Page 24 – Signs for Success

Printed woodgrain for dashboard dash restoration of Impala pieces by Signs for Success

Custom Printed Vinyl Improves American Classics

June 23, 2015/in Vehicles/by John Bogensberger

Impala dash restoration

Improve an American Classic with Custom Printed Vinyl

Restoration projects are fun and challenging – who would have guessed someone looking for the perfect side kicker panel replacements for a classic Chevrolet convertible would end up at a sign shop? As luck would have it, we had just what this owner of a 1970 Chevrolet Impala Bel Air was looking for when reviving his American classic.

When restoring a vehicle, it takes great care and effort to repair it to authentic condition without upgrading or changing any of the original aspects of the car. While not a true restoration, the side kicker panel modifications improved the car cosmetically and made it similar to what it would have looked like when first offered for sale.

Complete Upholstery replaced the top of the convertible and reupholstered the interior. Signs for Success printed the vinyl that replaced the side kicker panels. We printed wood grain graphics on marine-grade vinyl , which is an upholstery custom printed vinyl fabric, to match the original panels which were scratched and dented. The finished product looked great. “Nobody noticed it was printed until we told them; everyone thought it was wood grain,” Complete Upholstery owner Patrick Linebarger said.

The custom printed vinyl upholstery fabric we use for auto and boat upholstery has been tested in an independent lab using ASTM D 4157-07/ACT for 30,000 rubs and rated for general contract upholstery and heavy duty upholstery. The marine-grade rating means it will last through several years of daily wear. Custom printed vinyl is great for customizing auto interiors, and can also be used for boat upholstery, motorcycle upholstery and restaurant seating.

Advertising wrap for Food Services of America in Spokane by Signs for Success, vehicle graphics spokane

3 Vehicle Graphics Best Practices

June 23, 2015/in Box Trucks, Cars SUVs, Emergency Vehicles, Off-Road & Motorcycles, Pickups, Trailers, Vans, Vehicles, Watercraft/by John Bogensberger

Nissan Van wrap for Food Services of America

Vehicle wraps are the most effective in outdoor advertising. As with any advertisement, simple graphics and concise text are best, but when it comes to moving vehicle graphics Spokane, there are 3 key elements every vehicle wrap should incorporate. These are: an oversize image, minimal text, and a call to action.

1. Oversize Image

An oversize image gets people’s attention and is easy to see from a distance. One large image is better than several small images, especially when the vehicle is moving. In addition, signs appear smaller than they really are to drivers on the road. That’s why larger than life images and advertisements are so important on vehicle graphics.

Market Vision ad agency designed this custom wrap for Dishman Dodge advertising for Mt. Spokane ski and snowboard park in Spokane and Greenbluff, vehicle wraps spokane

Market Vision Dishman Dodge Jeep for Mt. Spokane vehicle wrap

2. Minimal Text

Once your vehicle graphics have someone’s attention, the company name and a phone number or website is all the information needed, and all they will probably be able to process in passing. According to 3M, five simple pieces of information requires 3.67 seconds to comprehend. Since a driver shouldn’t spend more than 3 seconds away from viewing the road, five pieces of information might be pushing it when we’re talking about moving vehicle graphics Spokane.

“I have learned simple is better; name/logo and phone number are the most important parts. You want to get your message across in the shortest time possible,” Signs for Success designer Will Oakley explained. “Bullet points, slogans and other info can make a wrap look cluttered and tend to draw away from the important information.” He adds, however, that “bullet points and slogans are okay on the back of vehicles since most people stuck in traffic will have more time to read those.”

Drummin Up BBQ gets more business with this custom "fir" wrap designed & installed by Signs for Success in Spokane, Call now for fast signs service, vehicle graphics spokane

Food truck trailer wrap for Drummin Up BBQ

3. A Call to Action

Finally, your vehicle graphics must include a call to action. A call to action is an invitation to act. A phone number, website address or QR code are all call to actions. Without this information, the customer is not able to pursue his/her initial interest. Just like a “For Sale” sign posted at an uninhabited property will not bring potential buyers without a flyer box or at least a phone number, interesting vehicle graphics will only be a traveling gallery without a call to action.

With these 3 key elements, your vehicle wrap will be sure to not only draw attention, but also get your point across. As long as these best practices are followed, you are free to incorporate your own style and composition for a truly unique yet effective vehicle wrap. Our experienced design team can work with existing artwork or come up with a completely new concept. Contact us for a free quote on your next vehicle graphics Spokane project!

Button for requesting a quote on vehicle wraps, Give us a call now for fast sign service in Spokane

request a quote button

Metal laminate dimensional letters for Wolf & Associates, by Signs for Success in Spokane, dimensional letters and logos

Give Depth to your Advertising with Dimensional Letters and Logos

June 22, 2015/in Dimensional Letters, Windows, Walls and Floors/by John Bogensberger

Wolf & Associates dimensional letters

Dimensional letters and logos are emerging as a high-impact statement on static signage. Signs for Success has been a dimensional lettering supplier in Spokane for many years, but now that 3D everything has struck a chord with consumers worldwide, the phones seem to be ringing off the hook for custom dimensional letters and logos.

Dimensional Letters fall into 4 main categories: metal, laser cut, formed plastic, and earth-friendly Minnesota letters.

Aluminum Letters

Metal Acrylic Letters are solid acrylic coated with a .025″ layer of real metal. They are primarily designed for indoor applications; however, thanks to Gemini’s new “Bern-lok” process that greatly reduces deterioration, they can also be used in certain outdoor situations. They give a professional look to lobbies and offices. Metal wall letters are available in brushed, soft, or polished aluminum; brushed satin gold; brushed, soft, or polished brass, and medium bronze.

Dimensional metal laminate letters and wheat stalks on custom printed wallpaper for 2nd Harvest Spokane and Pasco, Future of Feeding Hope Campaign wall, dimensional letters and logos

2nd Harvest custom wallpaper and laser cut dimensional letters

Laser Cut Letters are perfect for intricate fonts or designs with multiple layers. Your artwork is converted to an exact 3D acrylic replica, and orders are typically ready in 4-6 business days from artwork approval. There are 32 standard colors as well as a custom finishes.

Next to solid or cast metal, Formed Plastic Letters are perhaps the most durable dimensional letters. These do well outdoors as well as in. They offer greatest depth and dimension for your money and can be custom made up to 5 feet tall. These plastic letters are made from a renewable resource, so they’re eco-friendly, too. Formed Plastic Letters come in 140 standard styles and 38 colors.

Dimensional acrylic plexiglass lobby sign for Spokane Transit, exact cyan pantone match by Signs for Success

STA blue dimensional logo lobby sign

Minnesota Letters have the look and feel of cast metal letters. Made from earth-friendly recyclable CAB, these are available in 6 standard styles and 45 standard colors. Minnesota Letters are great for indoors, and they work in most outdoor situations as well.

Tip: Mount dimensional letters and logos with stand-off mounts to give even greater impact!

In addition to dimensional letters, we offer custom 3D shapes, perfect for displaying your logo. The Spokane Transit Authority office houses a brightly-colored dimensional logo that’s 4 feet tall. To give even greater impact, the logo is mounted to stand about 2 inches off the wall. We offer professional installation, quick turnaround and a lifetime guarantee.

This digitally printed, custom, chrome bed band was installed on a hood of a Dodge and it looks great, decal installation

Professional Striping & Decal Installation

June 19, 2015/in Box Trucks, Cars SUVs, Emergency Vehicles, Installs Only, Off-Road & Motorcycles, Pickups, Trailers, Vans, Vehicles, Watercraft/by John Bogensberger

Bed bands on Dodge hood, installed at Signs for Success

At Signs for Success we strive for the highest level of quality in our vehicle graphics, and our installation team has been through rigorous training as well as Avery Dennison car wrap certification. “Car Wrap Certified” means installers have gone through extensive training on the proper methods to prepare, size, cut and apply graphics to vehicles. Although compared to full car wraps, vehicle striping or decal installation may seem like a simple process, the precise nature of one or more straight pieces of material over a non-straight surface actually presents a fair challenge.

Signs for Success installer using knifeless tape

We often use knifeless tape, or “cut tape,” when working with visual lines on a vehicle body. Since the body is never flat or square, we lay the repositionable knifeless tape along the line and double and triple check it before applying vinyl graphics over the tape.

Matte black striping on this ’68 Dodge Charger required eight individual knifeless tape strips to create the four stripes on the rear. “Laying them all down and keeping eight strips parallel was a bit of a challenge,” Signs for Success vehicle graphics installer Chris Komski said. Once the tape is lined up perfectly, the rest of the process is pretty simple. “After all the cut tape lines are laid down, you apply the color change vinyl on top of that. Then pull the string out of the cut tape, which cuts the vinyl; remove all the excess, heat down the vinyl and you are done.”

Matte black striping installed using knifeless tape at Signs for Success

Whether you get your vinyl graphics from us or you have purchased a kit elsewhere, you can trust our installation professionals to get your vehicle graphics installed properly so that they look great and last. Contact Signs for Success to get a free quote on striping or decal installation.

Mounting metal letters on bottom studs for Maialina Restaurant in Mosco presented problems that Signs Signs for Success figured out, metal letters spokane

Custom Metal Letters Spokane

June 16, 2015/in Dimensional Letters, Windows, Walls and Floors/by John Bogensberger

Maialina Moscow Restaurant metal letters

Metal letters look great indoors or out. We’ve seen them in office lobbies and conference rooms as well as high-end jewelry stores and restaurants. They work almost anywhere and can bring a classy look, modern look, or even a grunge look, depending on how you use them.

Snap lobby sign in metal laminate dimensional letters

We work with Gemini – a leader in dimensional lettering and dimensional sign supplies—to create our custom metal letters Spokane. Among the options in metal letters are: flat cut metal, cast metal, and stainless steel fabricated metal letters.

Flat cut metal letters are made from high-grade plate metal and come in several different finishes, including aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, brass and copper. It’s tough enough for outdoor signs, but attractive enough for office interiors as well.

Cast metal letters offer deep dimension and durability. They are hand-finished in either cast aluminum or bronze that gives the letters a classic look.

Lobby signs of dimensional letters look great on the wall like this one for Wolf & Associates in Spokane, of cut metal and acrylic

Wolf & Associates Lobby Sign

The stainless steel fabricated letters project a strong look, with crisp 90-degree edges and clean lines. They’re also lighter in weight than comparable cast metal letters.

Here are some additional options to give your metal letters Spokane a unique look:

Custom lighting—create a distinct look with custom lighting including halo-lit and face-lit letters.
Dimensional logo or other artwork—Have your logo or other meaningful artwork cast to match your metal letters.
Stand-off mounts—Give greater impact by mounting dimensional letters off the wall. Play with lighting and shadows to make metal letters Spokane really stand out.

We offer professional installation, quick turnaround and a lifetime guarantee on all metal letters Spokane. Contact us for a free quote today!

Away with Words loved the design and wrap we did on their last car, so when they got a new one, they came to us for the new design and Certified wrap as well

Vehicle Wraps are Effective and Affordable

June 16, 2015/in Box Trucks, Cars SUVs, Emergency Vehicles, Off-Road & Motorcycles, Pickups, Trailers, Vans, Vehicles, Watercraft/by John Bogensberger

Certified Avery vehicle wrap

“Just stopping to get gas or going to the store, I have people coming up to me saying, “What a great paint job!” about my wrapped car. I try to explain in one minute that it is really a great big bumper sticker printed and wrapped onto the car,” Signs for Success designer Vanessa Bogensberger said. Vehicle wraps are increasingly important methods of advertising for any business from general contractors to law offices. Signs for Success can take your logo or idea and create an effective vehicle wrap, start to finish.

Signs for Success designed, printed, wrapped by certified wrap installers in Spokane, WA

Dryer Ducks fleet wrap front view

Successful and effective advertising, marketing and promotion can be difficult to achieve. The most difficult part is the concept or design if you don’t already have a logo or idea. There are a lot of successful marketing and ad agencies that can help brand a company, and we work with many of them. We also have an in-house experienced design team who has designed hundreds of vehicle wraps. Outdoor advertising has seen a shift from static signage into this relatively new advertising venue of vehicle wraps. Why? Vehicle Wraps Chewelah (and other Spokane areas) are a high impact, cost effective form of advertising that work for all types and sizes of businesses. A vehicle wrap builds brand recognition, raises a company’s profile and reinforces brand identity.

A vehicle wrap has many benefits that the exceedingly more expensive traditional media lacks. Check out the vehicle wrap facts below from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America:

Mobile advertising can be the most effective and efficient form of outdoor advertising, reaching more consumers at a lower Cost per Thousand Impressions (CPM) than any other form of outdoor advertising.
More than 95% of Americans are reached by media targeting vehicle drivers and passengers.
The average American has traveled 302 miles in the past 7 days.
One vehicle wrap can generate between 30,000 – 70,000 impressions daily.
Federal Highway Administration study forecasts a sharp increase in the amount of time spent in personal vehicles and the number of trips per household.

Drywall Specialties logo on truck

Before vehicle wraps, painting or cut vinyl decals were the closest thing used. Many commercial vehicles incorporate some form of vinyl decals, vinyl window decals, lettering or basic branding onto their exterior, but a full vehicle wrap takes it to a much higher level. Fleet wraps advance the branding of a company with continuity in the look of several vehicles.

Signs for Success is a leader in Spokane and Eastern Washington for wrapping vehicles, and our customer service is second to none. As a full service company we have all of our departments in sync and we can handle every aspect of the vehicle wrap process in-house or work hand-in-hand with your marketing company for a complete wrap package. With our state of the art printers, high quality materials, and trained installation experts, we have quality control and a hands-on approach throughout each step of the process. We handle the whole job from start to finish, and we’ll be there if you need follow up support.

JRCC wanted a wrap for their pickup that really stood out and spoke about restoration, Signs for Success delivered, vehicle wraps Chewelah

JRCC pickup truck wrap, custom design by Signs for Success

Small Business Owners
You own the vehicle, there are no permits needed, and you can drive and park wherever allowed, so use the moving billboard you already own! Whether you use one vehicle in your business or a small fleet of vehicles (delivery, service, sales, or other related vehicles), vehicle wraps can make it look as if you have more advertising out there. If a vehicle isn’t wrapped, the business is not taking advantage of the valuable advertising space it already owns. Don’t miss this valuable and cost effective opportunity. Vehicle wraps Chewelah will continuously promote your business. By wrapping a vehicle, a business is exposing its product or service to thousands of potential customers on a daily basis.

How Much Does a Wrap Cost?
The cost of advertising over the life of the vehicle is minimal, especially when compared to other forms of advertising. We can give a rough quote based the type of vehicle—we will need to know year, make, model, and possibly a few other specifications. Contact us for a free quote on vehicle wraps Chewelah today!

Custom acrylic signs with standoffs for great hallway and lobby signs with character, get dimensional by Signs for Success in Spokane like these for snap

Add Character with Custom Acrylic Signs

June 15, 2015/in Backlit, Post and Panel, Rigid Signs, Wall Signs, Windows, Walls and Floors/by John Bogensberger

Acrylic wall signs

Acrylic is a great sign material that offers flexibility in shape, dimension, color, gradient and other effects. The relatively inexpensive material offers a wealth of possibilities from metal standoffs to dimensional lettering to custom shape cut signs and logos.

Many of our customers have chosen acrylic signs for their lobby or office, healthcare reception area, restaurant, bar, or hotel. Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar uses custom acrylic signs at their locations throughout Spokane. Their most recent project was a dusted-look, semi-transparent acrylic print.

These acrylic signs for Snap in Spokane give character to an otherwise bland hallway. Standoffs give more dimension and draw attention to the fun graphics.

Advantages of Acrylic Signs:

Dimensional look with cables and standoffs for Snap Spokane, designed, printed, installed by Signs for Success, call now for great, fast service

Snap hall signs

Smooth, durable sign substrate with a professional glossy finish
Can be used indoors or out and in different lighting situations, including backlit
Prevents vandalism and regular wear and tear since graphics can be printed in reverse to the back of clear acrylic, then laminated for extra protection
Offers unlimited custom options – the one we’re most excited about is using white ink to create custom effects, whether it’s color gradient, dusting, or graphics that change in different lighting.

Aside from the many advantages of acrylic, there are several other things to consider, including thickness, color and finishing. “Acrylic, or plexiglass, comes in a variety of colors and clear. White can be translucent or opaque; clear can be gloss, matte, or non-glare,” Signs for Success designer Vanessa Bogensberger explained. “Thicknesses range from 1/8” thick, 3/16”, ¼” and thicker. If you’re installing the sign with standoffs, you can layer different colors of 1/8” thick for a more dimensional look. It makes a beautifully finished, professional looking sign.” Contact us for a free quote on custom acrylic signs today!

Inland Northwest Wildlife Council banner for tradeshows looks great and was designed by Signs for Success in North Spokane, trade show banners

Creative Uses for Trade Show Banners

June 15, 2015/in Banners, Displays, Event Banners, Paparazzi Photo Backdrop, Pole and Street Banners, Posters, Sports and Sponsor Banners, Tradeshow & Promo, Uncategorized/by John Bogensberger

Trade show banner for Inland Northwest Wildlife Council

Trade shows are a great opportunity to show your business off to the community, but if you’re just starting out, finding the funds for complex trade show booths, hardware and other accessories can be a challenge. Banners are one of the most versatile ways to display graphics – we’ve used banner material in frames, on a billboard structure, and even as tradeshow displays.

We digitally printed a banner for Inland Northwest Wildlife Council for the recent Spokane Fair & Expo. The banner turned out beautifully. We also printed foamcore cutouts of a bird, fish, and their logo and mounted them to the banner to give the artwork more dimension. Adding lighting to the display turned a simple trade show banner into a complete trade show display.

RETRACTABLE BANNER STANDS

Retractable banners are another great addition to trade show graphics if you already have the basics. A retractable banner increases the visual impact

Feather banners are becoming more and more popular at trade shows. They stand high above tables and booths and are easy to spot. Eye-catching, festive and professional, they work indoors or out at trade shows, festivals, sports events, fundraisers and expos.

You may want to utilize one or more of these custom trade show banners:

Hemmed and grommeted banners, great for backdrops or hung across the front of your table.
Double sided banners, either grommeted or with pole pocket for viewing from multiple angles.
Retractable banner stands or pop up banner stands with custom full color graphics
Feather banners in small, medium or large; feather, rectangle or teardrop.

Signs for Success can help you decide the best trade show banners for your setup, and our experienced design team can come up with a cohesive design concept that matches your business and budget. We are a locally owned family business in Spokane, and we strive for excellent customer service, perfect color, and quick turnaround on every project. Our large production facility allows us to design, print and install everything in-house. Get quality service and a quick turnaround on custom trade show banners; contact us for a free quote today!

Adding your message or advertisement to the Doors of the Elevator really add impact to your message, Like this at Spokane Valley Hospital installed for Allegra Signs, elevator wraps spokane

Custom Eye-Catching Elevator Wraps Spokane

June 11, 2015/in new and cool, Random Other Stuff, Windows, Walls and Floors/by John Bogensberger

Spokane Valley Hospital Elevator Wrap

Elevator wraps Spokane offer huge impact for any business, product or message. They’re still relatively new and unique. People’s eyes may pass over a wall sign without noticing much, but an elevator sign is more likely to get someone’s attention. Pair its uniqueness with the fact that people will spend time both waiting for an elevator and inside an elevator, a vinyl wrap on either side of elevator doors makes for great advertising.

Elevator wrap for Spokane Valley Hospital, Allegra advertising, installed by Signs for Success Spokane

A second elevator wrap at the same Spokane Valley Hospital

Research shows elevator wraps generate a 96% recall rate. This may be due to the extra time one might spend in front of the ad as well as the lack of distractions within an elevator. An elevator wrap campaign is effective in a number of situations: in malls and office buildings, hotels and airports, universities and hospitals. Anywhere you can expect a lot of, and varied, foot traffic is a great opportunity for an elevator wrap advertisement.

Elevator doors vary in height and width, but you can expect somewhere around 4’ x 8’ worth of advertising space. This valuable space can be used to showcase a product, an event, an award, or a charity or fundraiser. This elevator wrap at Spokane Valley Hospital directs viewers to the Joint Restoration Center’s website. Changing out signage periodically will draw more interest. By using self-adhesive vinyl with a releasable adhesive, you can easily remove an elevator wrap without leaving any residue behind. Simply install the next wrap and enjoy.

If you have elevator space, an elevator wrap is an excellent way to utilize the space you already have. In addition to using an elevator wrap for your own advertising space, you could sell the space, creating sponsor revenue. The higher the elevator foot traffic, the easier it will be to secure advertisers to purchase the space. As always, our experienced design team can help create an eye-catching design for your vinyl wrap. Contact us for a free quote on elevator wraps Spokane today!

Buy Local Custom Wood Signs Spokane

June 11, 2015/in A-frame, Post and Panel, Rigid Signs, Wall Signs/by John Bogensberger

Custom wood panels for Dry Fly boxes

The HP FB500 Flatbed Printer allows us to print custom artwork on a variety of materials of varying thicknesses. Some of the most interesting pieces have been custom wood signs Spokane. We can print almost any size wood material, either raw or finished. We can print to customer supplied materials as long as they’re flat, or we can supply the wood.

One wood sign project was for several lot signs. We started with half inch thick MDO and router-cut the pieces to shape. The signs had a straight bottom edge and a curved top. After we edge-sealed and painted each piece, the custom wood signs were ready for printing. They were loaded bottom first to get the alignment just right and were run two at a time.

Lee's Pallets and Signs for Success can produce great custom boxes with digitally printed white and colored inks on the lids, Give us a call now for fast sign service in Spokane

Custom Dry Fly Distilling bottle boxes on raw cedar

For another project, we printed individual cedar blocks of wood. They were approximately 9.5” x 5” and 1/2” thick. The FB500 can print on rigid material up to 2.5 inches thick. When the material is set on the flatbed, the printer head height automatically adjusts according to the thickness of the material it senses. However, if there are small pieces being fed through, the material might not line up with the sensors, resulting in misgauging. Running a piece of material through the printer despite an incorrect setting will damage the printer heads and ruin the sign. If there is ever a misreading on the material thickness, we must override it.

It’s most cost-effective to order custom wood signs Spokane in bulk when using this technique as it takes time and care to get everything set up properly. For the above mentioned projects, we ran 56 MDO lot signs at one time and 100 cedar signs in the first run.

We can also print large single pieces of raw or finished wood. Recently, we printed a sheet of raw plywood. The customer wanted an aged, vintage look for her store sign. Because we were working with unfinished plywood, the inks were absorbed right into the wood, giving the faded vintage look the customer wanted.

Signs for Success is a locally owned family business in Spokane, and we strive for excellent customer service, perfect color, and quick turnaround on every project. Our large production facility allows us to design, print and install everything in-house. Get quality service and a quick turnaround on custom wood signs Spokane; contact us for a free quote today!