Urban Image Group http://www.urbanimageinc.com visual solutions Thu, 10 May 2012 23:43:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Sweeping Changes to BC Hydro’s PowerSmart Program http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/04/03/sweeping-changes-to-bc-hydros-powersmart-program-old/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/04/03/sweeping-changes-to-bc-hydros-powersmart-program-old/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:21:58 +0000 admin http://www.urbanimageinc.com/?p=605 BC Hydro has once again just announced to electrical contractors that they work with, that major changes to the Product Incentive Program are coming. This announcement follows the January 12th change in the incentive amounts in certain categories, where incentives were reduced up to 35%.
This latest round of changes is far more all-encompassing and we believe will have a profound effect on the amount of businesses that move forwards with energy efficient lighting changes.

The majority of the lighting categories have had the available incentive reduced by 50%, while several others have been reduced by 75% and one category in particular, disappeared altogether.

While 1-888-burnt-out? has been an avid and faithful supporter of the PowerSmart program , this latest round of incentive changes has left us scratching our heads.

As an example, in December if you were to have switched out a 75W PAR 38 halogen bulb for a 15W LED bulb, the incentive amount from BC Hydro was $49.50, when coupled with the LiveSmart bonus. The new LED bulb would cost somewhere between $50.00 and $75.00 depending on the quality.

After January 12th, the incentive was decreased to $33.00, including the Livesmart bonus. Under the latest round of changes the incentive is now $8.80, a decrease of approximately 83% since January 11th. Basically all screw in LED lamps follow this same formula, with the majority of the other changes being in the 50% decrease range.

The incentive for converting fluorescent refrigerator lighting to LED has also now been completely eliminated for small business. If you’re one of the big chains they will still pay you to change over though.

It is our opinion that this latest round of cuts will essentially curtail the desire for energy wise moves to be made by small and medium businesses in BC and the PowerSmart program will lose its effectiveness. Ultimately electrical contractors and distributors are the sales force for PowerSmart, and I would guess that interest has diminished substantially based on the latest changes. Due to the low cost of energy in BC (among the lowest in North America by a longshot), the only way that making the transition to energy efficient lighting inside your premises makes financial sense, was to have sizeable incentives in place through BC Hydro, to subsidize the cost.

However, if you are thinking of taking the steps to switch to LED lighting, you still have 6 weeks to get it all installed and all of the paperwork submitted. One piece of advice though…don’t wait much longer as it does take time.

]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/04/03/sweeping-changes-to-bc-hydros-powersmart-program-old/feed/ 0 An Iconic Brand is Given New Life http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/an-iconic-brand-is-given-new-life/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/an-iconic-brand-is-given-new-life/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:42:08 +0000 admin http://www.urbanimageinc.com/?p=576 Do you remember sitting in a Mr Mikes restaurant years ago, eating one of those incredible classic cheeseburgers? The one on the toastedFrench bread with that great tasting sauce dripping out of it! Well you can still get one of those as well a whole menu full of great steaks and the like, all in a casual yet modern setting.

1-888-burnt-out? and its sister company, Urban Image Inc. have been involved over the past few months in working with the company that owns the Mr Mikes brand (RAMMP Hospitality Brands Inc.) to develop a completely new and revitalized image for the exterior of the Mr Mikes experience.

The end result is nothing short of stunning with all of the signage components coming together to provide a clean, crisp image for the new look storefront. The first location to receive this new look was Prince George BC which was just completed last week and opens to the public on March 27th.

All signage including the illuminated roofline highlights, are illuminated by powerful, long life LED modules. The entire signage program, signs on all 4 elevations as well as the roofline trim on 4 elevations, only draws 21 amps. This means that this entire sign program is powered by one 30 amp circuit…the energy savings will be incredible when compared to conventional illuminated signs or neon. In addition there will be little or no sign service or repairs required for years to come!

The vision for the design of the background for the sign displays was to have rustic look, using wide format reclaimed planks. However the maintenance required to keep these looking fresh was going to become an issue. We were able to recreate the look and feel of the wood planks by way of digitally printing the image onto a conformable vinyl substrate which was then wrapped around a 2” deep aluminum cabinet to represent the depth of the planks. A matte film was then applied to ensure protection from the damage caused by UV rays.

]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/an-iconic-brand-is-given-new-life/feed/ 0 Things That Make You Go…HMMM? http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/579/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/579/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:45:21 +0000 admin http://www.urbanimageinc.com/?p=579 Things That Make You Go…HMMM?

Well, I’ve been in the sign industry for over 30 years now and thought that I had seen it all.

1888burntout.comI’ve been involved in signs that have been installed practically every place that you can think of. I’ve installed neon signs in windows, channel letter signs at the top of 40 storey towers, freestanding signs in waterlogged swamps, LED signs in cramped spaces where we had to use our most diminutive technicians…you get the idea.

Well today we installed what I would call a first…upscale signs in 2 washrooms. Now these aren’t plastic signs that tell you to wash your hands or not throw certain items in the toilet mind you. These are pieces of jewellery…clear anodized aluminum signs with push thru ½ acrylic letters.

And the copy is so fine in detail that we couldn’t use conventional routing  / cutting equipment but rather ended up having to use water jet technology to cut the aluminum and the acrylic. These signs hang in between 2 panes of glass, one being translucent to prevent total viewing of the washroom and its subject, and they are internally illuminated with white LED modules.

To top it off, they are located directly in front of you (4’ away) when sitting on the throne!! What a view…we think this is a trend that should catch on!!

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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/579/feed/ 0 Convert Your Existing Sign display to LED http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/convert-your-existing-sign-display-to-led/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/convert-your-existing-sign-display-to-led/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:24:42 +0000 admin http://www.urbanimageinc.com/?p=599 Convert Your Existing Sign display to LED

That illuminated sign on the front of your business is a HUGE energy guzzler and now there are economical options to reduce your business costs and carbon footprint, all in one move.

Whether your sign is illuminated by neon or by fluorescent lamps, the cost of energy consumption can be reduced by almost 70% and future maintenance costs by 100%.

The cost of sign repairs can become substantial as most of you sign owners likely know, especially if your business sign is aging. The cost to have someone come out and troubleshoot, or just to simply replace fluorescent lamps or ballasts can easily be in the hundreds of dollars per visit.

1-888-burnt-out? has a number of potential remedies available to ensure that your sign display is always putting your name out in the best light. Using only top quality LED products, we are able to remove the existing T-12 high output fluorescent lamps, or neon, from your display and install new energy efficient LED modules. Beware though of inexpensive offshore products that are currently appearing in the market place, as the end result will most likely be inadequate illumination and more headaches down the road when the life of these product falls well short of the promises made.

An 8’ high output fluorescent lamp costs approximately $48.00 per year to illuminate, based on an average of 12 hours per day of operation. The equivalent amount of LED modules required to provide the same light output, cost approximately $15.00 per year to illuminate, a reduction of 69% in energy costs. When you consider that your storefront sign contains many of these lamps, the savings add up very quickly.

In addition, your maintenance costs will be virtually zero for the next 10 years or more. Saving you hundreds of, if not more, dollars per year. And you don’t have to spend your time dealing with the service issues but rather can focus on your business.

The BC Hydro Power Smart Product Incentive Program provides some substantial financial incentives for you to make this move. Depending on the size of your sign, the incentives can cover up to 70% of the costs to complete the retrofit, making the payback far under one year. For the cost of one simple service call, your business can have peace of mind, a fully functioning sign at all times, as well as greatly reduced business costs!!

 

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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2012/03/27/convert-your-existing-sign-display-to-led/feed/ 0 Urban Image – Electronic, Illuminated, Neon Signs & More http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/10/urban-image-electronic-illuminated-neon-signs-and-more/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/10/urban-image-electronic-illuminated-neon-signs-and-more/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:50:41 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimagegrp.com/site/?p=1

Urban Image is a Vancouver sign company specializing in the design and installation of indoor and outdoor sign displays. With over 30 years of experience, Urban Image can design and install an on premise sign system to truly represent your brand

Neon signs Biilboards / Electronic Signs LED Signs Pylon Signs Routed Signs Wayfinding Signs Backlit Signs Sign Design Interior Signs Architectural Signs Monument Signs Channel Letters
Urban Image specializes in LED full color electronic signs, large scale illuminated sign displays and complete interior and exterior sign programs. We will design and deliver a custom sign system that will enhance your brand, transform your premises, and target specific client groups to increase your revenue base.

 

 

 

 

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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/10/urban-image-electronic-illuminated-neon-signs-and-more/feed/ 0 Extra! Extra! Read All About Us! http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/09/extra-extra-read-all-about-us/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/09/extra-extra-read-all-about-us/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:31:38 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimageinc.com/?p=488 Bouncing back – starting again with a new niche

Chris Jordon was forced to rethink his career, and came up with a new way to take on his former industry

VANCOUVER – When circumstance forced Chris Jordon to reinvent his career after 25 years, he turned his industry upside down and sideways to find a new niche.

“I did a short management contract with another business, but I don’t work well for others,” Jordon said. “I didn’t have the funds or wherewithal in me to start a big outdoor sign manufacturing company again. That’s when I stood back and said ‘Let’s re-evaluate the industry. What’s missing here?’”

Chris Jordan and employee Korbin Payer, back. Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost,

Chris Jordan and employee Korbin Payer, back. Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost

For a couple of years, life had pretty much whacked Jordon over the head. An overextended expansion spearheaded by financial partners led to crisis and his leaving his own, once nationally successful, company. Then a non-compete clause froze him out of the sign industry until he challenged it in court and won. Jordon’s eureka moment came one morning at a fast-food restaurant.

“I’m sitting there eating my egg muffin and looking at this guy’s armpit hair dangling over the breakfast trays as he changed the light on the menu boards,” Jordon said. “On top of that, he was tying up 50 per cent of the cash stations at the counter at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning.”

Jordon reasoned that most large sign manufacturers are uninterested in servicing signs for $300 when they’re selling signs for $20,000 to $300,000. He believes most sign service is offered by former manufacturing company employees who “don’t really know how to sell because they are more technical or blue collar,” he said.

“There really is no one out there who has defined a brand in the service side of the industry,” Jordon said. “We’re in the branding industry business and everybody runs around in blue jeans, long hair and bad B.O.”

So Jordon conceived of 1-888-Burnt-Out, a sign service company whose technicians show up in uniform, and at times convenient to business even if that means starting work at 2: 30 a.m.

Jordon wrote up a business plan and took it to a former client, Al Arbuthnot of the Arbuthnot Group of pubs and liquor businesses, for advice. “Generally he thought it was a pretty good idea,” Jordon said.

“He’d had some trouble getting service before. Someone shows up three to four weeks later if you’re lucky.”

Arbuthnot liked the straightup simplicity of the business model. “This is all hard costs,” Arbuthnot said. “The truck is so much, service is so much an hour, that’s how much the bill is going to be. You can establish your margins. It’s a very fragmented market. It’s something that’s easy. There’s so many people out there that have signs and half the people don’t know who to call.”

Arbuthnot introduced Jordon to his accountant and, months later, offered to invest.

“Six months later, [Arbuthnot] became my business partner and now the accountant wants to invest in the company. I must be on the right track,” Jordon said happily.

In business for 35 years, Arbuthnot is sanguine about life’s ups and downs. “Chris is somebody I’ve known for a long time from a business standpoint,” he said. “Lots of times you invest in a person as much as you invest in anything else.

“I believed in Chris. He has had some setbacks over the years that aren’t 100 per cent his fault. You take your losses, step back, regroup, downsize to whatever and start over.”

Jordon says his average repair bill for a sign is $500 to $600. His target is the small business owner, “the one-offs that no one really seems to care about,” he said. While restaurant and gas station chains mean large contracts, the profit margin comes down, so while he won’t turn down big jobs, he’s targeting smaller owners.

“We send people around at night with cameras,” Jordon said. “We take small geographic areas -a three or four block area -and get a picture of every business and every sign. In the morning, we go out and make sales calls. ‘This is what your business looks like at night.’

“Some people really don’t care. Some are alarmed. A lot of them don’t have any idea their signs aren’t functioning properly and some lights are out.”

“If your sign has one letter burnt out, fix it, because it’s like having one wheel out of alignment in your car,” he said. “If one letter’s out, all the other transformers are taking the load. I can guarantee it’s going to get worse and the bill will be two to three times bigger than it is today.”

The Canadian sign industry, including manufacturing and service, is worth about $600 million and unlikely to grow much, Jordon said. The top two per cent are major players such as the Pattison Sign Group, but technological advances have allowed many small entrants to the market in the past 10 to 15 years. After two years of planning, 1-888-Burnt-Out has been operational since late November, has six employees, two service vans and two more on order. “I’m back at it again and I’m having fun,” Jordon said. “If I’d tried to do something the first six months, it wouldn’t have worked. My head wasn’t there. Now I feel energized.

“It’s a whole lot easier dealing with five or six employees rather than 70.”

jennylee@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2011/02/09/extra-extra-read-all-about-us/feed/ 0 Window Dressing http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/14/window-dressing/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/14/window-dressing/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:50:40 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimagegrp.com/?p=307 It’s not just Window Dressing!

Click here to to download our PDF Handout “Its Not Just Window Dressing!”

Urban Image Signs- Vancouver Sign Company

Download Window Dressing

Business owners often spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on various media, including yellow pages, local newspaper advertisements and various outdoor mediums such as transit shelters, bus wrap advertisements and billboards.

What is often overlooked is the opportunity that exists readily at hand…the storefront of the premise where the business is located. The windows of your storefront are a ‘billboard’ for your use and one that is located right in front of your most immediate client prospects.

A lot of business owners state that the windows are their opportunity for potential customers to look inside the business or to use as a display area. While this is true, the reality is that a lot of times glare off of the window prohibits effective viewing or the store itself is set so far behind the glass that visibility is not well defined.

The solution to this? At Urban Image Group we work with you to develop your own advertising campaign that is digitally printed onto perforated vinyl and then installed directly onto the windows. The perforated material allows staff and customers inside the store to still see outside but from the outside of the store the material transforms your storefront via high resolution graphics.

The campaign could include product photos, lifestyle types of advertising or anything else that our imaginations can come up with. We encourage you to let us have some fun with your brand, think outside the box a bit, and to have you work with us to create a campaign that will have people talking and bring attention to your business.

Display-Window Esprit Kiss
Image by frankdasilva via Flickr
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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/14/window-dressing/feed/ 0 Does Your Sign Really Tell The Story? http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/09/does-your-sign-really-tell-the-story/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/09/does-your-sign-really-tell-the-story/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:41:47 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimagegrp.com/site/?p=72 Download the PDF Handout Here

Download Does Your Sign Really Tell the Story?

Download PDF

One of the most important points to consider when putting together your business strategy is to ensure that your signage tells the true story of what is taking place inside your business!

Too often a business owner, whether it be a restaurant, retail store or other venture, will spend countless hours and dollars, making sure that every possible detail is perfect within the walls of the business enterprise. In many of these cases the signage is left out of the equation and while there is a prosperous, efficient business running inside, the signage tells another story.

In our photo gallery, are photos of two establishments, Illuminate Restorante and Drink Urban Lounge, which highlight how the exterior of your business should give passersby a strong indication of the experience that they can expect when they walk through your doors. Both of these businesses provide a high end experience, and the design and materials chosen to be used in their signage displays reflect this. The choice of materials (in these cases copper sheet was used extensively) and colors play an important role in this process.

All too often a business owner arrives through the back door early in the day and is the last one to leave through that same back door at night. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer and go out front and take a walk or a drive past your business and ask yourself the question; Does my sign tell the story? You might be surprised!

Questions to Ask Yourself:

  • Have traffic patterns changed in front of my business since my sign was erected?
  • Has my business itself changed since the sign was installed? Is my message the same as it was then?
  • Has my client profile changed since the sign was installed?
  • Does my sign really tell the story?
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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/09/does-your-sign-really-tell-the-story/feed/ 0 Economics of Buying a New Sign http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/01/economics-of-buying-a-new-sign/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/01/economics-of-buying-a-new-sign/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:13:20 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimagegrp.com/site/?p=94 Pictures are worth a thousand words – you know that.
The same holds true for an outdoor sign. Not only is your outdoor sign effective in bringing you additional foot traffic, it is one of the most cost-effective methods of advertising a business.
Let us take an example to illustrate how effective and inexpensive an outdoor sign can be:
Cost of outdoor sign: $25,000
Life of outdoor sign: 8 years
Floating population walking and automobiles driving past your shop: 20,000/day 

Maintenance: $100/month (maximum, including electricity)

Dissecting the information above, we can figure out that the capital cost of the sign per month will be $260.40 ($25,000 divided by 96 months). Add to this the monthly maintenance cost of $100, so that makes the cost $360.40 per month.

Now look at what a measly expense of $360.40/month is actually giving you:

You are reaching 600,000 (20,000 per day) people monthly – remember this figure excludes the passengers sitting in a car. Your cost of reaching 600,000 people monthly is just a super-economical HALF-A-CENT PER PERSON ($360.40 divided by 600,000).

  1. Ask yourself this question: Can you use any other media to such advantage? Can you ever imagine that you can reach 600,000 people using any other media by spending $360.40? You know the answers. The lower the cost of getting a customer, the higher will be the profit margins: This is an age-old economic adage.
  2. Your outdoor sign will stay put for years, developing goodwill for your business. And you don’t have to spend a dollar more than the cost you have already incurred and budgeted!
  3. For $360.40 a month, your outdoor sign will interact with passers-by, inform them that your business exists, shake hands with them and request them to come inside and have a look at your merchandise. This can result in impulsive sales.

Well, the cost–benefit ratio of an outdoor sign will always work in your favor if you plan right and take care to see that your outdoor sign is appealing, visible and strikes the right chord with the passers-by.

Of course, it goes without saying that a poorly designed outdoor sign with badly written copy on it will, in fact, put off customers. Also a great outdoor sign that is not visible will work to your disadvantage. Therefore, it makes sense to talk to a professional and seek his advice before you plan your outdoor sign.

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]]> http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/01/economics-of-buying-a-new-sign/feed/ 0 On Premise LED Video Displays http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/01/on-premise-led-video-displays/ http://www.urbanimageinc.com/2009/09/01/on-premise-led-video-displays/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:12:52 +0000 Chris Jordon http://www.urbanimagegrp.com/site/?p=93 Similar to the way television had revolutionized advertising, outdoor LED Video Displays are changing the way small businesses promote their business. Outdoor LED Video Displays speak to your most important customers directly and accurately. And because it appears at your store front, interested audiences can instantly take you up on your offer. As the saying goes, the three most important factors in business are location, location, and location. The outdoor LED Video Display lets you take advantage of that.      Read More

Outdoor LED Video Displays are especially advantageous for businesses located in good areas because it enhances the competitive edge of the establishment. More than just reaching out to existing customers, putting up LED signs can increase your traffic count as well. This is because the number of impulse buyers you generate can be quite significant. All the factors stated above will add up to an improved bottom line and more profits for your business.

Why Outdoor LED Video Displays are better than Traditional Advertising Mediums?

Traditional advertisement including television, radio, and print may reach a wider audience, but how many percentage of them will actually get off their couch to visit your store? Aside from this, traditional advertising tend to be very expensive and is an unpractical method for small and medium scale business owners. But outdoor LED Video Displays are right on target.

LED is increasingly becoming popular because it is a customizable and flexible advertising medium.

It is a highly targeted way to increase brand awareness to local audiences. Take note that for retail chains, mom-and-pop shops, restaurants and lounges, the majority of their customers are local residents who patronize the establishment on a regular basis. This is where the majority of the profits come from. Small businesses can maximize their potential by using outdoor LED Video Displays to inform loyal customers about any special sales, discounts, or events in the establishment.

Why Are Outdoor LED Signs Better Than Billboards?

If you have the budget, would it be a good idea to look into billboards and other forms of signage? A couple of decades ago, billboards were touted as the next big thing, and they were. But that time has now passed and outdoor LED Video Displays are taking center stage. It is highly beneficial tool because it is cost-effective and customizable. Unlike outdoor billboard signs that need to be taken out whenever a certain promotion is finished, LED displays can constantly be reprogrammed. Installation and removal costs will be eliminated.

The kind of flexibility that outdoor LED displays provide is also very environment-friendly. In an era where problems about global warming, pollution, and climate change abound, this is an important consideration. Small businesses can do their part in preserving the environment. Instead of using wasteful, static materials for billboards, they can take advantage of a more attractive and environment-friendly advertising medium. LED displays are also very energy efficient and the life expectancy of the light sources versus mediums illuminated by fluorescent or incandescent lamps is have been extended significantly, in some cases up to ten times.

It is not surprising that various local businesses are now using outdoor LED displays. The benefits they provide are unsurpassed by any other advertising medium. Its longevity, quality, and value for money make it the best choice in today’s tough economic times, when almost every business is running on a tight budget.

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