Compelling Signs - Blog

Table of Contents
The Highest Honor for 150 Years
How Much Should You Pay For a Sign?
What Does Your Sign Say About Your Business?
Signs and Banners at the Atlanta Tennis Championships
World Class Tennis Returns to Atlanta
Wimbledon Record Holder and Friends Coming To Atlanta
Are You Using Fine Print to Attract Customers?
The Referral That Changed My Life
Will Consumers Call You First?
Harben Makes a Big Splash at the Pumper Show
How to Prevent Yard Sign Theft
Johns Creek Chamber Annual Gala
Panel Presentation - Entrepreneurial Opportunities

The Highest Honor for 150 Years

May 27, 2011 - We pride ourselves on being the best at what we do. Yet, there are those who we will always tip our hats to and say "you are the best". President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the provision for the Medal of Honor in 1861. It is awarded by the President on behalf of Congress to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." We were honored to create the signs to accompany the National Foundation of Patriotism Medal of Honor exhibits and events. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Medal of Honor recipients for their "conspicuous gallantry". We also want to thank everyone who has served our country and their families, especially those who lost loved ones in battle. For those currenly serving, we wish you the Navy's "fair winds and following seas." Return to top >>

How Much Should You Pay For a Sign?

March 19, 2011 - Unless you have experience with business signage, it can seem like a daunting task to find a good sign and pay the right price. You don't want to pay too much and not get your money's worth. You don't want to pay too little and not get what you need. The ideal price is the one where you get the best balance between cost and benefits. Business signs are custom made one-by-one. They aren't mass produced like a can of soup or a pair of shoes. There are three areas where cost and benefits come into play: design, materials and quality standards. A good designer will take the time to understand a little bit about your business, the desired purpose of the sign and the surroundings for it. They draw on their experience and creativity to provide one or more options in a proof for you to consider. Cutting time and cost out of the design process will likely result in a poorly designed sign which will not produce the desired benefits. There is a wide range of materials to choose from when making a sign. Some will will last longer than others. Some are more attractive than others. Cutting cost out of the materials can leave you with a sign that doesn't look as good or looks good now but won't in the years ahead. The fabricator will cut down the raw materials and assemble the parts to make your sign. The installer will install your sign. The time they take to pay attention to the details has a profound impact on the quality of your sign. Cutting cost out of these steps can lead to cutting corners and shoddy workmanship. The best approach is to talk with a sign company to understand their philosophy on these topics. One key question should be about how they guarantee the quality of their work. If you like what you hear then tell them what you are looking for in the way of a sign (i.e. building, office, trade show, vehicle), your price range and that you want some suggestions for the best signs within that range without cutting corners. If you have questions, you can always contact us. Return to top >>

What Does Your Sign Say About Your Business?

January 16, 2011 - It is important that people understand what kind of products and services you offer. It is easy to differentiate yourself if you own a restaurant speciallizing in vegetarian dishes versus a steak house. What if the difference is more subtle? What if you owned a restaurant that specializes in gourmet versions of traditional favorites? You would want to make it clear that you are not an inexpensive burger joint. Careful attention to branding and advertising is very important. Not only can we recommend and deliver exceptional signage that will grab attention, we can help ensure you are sending the right message that will resonate with your target audience. Contact us today for a free consultation. Would you like pommes frites with that burger? Return to top >>

Signs and Banners at the Atlanta Tennis Championships

September 1, 2010 - The return of a major tennis tournament to Atlanta this summer was a smashing success! The Atlanta Tennis Championships tournament is the latest addition to the Olympus US Open Series and an ATP 250 event. The quality of the event and the matches was phenomenal. Bill Oakes and his team worked tirelessly to plan and conduct the event in the most professional manner. There were plenty of activities for direct fan participation. The event sponsors brought the best in tennis and sporting goods and services for the fans. The crown jewel of the tournament was the quality of tennis displayed by the many talented players. There is nothing like seeing that kind of tennis up close and personal. For those who couldn't be there, ESPN broadcast the action live on the air. Compelling Signs was honored to be the sign company chosen to provide the hundreds of signs and banners for the tournament. Our signs helped guide attendees from the highway all the way to their seats in the stands. They helped people find the sponsors, refreshments and other facilities. The most popular sign was the draw board. People referred to it for updates on match results and pairings for the next round. It was a popular background for souvenir pictures with friends. The most prominent signs were our courtside banners, as seen in the picture to the right. We worked side-by-side with the team from USTA Southern Section, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning to make sure everything was just right. We were on-site throughout the tournament to address new or changing signage needs. Accuracy, timeliness and nimbleness were of the essence. We enjoy working on big projects like this and each one has a unique appeal. We really liked the people we worked with on this project. Everyone demonstrated a strong sense of teamwork. The inevitable problems cropped up and people pulled together to solve them. It was a real pleasure to work with such a delightful group of people. Bill Oakes wrote a nice letter with his feedback on our work. We are looking forward to helping the tournament make the second year even better! Return to top >>

World Class Tennis Returns to Atlanta

July 12, 2010 - World class tennis players such as John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Mardy Fish and Robby Ginepri will compete for ATP ranking points and $600,000 in prize money next week at the Atlanta Tennis Championships. Tournament level: ATP World Tour 250 Event Dates: Main Draw: July 19-25, 2010; Qualifying: July 17-18, 2010 Site: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Singles main draw: 28-player draw with four players coming from qualifying Doubles main draw: 16-team draw Qualifying draw: 32-player singles draw Prize Money: $600,000 Olympus US Open Series: First tournament in eight-tournament series leading up the US Open. 2010 will be the seventh year of the Series. Web site: www.atlantatennischampionships.com ATP World Tour web site for the tournament: Click here This is your chance to see high caliber tennis in person. Call 866-840-8822 today for tickets! Return to top >>

Wimbledon Record Holder and Friends Coming To Atlanta

July 11, 2010 - John Isner, USA’s top-ranked player, was ranked No. 19 in the world at the start of the French Open. The former University of Georgia All-American has won more than $1,180,000 in his career and has reached his highest ranking ever, rising 123 places in the last 15 months. With a dominating first serve, the towering 6’9" native of Greensboro, N.C. captured his first tournament win in Auckland. Earlier this year, Isner was named by Captain Patrick McEnroe to the U.S. Davis Cup team for the first time. Isner's most famous win was only a first round match at this year's Wimbledon. But, it was just the longest match in tennis history against Nicholas Mahut of France. The endless three day battle ended 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68. The final match time was clocked at 11 hours and 5 minutes. The previous pro match record was 6 hours and 33 minutes. The 138 games in the fifth set eclipses the longest match ever played at Wimbledon of 122 games. This match, which ended on an Isner backhand pass, went 183 games. The former University of Georgia Bulldog and NCAA Divsion I champion is schedule to be the Atlanta Tennis Championships' top seed. The tournament will be held from July 19th through the 25th at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. The extensive spectator events and inspiring level of tennis are things you should experience in person! Compelling Signs is honored to be the preferred signage provider for the tournament. Return to top >>

Are You Using Fine Print to Attract Customers?

July 3, 2010 - Fine print is something you expect to find in a contract or at the bottom of an eye chart. We see many examples of businesses with fine print on their outdoor signs and vehicle lettering. They try to say too much in a limited amount of space. As a result, the lettering is too small and their customers aren't able to read it. In essence, they have a sign that doesn't help them attract those customers. A good sign company will provide advice on how to make your sign effective through the use of supporting images, concise text and lettering size. A good rule of thumb is to use letters that are 1 inch tall for every 12 feet of distance from the viewer. For example, lettering that is 36 feet away will be readable if the letters are 3 inches tall. The same concept applies to images. Large and simple are more effective than small and intricate. The moral of the story is don't expect to attract customers with your sign if the lettering looks like it came from the bottom row of an eye chart. Return to top >>

The Referral That Changed My Life

April 11, 2010 - The referral that changed my life came from a friend at the most unexpected time causing the most unexpected results. I had just returned from serving overseas in the Navy for 3 years when my best friend from college, Gary, called me. We had a tradition of going out to dinner when I was home on leave and we were overdue. Before we left he said his boss, Madison, lived near the restaurant and asked if I would like to meet him. I agreed. Gary introduced us, making it clear he thought highly of me. Madison asked what I was doing. I explained I had just completed my tour of duty and was looking for a job. He said "Send me your resume." The whole conversation lasted all of about 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, I asked Gary about the open position. He said they didn't have any openings. We decided I should target an entry level position in my area of interest. I started writing my first resume the next day, staying up late drafting and revising, typing and retyping. Madison called me a few days after I mailed it. I got the impression that he had already made his decision and this was a formality. It was surreal to me. I asked to think about it overnight and call him back the next day. I made up some question about benefits. Neither the question nor the answer were terribly important to me. Madison said "When can you start?" In less than a week, I went from scrounging for any job to the opportunity that would define the next 30 years of my life. Madison did more than give me a job. He was my mentor and inspiration. Over time I came to realize the magnitude of what Madison did for me. I also realized I could never pay him back. The best I could hope for was to prove that he made a good choice by taking a chance on me and to "pay it forward". This is a cornerstone of my values. It is the driving force behind my desire to help family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, business partners and customers. I can't say enough about what Gary did for me. His hearty introduction and recommendation made the difference between me being just another face and someone you really want to know and do business with. I now use that same approach while networking. I get to know people well enough to give them a hearty introduction to someone they should know and can possibly help them. If you are considering doing business with Compelling Signs, this should give you and idea of what to expect. If you are a fellow business person wanting to network, I would like to get to get to know you so I can give you a hearty introduction that just might lead to great things for you. In either case, you will be helping me pay back a huge debt. I will look forward to that opportunity. Mike Bothwell President, Compelling Signs Return to top >>

The best service and the best referrals

Will Consumers Call You First?

March 12, 2010 - Consumers have been holding onto their money instead of spending it. They are being cautious because of the uncertainty in the job market. Signs indicate consumers are beginning to spend again. Your business survived the worst of it. You probably feel like you went 15 rounds and are still on your feet. Your weaker competitors are gone. Now it's just you and some competitors who are staggering. Are you going to be positioned to increase your share of the market when consumers come back in force? Or will your competitors grab it? Now is the time to advertise, to make your company the first one a consumer thinks about when they decide to purchase your products or services. Your cash reserves are at an all time low. So, you need a very cost-effective way to make your company top-of-mind with consumers. There are a lot of ways to advertise. Did you know that signs provide the most "bang for the buck" when it comes to getting your name in front of consumers? A tired or faded sign gives the impression that you are out of business or are about to be. Did you know that a facelift to a current sign will catch the attention of current and prospective customers and drive more business to you? We have the results from scientific studies that demonstrate these benefits. We would be happy to talk with you about your business and provide options and recommendations on how we can help you grow your business. Now is a great opportunity to get the jump on your competitors. Call us today to get started! Return to top >>

Does your sign stand out from your competitors'?

Harben Makes a Big Splash at the Pumper Show

March 5, 2010 - Harben Inc is well known for the highest quality water jetting and drain cleaning equipment on the market today. They reserved a large booth at the annual Pumper Show in Louisville, KY. Brian Gilbert, National Sales Manager, approached Compelling Signs for help with updating their booth display. He had an idea of what he wanted but needed help with the artwork. The Compelling Signs team created a design and worked with Brian to refine it to his satisfaction. The team determined how to maximize the visual impact with high end digital graphics on his display and a new banner stand while staying within Brian's budget. A Compelling Signs team member delivered the graphics to Harben's manufacturing facility to do a dry run with Brian, setting up the display and banner stand. This enabled Brian and his team to set it up at the show without a problem. Once the booth was set up with the display and Harben pumps mounted on trailers, Brian realized the enclosed trailer needed company logos and names on the sides. He called Compelling Signs from Louisville, KY to ask for help. The Compelling Signs team raced into action and created the graphics and lettering to match the booth. They shipped it with application instructions overnight to Brian's hotel. The day after he called, Brian and his team successfully applied the graphics and lettering to the trailer in the booth at the trade show. The results were a big hit. Harben's booth stood out with eye-catching graphics that were well-suited for the company's image and delivered a clear message. Read the testamonial here>> Return to top >>

How to Prevent Yard Sign Theft

February 25, 2010 - Have you ever purchased a nice yard sign to advertise a property or your business only to have someone steal it? One way to prevent this is to lock it to an anchor in the ground. Go to your local pet supply store and purchase a dog tie-out stake (about $8). It looks like a large metal corkscrew with a triangle at the top. Go to your local WalMart and buy an outdoor padlock (2 for $17). The yard sign frame must have a crossbar that you step on to push it into the ground. Screw the stake into the ground below the middle of the sign until the bottom of the triangle is even with the ground. Position the sign and step on the crossbar to push it into the ground above the stake. Use the padlock to attach the triangle of the stake to the crossbar of the sign frame. The sign cannot be pulled out of the ground because it is attached to the stake. The stake cannot be twisted out because it is attached to the sign. Return to top >>

Johns Creek Chamber Annual Gala

February 18, 2010 - The Johns Creek Chamber annual gala was a resounding success! The presentation included the accomplishments for the past year and the plans for the future. Guest speakers included Northside Hospital, City of Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and the new Georgia Secretary of State, Brian Kemp, who promoted his "Cut the Red Tape" initiative to reduce the unnecessary complexity of dealing with state government. The Chamber introduced their new logo, the philosophy behind it and the new tag line "Connect.Grow.Thrive." Recognition was given to the companies and individuals who have been generous in their support to the Chamber. St. Ives Country Club provided excellent service, food and beverages for the occasion. Compelling Signs was honored to provide the signage for the event. Return to top >>

Panel Presentation - Entrepreneurial Opportunities

February 12, 2010 - At the invitation of the Kettering Executive Network, Mike Bothwell, President of Compelling Signs, served as a presenter in a panel discussion on the topic of opportunities for corporate executives as entrepreneurs. Each panelist described their background, what led them to become a business owner, the skills carried over from their corporate experience and their views on the associated challenges and rewards. The common themes included the amount of energy required, the need to be an optimist and a realist, the ability to make decisions, the ability to experiment, the ability to directly help customers, the increased gratification in the results and the increased income potential. Mike described the "match-making" process he went through with a franchise consultant, the difference between a business opportunity and a franchise, the up-front investment requirement and the option to use 401(k) money tax-free. The audience of over 40 corporate executives were engaged in the discussion and appreciative of the insights shared. Return to top >>