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CUSTOMIZE YOUR CORN HOLE BOARDS AND BEER PONG TABLES

January 13th, 2012 by Rebecca Walden

: Taylor Swift Custom Corn Hole Board

The other of Taylor Swift's Custom Corn Hole Board Prints

If we can do it for Taylor Swift and Bob Seger, we can do it for you!

That’s right, why not customize your Corn Hole Boards and Beer Pong Table with your own digitally printed images?

We printed a set of Corn Hole Table prints for Taylor Swift and Bob Seger to be presented as a gift when they performed here in Jacksonville.

So I got to thinking: How cool would this be as a personalized “gift” idea if folks asked us to create a customized, digitally printed and laminated print for their own Corn Hole Boards or Beer Pong Tables?

If you’re like me, you LOVE it when someone takes the time to create a unique, specific only on to YOU, gift. You could decorate your boards and tables with a person’s hobby, hi resolution photos that commemorate a special event like a wedding or family reunion, really, as long as the image is not copy written of course, you would be limited only by your imagination.

"Just take those old records off the shelf . . ."

If you can envision it and provide us with the images, or want us to design it for you once we’ve discussed what you want to see, we can create a customized set of Corn Hole Boards or a Beer Pong Table that will be one of a kind for you to regale your friends or give as a gift!

Corn Hole Boards of the Rich and Famous! We can customize a set for YOU!

Just another creative use of a sign! Print it and stick it! Call us at 904-398-3993 if we can help you with this.

Categories : Creatiive Use of Cut Vinyl, Creative Marketing Use of Signs, FCS Blog, Inexpensive Marketing Ideas Using Signs, Signs, Signs as Gifts
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Digital Prints on Canvas

December 29th, 2011 by Rebecca Walden

Canvas . . . . it’s not just for oil paints or acrylics anymore!

We have printable canvas that is beautifully compatible with our wide format Roland CMYK printer. If you love the look of canvas but cannot quite afford an oil or acrylic version of your art, you may be quite pleased with this alternative.

Our Monet Canvas is a heavyweight 10 oz coated canvas with a prominent tooth that is ideal for giclee art reproductions. It is also used for eye-catching POP signage, museum displays, interior decorating, and store signage. This strong, yet flexible, canvas features a uniform matte texture and its specialized coating allows for vibrant, photo-realistic printing and a wide color gamut. Processed with a DigiCoat, these textiles have a coating which assures a sharp, crisp print quality while maintaining the texture and feel of the original fabric.

Art reproduced on Monet Canvas and Tru Color Historic Canvas.

We also have a product named Tru Color Historic Canvas which achieves a warmer, more “worn” look due to its more beige hue. See the above art printed on both.

Our thanks to Heather Anne Sams, MA, MBA, President and “Creative Inspiration Officer” at HAS Art Solutions for providing us with the above art for demonstration purposes.

In early January, we are producing 18″ x 24″ posters for a marathon keepsake from a very well known Jacksonville company on the Monet Canvas. Once they’ve been delivered, we’ll share with you how those turned out as well. The company decided they very much preferred the “look” and texture of their print on the canvas versus a more traditional keepsake poster on laminated vinyl.

“Different strokes for different folks!” Talk to First Coast Signs when you’re looking for a creative alternative to your sign/poster/wide-format digital print projects.

Categories : Creative Marketing Use of Signs, Digitally Printed Signs, FCS Blog, Inexpensive Marketing Ideas Using Signs, Signs
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NO MORE BORING REAL ESTATE SIGNS!

December 22nd, 2011 by Rebecca Walden

Real Estate Signs with Real Curb Appeal

As Carlton and I drove from our office to San Marco for some lunch this lovely, sunny afternoon (Hurricane Wings–the BEST!), I made it a point to look at real estate signs there and back.

Lots of them. But unfortunately, they kind of “meld” together.

Why? Think you can’t stand out from the crowd with your real estate signs? Well think again.

Maghen Wells, CEO, Broker, Realtor, SFR, BPOR of Peninsula Properties Realty was definitely NOT into boring signs that blend in with everyone else.

So when she came to First Coast Signs looking for ways to make sure her signs had “curb appeal” we were all over it!

Maghen’s ensemble included an AGENT ON DUTY sign that actually ended up being another signcade similar to her OPEN HOUSE signs, multiple FOR SALE signs for her listings and a pair of vehicle magnets for herself and two additional agents.

We used laminated digital prints on aluminum substrates for the signs and magnetic roll material for the magnets. But what REALLY provided Maghen with the “pop” or “bling” she was after was actual gold leaf vinyl cut letters for AGENT ON DUTY, FOR SALE, OPEN HOUSE and the names and phone numbers on her magnets. Pretty sharp, don’t you agree? Brings to mind Manfred Man’s “Blinded by the Light” when the sun hits those letters!

Not only do Maghen’s signs provide some exciting call to action, but her AGENT ON DUTY sign also promotes her agency’s expertise in handling short sales, foreclosures and her offer of a Free Market Analysis.

So remember, it’s more than just putting your name and number out there. You need to “sell”. Explore options to differentiate yourself from your competition. Let Jacksonville know your special areas of expertise. Draw buyers and sellers to you because you do have the creativity and moxey to “stand out” and be memorable.

First Coast Signs would be more than happy to discuss options and ideas with you that will have the town talking about your gorgeous signs–and most importantly, make folks want to list with you or have you handle the buy side of their transaction.

Remember: Life is too short for boring signs!

Categories : Construction Site Signs for Lenders and Builders, Creatiive Use of Cut Vinyl, Creative Marketing Use of Signs, Digitally Printed Signs, FCS Blog, Signs
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Jazzy Window Door, Window and Wall Vinyl for Trendy New Brew Bar

December 20th, 2011 by Rebecca Walden

We were delighted here at First Coast Signs when our friends at Content Design Group invited us to put some finishing touches on Bold Bean Coffee Roasters new location in historic Riverside/Avondale. Located in a 1920′s building on Stockton, we were thrilled to be part of the “fun” and help get the brew bar ready for its opening.

Content Design Group and their clients, Jay and Zack Burnett, owners of Bold Bean, chose Avery Specialty Films 100 Etchmark, an etched glass film for their windows and doors. The product provides the look of real etched glass at a fraction of the cost by eliminating the need for sandblasting. We love working with this product since it produces such a classy, artistic look that is subtle but still makes a statement.

Avery Etchmark Creates Understated Branding

For the twelve-foot high wall graphic inside the brew bar, we were able to use our standard vinyl, Oracal 3641. This versatile product is great for interior or exterior signage, decals, nameplates, die-cut letters and more. Applying an overlaminate to the finished print added body and protection for ease of handling and installing.

Digitally printed and laminated vinyl makes it SO easy to create distinctive wall coverings for any interior.

Thanks to Content Design Group and Bold Bean again for the opportunity to work on this project. Watch for two additional window graphic projects that we hope will come to fruition in January!

Categories : Corporate Identity, Creatiive Use of Cut Vinyl, Creative Marketing Use of Signs, Digitally Printed Signs, FCS Blog, Inexpensive Marketing Ideas Using Signs, Signs
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Sweet Suite Graphics II

November 17th, 2011 by Rebecca Walden

: Attractive Combination Using Frosted Vinyl with Black Cut Vinyl Overlay

Kelli Mazza, Administrative Services Manager for Fortegra Financial, enlisted First Coast Signs’ assistance to add subtle, beautiful touches to their new location. Using just vinyl, we achieved a dignified, elegant look that displayed the whole family of companies in black metallic vinyl over the frosted glass vinyl. We covered these panes the whole length of their boardroom and also used the same approach for panes in their lobby.

: Three Dimensional Look Achieved Effectively

Alan Worley, President of the popular and effective Money Pages organization, wanted to make a statement for his new suite at Veteran’s Memorial Arena. He brought the project to First Coast Signs and we presented him our concept to work with a piece of black max metal, 4′h x 8′w, overlaid with a second piece of brushed silver max metal that had his text custom routed, allowing the black to show through. To provide added dimension, we mounted to his wall using over-sized stand-offs so that the black sheet is “off the wall” and there is also a separation between the brushed silver sheet and the black background sheet. Fun project that is still receiving lots of compliments!

Whatever our budget, whatever your “style”, whatever your corporate statement needs to be, First Coast Signs would love to work with you to ensure your corporate brand is evident to your employees, clients, vendors and stakeholders!

Categories : Articles about Us, Corporate Identity, Creative Marketing Use of Signs, FCS Blog, Inexpensive Marketing Ideas Using Signs, Reception Area Branding/Lobby Logos, Signs
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Sweet Suite Graphics I

November 7th, 2011 by Rebecca Walden

Is it costly etched glass or vinyl?

We’ve been privileged to work with several local companies that wanted to put their walls and interior windows “to work” for them by reinforcing corporate values and identity. Using cut vinyl, which comes in solid colors and also a marvelous assortment of products that achieve an “etched glass” effect for a fraction of the cost of the “real thing”, our clients now keep their corporate mantras and branding attractively displayed for both employees and visitors.

For instance, the 5′ apple on US Preventive’s lobby doors was created using etched glass “looking” vinyl. We cut their healthy logo out of the vinyl using our Graphtec plotter and applied it to the doors. The result was beautiful and acheived a stately look for far less than real etched glass would have cost. Thank you Kathy Fleming for allowing us to help you with your internal branding project.

We used a combination of materials to create MarkOne’s sensational lobby branding.

When Bruce and Jason Newmark contacted us regarding branding their reception area at their new location for MarkOne Holdings, they specifically said they didn’t just want “a sticker stuck to a piece of acrylic”. They were definitely looking for something more three dimensional and dramatic.

Their logos for the parent company and three subsidiaries were gorgeous. However, there were color gradients that could only be achieved using a digital print. Our solution was to have the graphics and letters custom cut using 1/2″ styrene with a nice flat face surface. Then we printed their letters and graphics to capture the color gradients and applied the prints to the faces of the letters. Next we mounted the graphics and letters to rectangular pieces of acrylic and mounted the 4 acrylic signs to the wall using stand-offs. Everyone was quite pleased with the outcome.

This colorful display greets clients and vendors as they step off the elevator at MarkOne.

We have several other lobby branding projects we want to share with you to potentially spark an idea of something you’d like in your reception area. Watch for more to follow and we would love to work with you on a creative piece that will be unique to your business or practice. Call us at 904-398-3993 and let us know what you think!

Categories : Corporate Identity, Creative Marketing Use of Signs, FCS Blog, Inexpensive Marketing Ideas Using Signs, Reception Area Branding/Lobby Logos, Signs
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Former Banker Becomes Small Biz Owner

January 18th, 2010 by Rebecca Walden

Contact: Rebecca Walden, 904-654-5946

FORMER BANKER BEGINS YEAR AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

January 16, 2010, Jacksonville, FL – When her position as an SBA Lender with CIT Small Business Lending was terminated last March, Rebecca (David) Walden, a banker since 1979 left her comfort zone to become a small business owner.

Walden is President of First Coast Signs, Inc., a custom sign manufacturing company that recently opened its doors at 3728 Philips Highway, Suite 37, in Jacksonville’s Enterprise/HUB Zone.

Waldencited the continued uncertainty in the financial services industry as the reason she decided to pursue a different route and become a business owner. First Coast Signs is part of the SignWorld business opportunity network. Over 240 independent owners nationwide enjoy the benefit of a significant support network for sales training, marketing, peer mentoring groups and technical support.

“Due to our access to an extensive network of wholesalers and suppliers, we can produce virtually any sign imaginable in addition to what we can produce “in house” with our equipment,” explained Walden.

Walden started in banking as a part time teller and rose through the ranks to become the first female director and President of one community bank and CEO of another in her native Michigan. She made US Banker’s first list of “The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” in October 2003.

So what does a lifelong banker know about making signs?

“This business model is predicated on hiring an experienced veteran sign producer/designer. Owners contribute their project management and business development skills,” explained Walden.

Walden also hopes to lever contacts in the business organizations she’s been a member of for the past 3 years as a lender. Ms. Walden is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women (“CREW”), Women Business Owners (“WBO”), the Regional Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Builders and Contractors Women’s Council and the River City Chapter of BNI.

“I’m very excited about this new career path and see a great deal of opportunity here in Jacksonville”, Walden said. “There wasn’t another investment I could have made with the potential to create profitable, enjoyable jobs for my husband and myself, give us more control over our lives, and grow into something we can sell when we decide to retire,” she said.

Categories : FCS Blog, Signs
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Signs Signs Everywhere Signs

December 22nd, 2009 by Rebecca Walden

If you, like me, can finish the above chorus, or better yet, know the whole song by heart because you were “alive and doin’ fine” in 1970 and still remember it, then you know that signs have been with us for a loooooong time. For a split second, when we opened First Coast Signs, I had the fleeting thought of using the song as background music for an on hold message. But then I remembered that the overall impression of “signs” delivered by the Five Man Electrical Band 39 (yikes) years ago wasn’t a positive one. In fact, it was downright negative.

Well, I’m sure that I and my fellow sign company owners are glad that the “long haired freaky people” didn’t win that one. Signs are still one of the most effective and least expensive forms of advertising for small businesses. And since we all want our City to be attractive and avoid abuse, there is a permitting process. Vehicular safety is everyone’s concern so valid care needs to be exercised to avoid dangerous distractions.

That said, according to the SBA, “many merchants increase their business measurably just by adding a good sign. Conversely, many have gone out of business because they simply were not identified well, so not enough potential customers knew of their existence.” A few other reasons listed to encourage small businesses to invest in signage include:

Signs are always “on the job” for you, advertising 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
People often judge a business by how it looks on the sign.

Since 18% of households relocate each year, no matter how well you take care of your customers, you will always need to replace the ones that move away.

When you consider all the posters in bank lobbies, images hanging from the ceilings in every major retail store, window graphics in every fast food restaurant and banners advertising holiday specials, it’s not difficult to appreciate that 98% of all true “signs” are actually indoors anyway.

Signs are here to stay. Let’s keep them attractive. Let’s make them effective. Let them communicate our messages as clearly as possible. Let’s use them to help us all leave the last few dreadful years behind and reach new levels of prosperity.

Categories : Signs
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