Participate in this industry survey
The thumbnail version: Industry surveys are one way to contribute to improving the industry More participants means more reliable results The full version: Sing Media is conducting its 16th annual industry survey and they would like your input. And they'd like it by the 13th of September. Here's...
You have eight seconds
The thumbnail version: Digital signs are more likely to attract attention than still signs Nowadays the average human loses focus after eight seconds The full version: If you're producing still signs (billboards, sandwich boards, banners etc.) you're competing for attention among the general...
Partnership issues
The thumbnail version: A full range of expertise can be achieved through a partnership Partnerships bring their own challenges The full version: It goes without saying that a sign shop is not going to be successful if the necessary technical expertise is not there. But another area of expertise...
Employees are ambassadors for your shop
The thumbnail version: Polite helpfulness keeps customers Rude indifference loses customers The full version: In spite of the fact that most of us understand by now that people like to do business with people they like, some business owners and staff still don’t get it. Here’s a story of how a...
Pitching a new idea
The thumbnail version: Your Roland can do amazing stuff Potential customers don't know what you can produce if you don't tell them The full version: I've pitched ideas on this blog before about using your Roland printer/cutters to diversify your product offering. When you get down to really...
Coffee shop meeting
The thumbnail version: Business is often discussed in coffee shop meetings Confidentiality is impossible in a public place The full version: I've told this story before but it's worth repeating because meeting in a coffee shop for a business discussion is an everyday occurrence. And while a coffee...
Purpose of colour in signs
The thumbnail version: Different colours mean different things Select colours suitable to the message and the audience The full version: How many times have you seen a sign or billboard and wondered how the designer chose the colours? How many times have you wondered if the choice was deliberate...
Act big
If you run a small digital-graphics shop or sign shop, then this story is for you. The background to the story is that vinyl signs were needed for the front window of a store and, being a small business advocate, I wanted to support small printers. I was given the names of four small sign shops...
A shop sign should say what the shop is about
The thumbnail version: Most small independent businesses do not have readily-recognized branding Without recognized branding your signs should say what you offer The full version: Coffee shops are a good example to use for this discussion about signage because not only are they one of my...
A sign idea for some of your customers
The thumbnail version: It's not election time but here's a lawn sign It's a clever idea your customers may be able to use The full version: If you were a politician who wanted to place lawn signs all over your riding to keep your name in front of the constituents between elections, how would you...
Sign Expo Canada 2022
The thumbnail version: Canadian sign industry shows and expos are happening again The full version: Sign Expo Canada hosted by the Sign Association of Canada is scheduled for September 23rd and 24th in Mississauga. SAC promises that this year's show will feature cutting-edge products and services....
Employee retention through recognition
The thumbnail version: Recognition is a powerful motivator There are many ways of recognizing and rewarding employees The full version: Bob Nelson's book, 1001 Ways to Reward Employees, was first published 28 years ago. And except for the obviously dated ideas such as rewarding an employee with a...
Roland pairs business ideas with equipment
The thumbnail version: Roland offers business ideas for your shop They pair equipment with the each idea The full version: Roland recently published a bog post in which they offered five business ideas you could incorporate into your shop. The article suggested that these five ideas are good for...
Logos
The thumbnail version: Popular advice for small businesses is to design a catchy logo Logos confer professionalism and legitimacy Small business logo priorities and big business logo priorities are different The full version: Here is a topic with advice that should not only be of interest to you,...
Signmedia.ca invites you to join them at Printing United in Vegas
The thumbnail version: Signmedia.ca invites you to "Grab your pass" The full version: Now is a good time to plan ahead to attend Printing United in Vegas on the 19th to the 21st of October. The show covers all printing segments and all printing technology. Over 600 exhibitors are expected to be...
How you ship says a lot about your shop
The thumbnail version: The shipping process is an opportunity to impress Customers generally have unrealistic shipping expectations, but that's your problem, not theirs. The full version: I recently received a delivery from a fairly big online business. I was surprised at the shabby appearance of...
The difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing funnel
The thumbnail version: A marketing strategy is the overall approach to attracting customers A marketing funnel is the step-by-step map of the customer's interaction with your shop The full version: Your shop needs a cohesive marketing strategy. Without it you'll be like a sailor without a compass...
Obviously CLV must exceed CAC.
The thumbnail version: These metrics must be checked regularly But first you must know what they are The full version: Don't you hate acronyms, especially when a writer assumes that you know what they are? Me too. But at least they got your attention . . . So CAC is "Customer Acquisition Cost" and...
Spilling the beans for the competition to see
The thumbnail version: Sometimes there's interesting competitive information hidden in articles This information can be useful to know and can potentially be used in your own business The full version: The June edition of Sign Media Canada includes an article about signage made for a new pet store...
A Facebook phishing scam you should know about
The thumbnail version: If you use Facebook for business, you need to know this The full version: Security company PIXM is warning about a Facebook scam that has been running since late 2021. Apparently it has ensnared over 10 million users. You or a designated employee looking after you social...
Understand margins and monitor them
The thumbnail version: Profitability starts with margins Margins have to be constantly monitored The full version: You don't have to be an accountant to know that profitability starts with margins. Margin in this case meaning "gross profit margin" which is the amount by which the selling price of...
Word of mouth – a topic worth revisiting
The thumbnail version: Word of mouth is an effective marketing tool The catch though is that your customer service and product quality must be top notch A lapse in customer service or product quality can see word of mouth work against you Full version: Word of mouth is an effective and inexpensive...
A reward for stressed staff – time off!
The thumbnail version: Employees are stressed after a seemingly endless pandemic You can help provide relief by rewarding time The full version: Thanks to the pandemic in particular, your employees have been dealing with elevated stress levels at work and at home. And while much of Canada is...
Roland TrueVIS printers get some great publicity
The thumbnail version: It's encouraging to see what people produce with the same equipment you have The full version: In case you didn't know, NASCAR teams have their own graphics centers. One in particular, The Richard Childress Racing team's graphic center is in Welcome, North Carolina and is...
New equipment — see it work
The thumbnail version: Shows are back; you can see equipment working Seeing equipment work before you commit to buy, is a good idea The full version: The stranglehold that the pandemic had on business appears to been relaxing. The pandemic is by no means over but it seems that the pent-up desire...
Grommets! Who knew?
The thumbnail version: Reading promotional material can be illuminating Not all grommets are created equal The full version: When a manufacturer publishes an article it's mostly with a view to selling something. But if you take the trouble to read such an article you may learn something even...