W.J. Strickler Signs

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I’m sure Tesla didn’t put much thought into the lyrics of their 80’s hit song “Signs” when they performed it! But if you think about it signs are everywhere. Signs, like any thing else mechanical cars, appliances, machines etc., eventually need some tender loving care to keep them in working order. Whether it’s a fluorescent lamp sign, channel letter sign with LED’S or neon or an electronic EMC sign, maintenance is important. That’s why sign service techs are so important to the sign industry.
Here at Strickler signs I feel we have some of best service tech’s in the in the business. Ron Phillips and Brian Driesbach our top service tech’s have been trouble shooting, repairing and servicing signs for over 30 years combined and I never seen a sign either one of them could not get working like a new sign. All of are install guys here at Strickler Signs are also top notch service guys, so do this (call on Strickler Signs for your service needs) don’t do that! (contact the other guy) can’t you read the signs!

The whole “green” movement focuses on recycling a great deal, but I’d like to speak toward the other points of the three pronged logo of arrows chasing each other. In my household, we eat on plates. We may eat in the living room with the TV shining away, but we always eat on real, non-disposable dishware, no matter how small the snack or meal may be. I’ve used disposable plates and cups in the past, and while they are very convenient, they do pile up over time and create a great deal of waste to be hauled away from your house.
It’s not so much the space that the plastic plates and cup will take up in a landfill, but more the fact that each individual piece of plastic refuse is weighing down the garbage truck just a tiny bit more, making the truck expend just a tiny bit more energy to haul it to where it needs to go. It’s a simple measure, giving up the use of disposable dishware, and the difference it would make is slight in any given household. When you add up the effect from millions of people turning away from the culture of disposable goods, the difference could be remarkable.
When the industrial age began, the order of the day was for a product that could last a generation. As the space age began, plastics offered people a way to have affordable, one-time use items. Even though we’ve gotten used to the disposable culture in which most of us came of age, there are still companies making solid, durable products that last as long, if not longer, than they rightfully should.
A durable sign from Strickler Signs will not only save the environment from taking in more scrap metal and plastic, but it will also save you, the business owner, from having to make that investment of a new sign so frequently. Other companies build 3-years signs that start to break down and need replaced quickly. With a sign from Strickler Signs, you get a product that lasts.
Stop making your business eat on paper plates. Visit our website and see how we can help.

One pet peeve of our industry, providing high-profile signage to medium-sized businesses, is zoning requirements.  Many townships choose to restrict the use of LED message centers.  The reasoning behind this restriction is that they feel that a bright electronic sign will distract drivers from the road enough to cause accidents.  The reality is that most drivers are too busy adjusting their GPS, texting their uncle, flipping the channel on their satellite radio console, and putting on another DVD for the kids in the back to be distracted by an electronic sign.  There are numerous studies conducted by the federal government and private organizations which conclude that LED message center signs do not pose any significant threat in regard to driver distraction.  An LED sign is no more distracting than those wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man things that you see at car dealerships.  Why doesn’t somebody make those things illegal?  Or how about the inflatable holiday decorations that people put on their lawns this time of year?  Every time I see one of those, I want to drive into a tree, so maybe I should contact my local zoning officer about this hazard.  Or maybe I should relax and consider the fact that we can’t legislate everything.  Electronic signs that show pictures along with text, and sometimes even video, have become fairly commonplace across the country.  We have to move forward toward a time when these signs are considered par for the course, rather than a “terrible distraction” for people on the road.  There is science behind the idea that LED signs are safe, but there’s no valid reason behind an outright ban on signs of this nature.

” We are too blessed to be stressed”, sounds great in theory, but can you apply it to your life or job right now?

No doubt about it, we are going through challenging times right now. It has been two years this month since the recession began to impact my business. When the economy impacts my business it also means that it is impacting my 24 employees and their families. If you operate a business and you feel responsible for your people, and you better care about them or you have no business managing people, how do you cope with the pressure?

I believe the: CEO, President, COO, etc. needs to take care of themselves first. The person in command needs to be mindful of their physical as well as emotional health. It is not your fault we are struggling through the worst recession in our history, after all you didn’t follow un-ethical lending practices or issue huge government funded bonuses. For the most part you are a victim of circumstances. Yea I know, I believe strongly in personal accountability also, but really, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this storm so you need to meet the challenges head on. So, what are you doing for yourself, are you making sure you are in the best shape to lead? Are you attending to your spiritual health, eating properly, are you getting enough rest, how are you deflecting stress?

The stress is possibly the hardest to overcome, flight or fright, you may be feeling both at the same time. One method to divert stress is to create a “Stress List”. A “Stress List” can be a word document or a tablet. Everything that stresses you goes from your grey matter to the tablet. It sounds too simple to believe, however your sub conscious releases the problem when it enters the list. Remember also that you choose how you react to any situation. When you feel that “shot” of stress, choose to not let it bother you, do not internalize it, if it is a situation that needs to be addressed, simply treat it as a new challenge. Get your people together if need be, analyze your challenge, attack and kill it, and move on. The challenges are what makes up some of the curriculum of life. You have the ability to deal with whatever comes your way. Believe in yourself!

Next, make sure you are doing everything in your power to weather the storm. We have taken many actions to insure our survival and future growth as we begin to recover as an economy. Get your people’s feedback to determine where you can cut expenses. Make sure you recognize their contributions. Are you cutting back in your sales efforts or are you acting in a smart aggressive manner? Do everything in your power to energize sales. Sales are happening, you just need to make sure you are getting your fair share of the action.

 Talk to your people. Make sure your employees know what has happened, is happening, and will happen. Ask for their input. Care about them and make sure they know it through your sincere actions.

Alright you have completed your “to-do” list.

• You are taking care of yourself
• You are taking care of your business
• You are taking care of you people

Now what? Keep tweaking and ride this baby out! After all, if you do count your blessings and release the insecurities you will discover we really are “too blessed to be stressed”!

Hey, by the way, if you want to help “us” out, tell people about the great custom electric signs and programmable LED message signs we provide. Sorry about the commercial, but hey, I do have people to take care of you know. You take care of yourself too.

Is your business selling its products in a “Thin Market”? A Thin Market can be described as selling your products or services where the end user does not need them on a regular basis. Some examples of Thin Market products would be: automobiles, homes, a microwave oven or an insurance policy, you know, items or services you purchase perhaps today and you will not need to purchase them again for months or even years.

If you are selling in a Thin Market you have some marketing and advertising challenges to overcome. If your product is not being purchased daily or weekly, how do you create Top of Mind Awareness? Top of Mind Awareness describes the process of exposing your name, brand, logo advertising message etc. often enough so that when the consumer actually needs your product they will draw your identity from their subconscious and search you out. A consumer must be exposed to a message at least 2.5 times before the message is burned into their memory. A fast food chain may not have this challenge since we all like to, as well as need to, eat daily. We are aware of our desire and know where to get what we want almost instinctively. Getting people on your car lot may take more effort however.

Let’s say you are selling in a Thin Market such as auto sales, how can you get those desirable prospects onto your lot and not the competitor’s? Top of Mind Awareness is one of the answers. You could answer that my reputation, existing customer base, lot full of cars or referrals should do the trick, but in the ever changing business world we all operate in, is that enough? Possible you are advertising in traditional mediums such as the radio TV and newspaper, that’s all well and fine but I think we are all aware of the decreasing effectiveness of these modes. Obviously the internet is a great way to direct people to your business, however for the most part the internet is more of a “pull” way of creating volume rather than “push”.

“Pull” information exchange refers to people looking for you such as an online search for cars whereas a “push” information exchange would be advertising on the side of a bus, TV or an on premise electric sign. You are pushing your message on the consumer rather than having them exerting their own independence by looking for you. Consumers are increasingly being drawn to the “pull” rather than the “push”, but that does not mean the “push” method is dead, in fact the push method is still your best venue to create Top of Mind Awareness.

We have found that our product is a great way to create “Top of Mind Awareness”. We offer on site advertising through the use of custom electric and LED electronic message signs. Please think about this, how many people drive by your business every day? You would probably be surprised by the numbers. The average traffic count falls around 20,000 vehicles per day and when you multiply that by 1.4 occupants, ( I want to be the 1 personally, not the .4) you are looking at about 28,000 people driving by your business everyday. Your sign communicates to this mobile marketplace.

Your sign should immediately convey what you have to offer. Please remember most people do not know what your offering is if you are selling to a “Thin Market”. A properly designed business sign through its unique design will immediately tell people not only what you do or sell but also give the flavor of who you are. Your sign is the link to get as many of those thousands of people who drive by your business daily to come in and make a purchase. Do you see how this can help combat your Thin Market challenges?

Back to the car scenario. yea I know, you have a nice inventory of autos on your lot. Your potential customers are driving by them everyday and when they begin their car search they will visit you, but how much do you blend into the scenery? Familiarity breeds invisibility. You need something that brands your dealership not just your products. You want to people to have your name at the tip of their “brains” when they crave the “new car smell”.Why not use a sign to create Top of Mind Awareness? Think about it, if your sign makes you stand out from the crowd you have become top of mind. Every time the consumer sees your sign your are burning your brand into their memory.

 I hope everyone can relate this example somehow to their own unique set of circumstances. Many of our customers have increased their sales 5-40% long term through our award winning electric pylon signs and especially our programmable LED message centers.

Beautiful sign and a beautiful restaurant

This sign is as exciting as the speedway

Yea, you know exactly what to expect inside.

New technology happens everywhere everyday, and our business is no different. Changing sign technology is altering the road side landscape of America. What I am referring to is the new LED fuel product price signs that are replacing the previous plastic numerals housed in a conventional sign cabinet. You have probably noticed, how can you not, the bright numerals indicating fuel prices?

Our customers are seeing double digit increases in sales after converting to the new technology. Using mainly electronics from Sunshine Electronic Display Corporation, we have updated “the look” at: Tom’s, Jiffy Mart,  and Landhope Farms convenience stores, as well as Giant and Martins grocery stores.

If you are interested, you can learn more about these and other great advertising signs at our website www.stricklersigns.com. Thanks for taking the time to read this and have a great day!