Creative Mom Toys

I am quite the advocate of energy-efficient lighting.  The technological advances of LED lighting in the last 2-4 years has drastically improved in the sign industry.  The amount of brightness and energy-efficiency from LED lights is astonishing.  And they have improved, to where some brands can warranty them for 50,000 hours (about 5 years).

However, for some applications, there is NOTHING so beautiful as an open-faced neon sign.  The sign below which we just installed last week is a perfect example of such.

"TOYS" is 4 different color custom-formed neon tubing in painted open-faced channel letters.  The upper lettering of the sign is actually lit by white LED lighting housed in a cabinet behind the background.  The "CREATIVE" letters are 1/2" thick clear acrylic with purple vinyl on the first surface of the letters. "MOM" is white vinyl on an opaque green background on a raised 1/2" acrylic rectangle.

A great sign for a great place - http://www.creativemomtoys.com/ - check it out at the Landing in Renton (off SR900)  - Cheri has made a very fun place to shop for both kids and moms, with neat toys galore, an entire playhouse inside, and a fun, exciting place to hang out.

I wish her the best of success with her first brick-and-mortar location!

Why signage? Make Black Friday Green!

So, why have a sign???  I am finding that not only do I have to educate people on why they should get a sign from me, I have to educate them on why they need a sign at all.  The biggest assumption I find is that signage is for identification and wayfinding.  As soon as you say marketing, business owners think radio, web, tv, banners, mail-outs, promotional items, van graphics, even hiring sign-holders on the corner.

However, the #1 most effective advertising and marketing tool -according to the Small Business administration - is your exterior sign.  So, all the travelers at 4am on Black Friday will be driving along, and where will they go?  Over 25% of them - according to a study by San Diego State University - will impulsively stop somewhere based on the sign.  And if it is illuminated that percentage jumps up 10%.  Where else can you get quality local advertising with those kind of results???

I Like Money???

This is a blog about my learning experiences, no?

I recently started a discussion in the Linked:Seattle group about money.  Being a father of three small children, and spending time away from my family at a networking event 1 1/2 hours away was a bit of a strain one particular night.  After hearing people talk about how great networking and meeting people was, I was bit concerned that people didn't understand why we I was there.

I wasn't there for a social meet-up, I was there for money! I was hoping people would help me with sales - either directly or indirectly.

Well, maybe that was the problem.  What is the golden rule?  Do unto others as you would have them do to you!  Who wants someone around at a meet-up who is only concerned about how we can help them?  I sure don't!

Do I still want money?  Yes.  Maybe, I am (re-)learning what that means again and again.  Here is a great quote:
You can get everything you want in life, as long as you help everyone around you get what they want!

I encourage you to take a look at some of the comments in the discussion I started.  I really don't think the post was worthy of some of the comments and some of the people who commented. - here it is.

Monument Signs

Monument Signs are typically signs that are lower in height.  They usually do not have any sort of space underneath them, they are not on suspended on poles.  Monument signs also usually have a horizontal layout rather than a vertical layout which is typical of a "pylon" sign.

Here's an example of a monument sign we just completed for a local dentist.  The keystone and landscaping work was done by my friend Elias Martinez at http://www.martinezbroslandscaping.com/.

If you are looking for a dentist in the Olympia area, Westside Dental's website is http://www.drwinterdentistry.com/

Let them know the 'Sign Salesman' told you about them :-)

Masters of Sales

I have been reading a great book - called Masters of Sales. My favorite aspect of the book is that it is more of a compilation of 40 sales books, then it is one sales book.  Every section is 2-8 pages long written by a great sales author.  Below I've posted some of the highlights of what I've gleaned so far:


"The Abundant Sales Person" -

... they (the abundant sales person) believe they already have everything they need to make sales.  Not only is the proverbial glass half full --- it is overflowing! These people are inspired and pulled forward by an internal conviction that they are on a path that is right for them.They connect with success by visualizing a successfully closed sales transaction.  Abundant sales people are more than just positive thinkers; they attract customers like bees to honey.
... These people demonstrate self-confidence, but not as arrogance or in a manner that diminishes the people around them.  Customers feel built-up and improved after interacting with abundant salespeople.
... By contrast, a person holding a 'scarcity' attitude has a fundamental belief that there isn't enough to go around for everyone, so he thinks, "I have to get more than my fair share."
... Since they think in terms of lack, these people believe there is no sense in over-achieving because they very likely won't get their fair share.  Scarcity boxes us in.


"Million Dollar Sales Goal: Help Enough People" -

... Sales is a "helping" business, and a successful sales person loves helping people. "If you love to help people, you'll have a rewarding and productive sales career," he says.  If you don't, chances are you won't last long.  There's an old saying to sales, "Help enough people get what they want in life, and you'll get everything you want."


"Earning the Right to be Heard" -

... "Active listening" is like a bank account.  The more active listening deposits you make, the more sales withdrawls you get.  It works this way.  When you listen to your prospects - AND THEY KNOW IT - they will, in return, listen to what you have to say abour product or service.  This leads to more sales.
... When you demonstrate a genuine interest in the other's well-being, that person will want to give you business - and often go out of his way to do so.  This hard-won position of trust is developed over time and is started through being a good attentive listener.  Here's a list of things I've learned not to do:

• Filtered Listening
• Rehearsing your response
• Interrupting
• Self-Talk

If you find any good 'hits' from this book, please post them.  Again, it is amazing the wealth of valuable information, people are willing to share.

Sales tip for the day - 20/80 rule. 20% of the salesmen get 80% of the sales. This means successful salespeople are doing 5x the calls and meetings.

National Sign Corporation

Here's a video about the company where I work - www.nationalsigncorp.com