Thursday, March 31, 2016





5 IDEAS TO IMPROVE WAYFINDING 

FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS

 by 

Is your property easy to navigate? Or do people often stop to ask for directions? Effective wayfinding solutions can give people confidence to know where they’re going, even if it’s their first visit. Here are five ideas to take your property’s wayfinding to the next level. 
Integrate Themes
Enhance your property’s wayfinding signs and visual graphics using themes to differentiate various spaces. For example, eBay’s headquarters in San Jose, California has buildings that are named after categories of merchandise the company sells (Collectibles, Music, Toys, etc.). The rooms and offices of each building are named and decorated after specific products of that category. Themed wayfinding signage not only helps visitors easily find their way, but also boosts the company culture.  
3.30.16_wayfinding_blog_1
Photo credit: Wikimapia.org
Enhance Décor Elements
Wayfinding signs do not have to be boring. Beautify your space and point people in the right direction by adding unique designs to your wayfinding signs that complement your branding and interior decor. Create depth with directional signage using various textures and overlays. Use back-lit signs to brighten up the hallways. Incorporate identification signage with wall murals, door graphics and more. 
3.30.16_wayfinding_blog_2
Situate Building Maps In Useful Areas
Give visitors peace-of-mind by placing multiple maps and directories in convenient areas throughout the property such as the lobby, entryways, elevators and stairwells. If it’s a large campus with multiple buildings, place durable, exterior map signs along pathways to create a designated area that allows space for visitors to stop and find their bearings. Choose map designs that include clear labels, landmarks, nearby attractions and a “You are here” marker. Consider providing printed brochures of the map for visitors to take with them as they navigate throughout the property. 
3.30.16_wayfinding_blog_3
Think Outside-Of-The-Box
Make your wayfinding signs stand out using dimensional, arrow-shaped signs to help point the way, custom designs to complement your branding and unique shapes to reflect the surrounding architecture. 
3.30.16_wayfinding_blog_4
Go Digital  
There are various digital wayfinding solutions to take your property to the next level and create a unique visitor experience. Place an interactive touchscreen display that allows visitors to easily search for their destination and see how to get there. Integrate a digital signage directory that can be easily updated as needed. Use digital room identification solutions that indicate when a conference or meeting room is in-use or available. 
3.30.16_wayfinding_blog_5
Photo Credit: UniversityBusiness.com
Ready to enhance your property’s wayfinding signs? FASTSIGNS® is more than ready to help. Find a center near you.  
Resources:
Related articles:
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:





SPRING CLEANING YOUR 

VISUAL IDENTITY

 by 

Winter weather can be charming at first, but after months of cold temperatures, gray skies and poor traveling conditions, you’re ready for the refreshing arrival of spring. That’s not to mention the damaging effects a rough winter can have on retail stores or any business that relies on in-store sales. Not only does bad weather keep potential customers away, it also puts tremendous stress on the outdoor business signs that make up a part of your business identity. Water, dirt, and an onslaught of salt and other chemicals can cause outdoor signs to fade, crack or malfunction. Now that spring is here, it’s time to take stock of your outdoor signage and give your visual identity a round of spring cleaning.

Update Legal Signage

Take a close look at your legal signage to see if it has been damaged in any way. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all architectural signs satisfy a long list of guidelines and specifications. A rough winter can cause signs to be displaced or damaged beyond recognition. It’s important to fix or replace any damaged signs as soon as possible as a service to your customers and to avoid damage to your business’ reputation.

Upgrade to LED Signs

It isn’t the suddenly shining sun that’s making your outdoor signage seem dim. It’s the cumulative effects of quickly changing temperatures, power surges and possibly outdated sign technology. If your old business sign is changing colors or letters are going black, an LED sign is an option that is technologically reliable and attractive to the eye. Business signs for buildings should be bright, easy to read and efficient, making LED signage the optimal fit for new outdoor signs. 

Refresh, Refresh

Once your legal bases are covered and your primary outdoor signs are in good condition, it’s time to see where your complementary signage can be improved. Business signage for buildings isn’t just the large dimensional letters or flashy digital signs that feature the name of your business. Outdoor monument signs can give directions or inform customers of your hours and services. Now that the snow has melted, add some perennial flowers and welcome customers with a lively and colorful landscaping display.
If you want to add some personality to your visual identity, a scrolling digital sign offers an opportunity for customized content. High-resolution digital signs are great for displaying information, but clever messaging and engaging content can go a long way in showcasing the character of your business.
Consumers are ready to get out of the house after a long winter, and that means spring sales for most retailers. Update your storefront banners and displays to bring the optimistic message and fresh color that customers are craving.
Business is about to awake from its winter slumber, so be ready to capitalize with updated graphics, repaired signs and a fresh message to welcome the rush.

Resources

Related Articles

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

DANCE in FULL Swing in 2016! 

Breathe Deeply...
Pause Greatly...
Pray Furiously...
Celebrate Freely...
Evaluate Completely...
Plan & Implement Specifically...
Act Purposefully!  

I spent five days pushing myself through a 6-step process that my coach shared with me.  By day four I wanted to pull my hair out - BUT I continued anyway - and all I can say is, WOW!!  The end result -- EYE-OPENING! 

Here are the 6-Steps I used
to Create my Year of Endless Possibility....

1. Acknowledge what went well and what you accomplished in 2015? Spend LOTS of time here.  Make a list of at least 50.  We take so many things for granted.  Many times we look so far forward we don’t recognize how far we have come.

2. What things do you wish would have been better? List problems, failures. And what lessons did you learn from those situations?  (We only learn lessons during adversity.)

3. Make a list of the changes you are going to make in order to serve your business and serve your goals in 2016? 

4. How does implementation of each item on your list look specifically? Will you perform the task or will you delegate it?  What boundaries will be put in place to make sure you achieve your goals?  How clear is your communication around your boundaries? Will you set up accountability?

5. What is the level of commitment you want to put around your energy when working on your goals? What will your effort look like? Apply the 80/20 rule to your activities. 80% of your joy, business, financial return, etc (effects) come from 20% of your clients, efforts, etc. (causes). What will you include on your 20% list?

6.  What are your revelations?   You will surprise yourself!  There are no shortcuts to this process.  You must start with step #1 and work your way through.

I can't promise this process will be easy - but I can promise it will be rewarding!  I would love to hear how it works for you.

Jenn Wenzke
So Now Coaching

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)