Category Archives: Sign Design

How do you attract quality candidates at a job fair?

Recruiting Employees at Job Fairs: How to Attract Quality Candidates

Job fairs can be an excellent opportunity for recruiting employees with the necessary skills and education. With a tight talent market nationwide, many employers are moving away from the traditional ways they reached out to possible applicants – including print marketing, want ads and social media – and instead beefing up initiatives to connect with candidates directly and in person.

However, job fairs can be a challenge for recruiters: Often, they are competing with an abundance of other employers, trying to wrangle the attention of in-demand candidates while representing the company’s brand positively. So how can a recruiter ensure that they put his or her best foot forward at a job fair? Here are a few essential tips to make sure that you attract the highest quality candidates.

Decide what you’re looking for ahead of time
Before you head to the fair, take time to think about the kind of candidates that will flourish at your company – as well as those that may be better suited elsewhere. Everyone wants an intelligent, resourceful and hard worker, but some personality types may not mesh with your company culture.

Job fairs are often industry specific. Rather than registering for a booth at a generic fair, research what fairs are most appealing to people looking for careers in your industry.

Get your signage in order
Your signage will be one of the most powerful tools you have to attract candidates. Make sure all signs or banners are clean, text is proofed for errors, and graphics are as dynamic as possible so that people will notice them from across the room. Be conscious of branding and make sure your signage matches the overall company aesthetic and color scheme.

Be interactive
Rather than just standing there handing out pamphlets, try and make your booth an interactive destination. Offer trinkets and functional take-home items that will remind candidates of the job later. Construct a photo area with a custom background and encourage candidates to take selfies. The goal is to engage rather than passively wait for passerby to ask you questions.

Before embarking on the hunt for candidates, contact Sign Art Etc. We can make sure that all your signage and branded materials are of the highest quality. Combined with our exemplary customer service, Sign Art Etc is your one-stop shop for all your signage needs.

Signage can have a strong impact on fundraising efforts.

Fundraising Tips: Foster Generosity with a Well-Planned Event

With Easter just around the corner, many people are taking an increased interest in the spirit of generosity and giving. This is good news for charities and non-profits looking to capitalize on the season. But how do you ensure that your event is a success – both in the amount of donations and the goodwill of the donors? Here are a few fundraising tips to help open those wallets a little wider.

Design Clean and Consistent Signage
So much of what makes a charity successful is tied to its credibility. If you host an event but show up with impromptu or hastily cobbled-together signage, your possible donors may question how well their money is being put to good use and whether or not their funds will reach the intended recipients. To avoid this, present a variety of clean and consistent signs, branded clearly with your organization so that there is no ambiguity about who you are and what this is a fundraiser for.

Make It A Challenge
A little competition can often bring out the best in people. Rather than having people donate a set amount, consider having a “challenge” fundraiser, where you hold an event like a marathon and donors commit a certain amount of money per meter run. Even by starting these donations at smaller increments, this can prove to generate more revenue for your cause than if you simply asked for a lump sum.

Give Donors Something To Take Home
While not everyone donates to a charity in hopes of getting something back, making sure donors receive a token of your appreciation helps in a few different ways: First, it validates their decision to donate and gives them a functional item in return for their generosity. Second, it serves as a reminder of their donation so that next year, when its time to start fundraising again, they will think back and be more likely to give again. It doesn’t need to be much – the less costly to the fundraiser, the better – but a tote bag, mug or t-shirt can be a powerful symbol of your appreciation.

Sign Art Etc is the premiere signage solution, offering customizable vinyl banners and step and repeats at a very attractive price. Our skilled customer service representatives are ready to help you prepare for your next fundraiser. Contact us today to learn more.

Embrace the feeling of warmth and renewal this spring!

Spring Marketing Ideas: Make Your Promotion Stand Out This Season

Spring is on its way – bringing up the sensation of a fresh start. Many consumers use the changing of the season to undergo a bit of cleaning and sprucing up around the house, so why shouldn’t business owners follow suit? To attract customers who may be more inclined to shop now that the weather is less frightful, consider these spring promotion and marketing ideas to make your establishment more inviting this season.

Take It To The Streets
The coming of spring typically signals the start of warm weather. Even if it has yet to fully warm up in your area, bringing some of your business outside can be a nice way to signal that – if not now – the spring season has begun and soon enough it’ll be time for T-shirts and shorts. A small outdoor event can be a fun way to highlight the changing season, with an photo booth complete with a custom backdrop to encourage guests to take pictures of the promotion. Completed by offering warming drinks if the weather is still a bit chilly, bringing your event outside can help shake off the feeling of being cooped up all winter.

Embrace the Colors of Spring
In nature, spring has a very distinct aesthetic: fresh, light greens; clear blue skies; the budding pastel colors of new flowers. These colors evoke a sense of vibrancy and liveliness that are sure to attract customers looking to shake off the winter gloom.

“Spring is the perfect time for marketing, as people are full of energy and enthusiasm after a long winter,” Gary Shouldis of 3Bug Media told Small Business Trends. “Your messaging should match the season with vibrant colors and a theme of renewal and revitalization.”

Consider opting for signage that features soft, bright spring colors. Whether its a pastel-hued banner or powder blue accents on lettering, taking a look at your existing signage and ordering something more seasonally aligned can be a great way to make your shop more inviting.

‘Spring Cleaning’ Sales 
To harness the spirit of renewal that comes with spring, many shops host sales under the auspices of “spring cleaning” their inventory. Whether it’s selling off winter or fall items to make way for new warm weather goods, or simply a way to launch a new line, putting together signage showcasing a limited time sale can help make the changing of the season more of an event. Promotions like a “Spring Fling” sale can also help stores emphasize environment of warm feelings and renewal – encouraging your customers to fall in love with your latest products.

Get in on the ‘Madness’
Spring also brings the start of the NCAA championship. Stores looking to get in on the boost in excitement and promotional opportunities associated with the championship should consider hosting events and producing signage that evokes the tournament. However, since terms like “March Madness” and official, associated logos are legally the property of the NCAA, it’s important to tread lightly when it comes to committing these associations to promotional materials. Read our post on this topic here.

Tax Time
One thing that starts this time of year is tax filing season. On the one hand, tax season can mean more disposable income, with consumers getting their refunds. On the other, some consumers may be grumbling about having to pay back taxes. The best way to split the difference between these two groups is to offer a “Tax Time” sale, with steep discounts.

“Incentivize them by offering a coupon good for the weeks around the 15th to allow adequate time to use their refund,” Megan Totka, blogger and marketing director of ChamberofCommerce.com, told Small Business Trends. “If they have a lag time before receiving their refund that extends beyond the weeks of your promotion, tell them to bring in proof that taxes have been filed and let them buy the product at the discounted price.”

Similar to the spring cleaning promotion, emphasizing the value of what you have on offer can be enough to attract both flush and cash-strapped consumers.

If you are in need of all new signage to help embrace the spring season, contact Sign Art Etc today. We offer low rates and high quality service to those in need of banners, backdrops and more.

When designing NCAA championship signage, tread lightly.

March Madness Promotions: Avoiding Legal Pitfalls for Your Business

It’s that time of year again: March 14 signals the start of The National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship. Commonly known as “March Madness,” the tournament goes until April 3 and features 68 college teams going head-to-head.

The championship tournament is a proven boost for local and national businesses of all kinds looking to get in on the action. Whether it’s year-round college basketball fans or simply those who enjoy the seasonal competition, creating a marketing or ad campaign to go along with the championship can help bring in customers and attract attention. But making sure your promotion – as well as all the signage that goes along with it – navigates the legal landscape surrounding the championship and the NCAA can be trickier than it seems.

Why is the Championship So Important to Businesses?
To understand why the NCAA tournament is such big business, even for smaller enterprises, it helps to look at how ubiquitous it can be culturally. According to Ira Kalb, a professor at Marshall School of Business, the tournament is essentially a household brand name for sports fans and non-fans alike.

“With a penchant for alliteration, the NCAA has created brand identities for the entire tournament and interim playoffs by giving them names such as March Madness, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four,” Kalb said. “Even non-fans hear these words from sportscasters, late-night TV hosts and comedians.”

The way the championship is set up fosters a culture of inclusion: Even if a person knows nothing about basketball – or even sports – they can take part in putting together a bracket, often to great success. Even the NCAA points out that a participant’s individual picks aren’t as important as the final four team standings, which, when combined with a points system, means that the entire tournament can be a fun and exciting game for consumers – even without ever watching an actual matchup.

This air of excitement and good, clean fun can be leveraged by businesses looking to create promotions, sales or events that are in the spirit of the tournament. However, depending on how promotional materials like signs are designed, this can land a business in legal hot water.

The Legal Challenge
The biggest obstacle when it comes to creating promotional materials associated with March Madness and the NCAA is the the NCAA Trademark Protection Program. This program spells out – in no uncertain terms – that use of “the NCAA’s name and trademarks (including the Final Four and March Madness) or any use of NCAA championship tickets in sweepstakes, promotions or contests” is strictly prohibited without the authorization or consent of the NCAA. This means that, when designing materials and signage that evoke the championship, businesses must avoid:

  • Terms like “March Madness,” “Big Dance,” “Elite Eight” and “Final Four,” which are all owned by the NCAA.
  • Any logos or images that are directly branded and trademarked by the NCAA.
  • Appropriating NCAA branded 32-for-32 brackets.

The NCAA is notoriously protective of its intellectual property, which has led to lawsuits over the improper promotional use of branded materials by non-partnered businesses.

Signage Best Practices
Even with these restrictions, business can still tie themselves to the championship in a way that is both legally acceptable and economically fruitful. While the aforementioned proper names may be the intellectual property of the NCAA, terms like “March,” “madness” and “basketball” are common words and cannot be trademarked. Here are few best practices to keep in mind when putting together your ad signage and promotions:

Keep It General
Rather than referring to the tournament by its full name – which can be too long – or by its trademarked name – which is illegal, save for authorized usage – opt for general descriptions in your signage. You can use terms like “championship,” “tournament,” “the big games,” “game day” or “the season” to make your audience think of the championship without mentioning it by name.

Soundalikes
​Another strategy is to use names and phrases that might sound like the trademarked terms without using the terms themselves. This can be particularly useful when coining the name of a seasonal promotion that is associated with a certain business. Examples include promotions named “March Radness” – excellent for use in a chic clothing store – or the “Final Pour” – a promotion name for a bar or restaurant.

Take the “Madness” out of March
The NCAA owns the use of “March Madness,” but once you separate the two words, all bets are off. You can create signage that advertises “Boot Madness” or “Ice Cream Madness,” highlighting a limited-time sale.

Brackets and Baskets
When it comes to your signage graphics, you don’t even need to use words to tie your promotion to the championship. While still avoiding NCAA branded logos, you can freely use images of baskets and hoops, generic basketball players and non-branded 32-for-32 brackets. Simply do a quick internet search for free-use images. One innovative idea for tournament signage is to put together your own vinyl banner bracket, pitting some of your most popular commercial items against each other in a fun “championship.”

Using a little imagination can help businesses successful navigate the legal hurdles. If your business needs low-cost, high-quality signage to help promote your game-day initiatives, contact Sign Art Etc today.

With all the noise of a convention, how do you make your exhibit booth display stand out?

Trade Show Checklist: What You’ll Need to Stand Out

Are you bringing yourself and your wares to a local or national trade show? What about setting up a booth at a collector’s convention? Whether it’s an exhibit display, table or other kind of representation, it is vital that you put your best foot forward when it comes to your business. Sign Art Etc has put together this helpful trade show checklist, guiding you through why trade shows are a vital part of business and what you’ll need to succeed.

Why Trade Shows and Conventions are Important – and Difficult
If you are already a successful business owner in your local area, going to a trade show or convention may seem like a lot of work. However, these events are key opportunities to grow your business beyond it’s current level.

By taking part in the larger ecosystem of a show, a small business owner can:

  • Network with other entrepreneurs in a similar market space.
  • See the latest innovations within their chosen industry.
  • Get press coverage and expand their advertising footprint.
  • Connect with customers from disparate geographic areas.

Yet, even with this in mind, shows and conventions may seem particularly daunting for a small business owner. Even armed with the most innovative and desirable product or service, an entrepreneur arriving at a show with hundreds of similar vendors and thousands of spectators and consumers may still find themselves asking, How do I distinguish myself among all this competition?

One part of the answer may be surprisingly simple: Have the right signage for your booth or display. Read on…

Distinguishing yourself amid a trade show can be tricky.Distinguishing yourself amid a trade show can be tricky.

Backdrops
First and foremost, when you arrive at your booth, take a look at the areas right behind your table. You’ll be sitting in this booth for several days, and if the sign behind you is plain or uninspired – or simply nonexistent – this may not motivate possible customers to stop and check out what you have on display.

A simple way to create a more visually arresting booth is with a custom branded backdrop. It can help you stand out amid the the competition, hide other booths that may be behind you and give your booth a professional, more polished feel. Even better, any pictures taken of the booth or your wares is likely to capture the branding on the backdrop, creating an organic and discrete advertisement for your shop.

Banners
Banners are one of the most important elements of your trade show checklist. They act as a single point of focus, allowing passersby to quickly and easily identify who you are and get a taste for what you do. Make your banners simple, clean and easy to read. Materials like vinyl make ideal banners since they are glossy, resilient and easily washable.

If you are looking for the ultimate in banner convenience, a retractable banner display can be the perfect thing. Simply pull out the banner or retract it as needed. This way, your banner is kept protected and stored alongside the device you use to mount it.

Table Skirts
If you are renting a table at a convention, you may or may not be given a table skirt. Table skirts are an essential component to any booth display since they allow you to hide your feet or any extra merchandise you may need under the table, as well as simply conceal with may otherwise be a dingy or unattractive looking folding table. They also can act as a secondary canvas for advertising, though avoid making it the only place where your business name appears: They are typically below eye-level and can become wrinkled and hard to read.

Hop Up Displays
Looking for something a bit more visually engaging? Why not take your display to the next level with a Hop Up (sometimes called a “pop up”) display? These innovative graphic presentations feature a light-weight yet rugged frame that suspends a fabric graphic image. Hop Ups from Sign Art Etc come in a variety different shapes and sizes and features a frame with with webbing, a front graphic and a carrying bag.

Assembly and disassembly is quick and easy since the durable fabric graphic image stays attached to the aluminum frame. Full color fabric graphic stretches over an aluminum frame and can be left on the frame when packing and during shipping.

Do you still have questions about how to maximize your graphic presentation at your next industry trade show or convention? Contact Sign Art Etc today and we would be glad to assist you. 1.800.799.7436 or info@signartetc.com.