"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well."
--- Jeff Bezos
When Coca-Cola put their name on the then new Coke Classic back in the 80s, their reputation was on the line. The Classic was a flop and Coke spent years trying to regain their reputation of reliable quality. Customers for years trusted that Coke would always be Coke and taste like… well, Coke.
The same is true for any company that toys with their products and services. Change is good and seeking new, innovative ways to serve customers is required to survive, but they had better be calculated steps in order to preserve the brand of a company.
"The music industry is a strange combination of having real and intangible assets: pop bands are brand names in themselves, and at a given stage in their careers their name alone can practically guarantee hit records."
--- Richard Branson
How is your business doing with branding itself? Have you taken steps to ensure that your name and/or the company name are serving you well as a brand? The customers, who see you, see your business. Are they seeing the brand that you want to portray?
Take steps this week to check the pulse on your branding endeavors and find out what changes need to be made to beef up how others see your brand.
"Google actually relies on our users to help with our marketing. We have a very high percentage of our users who often tell others about our search engine."
--- Sergey Brin
Word-of-mouth is what catapulted some of the great successes of today including companies like Tupperware, TiVo, Nordstrom, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Your customers can do the same for you. If your name is synonymous with quality, reliability, good pricing, and great customer service, you too will be able to cut your advertising costs and depend more on people talking about you.
"Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business."
--- Warren Buffett
Of course, people will indeed talk if your products, services, and customer service stinks. They will talk plenty! You want them talking, but about how professional you were when you installed that sign, or how honest you were when you noticed that you charged too much, etc.
These days, honesty, reliability, and keeping your word, among others, are seen as something special. You can stand out above others simply by treating people the way our grandparents probably treated people- with respect!
"Our success is a direct result of knowing how to market a brand and having the right people representing the brand."
--- Greg Norman
Keeping your name or company name in a positive light means that you must educate your team members on what that name means. The DeWalt name for tools has meant quality and reliability. RedWing shoes, Volvo automobiles, and Omaha Steaks all speak of quality. What does your name say?
Make every effort, in every portion of your business to have your company name mean quality. Make your brand speak for itself so that others can speak for you.
"I've never lived in a building without my name on it."
--- Ivanka Trump
Complex Wraps Demand Advanced Techniques, Part II
By Jennifer LeClaire
Are you handling your film right? Is your graphics guy designing with wraps in mind? Are you removing vinyl from contours the right way? Lots of questions. We’ve got answers.
Read the article...
G2 Electronic Signage: Lasers, Fiber Optics and LCDs Form New Second Generation Sign Technologies
By Louis M Brill
Two new sign technologies highlighted are a laser rear-projection display system and a modified LCD screen system that can be tiled together to make large format LCD screens 'as big as you want them.' See what you can do now.
Read the article...
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In a Hooters Restaurant in Chesapeake, VA (from Autumn of Action Graphics and Signs):
"This sign is in French when you're not looking"
Seen in a Red Bones Restaurant in Chesapeake, VA (from Autumn of Action Graphics and Signs):
"Tippin is not a city in China"
Found in a Skeeters Restaurant in Gainesville, FL:
"Helen Waite is now in charge of all rush orders. If you are in a hurry, just go to Helen Waite"
Have you seen any funny signs lately? Why not share them with the world? Send your comments, suggestions, and hysterical observations to: info@signindustry.com.
