Yard signs pay for themselves

Yard signs are an ideal, economical way to get your message across.  They are simplest, quickest way for a service business to get their phone ringing.  Yard signs catch the eye and tell a quick story of "who's doing what" on this site.  Perfect for "nosy neighbor" syndrome.  Many of our contractors tell us they go to an area for one job, but neighbors quickly start calling when they see the contractors vehicle graphics and signs and want the same services, "keeping up with the Jones'".  Yard signs are one of the best "Return on Investments", they are cheap and very effective if done right.  You can also target a specific area or demographic, which is often difficult to do with other forms of advertising.  Do you think yard signs could help your business?  Give us a call, we're here to help and we pride ourselves on having NO sales people, we are all about "customer service", if a sign isn't what you need, we won't sell you one, seriously!

New Face at FastTrack Signs

FastTrack Signs, an Ohio based Signs & Graphics Company, is pleased to announce Amy Brown as its new Production Coordinator & Assistant Sales Consultant. As Production Coordinator, Amy will be in charge of maintaining the quick turn-around sign production on a daily basis. "With a degree in Organizational Leadership, Amy is a perfect t for keeping our stream-lined system of sign production running smoothly", says owner Dennis Schaub. Amy has worked most recently as a Senior Team Lead at Target, where she created a fast-paced, energetic environment that delivered a consistent Target brand experience for team members and guests. "I couldn't be more excited to be a part of the FastTrack Signs team. Everyone here loves what they do, and that makes all the di erence" says Amy.  FastTrack Signs recently released an updated website (www.fasttracksigns.net) to further build their strong social media presence. "Signs are a commodity that
anyone can build, but we pride ourselves on marketing, making signs e ective, that is where experience and knowledge really come into play" says Dennis.  While signs and graphics are the bulk of the work load of FastTrack Signs, they  also o er branding, logo design and social media marketing.  FastTrack Signs is located in Bellefontaine, Ohio, but has done work around the world. They design, create and install signs and graphics, at their convenient Main Street location. 937.593.9990

Supporting Relay for Life - Family Game Night

Ask us about a sign! No, really, ask away. We often get strange questions from customers, quite often we can help & if not, we can often find someone who can help you. When we were approached about creating larger than life game pieces for the recent Relay for Life event, we said "no problem!" Our customer wanted something that would get attention, so we came up with a list of larger than life game pieces and then began the creative process. The most rewarding aspect of our business is creating solutions to customers questions. Our specialty is thinking out of the box, going above & beyond, creating the "wow" factor. We could have created the same ordinary red & white banner that had the name and date of the event, like so many others, but that lacked the "pop" our customer desired. So why not create fun, recognizable & memorable game pieces that really say "look at me!". While a simple sign or banner may do a good job at promoting an event, taking the creativity up a notch can really give an event impact.

Truck & Boat Registration Numbers

We get a lot of questions reguarding the size and specifications of truck and boat registration numbers, so I tracked down the following information.



For Truck Numbers:
Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Rules and Regulations
(c) Size, shape, location, and color of
marking. The marking must—
(1) Appear on both sides of the selfpropelled
CMV;
(2) Be in letters that contrast sharply
in color with the background on which
the letters are placed;
(3) Be readily legible, during daylight
hours, from a distance of 50 feet (15.24
meters) while the CMV is stationary;
and
(4) Be kept and maintained in a
manner that retains the legibility
required by paragraph (c)(3) of this
section.



Watercraft Identification & Display of Tags and Number (OAC 1501:47-1-07 & ORC 1547.57)The number assigned is in three parts beginning with "OH" followed by four numbers and two letters.
The number shall:
be placed on each side of the forward half of the watercraft;
read from left to right;
be in block characters of good proportion;
be a minimum of three inches in height;
contrast with the background or boat color;
be separated by a hyphen or equivalent space between the prefix and suffix;
be maintained to be clearly visible and legible.
No other numerals or letters may be displayed on the bow.

KISS Principal- Keeping your Sign Simple

If you have been to Las Vegas you know it is easy to be taken in by the grandeur of the signs along the infamous Strip. As one gets ready to plan for a sign we can be lost in the details of what all to include. We often want to communicate all of the wonderful products and services our business has too offer. Along with the what, where, when, and how we offer those products, before to long we’ve over whelmed the customer with information. When considering signage a great resource is the SBA who offers 18 design tips with #3 being to “Keep it Simple” and #2 “Save the Details for the Sale.” When thinking back to the signs along the Vegas Strip it is important to note that most of the traffic is foot traffic. When planning for your sign know what the traffic around it is and how it will be able to interact with your customers.

One of our recent projects was for Route 68 Grill on Main St. in Bellefontaine. The owners are loosing a large pole sign with the planned road expansion. The sign we recommended is a great fit for the business. It provides a clean, crisp look for the restaurant along with the flexibility to advertise different promotions. The changeable letters are locked behind a glass front to prevent mishaps from the wind or vandals but are still simple & easy to change. The new sign is informative and flows well with the current traffic and will transition well in the future. We have kept it simple but still created a great selling tool for our client.
Fast. Easy. Simple. DONE

Core Sampling Display for Duff Quarry

Occasionally here at FastTrack Signs we get jobs that are not really "sign" related, but usually come from existing customers that know our capabilities and depth of creativeness! One such project came to us from Duff Quarry, they had a "core sampling" from when the quarry first opened in 1955 and wanted a better way to display it. (see before picture below)





We came up with a few conceptual sketches and pricing for the client, who was delighted.




They decided on a projecting wall mounted version with a curved frame description panel to be mounted beside it. From here we were able to custom fabricate the components of the job and deliver them in a matter of days. We find these "one of a kind" jobs very rewarding because we are able to satisfy the needs of our customers in a very special way.

Creating a Paradigm Shift – The Value of Dimensional Letters

So you decided to start a business, Great! You open a store, put up a sign, hire people and start selling. There are highs & lows but you love what you’re doing and each day you go to work to make the magic happen. Soon the days turn into years and you start to over look that sign you put up when you opened. Not only are you over looking it but so are your customers. Dimensional letter can be a cost-effective way to create a dramatic eye catching paradigm shift.

Last week we completed a job in Rushsylvania for Michael Angelo’s Pizza owned by world champion pizza team member Michael Shepherd. He had a nice sign before but it was time to make a change. With some paint, black aluminum and brushed gold dimensional letters we created a paradigm shift. While working on the install we had a guy on a bike, lady in a golf cart, a number of cars and the neighbors stop and take notice of the change. Once back at the sign shop we posted pictures on Facebook where within hours we had comments on the sign and how yummy the pizza is.

Your sign works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Why We Produce Solutions Instead of Signs

Some time ago I read the mission statement of another sign shop and it made me start thinking of our own purpose as a company. I think we are a solutions company. While signs, graphics, logos and advertising materials are what we produce, it’s not really what we do. What we actually provide are advertising and marketing solutions to our clients. Our goal is to actually spend the least amount of money possible to grow your business the most. This sounds like a recipe for disaster, at least, that is what our accountant says. But the reality is that we don’t like spending your money. We’re cautious. We want your ad budget to be decreasing and your sales increasing. We want to give you the tools to make that happen. We want our clients to be spending less money for better results. We want to be your partner in solving marketing problems and driving results... increasing your company’s profits through smart solutions. As small business owners, we realize your budgets are limited. Sure, we like to make pretty things like logos and signs, but what we love even more is how those pretty things translate into sales and growth for your company. That’s exciting. That’s what we love about your jobs. I hope I can share some of those solutions here with you.