Welcome to fall… and a new way for doing business as we slowly emerge from the confinement and disruption caused by COVID.
The great news is that we are resilient and determined to find a new normal!
Please enjoy this month’s issue of the Infinity Signs bulletin where you will find:
How to make a new first impression with returning customers.How one customer gave new life to an aging maintenance problemA glimpse into Andy’s Idaho
IS YOUR NEW FIRST IMPRESSION HURTING YOUR BUSINESS?
As we navigate new rules for engaging our existing and returning customers, every small business is scrambling to find ways to communicate: how many people are allowed at a time, masks required, which door is for entry or exit, which direction to go once inside….suddenly our Customers are being treated like rats in a maze…but at least with directional signs!
But wait! Is this new impression you are now creating consistent with the image and quality brand you’ve invested much into and worked very hard to build?
As we navigate new rules for engaging our existing and returning customers, every small business is scrambling to find ways to communicate: how many people are allowed at a time, masks required, which door is for entry or exit, which direction to go once inside….suddenly our Customers are being treated like rats in a maze…but at least with directional signs!
But wait! Is this new impression you are now creating consistent with the image and quality brand you’ve invested much into and worked very hard to build?
Here’s the scene: You have a beautiful, well-appointed entry way. The door is welcoming and once inside, customers experience a fresh and inviting feel. Well thought-out colors, strategically placed logos and signs that shout quality, smiling faces (though the smiles are now hidden behind masks). Clear, familiar places for customers to interact with you and/or your products.
So what’s wrong with this picture?
When your customer walked in, perhaps after several months of missing their regular visit to you, they were met with (oh no!) an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper with a difficult-to-read type (or worse – handwritten) message of instructions for what they need to know before entering…and it’s taped to your beautiful, once-inviting door!
So is your tape of preference colored duct tape, transparent tape, or masking tape? None are truly acceptable options: amateurish, inconsistent with your quality image…and that awful sticky residue left once you have to replace the sun-faded sign in another month.
When a sign is taped to your door (or anywhere in your establishment) is essential to doing business with you, you are communicating unintentionally:
There may be other areas of your business that are also “taped” togetherYour business is frantically trying to stay in business vs gracefully finding new ways to serveWhat you want to tell your customers isn’t worth care and the same planning as you invested in with the rest of your businessYou are willing to compromise vs going the extra mileYou’re not interested in thriving…only striving
You see, we are all now making new first impressions. And just like all first impressions, they most certainly are lasting impressions.
Here’s a great example of a how one of our clients used Window Clings – a residue-free, professional looking solution – to welcome their customers with a NEW first impression.
TIME FOR AN UPGRADE
Roc from Wellswood HOA in Boise came to us with a problem: his neighborhood sign as weathered and didn’t represent the quality community the residents enjoyed. It was his responsibility to now find a new option that pleased his fellow homeowners and also attracted new residents appropriately. As well, the HOA operates, as all community associations to, on a limited budget. For this reason, a sign that was durable and didn’t tap HOA funds every year or two was also a priority.
The current, older wooden sign was painted, and required regular attention. Visibility was an issue as well since the current sign was easy to miss driving into the community.
The HOA was happy with the look and design, but wanted minimal maintenance and better durability with the weather.
Infinity Signs recommended a two-piece construction with solid aluminum panels. we designed the sign with their community name reverse cut-out for a more upscale look, and powder coating the background colors so the name stood out but requiring little or no maintenance. We bolted the panels into powder coated metal posts for a durable frame system with a top and bottom rails. We then installed the new sign in cement, making very solid and resilient.
The Wellswood sign now will have a 20-30 year solution with very minimal need for maintenance. Roc was happy and confident his fellow neighbors would be impressed.
Stories like this make our day. We love putting a smile on our customer’s faces!
Before: Original Sign to be Replaced:
After: New powder coated sign solution.
EXPLORING IDAHO WITH ANDY
Fall is already here – wow how time flies!
One of my favorite options for enjoying these nice falls days is to explore Idaho streams and rivers for last-of-the-season gold panning. Certainly, you can pan gold all year long in most places, but warmer weather and water makes it nicer.
So if you’re a gold seeker, get out your pan and discover some treasures in your favorite gold panning spot…or explore a new place! If you aren’t familiar with gold panning, checkout the Nampa GPAA on Facebook. It’s a great group of people more than willing to help you learn about the basics of gold panning and they have their own claims for places to go learn how to do it. Maybe you will find some “color” in your gold pan.
