Common Signage Terms

Have you ever dealt with a vendor who made you feel dumb…someone who peppered his speech with terms that were foreign to you? That can be a problem in many industries, as those in them feel very comfortable using terminology that sounds like Chinese to the rest of us.

 The sign industry is not immune to this situation, so in the interest of combating it, we plan to regularly provide a glossary of some of our commonly used terms. We are well aware that having educated customers really helps us do our jobs better.

Here are a few definitions to get us started:

 ADA Signage—ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act, a measure passed in 1990 that created specific standards and regulations regarding accessibility, signage, and more. Proper ADA signage includes parking signs, exit signs, bathroom signs and braille signs.

  
Dimensional Letters--- 3D letters and numbers, made from a variety of materials from foam to solid metals.
 

Monument Signs—A monument sign usually features a company’s name and logo, and stands alone in a highly visible location near the entrance.

 

Vinyl Signs—A petroleum-based material, vinyl is affordable and often used in making signs. Vinyl banners are very popular, cut vinyl lettering is a common application, and other types of vinyl signs are all over the place.

 We work hard to ensure we don’t talk over customers’ heads, but if you ever feel lost, please stop us and ask for an “English” translation.

 

Common Signage Terms

Messaging with Decals

When you think about getting your message out using decals, what do you envision? If you’re like
most people, you probably believe you’re limited to small decal stickers—but you’d be wrong. We can provide you with a variety of decal options that will enhance the way you communicate with current and potential clients and differentiate your business from the competition.

 We invite you to consider:

• Bumper stickers
• Window decals
• Floor graphics
• Wall decals
• Rear window decals
• Custom decals

 We’ll work with you to bring your creative ideas to life, using our world of shapes, materials, sizes, colors, typestyles/fonts and special features. We use state-of-the-art equipment to produce decals that are small enough to put in sticker books and large enough to serve as artwork on entire walls.

In addition to choosing your custom look, you also have options when it comes to adhesion, since offer a wide range of vinyl material with differing grades. Need a decal that can be easily removed? You’ll want a low-tack sticker. Prefer a floor decal that can withstand heavy traffic? You’ll need a high-tack sticker.

If you have a decal dream, we can probably make it come true—even printing decals to use on brick walls that look like they’re painted on! We look forward to assisting you with all your decal needs.

Messaging with Decals

Take A Risk, Move Out Of Your Comfort Zone

By Dave Kahle

What sets the exceptional professional apart from the average? Regardless of what the profession, from sales to psychiatry, the exceptional professionals share certain characteristics. Here's one: The propensity to take risks.

Now, don't get the wrong idea. We're not talking about skydiving, nor are we talking about sinking your life savings in the new start up. We're talking about taking risks that force you to move out of your comfort zones on the job -- risks that will stimulate you to stretch yourself, to become more competent, to gain new skills, to expand your abilities and, maybe, in so doing, help you become more effective and more efficient.

Talk to someone in your profession who has become exceptionally successful. Ask him/her about the risks they have taken in their professional lives. You'll find that almost every successful professional has stretched himself/herself beyond comfort zones a number of different times. It's one of the characteristics of the highly successful professional.

If you can build an inclination to take these kinds of risks into your mindset, you'll grow faster and further than if you remain safely inside of your comfort zones.

 Everyday Risks
 As a salesperson, when you call on a different type of customer than that with which you have become comfortable, you take a risk. For example, when you call on the CEO instead of the marketing manager or production supervisor, you've stepped out of your comfort zone and taken a risk. When you choose a new way to make a presentation, or a new way to contact your clients you are taking a risk.

 When you chose to question and then change some long-entrenched habit, you are taking a risk. When you expand your efforts in any direction that calls for you to stretch and attempt something new, you are taking a risk.

 Increase Self-Assurance
 Some of those risks will turn out well, others will become failures. Regardless, the simple act of trying something different and new will help you. You'll gain confidence in your abilities and you'll learn from both your successes as well as your failures. Your life will expand, you'll grow wiser and you'll become more successful. That is the sure payoff for every risk thoughtfully taken.

 Source: Dave Kahle is a world-class speaker who has presented in 41 states and six countries. He has published more than 1,000 articles, and six books in 10 languages, as well as numerous multi-media training programs. 

www.sdsar.com

Take A Risk, Move Out Of Your Comfort Zone

3 Ways to Get in Touch With Your Creative Side

By Susan Kersley

Although everyone has a creative side, (known as your 'right brain'), and a logical side, (known as your 'left brain'), some people find it a challenge to get in touch with their creative side because they are conditioned to remain on a path which is conventional and proven.

Being creative means being prepared to think 'outside the box' and think of new and original ways to do things.

You may wonder how you could get in touch with your creative side. Here are three ways to do this:

1. Relax 
When you want to be creative it's very important to release any tension from your body so that your mind can be open to new experiences and not be pre-occupied with dealing with tension or stress. It's possible to relax very quickly if you take three or four deep breaths while consciously thinking to yourself that as you breathe out you are releasing tension and as you breathe in you are taking in relaxation. In your relaxed state pick up a pen and start to write down all the potential ways forward you could take to achieve what you want. You might instead find that you would like to use paints instead or a musical instrument to express your new found creativity and explore where it leads you.

2. Visualize 
Once you are fully relaxed begin to think about the project you are attempting to complete and allow your mind to wander over various possibilities rather than immediately going for the obvious logical way to do it. Close your eyes ask yourself what ways there might be to solve or succeed with your project and notice the scenarios which appear in your mind as you do this. You may notice pictures sounds or emotions or a combination of all three. Then imagine yourself moving into the scenario you are thinking about and in that way discover for yourself what might or might not work for you and others. While you consider each possibility and visualize or daydream as if you were already there, you can discover what other people might or might not be doing in relation to you if what you imagine actually happened, and what they are saying to you and others. Be aware of any emotions that come up for you when you visit the various scenarios. Keep a notebook handy to jot down your experiences and insights as a result of your visualization.

3. Experiment 
It's easy to dismiss unusual or different solutions which you haven't tried before but it's important to be prepared to experiment and play with them. Sometimes what is needed is just doing anything even if you are uncertain of the potential outcome. People often think of all the possible ways that something won't work and as a result dismiss the idea of trying as an experiment to see what would happen. The reality is that we can't foretell the future however much we'd like to, so it's useful to go forward into it in a creative and exciting new way.

Source: Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Kersley  

www.sdsar.com

3 Ways to Get in Touch With Your Creative Side

You have plenty of options when it comes to choosing vendors

Sign-A-Rama -  Kearny Mesa in San Diego

One of the great things about living in an urban area like San Diego is the fact that you have plenty of options when it comes to choosing vendors. While some sign operations might be challenged in the face of competition, we welcome it—because we know we have experience, expertise and a customer service focus that can’t be beat.

Here are just a few of our differentiators:

• We’ve been serving local businesses since 1999, earning a reputation for quality and inventiveness
• We’ve been honored by Sign-A-Rama for overall achievement, mentoring, quality, store appearance and customer service—and were elected to the Sign-A-Rama Hall of Fame in 2005.
• We understand that while our product is signage, our true value comes from selling solutions that include consulting on how many signs are needed and where signs should be placed.
• We relish having opportunities to think outside the box, using innovation to create signs that will get the best response and may even offer a “wow factor.”

 One of the reasons we’ve been successful for so long is the fact that all our employees have a tremendous work ethic, something that’s a requirement for initial and continued employment. Our team members really love what they do, and that shows, so while we’ve been helping clients build their brand awareness, they’ve rewarded us with great loyalty and an ongoing stream of referral business.

Why not work with the best? If you haven’t given us a try, there’s no time like the present to do so!

www.sdsar.com

You have plenty of options when it comes to choosing vendors

A Sign of The Times

The beginning of each year is often a time of introspection, to think about things that were great and not so great in the year just ended and focus on making positive changes to support success in the New Year.  One of the things you might want to consider is updating or refreshing your signs.

Think about the many places you use signage in your business:

• In your storefront windows
• Throughout your facility
• At trade shows
• On your building exterior

Whether you’re using signs for marketing or informational purposes, they need to be compelling and accurately reflect your brand. When’s the last time you took an objective look at your signage? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it still appropriate for our brand?
• Does it have a clear message and professional look?
• Is it starting to look a little worn?
• Does it need to be updated or revised to reflect new messages?

Depending on your answers, it may be time for a sign makeover. We’ve helped countless businesses through this process, and we’d be delighted to walk you through it as well. Please let us know how we can be of service.

Custom Signs San Diego

A Sign of The Times

Season's Greetings

 

www.sdsar.com

Season's Greetings