Author Archives: Doug

How Much Does a Step and Repeat Cost?

SignArtEtc delivers premium step and repeat products with vibrant, 4-color digital printing at affordable costs.

Below is our range of prices depending on your size, material and display needs (excluding sale items):

Vinyl Material:

Type Price Range
Backdrop Only $122 – $245
Backdrop with Display Stand $262 – $475
Backdrop w/Display Stand and Red Carpet $355 – $630
Backdrop w/Heavy-Duty Display Stand $340 – $590
Backdrop w/Heavy-Duty Display Stand and Red Carpet $350 – $745

Polyester Fabric Material:

Type Price Range
Backdrop Only $215 – $300
Backdrop w/Display Stand $370 – $505
Backdrop w/Display Stand and Red Carpet $480 – $610

SignArtEtc also offers professional design services, free with every order, ensuring that the look and layout of your graphics are picture perfect and ready for their close-up.

Keeping checking back at our home page to see the latest sales and offers to save you even more.

How to attract social media attention to your grand opening

Grand Opening Ideas: How to Attract Social Media Attention

You only get one chance at a grand opening. These unique ideas using photos and social media will help make the launch of your store or business a viral sensation. 

It’s not exactly revolutionary to point out how popular social media has become. Social networks are everywhere, it often seems, and research backs up this conclusion: According to data compiled by Statista, 81 percent of Americans had a profile on at least one social media site. On a worldwide basis, approximately 1.96 billion users are on social media, with projections positing that 2.5 billion profiles will be active by the time 2018 rolls around.

Its imperative to consider how a grand opening will appear, not only for the attendees, but also how people in the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter-verses will react to and spread word about the event.

Use the right networks
Facebook is, by the numbers, the most prominent social media platform, having surpassed its peers some time ago to reach 1 billion users and claiming 1.5 billion accounts as of January 2016. As such, if you haven’t set up a Facebook page in advance of the big day, it behooves you to rectify that sooner rather than later.

Fit Small Business emphasized the high value of Facebook-based promotions, and particularly how ideal they are for grand openings. Your company should post some photos of the finished location (exterior is better, for aesthetic reasons) as well as pictures of its products, if applicable. But don’t neglect other networks per se: If the company has a broad demographic appeal, add Instagram, Twitter and other platforms to the social media mix.

Stage the opening like a party
There’s a reason for the use of the word “grand” in the term “grand opening.” It’s supposed to be a celebration! Your event should be worthy of the large-scale joviality that such a phrase is meant to indicate.

As Entrepreneur magazine pointed out, it will be prudent to budget the event like a party, albeit not a massive one – after all, you will soon need to be allocating your financial resources toward day-to-day business expenses. But it’s no massive expense to purchase a red carpet backdrop that you can place within the entrance, to aesthetically whet the appetite of incoming potential customers. If seeking to further the impression of a gala affair, a backdrop with the company’s logo stitched diagonally across will stand out quite prominently.

To help persuade grand-opening attendees to post images of the event on their own social media profiles, consider staging a contest for the goofiest photo, or the most appealing pose that incorporates the company’s product. With the right hashtag, this can blow up online faster than you might think.

Throw your own fashion week gala!

Fun and fresh theme ideas for a local fashion show

Hosting a local fashion show is a great way to raise money for a good cause, instill school or community spirit or just have a fun social event. Giving your local showcase a specific theme can really help get everyone excited and make it easier to promote, offline and on social media. Consider some of these fun and fresh theme ideas for your next runway spectacular:

Seasons in transition
A seasonally inspired show is a great way to mark the passing of time and to give your designs a cohesive color scheme. The fashion blog LEAFtv urges budding designers and fashionistas to follow these basic seasonal guidelines:

  • Winter: Crisp whites, furs (or fake fur), chic scarves, hats and other accessories. Complete your decor with a white runway and blue lighting.
  • Fall: Rustic fashions composed of reds, yellows, oranges. Velvets, yarn and fleece. Create layered, practical looks. Adorn you runway with dried leaves and tinder.
  • Spring: Rich, vibrant pastels with floral finishes. Mix earthy tones and textures with accessories that simulate the budding of flowers.
  • Summer: Bright colors, bold tropical hues. Keep the clothing itself light and flowing for a breezy, fun feel.

Whichever season you choose, adding a step and repeat/red carpet area for arriving guests will add to the fun. SignArtEtc offers customizable backdrops for photo ops, in any color and with any graphics you would like to use. And our professional layout services are free! The backdrop will make your photos look like they came straight from a big-name fashion show in NYC, Paris or Milan.

“Have your designers make futuristic dresses.”

Back in time – or to the future
Instead of trying to emulate modern fashions, why not choice a specific era in history and have models dress accordingly? Do a little research into the Renaissance, ancient Rome, the Victorian or Elizabethan era and see what fashion of the time seems the most exciting. Or for something a little easier to design on a budget, why not try a more modern era like the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s or ’80s? You can borrow your parents (or grandparents) era-specific clothing or raid your local Goodwill in search of the perfect outfit.

Not interested in seeing past fashions repeat themselves? Look to the future! Have your designers make futuristic dresses and space-age formal wear inspired by fashion to come. Let your imagination run wild!

A trip to the beach – or under the sea
Swimwear has always been a staple of chic fashion shows, so why not throw your own beach or nautical themed showcase? Turn your venue into a tropical paradise by adding some cardboard cut out palm trees and distribute leis to your guests. Everything from swimwear to sailing outfits will give the show a fun, summery feel.

Alternatively, you let your theme be “Under the Sea.” Turn your models into mermaids and mermen with sequined fish scale designs, seashell accessories and bright undersea colors.

A fall fashion theme can be a great way to celebrate the season!A fall fashion theme can be a great way to celebrate the season!

“Who says all your models have to be humans?”

Fashionable pets
Who says all your models have to be humans? A pet fashion show is a fun and funny way to get the community out to see what kind of crazy costumes and couture-inspired outfits you can come up with. Just be careful: Some of your “models” may be a bit touchy and overexcited by all the noise and stimulation.

Fictional or historical characters
Think of this as a part Halloween costume contest, part high fashion show. Have your designers take their favorite works of art – whether it’s a novel, movie, painting, song, etc – and base their work on that. Encourage them to think outside the box and just use the work of art as inspiration, rather than feeling beholden to reproduce it perfectly.

Whatever theme you choose, the key is to have fun and make it a can’t miss gala event. A customized backdrop can give your guests and models the touch of glamour, just like a Hollywood red carpet. Contact Sign Art Etc today to learn more.

A charity fashion show fundraiser can do wonders for your favorite cause.

Charity Fashion Show: Themes and Ideas to Boost Donations

A charity fashion show – often mounted in conjunction with events like New York Fashion Week – can be a great way to raise funds for your cause of choice. While benevolence is certainly a strong motivator, throwing an event that is fun and exciting can make it easier to attract attention, get locals interested in attending and boost proceeds.

“You can seek sponsorship from local or national businesses.”

Getting started 
The most important thing you’ll need to do to get your fashion fundraiser underway is secure donations. Ideally, try and get your designers to donate their time and designs to the show, or at least work at a discounted rate. Similarly, see if you can find a venue with owners willing to support your cause. If you can contact local retailers and put together some donated raffle prizes, all the better.

Alternatively, you can seek sponsorship from local or national businesses. This sponsorship can take the form of a direct contribution, the donation of a vital resource or even some kind of matching donation, where your sponsor kicks in money for every ticket sold or dollar generated. These sponsors can be promoted and acknowledged via custom backdrops and banners with branded logos printed on them. 

Set admission and raffle ticket costs low enough so that you attract the most amount of attendees. KonectIDY says that the most common price point for charity event admissions is $5 per ticket. The authors also point out that maximizing ticket sales ahead of time can help in budgeting and incentivize people to plan on attending.

Having trouble deciding on a show theme? Here are a few fun ideas — and what you’ll need to make them happen:

For Kids
A kids fashion show is a fun, exciting idea – particularly if you can feature designs or models who are part of the group you’re raising money for. Reach out to local schools, after-school programs, clubs and other groups with kids of various ages and take a roll call as to who would like to take part. Have the kids design their own fashions and outfits – you might be amazed at how inspired and eccentric they turn out! Plot out the show into sections segregated by age group, so that kids of roughly the same age get to walk the aisles together.

The kids taking part in the show will love the opportunity to strut their stuff and you’ll be able to raise awareness for your cause through their enthusiasm.

Prom Fashions 
As a way to get fashion inspiration for one of the biggest social events of the school year, a prom-themed show is sure to be a hit. Ask local teens to design or pick out their favorite formal wear and invite them to be models for a day. From dresses to tuxedos, look for what’s hot from the world of pop culture and try and create a spin on that. Make sure to plan it in advance of local school proms, homecomings and other formal dances. To really maximize funds for your charity of choice, consider raffling off some of the showcased outfits or custom tailoring services from a local suit or dress shop.

Maternity
For a show that can subtly evoke themes of family and parenting, maternity fashions are often underexposed, yet connect with people on a deep level. Additionally, if you are trying to raise funds for motherhood- or adoption-oriented charities, this can tie the whole event together.

As Fundraiser Help points out, the market for maternity wear is significant, yet it is a relatively niche product, thus offering a more limited selection. Reach out to prominent maternity wear designers and retailers, but also encourage local designers to generate their own outfits. You can even involve some infant fashion to make your event more varied — and adorable.

Whether you are looking for a backdrop to complete your red carpet or you need branded vinyl banners for your sponsors, Sign Art Etc can make it happen. Contact us today to learn more.

Color: Understanding Your Options

Color As A Medium Of Communication
One of the most important considerations in the creation of a sign revolves around the effective use of color. Color can convey emotions and elicit feelings. Red signifies life and passion. Blue gives the feelings of coolness and calm. Green connotes growth and springtime, and yellow says warmth and vitality.

Color Frequency and Vibration
Like sound waves, light rays have varying wavelengths or frequencies: the lighter the color, the higher the frequency. These wavelengths determine perception of color. Some pigments absorb certain light frequencies and reflect others. We see the reflected frequencies as color. Complementary colors such as red and green are not readily legible. They have similar black and white value, so their wavelengths set up a vibration. Any combination of colors of similar value, even without vibrating, will have low visibility. Although yellow and purple are complementary colors, they have strong contrast in value and therefore little vibration. They provide maximum visibility.

Comparative Visibility Of Full Value Color Combinations
These 14 color combinations for lettering were tested using only primary and secondary color of full hue and value. Tests for readability at a distance were conducted on different groups under the sponsorship of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). The results ranked in the sequence shown, with #1 the most legible and #14 as the least legible. Negative letters in 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 appear to have a broader stroke than their positive counterparts.

Color Wheel
The color wheel is divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These three are the foundation of all colors because they are used to create each and every color. When you combine two of the primary colors, you create the three secondary colors. The secondary colors are orange, green and violet. The six tertiary colors are created by combining a primary and an adjacent secondary color. The six tertiary colors are red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, and blue-violet.

Color Temperature
Colors are also divided into categories by temperature feel. These are considered cool and warm colors. The cool colors are green, blue and violet, while warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Psychologically, the colors give the viewer the feeling of these temperatures.

Color Schemes

Related Schemes
Monochromatic: This color scheme uses a single hue. ( example: red and its varying tints and shades)

Analogous: The scheme uses adjacent hues. (example: red, red-orange, and red-violet)

Contrasting Schemes
Complementary
If two hues are opposite each other on the color wheel, they are considered to be complementary colors. When used together in a design, they make each other seem brighter and more intense. This is not always a good thing, however, as colors, such as red and green tend to make each other too intense and vibrate against each other. This can make for difficult reading.

Split Complementary
This color scheme uses three colors: any hue and the two adjacent to its complement.

Triadic
This scheme also uses three colors. They are evenly spaced from each other.

Discordant Schemes
Double Complement
This color scheme uses two pairs of complements.

Alternate Complement
This scheme uses four colors: a triad and a complement to one of the hues.

Tetrad
This scheme uses four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. A primary, secondary and two tertiary colors are used.