by lweber | Sep 14, 2021 | Business and Industry News, Featured Jobs, What's New
If you’re ready to employ a little creative marketing or artistic flair at your business, school, church, or home, look no further than floor decals to beautify your space and command attention. Floor graphics can be used for a wide variety of applications and are durable, long-lasting, and removable — making them an economical choice with a big return for your investment. Here’s what you need to know as you consider why, where, and how you want to use them.
Types of Floor Decals
Decals are essentially giant removable stickers that are durable enough to withstand regular foot traffic. They are made of vinyl or aluminum and consist of three layers: the base layer on which your design is printed, an adhesive layer to make it stick, and a non-slip laminate coating that protects your design from scratches, scuffs, and fading. Floor decals come in indoor and outdoor applications, are printed in full color, and can be cut into any shape (regular or irregular) that you desire.
Indoor
Vinyl floor graphics are best suited for hard, non-porous surfaces, such as tile, hardwood, laminate, and indoor concrete. If you want to install your decals on carpet, a different type of vinyl is used that is made especially for carpeting. Not all carpets are good candidates for decals, however. They must have a very tight weave and a short nap — commercial or automobile carpeting, for example — so they are generally not suitable for residential applications. Both floor and carpet graphics have a non-slip, non-skid surface that is safe to walk on and holds up well for up to 2-3 years on floors and 3-6 months on carpeting.
Outdoor
Outdoor floor decals are made with an aluminum foil base and are best used on concrete sidewalks and asphalt. The non-slip protective layer is also waterproof, making it durable enough to handle various weather conditions in addition to regular traffic for up to 4-5 years.
Uses for Floor Decals
You can use custom-designed floor decals to provide instruction or direction, advertise, attract attention, or even just add beauty and design to a bland or unattractive floor. Whether utilitarian or creative (or both!), there are endless possibilities for their use. Here are few ideas to get you started:
- Social distancing guides
- Traffic pattern guides
- Sale advertisements
- Designated “selfie spots” (social media advertising)
- Wedding and event photos, text, or logos
- Decorative, non-slip designs for bathroom floor tile
- Logo designs for churches, schools, gyms, or garage floors
- 3D art or advertising
How to Design Floor Decals
No matter how basic or creative you want your floor graphics to be, good design is important. For informational graphics, choose a font that is easy to read. Not only is the typeface important, but also the size and color of your text and background. There are some color combinations that are difficult for people with color-blindness to read, for instance. It’s also important that your design is the correct size and resolution, so your text and graphics are crisp and clear.
You can design your own floor decals with a graphics program and upload them to your printer, use your printer’s templates or designs and customize them, or hire a graphic designer to create something for you. Many printers have designers on staff who can work with you to design exactly what you need. Whatever you choose, your design will be printed in full color on high-quality vinyl or aluminum and cut into whatever shape and size you want.
How To Apply and Remove Floor Decals
Whether indoors or out, the most important rule to follow in preparation is to make sure your surface is clean, dry, and smooth. Dust, debris, moisture, and cracks all compromise the adhesion of your floor graphics, shortening their lifespan and weakening their durability. Equally important is to use the correct material for your application — if you are unsure, your printing company can advise you on what to use.
To Apply:
- Peel off adhesive backing.
- Apply carefully from the center outward, using a squeegee to flatten and push any bubbles out the edges.
- Allow your floor decals to sit undisturbed for 8 hours (more for very large graphics) to ensure proper adhesion.
To Remove:
- Peel the graphic back slowly at a 90-degree angle. It should come off cleanly, but if it does not, you can use a heat gun and a thin, plastic scraper to assist in the removal.
- Use your scraper to gently remove any sticker residue that remains, followed by citrus- or alcohol-based cleaner to thoroughly clean the floor underneath. Rinse and dry the area to ensure the floor is neither sticky nor slippery once you’re done.
Affordable, durable, and easy to install on nearly any surface, floor decals ensure that your ads, information, and designs will get noticed, particularly because people tend to look down when they’re walking or on their phones. Minuteman Press of New England can help you from start to finish on any design you can dream up — contact them today for a quote.
by lweber | Jul 12, 2021 | Business and Industry News, Featured Jobs
There’s something compelling about stickers. Do you remember how you felt when you earned one for a job well done as a child, or when you collected them to decorate your notebook, instrument case, or school locker as a teen? Even as an adult, you probably still wear an “I Voted” sticker on your shirt every Election Day, and maybe even have a few stickers on the back of your car. Whatever purpose they serve, stickers are fun, useful, and a fantastic way to promote your business. When you design creative, colorful, custom-printed stickers, they will undoubtedly command attention and make your business memorable.
Promotional Giveaways
Here are some popular ways to get your stickers (and your brand) out there for your target audience to enjoy:
- At trade shows
- At sponsored events
- As a thank you gift with purchase
- Inside business thank you or holiday cards
- At your reception desk or front counter
- As a thank you for filling out a survey
- As a lead magnet for email subscription
Make sure your sticker has intrinsic value to its recipients so it won’t just be thrown away — your logo, graphic, or text should be well-designed, cool, and creative. Custom-printed stickers can be contour-cut in every shape imaginable, even with cutouts, if that’s part of your design. Take the time and energy needed to produce a quality product people will enjoy. Your sticker should look and feel like a little piece of art that begs to be displayed somewhere.
Product and Packaging Labels
If your products or packaging need labels anyway, why not go with something beautiful or surprising? Besides your company logo, consider incorporating other elements that will make your label special, such as graphic embellishments, an inspirational quote, or your brand’s mission or vision statement. Going that extra step shows that you care about details and quality, and that your customers are worth the effort and a little extra expense. If you ship products that have paper or plastic packaging, sealing them with a custom-printed sticker will add a personal touch. Even better, include an extra one your customer can keep!
Vehicle Wraps
Did you know that vehicle wraps are just giant-sized, contour-cut vinyl stickers? Whether you want your company logo on the side doors or your entire vehicle wrapped in a colorful, eye-catching design, your company car can become a mobile billboard that advertises your business everywhere it goes, and even when it’s parked. Because it’s relatively inexpensive (usually between $1,000 – $4000) and lasts for multiple years, it can produce a higher ROI than just about any other type of visual advertising.
Floor or Wall Decals
Floor or wall decals can be as utilitarian as directional signs and promotional advertisements, or as creative as anything your imagination can conjure up. You can use custom-printed stickers as art for purely decorative purposes, for images and text that will inform, inspire, or make people laugh, or even for encouraging customers to take photos and share them on social media. It’s a great way to showcase your brand identity, your company culture, and your enthusiasm for what you do.
Cell Phone or Laptop Decals
Depending on your target market, larger contour-cut stickers may not be as desirable or cost-effective for you as tiny stickers. People of all ages use decals to decorate their phone cases, laptops, and desktop computers — just to name a few. Again, the cooler the design, the more attractive they’ll be, and the longer they’ll “stick around.”
Minuteman Press of New England will turn your great design into custom-printed, contour-cut stickers of any size, shape, or application. Our printing experts will work with you to ensure you receive a quality product you’ll love and be proud to share with the world.
by lweber | Jun 22, 2021 | Business and Industry News, Featured Jobs, What's New
We live in a profoundly visual culture. Evidence of that is seen in nearly every aspect of life, but nowhere is it more obvious than in the realm of marketing. Every year, more and more companies leverage window, wall, and building graphics to their advantage to promote their products and services. These compelling statistics demonstrate the power of visual advertising:
- Since 2018, more than 85% of all communication is visual-based.
- People form their first impression in about 50 milliseconds.
- Social media posts that include images generate 650 times more engagement than those with only text.
- The average consumer’s attention span is 2-8 seconds.
You only have a moment to grab your customer’s attention and make a lasting impression. There are a number of creative, attractive, and practical ways you can do this with window, wall, and building graphics.
Custom Window Graphics
There are several different uses for graphics on your exterior or interior windows: for privacy, to promote sales or your latest product, to inspire passersby with compelling art, photographs, or quotes that echo your brand image, or to creatively frame your physical window displays with eye-catching colors or designs. Practically speaking, you can use window graphics to display information such as store hours, directions to various departments, or to list your company’s social media accounts. Utilizing Instagram or Facebook to highlight your creative window graphics can bring twice the attention to both your online and brick-and-mortar presence!
Custom Wall Graphics
Wall graphics and murals serve similar purposes as window graphics, but they give you an opportunity to take creativity one step further because they are specifically aimed at those who are inside your building — your customers and your staff. Here you can target “insiders” with images and messages that will inspire them as they work or shop and give them the information they need. But you don’t need to limit your custom-printed graphics to serve only practical purposes — use them to add beauty and visual interest to your spaces. According to a Harvard University Project Zero study, art in the workplace enhances the work environment, fosters learning, promotes social interaction and connectivity, and elicits emotional responses — in short, custom-printed window, wall, or building graphics can powerfully affect how people experience your organization. The one-two punch of visual and experiential can leave an impression no words can match.
Custom Building Graphics
Creating a larger-than-life, building-sized mural is like a billboard in-residence within your community. It becomes part of the cityscape and a powerful neighborhood fixture. Your mural can do the work of a billboard — directly advertising your business — or it can pay homage to a local hero, highlight the work of a local artist, or share words of unity, peace, and inspiration by an esteemed author or activist. You can use your custom-printed building graphic to benefit and beautify your community while making your brand synonymous with goodwill. What’s better than that?
Whether you’re looking for custom-printed window, wall, or building graphics, (or even all three!) Minuteman Press of New England can take your design and turn it into a quality product that will set your business apart from your competition. Contact us for a quote — we have fast turnaround times, expert design help, and customer satisfaction that can’t be beaten anywhere else.
by mweber | May 24, 2021 | Featured Jobs, In The News
If there’s anything the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s the value of our relationships, our time, and that sadly, unexpected circumstances can come along and make a mess of our lives. The virus has also caused people to spend significantly more time at home, resulting in an unprecedented upturn in remodeling and home organization projects. As this difficult season fades away, you may want to take this opportunity to scan your documents now, so you can rest easy knowing you’ve kept everything safe and where you need it as you head into a new normal.
Back Up Your Originals
In some circumstances, such as applying for a passport, marriage license, or social security card, you will need to submit your original documents. Since they are not easily replaced, the following important originals should be stored in an easily accessible, fire safe box:
- Long- and short-form birth certificates
- Passport
- Social Security card
- Marriage license
- Adoption certificate
- Citizenship papers
However, even if you have them safely stored away, you should scan your documents and save the copies in several different forms and locations. Save your files in a clearly marked folder on your computer, upload them to a cloud-based drive like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud, and keep them on a portable drive as well. That way, you’ll have your documents right where and when you need them. In addition, if your originals are ever lost, stolen, or damaged, you will still have copies of your vital information, and the Federal Records Center can create new originals based on your scanned documents.
Access Your Files Anytime, Anywhere
When you scan your documents, they are available to you 24/7 wherever you can access the internet. This can be especially important while traveling or when you need them unexpectedly. You can even save your files as photos or PDFs on your phone, so you’ll be able to locate them immediately and print them right from your phone. More than just convenience, it can save you a great deal of hassle if you’re asked to produce them right away.
Get Rid of Clutter and Simplify Your Life
Though your most vital documents don’t take up much room, you likely have other important paperwork that is accumulating somewhere. Tax forms, product warranties, bank records, bills, and receipts are just a few examples of documents taking up space in your drawers or on your desk. Experts recommend saving your tax documents and investment records for seven years, pay stubs and canceled checks for a year, and warranty information and related receipts until they expire. Since most people are too busy to keep track of all that, they end up keeping everything “just in case,” creating piles of clutter and making it difficult to find what they need. Fortunately, once you scan your documents, you can shred whatever contains sensitive information and recycle the rest.
You have a lot on your plate and probably have a lengthy list of things you want to get done eventually. Let Minuteman Press help you get organized and safeguard your most vital information. We’ll take your stack of papers, scan your documents, and put it all on a portable drive for you to take home and upload wherever you wish. You’ll feel good knowing you can scratch one more thing off that to-do list.
by mweber | May 5, 2021 | Business and Industry News, Featured Jobs, Our News
Staying competitive in the business world requires hard work, innovation, and the willingness to explore new ways to reach your target audience. Though your marketing strategy should include digital channels like social media, email, video, and web content, you shouldn’t neglect the power of out-of-home (OOH) advertising to gain the attention of potential customers.
While a billboard may be the most recognizable form of OOH advertising, a custom vehicle wrap (sometimes referred to as a mobile billboard) is an eye-catching, memorable way to get your company noticed by people in your service area. Here are four compelling reasons why a wrap may be just what your business needs to get a leg up on the competition and boost your revenue this year.
Visibility
You may be surprised to know that:
- 57% of people who see mobile billboards notice them all or most of the time. (Nielsen)
- A single custom vehicle wrap can generate 30,000 to 70,000 daily impressions (ARD Ventures)
- 97% of those who view mobile advertisements remember them (RYP & Becker Group)
- Mobile billboards command 2.5 times more attention than static billboards (Perception Research)
These findings are very convincing, especially when you consider the size of your area and the number of vehicles you may want to use to advertise your business. More impressions, greater visibility, and better recall increase the likelihood your company’s name will come to mind when people need the services you provide.
Impact
The most effective advertising campaigns leave a lasting impression on potential customers, and a custom vinyl-wrapped vehicle makes your company’s name 15 times more recognizable than any other type of advertising. In fact, over 96% of people surveyed by the American Trucking Association said that mobile billboards have a greater impact than standard billboards. When you consider that your vehicle is also stationary at times — in traffic, at stoplights, and when it’s parked — it exposes your potential customers to your advertisement for a much longer period than when it’s moving.
Brand Identity
Your business is more than just your company name and what you offer; it’s your story, your mission, and what makes you unique and special. Your logo, colors, designs, and words are all critical to communicating who you are. A custom vehicle wrap provides more than just information — it gives your audience a clear, concise snapshot of your brand identity. So whether you want to show that your business is elegant, reliable, innovative, or just plain fun, your vehicle will leave a memorable impression on everyone who sees it.
ROI
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to consider getting your vehicle wrapped is the amazing ROI potential. Wraps are relatively inexpensive, typically ranging from $1000 – $4000, and can last up to five years. So, for a few hundred dollars per year, you can have a highly visible, attention-grabbing advertisement that reaches an enormous audience wherever your vehicle goes. If you include a unique phone number in the wrap design, you’ll be able to accurately track how much your business increases from the use of your mobile billboard.
If you think your business could benefit from a custom vehicle wrap, contact a digital printing specialist who will work with you to create the perfect design to represent your company. In a few short days, your wrap will be printed, installed, and turning heads.
by lweber | Nov 6, 2020 | Featured Jobs, Simplifying the Season
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The seasons are changing…and the holidays are quickly approaching! |
Holiday cards are a simple way to reach your customers and remote employees and to show your appreciation. We can help you avoid the rush of the season! Order now and have your cards delivered with time to spare.
We have styles for business and personal use in a range of price-points.
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| Item No. D2620 |
Item No. H09658 |
Item No. HP08319 |
| 100 for $1.72 per card |
100 for $2.24 per card |
100 for $1.72 per card |
All styles include free return address printing!
Our online catalog makes it easy to find your favorite style and place your order. Our local customer service staff is here if you need help.
Minuteman Press is committed to making your job easier so you can enjoy more of the holiday season!
