Time For A Change?

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2006

Leeds, England - One of the most prevalent trends today in the mainstream media is the makeover concept. Every time you turn on the television there is a new show making someone or something over. From physical appearance makeovers, home makeovers, career makeovers to family makeovers and even car makeovers!

Many makeovers prove to be successful and change the lives of those who are involved. FASTSIGNS International, Inc., a sign and graphic franchisor with 500 locations worldwide, decided to join in on the trend and see what a sign makeover could do for four different businesses.

While every business is unique, sign industry research indicates that the return on investment for signs is good across the board whether a business is large or small. “Signage is one of the best uses of a company’s advertising dollars and allows for even the smallest business to gain attention,” said Larry Lane, president of FASTSIGNS®. “A sign makeover is a cost-effective way to give a business a fresh, new and updated image which can potentially increase the customer base and most importantly, sales.”

The four businesses chosen for the makeovers wondered many of the same things when they learned they were selected for this free signage makeover. Would it draw in new customers? Would it boost sales? Would anyone even notice? The results speak for themselves.

Business is Blooming
All Occasions Florist in Dallas, Texas, USA received a coordinated sign makeover of its exterior sign, window graphics and vehicle graphics. As part of the makeover, vibrant full colour photographs of flowers were installed on the florist’s previously plain delivery van. The store’s windows were covered in similar graphics, and the exterior sign for the business displayed the name against a flowered backdrop.

Sales increased 15 percent from the third quarter, before the makeover, to the post-makeover second quarter. The owner of All Occasions Florist says the new signs are the best salesmen he’s ever had.

Wrapping Up Sales
The Wrap Shack opened in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1999, offering healthy fast food. After several successful years, the restaurant began experiencing sluggish sales in 2004, when Windsor became home to many corporate chain restaurants. The previous two-colour logo was redesigned and put on a green background with yellow and green design marks, which reproduced well on something as small as a menu and as large as the new huge illuminated box sign that could be seen right off the expressway. The graphics on the restaurant’s truck and window-filled façade featured the new logo as well as words describing the food offerings.

Sales went up 24% during the first nine months after the new graphics were applied, versus the same nine months of the prior year. Owner Gary Stitt said that the new look has enhanced their image and clearly tells customers what his establishment offers.

New Look, New Business
Established in 1929, San Francisco, CA, USA-based Lutz Plumbing wanted new signs and graphics that reflected the company’s history, breadth of services and good reputation. Their makeover included newly designed signs over the Lutz building entrance and garage door, photographic-quality images of contemporary bathroom and kitchen products on the company’s garage door, and full colour graphics applied to Lutz’s vans.

Sales rose 18% in the first five months the new graphics were applied, versus the same time period from the prior year. According to the owners, the graphics inspire trust and support their image as a full-service plumbing company.

The Sweet Taste of Success
Morkes Chocolates, a chocolate retailer in the Chicago, IL USA area, transformed their signage program. Their makeover consisted of the production of two 16-foot, full-colour vertical banners for the store-front and covered Morkes’ van with a full-colour montage of Morkes sweet products.

As a result of the makeover, Morkes experienced a 16% sales increase during the first nine months the graphics were applied, versus the same time of the previous year. Morkes attributes the greater awareness as a direct result of the new graphics.

A majority of businesses base their success on a well-built and hard-earned reputation for quality in the products they sell or the services they provide. Whether a business has just opened or has been a long-time member of the community, there are still ways to revitalise its image and make a lasting impression. Updating your look with the right sign or graphic could lead to big results. From a simple colour change in your logo to a complete re-do, your business will reap the rewards.

FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers offer a full range of custom sign and graphic products, including banners, window and vehicle graphics, floor graphics, safety and identification signage, trade show displays and exterior signage. The 500 FASTSIGNS® centers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil and Australia (where centers operate under the name, SIGNWAVE®) focus on serving the needs of the business community. For more information, visit www.fastsigns.co.uk.