your audience can’t see you, then they have no idea what you are selling or trying to raise awareness for. Using a custom banner will increase visibility which will increase profits- and as an added bonus it isn’t just a one-time-use kind of product!
This past week at CustomSigns.com it was our privilege and honor to help out the Cummer Museum & Gardens with some snazzy new signage for their premises.
The Cummer Museum in sunny Jacksonville Florida is even more unique than the standard cut-and dry museum. It plays host to both a permanent collection as well as ones that travel around to different museums or belongs to other collections whether the collections are personal or public and also possesses a beautifully well taken care of garden consisting of live oak trees, rare plants, antique ornaments surrounding its premises and even relaxing fountains. The garden itself is over 100 years old is constantly being tended and taken care of.
Our engraved signs are perfect for museum purposes. If you’ve ever been to a museum, you know just how many various forms of art reside within those walls- not to mention the countless sculptures both inside as well as outside.
But ultimately, with all the unique paintings, sculptures, and plants, engraved signs take the guess work out of trying to figure out just what exactly they all are and why they’re so unique or great.
Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder and let’s face it, paintings and sculptures can sometimes makes us go cross-eyed. Not all museums can afford to keep multiple tour guides employed to personally introduce you to every artistic artifact, who created it, in what year, during which movement, what it was made with, or why it deserves to be in a museum to begin with. This is where the monumental importance of signs comes into play.
With custom engraved signs such as these, all of this information can be quickly communicated with visitors in a way that doesn’t disrupt their own individual experiences. Here at CustomSigns.com we work hard to make sure that the design and ultimate creation of these signs is as quick and painless a process as necessary. We also aim to ship every order we receive within one business day of receiving it- that way you can get on with enjoying the benefits of your custom sign without having to wait two weeks or more for it to come in the mail!
Last week ended with our annual Bring Your Dog To Work Day which put smiles on all our faces! But a lot of preparation went into making it a success. We cleaned up our work stations in advance and stocked the break room with more doggy treats than necessary. With over 60 employees, we had quite a few dogs on-site but with that came a lot of responsibility.
What many people probably don’t know is that we actually have a physical location with a complete showroom of products for customers to browse. A number of which often choose to come in and pick up their orders in person. So in to keep things as safe as possible, we decided to install our very own Beware of Dog sign right on our front door just to give our customers a friendly heads up. A Beware of Dog sign is great for warning people not only about the presence of a dog, but also as a reminder to respect the territory of the animal. And while yes, our dogs are domesticated, like wild animals they won’t hesitate to react in the event that they feel threatened.
