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Many Reasons to Use Business Signage

Asset Protection: Acrylic Backing W/ Dimensional Acrylic Lettering & Vinyl by Focal Point Costa Mesa

Signage constitutes an important part of leaving a first impression. It attracts your customers’ eye while offering the opportunity to grow business. Companies see and understand the importance of branding as a venue to stay top of mind with your current customer base while building exposure within new markets.

Here are some of the top reasons why signage is important for your business:

  • Being one of the least expensive forms of advertising, signs have proven to be the most effective.
  • The financial commitment to creating new signage is limited to only one time. No recurring fees are needed or required.
  • Signs offer you a continuous advertising opportunity, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
  • Signs build exposure by introducing your business to potential customers, while creating a consistent presence for your existing clients.

lobbysign

Signage offers you the opportunity to be identified well so you don’t miss out on new and repeat business, while reminding consumers of your existence.

Your sign offers a space for you to share the most important information you would like to communicate with your target market while allowing you to grow your brand’s exposure. Having clear and simple design makes your sign easier to remember. In addition to your message and content, your color combinations play a major role in its effectiveness. Stay true to your brand!

Think of your signage as a mix of elements that include:

  • Marketing message
  • Audience reach
  • Visual acuity

Your sign’s job is to get the reader’s attention in an instant. Your reader is usually moving and your sign has only a few seconds to be seen, read and understood. Your sign has to make people stop and take action by calling, ordering, or even entering your location. The goal is to have a call to action and to get your customers to respond.

The following are other factors that have an influence on the effectiveness of your signage:

  • Placement
  • Size
  • Illumination
  • Height
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Why Vehicle Wraps?

Vehicle WrapsIt is very obvious that one of the secrets to effective advertising is to make and leave a great lasting impression on your audience.

Vehicle wrapping offers one of the most effective ways for a more targeted approach to market your products or services through colorful appealing graphics. Although not new, vehicle wraps offer a medium that allows you to stand out and leave a long-lasting impression on your target market.

We all know the high cost involved in setting up a television or radio ad. As for newspapers, you would want to plan on a weekly commitment averaging in the thousands of dollars. Such high cost and commitment make it difficult on business owners to spread the word about their offerings.  You simply need to set and allocate a budget if you want to create an advertisement that is memorable and effective. With vehicle wraps, you are looking at a one-time investment that will provide you with the advantages of a moving billboard with no monthly commitment.

Studies have shown that vehicle wraps receive an average of 50,000 views per day in addition to the fact that a high percentage (90%) of individuals can easily remember an advertisement on a vehicle. Your customers spend hours on the road on a daily basis battling traffic, providing you with an opportunity to leave a great impact through your unique graphics that easily attract attention.

Vehicle wraps give you an opportunity to leverage a powerful marketing venue by:

  • Grabbing attention and turning people’s heads through the bright colorful graphics
  • Building on name and brand recognition
  • Reaching a wider audience – the more you are on the road, the wider is your reach
  • Using subtle advertising by attracting attention without disturbing your target market
  • Reaching out to your local market
  • Leveraging an advertising method that has no-expiration date
  • Avoiding commitment to a recurring monthly fee
  • Staying top of mind
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Wall Murals and Lasting Impressions

wall murals

Wall MuralsThe advances in digital image printing technologies give you the ability to develop the creativity of your space through vivid imagination and the addition of wall murals.

 

Wall murals are definitely a smart and fun way to spice up a cold and bare wall environment. With wall murals you can:

 

  •  Be in control deciding on the style, design and colors
  •  Easily create your own design
  •  Customize the colors of your choice
  •  Implement your own photography

Regardless of the space you have, blank walls are not the way to go.  With wall murals, you can turn your environment into the space of your dreams by choosing a wall decor that matches your taste or complement the branding of your business.

Think about the unique experience you will be creating for your customers. Regardless of the kind of business you own, you want your customers to step in feeling welcomed and at ease; to be absorbed by their shopping experience with you.  Wall murals also provide a great solution for large organizations that want to make a statement and leave a long-lasting impression on their clients. Wall murals are an excellent way to create an experience where your customers feel captivated by your brand or message.

Wall murals are a highly cost effective advertising solution for your business allowing you to transform your space, any space, into an impactful marketing platform as you promote brand awareness and define your identity.

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What does a full or partial car wrap or truck wrap cost in Orange County?

Car_Wraps_Decals
Vehicle Wraps Full & Partial
Vehicle Wraps Full & Partial

If you are considering wrapping your car or truck, the first question that likely popped into your head was, “How much will it cost?” This article outlines what to ask and what to look for as you shop for a company to do your job.

How long you want the wrap to last is the most important determining factor in the cost of the project. The quality of vinyls available on the market today vary widely.  I have spoken with people who, unfortunately, had their vehicle wraps begin to fade much earlier than they expected, because inferior vinyl was used. Buyer beware. Before you sign on the dotted line ask your sign company what specific brand of vinyl they will be using on your wrap job. There are a number of imported vinyls from China that are economical but quite candidly inferior. They may be prone to cracking, fading and simply don’t have the durability as American-made product.

At Focal Point Signs & Imaging we use only Avery and 3M vinyls and over laminates. This is because these products are American-made, best of class, and fully warrantied. Even between these two manufacturers there are a number of options. The least expensive option would be a four-year high performance vinyl. The longest lasting choice would be a 10 year vinyl. But as the saying goes, ‘You get what you pay for’.

The second most important factor in determining who should be doing your wrap job is the over laminate that will be used to protect the ink. Again, choosing an Avery or 3M UV protected over laminate will get you the best results. These laminates are created specifically to be used in conjunction with the Avery and 3M cast high-performance vinyls.

The third factor impacting the cost of a wrap job is the actual printer used to lay the ink down on the vinyl. At Focal Point Signs & Imaging we use the HP L26500 latex ink printer largely regarded as the finest large-format printer in the world today. There are three reasons this printer is considered to be the best printer for a wrap job. First, the vinyl comes out of the printer dry to the touch. Eco solvent printers of the past produced prints that need hours of cure time. Secondly, latex inks do not gas out, are eco-friendly, and longer lasting than solvent inks. Lastly, the number of inkjets in the HP L26500 are three times that of previous printers giving this mighty beast the ability to produce up to 1080 dpi in full color. This is photographic quality in large format.

In fact this printer is so good I recently received a phone call from a man in Florida who requested that we print the vinyl, laminate it, and ship it back to him. Considering we’re in California and he was willing to pay the shipping costs – that says something about the quality we are able to produce.

The final factor determining the cost of your wrap job is the labor. For a truly professional result you’ll need to find a shop that has professionally trained installers who know how to remove mirrors, bumpers, and door handles among other things.

We strive to work with our clients to produce the highest quality while working within their budgets. Often times this means considering a partial wrap instead of a full wrap. Avoiding the areas of the car that require body shop knowledge to take off and put back on pieces like the door handle is one approach we take. This of course requires detail to design.

If your budget is really limited, you may want to consider doing the windows of your vehicle only. Make sure you go to a professional sign company for your installation. At Focal Point Signs and Imaging we design, print, and install window vinyls on a regular basis.

If you have any questions about full, partial, or other wrap jobs please give us a call at 714 – 204 – 0180, visit us at www.FPcustomsigns.com

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Innovative Results Gym in Costa Mesa Brings the Outdoors in with Large Format Wall Graphics by Focal Point Signs


Innovative Results Gym in Costa Mesa bills itself as “Orange County’s only Adventure Gym”, and rightly so. Owner Aaron Guyett has gone to great lengths to create a Gym environment that invokes the feeling of being outdoors. Even the flooring is grass-like and the addition of a rock climbing wall is certainly adventurous. To pull this theme together, Aaron approached us to install large wall graphics in the form of photos of people enjoying outdoor activities here in Coastal Orange County.

To accomplish this we enlisted the aid of Shutter Stock which is a great source for finding photos and vector art work. A tip here: if you’re going to blow up a photo to the size of the murals we did make sure you download the highest resolution option available on Shutter Stock. You don’t want to lose any image integrity when enlarging the photo. Once we had the photos selected and approved, we had to determine the best approach to the material to be used and the width of the strips to be printed. If you print the strips too wide, it makes matching them up perfectly more difficult, albeit, smaller strips take more time to install. The end result was the decision to print on a calendared vinyl which we then laminated in a luster finish. The width we landed on was 30″. I believe the largest of the eight murals we installed required something like 39 strips.

The biggest concern about a project like this is making sure the wall surface is clean so the vinyl will adhere properly. If the surface is not clean you can bet the vinyl will peel sooner than you’d like. In an ideal world, the walls will have been freshly painted with a couple of weeks curing to boot.

If you’re considering a similar large format wall graphic project in Costa Mesa, give us a call to come out and do an onsite visit. That way we can recommend what kind of covering should be used (wall paper or vinyl or treated fabric) and consult on design as well. The wall paper and vinyl actually run about the same cost, though the wall paper is easier to install. This is because we use HP PVC free wall paper which has a built in adhesive (thus no paste mess).

Check out more information about PVC free wall paper here, and go see what this amazing gym is all about by clicking here.

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Neo Realistic Art Acrylic on Canvas and Board by Michael Ward to be shown at Casa Romantica, by Focal Point Signs


We work with many Graphic Artists, and Michael Ward is the best of the best, so it should be no surprise that his talents extend beyond the keyboard to other media. I was delighted when he came by Focal Point Signs today and shared the good news that his original art work will be featured at Casa Romantica in downtown San Clemente.

The show is entitled “The Mystery of the Ordinary” which is an excellent name for his body of work. The Casa Romantica web site describes him this way; “A self-taught artist, Michael Ward captures what British-born philosopher Alan Watts called “the mystery of the ordinary” in his acrylic paintings of things we often overlook in our daily lives. Based on photographic images, his neo-realistic interpretations of unspectacular environments and people in the world around us are composed and rendered in such a way as to bring out the beauty in what one might have previously considered mundane, if not ugly.”

His work is so good I felt compelled not only to blog about it, but to make a video of it. Of course I also had to plug the fact that we do reproductions on Canvas and Posters. Luckily we have the HPL26500 which is capable of reproducing photographic quality images in large format and on a number of fabrics including canvas, poster paper, vinyl and wall paper. So if you are an artist who is considering making limited editions, call us at 714-204-1080. If you are an art lover and into neo-realism, go see Michael’s exhibit. You can learn more by visiting tmichaelward.com or casaromantica.org. Casa Romantica is located at 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente and Michael’s show starts on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.

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Considering a Car Magnet instead of a Car Wrap to promote your business?

Magnetic Signs
Magnetic Signs
Magnetic Signs

714-204-0180 We work with businesses in all of Orange County, but predominately in Tustin, Irvine, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, to find solutions for promoting their business through signage. One avenue to creatively market is through turning your car, truck, or fleet into mobile bill boards. Car wraps are extremely popular, but not every business can afford a full car wrap first time out. If this is the case for you, consider doing a magnet to start out.

There are pros and cons to using car and truck magnets. The pros are: If you live in an HOA that prohibits commercial vehicle parking your magnet may be removed to avoid any conflict, whereas a wrap…not so much. This is also handy if you’re going to dinner or a high school reunion. The cons are: dirt can easily get between the magnet and the paint surface and end up scratching the paint. Regular maintenance is required to properly care for your car magnet. Also, please be warned; if you go on the internet and find a cheap online order car magnet site, chances are the magnet will be of the quality you just paid for. We custom print your magnet using latex ink on 3M vinyl with a UV laminate to protect the color on your magnet sign for years to come. There is no better quality anywhere. That said, here is a guide for maintaining your car magnet.

Expectations
Your sign is made from the finest “state of the art” magnetic material
available to bring you the best in magnetic mobile advertising. As with
anything kept outside, it will weather over time, but proper care can
lengthen its life. We cannot be held responsible for any misapplication
or misuse of your signage.

Installation
1. Wash and wipe your vehicle clean, and then dry it.
2. Wax the vehicle surface over which the magnetic sign is being
placed with a high quality wax for the protection of your vehicle.
3. Touch the magnetic sign to the vehicle. If it isn’t exactly where you
want it, remove it and replace it – don’t slide it. Do not apply a
magnetic sign to a newly repainted vehicle – allow at least 60 days for
fresh paint to cure.

Cleaning
Remove your sign from the vehicle once a week and wipe both the
vehicle and the front and back of the sign clean and dry. Re-wax the
vehicle. Put the sign back on in a slightly different spot each time. To
clean the face of magnetic signs, use a sponge and mild detergent. Do
not immerse in water. Wipe dry. Never steam clean signs or take
through a car wash.

Storage
Magnetic signs must be stored either flat on a metal surface or rolled
up in a tube. WARNING! Do not store magnetic signs unrolled and
unprotected inside a hot vehicle. The passenger compartment of your
car, truck or van on a hot day can reach temperatures equivalent to
those of an oven, especially with windows closed. These extremely
high temperatures can distort and destroy your signs unless they are
rolled up into a tube. The best way to store magnetic signs when not
on your vehicle is to keep them rolled (with the magnetic side in and
the printed side out) in a common, inexpensive mailing tube. A 3”
diameter tube is ideal – do not use a smaller tube. Do not roll signs
tightly – roll as large as can be easily fit into the tube. Temperature
need not be a concern when the sign is attached to the vehicle.
Do not damage signs by folding, creasing, or putting heavy objects on
top of them. If signs should get severely bent out of shape due to poor
maintenance, do not use them. They can usually be straightened out
by placing them on a flat metal surface for a day or so, such as a filing
cabinet, desk, refrigerator, etc., which is also an alternative way to
store your signs when not in use on your vehicle.

If you need a magnet, partial or full vehicle wrap, give us a call at 714-204-0180.
Visit our home page at fpcustomsigns.com.

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Office Reception Area Lobby Signs for Tustin, Irvine, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach


Opening a new office is stressful. You make your priority list starting with the basic necessities like internet connectivity then move onto painting the walls and ordering the furniture.

The reception area lobby sign is usually the last detail tackled, and while there are many sign shops to choose from, a custom sign is not a commodity. Great care and thought needs to be given to this detail in your office planning.

We’ve been in our fair share of offices in Tustin, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa (in fact all of Orange County) consulting on custom signage and understand the importance of “marrying” the lobby sign to both the business brand and the interior design. This is why we start the process with an onsite survey. We interview the key stake holders, look closely at the lighting of the area, the surrounding furniture and accessories, and always look to maintain logo integrity. By doing all of this before we design a rendition we come close on the first go around of getting to the right solution.

One of the main stumbling blocks in the creative process is having the right art file, so if you are an admin who has been tasked with lining up the right sign company, make sure you get with your marketing department and ask for a .png or .eps file. These are files that can be enlarged without losing quality and pixilating. We offer graphic art services and will redraw your art to create a vector file for $65.

Lastly, if you are an admin or office manager tasked with getting quotes on your lobby sign, please make sure you get a budget to work within. The cost of signs can vary greatly based upon the material. Your logo custom molded or flat cut from a solid sheet of metal will cost much more than dimensional lettering made of foam or pvc with a metal laminate face. We really do try to consult our clients on choices that keep them within budget but in the end will still produce a one of a kind, stunning reception area office lobby sign.

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Orange County State Farm Agencies need help with new signage because of rebranding

All State Farm Agencies across the country are in the midst of rebranding disruption. The new logo means new business cards, stationary, brochures, office window lettering, and reception area lobby signs – not to mention car magnets and anything that has the old State Farm logo on it. Finding reliable sources to help you through the process can make all the difference in the world.

Recently we helped Adrian Garrick with the signage for his new agency near South Coast Plaza. He ordered all of his signs through the State Farm site but wanted some help installing it. While we usually both build and install our signs, we do installation only as well. Adrian made the right choice. This was an installation that required drilling four holes for every letter. Hiring a professional who has done hundreds of sign installations like this is a really smart move. In the end it will save you time and money (not to mention frustration….do you really want to risk drilling a bunch of holes in the wrong place?).

As an independent agency you may chose to work with a local sign company to also fabricate your new signs. Because State Farm provides the logo with exact color instructions and the art work files, there are a lot of advantages to working with a local sign company like Focal Point. The primary advantage being service.

If you are an Orange County State Farm Insurance office and need help with your window graphics and lettering, your car magnet, reception area lobby sign, or outside monument or directional signage, we can help. Take a little stress out of life and have the experts step in. Give us a call and we’ll gladly come out for a no charge site survey (714)204-0180.

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Reception area lobby sign glitters in gold for Marshall Financial Services by Focal Point Signs

Custom Interior Business Lobby Sign Costa Mesa

Jason and Monique Marshall are lovely people. They are approachable and professional, tasteful and down to earth, caring and wise. I was immediately engaged by Monique’s style and business vision and decided within .30 milliseconds we were going to give them the most elegant lobby sign they could possibly imagine.

Their new office is exquisite. Rich tones of burgundy and cherry wood abound. It looks like they hired a very talented interior decorator, but that’s not the case. They just happen to have amazingly good taste and wield it with restrained opulence. Even though the space they created is luxurious and rich, it’s also quite comfortable and welcoming; just like they are. That’s what we wanted this lobby sign to be as well.

The lobby sign we would make for Marshall Financial Services would be as gold as the bars in Fort Knox and as elegant as the Burgundy signature that is her logo. We felt the key to making a powerful first impression through this signage would be in simplicity of design but using rich tones and reflective materials.

I have to say, “Mission accomplished”. This lobby sign is stunning. I only wish photos could really show how impressive this sign is. We used a brushed gold back plate that we further enhanced with another layer of gold spray. The gold plate acts to reflect the over head lighting and gleams on the wall. The clear front plate of acrylic allows the gold light to shine through, and the logo’s script lettering of burgundy and black floats effortlessly in the center of the piece. This is a lovely, lovely lobby sign. Almost as lovely as the Marshall’s themselves.

We were so pleased with the outcome of this custom project that we made a video of the “birth of this lobby sign”. Everything you see on the video was done in house; concept, design, fabrication, and installation.

More importantly the Marshall’s are thrilled with their new lobby sign. If you’re looking for some financial advice, call Marshall Financial Services at 714-541-4180.
If you’re looking for a one of a kind custom lobby sign, call us at 714-204-0180. Focal Point Signs & Imaging where your business is the center of attention!