TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month’s SBI Trivia Question Stumper:
What is the only neighborhood with a zoning ordinance requiring tenants to display bright, illuminated signs?
For the answer, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.
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Industry News
[[HOT TOPIC]] Monster Media Rolls Out First Large-Size, Multi-Touch Display
Monster Media’s (www.monstermedia.net) new eight-foot tall, twelve-foot wide, multi-touch display recently took off at Seattle Airport (Sea-Tac). The first of its kind, the display links nine LCD screens together for a massive, interactive experience.
For the Sea-Tac installation, Monster Media joined forces with Outdoor Advertising Group (OAG) and Creature to present an entertaining advertising platform for Microsoft Hotmail. The companies decided to use poetry. “We knew that since this was the first time that we were going to be debuting such a great project we needed to have something that everyone would get instantly, but more importantly, allow multiple people to interact at once,” says Chris Beauchamp, CEO of Monster Media. “We like to refer to it as ‘advertainment’—giving them something to do, tell them a story about a brand, but do it in a fun and exciting way that they don’t even realize it.”
The new display allows users to access a word bank to create poems. Thanks to the multi-touch technology, multiple users are able to interact with the display at once. “A lot of people use the word multi-touch, but what they’re actually referring to is dual touch, which means one person, two fingers,” says Beauchamp. “In this particular instance, this is a true multi-touch, which means multiple people, multiple fingers, all on the same display. So if you have 30 people and they could all fit their hands on it, they could all interact with it.”
Rather than using an IR, capacitive, or other commonly used platform to run the multi-touch technology, Monster Media uses a proprietary product.
The company also used its own LCD screens and installed the display. “We build and install every system that goes out onto the marketplace,” says Beauchamp. It took Monster Media three days to complete the installation, starting with a day for prep work. “Then our installation was done over a one-night period, and then we typically stick around for another day just to make sure everything’s working properly because if there’s ever any issues with these screens, it’s typically within the first forty-eight hours.”
It took about three months of planning, gathering permits, etc. before installation could begin in Sea-Tac. The company installed the display just past security in the Central Terminal. “Everyone’s been ecstatic,” says Beauchamp. “The airport loves it, the client loves it, the passengers love it. This has really been a homerun from the perspective of bringing exciting technology to an airport where people sometimes have some time to waste as they’re standing around waiting for a flight.”
Monster Media plans to roll out additional displays at some of the largest airports across the country, including Los Angels International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Dunkin’ Donuts Brews Up a Billboard in Times Square
Times Square is home to new ads by Dunkin’ Donuts. The popular coffee and baked goods stop launched their campaign with a teaser ad on the billboard at the top of One Times Square. The ad read only www.missionfresh.com with no brand identification or imagery. Viewers were invited to visit the site and submit a guess as to what company was behind the billboard. One winner will be randomly selected from those who submitted guesses to win a trip to a New York City theater for two.
After the teaser campaign, Dunkin’ Donuts unveiled the real ad—a mural on the world’s widest piece of canvas featuring a Dunkin’ Donut’s cup in front of a skyline. The mural is inspired by the urban art of New York City, and it features a combination of old school and new school street art techniques. Renowned street artist Robb Buono was brought in to complete the mural, along with his team, which includes Tazroc, UrbanMedium, and Steven Lopez.
The team had only 72 hours to complete the largest street art mural ever hung in Times Square. The team used a paste-up and stenciled in the Dunkin’ Donuts cup, painted the skyline behind the cup freehand, and used over 250 cans of spray paint to complete the job. Bucket trucks were used to access the out-of-reach areas. “It’s got to be simple, right to the point, and direct. So I think the coffee cup’s probably the—or at least that silhouette—most recognizable icon there is,” says UrbanMedium in a video.
The fact that the mural is painted will also help the branding get attention in Times Square’s sea of signage. “I think it’s really going to stand out,” says UrbanMedium. “In Times Square you’re used to seeing a lot of video and a lot of things moving.”
No matter what, in an area where signs receive 1.5 million impressions a day, the Dunkin Donuts billboard is sure to receive a lot of attention. “The unveiling of our Times Square billboard gives the brand incredible visibility in one of the most recognizable locations in the world,” says John Costello, chief global customer and marketing officer at Dunkin’ Brands. “Using this prominent space to create one of the world's largest pieces of street art is yet one more way Dunkin’ Donuts stands out from other brands."
Helios Provides an Augmented Reality for “Best Buy Live” Tour
Helios Interactive Technologies (www.heliosinteractive.com) provided 3D augmented reality technology for the multi-city 2010 “Best Buy Live” tour, which includes an interactive instant-win game. The tour will be shadowing the NASCAR circuit, as well as fairs, festivals, and other community events. The tour and display are aimed at introducing consumers to the retailer’s latest products and services.
To create the augmented reality experience, Helios worked with the D’Fusion¨ software platform from Total Immersion (www.t-immersion.com). When a visitor approaches the display, they are given a free card. When the card is held in front of the screen, an image of the Best Buy Racing Team’s #43 car appears along with the logos of Best Buy and its associated brands. Users can move and spin the 3D image to get a 360-degree view.
By interacting with the display, users also have the chance to win a Best Buy $10 giftcard—which makes this the first augmented reality installation ever to be used in a sweepstakes. “The Best Buy Live sweepstakes takes user participation to a new level by using augmented reality to engage participants in an interactive experience,” said Paul Zindrick, senior event manager, Best Buy.
The tour will run into the fall and will stop at cities across the country. “At Helios, our mission is to engage, surprise and delight consumers with displays that offer a true two-way experience, and get participants more deeply involved brands,” said Mike Schaiman, Helios Managing Partner and co-founder. “We worked hand-in-hand with Best Buy to create a customized interactive display that adds a new element of fun to the sweepstakes, and provides users with an exciting and memorable experience.”
3M Offers Training Services for Vehicle Wrap and Graphic Installation
Vehicle Wraps are a booming part of the sign industry, and it’s more important than ever for installers to have the proper training. 3M Graphics has the industry covered with a variety of training options.
3M Graphics Installer Programs
This program is aimed at teaching participants how to install vehicle and boat graphics, as well as other key applications. Companies can be recognized by 3M through the 3M Certified Graphics Installation Company Program, and individual installers can be recognized through the 3M Preferred Graphics Installer Program. 3M also offers the option to promote installer services. For more information, visit www.3Mgraphics.com/installationprograms.
Installation Training
Together with expert providers, 3M offers professional graphics training to help enhance the skills of professional installers. Several training programs are available, as well as a video library full of installer training videos. To view the videos and see a list of training dates and availability, browse www.3Mgraphics.com/installationtraining.
Graphic Manufacturing
For those interested in designing or graphic manufacturing, 3M offers a nationwide network of graphics distributors to assist with acquiring the equipment and materials needed to enter the world of large format graphic manufacturing for wraps and other applications. Some of the 3M training options also teach design, printing, and finishing skills. For more details, visit www.3MGraphics.com/installationtraining.
WANTED: European Distributors for the Gerber M Turbo
Gerber Scientific Products is looking for European partners for the sale of its new high-powered M Turbo Finishing System.
The M Turbo is a flatbed cutter and router that integrates with leading printers and has a 1 kw router that allows for high-speed, print-to-cut finishing. The machine can rout aluminum up to .080 and acrylic and wood up to 3/4-inch at speeds four times faster than the standard M 3000 Router.
With over 300 machines already installed worldwide, the market potential for the M Turbo is substantial, and Gerber is looking for partners to bring strength, flexibility, and customer benefits to the table and increase Gerber’s market share in the European finishing market.
“The Gerber M is an extremely well built, mature, reliable and versatile cutting machine that allowed us instantly to compete with the best players on the market,” says Christian Salhofer, President of TMT Digital and Gerber’s strategic partner. “It provided us access to a new customer base asking for a higher productivity in their printing and cutting process.”
For more information, call 800-222-7446 or visit www.gspinc.com/mseries.
Sign Contests
1. You’ll “Flip” Over This CondŽ Contest!
CondŽ Systems announces its “SubliSandals Design Contest.” SubliSandals have experienced great success as a new product in the dye-sublimation transfer industry, and to celebrate this success, CondŽ is hosting a contest in which their clients are invited to submit flip-flop designs for consideration. Contestants can submit as many designs as they can create, and all entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and marketability.
Prizes for the top three winners include:
First Prize: 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi ($499 retail value)
Second Prize: $200 CondŽ account credit
Third Prize: $100 CondŽ account credit
All entries must be received no later than June 30, 2010. For contest rules and more information, log on to www.conde.com.
2. Win the Title of SGIA Product of the Year!
SGIA is now accepting entries for its Product of the Year Competition, which recognizes digital equipment and supplies in the specialty imaging marketplace.
Entrants must be SGIA members and products must be currently available in the 2010 market. Each entry will be judged based on its perceived value to the digital imaging community by a group of experts and industry leaders. Awards will be given in five major categories:
• Media for Digital Inkjet (six sub-categories)
• Inks
• Business or Other Workflow Software
• Finishing (three sub-categories)
• Output Devices
Manufacturers can submit entries up until September 24, 2010. Winners will be showcased in the Golden Image Gallery at the 2010 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas from October 13-15. For additional details and to enter, visit www.SGIA.org, keyword: ProductoftheYear.
3. Show Off Your Design Skills with the USSC’s Sign Design Contest
Have you created a sign or wrap recently that has an eye-catching or unique design? Then enter it in the United States Sign Council’s 2010 Sign Design Competition! Sign designs will be judged in a total of thirteen categories, which include original logo design; sign systems, ground or building; digitally printed signs, banners, or murals; vehicles, applied vinyl graphics or vinyl wraps; and hand carved signs, ground or building.
Only signs or graphics designed by USSC members companies or employees of member companies are eligible to enter. In addition, all submissions must have been installed within the last five years. Judging will be based on overall appearance, effectiveness, and originality.
All winners will be honored at the Annual USSC Membership meeting on December 4, 2010 in Atlantic City, NJ. Winners will receive a distinctive award plaque and will be featured in the 2011 USSC Calendar. The “Best of Show,” chosen from the individual winners by the judges, will be featured on the calendar’s cover.
All entries must be received by July 30, 2010, and should be mailed to:
United States Sign Council
Sign Design Competiton
211 Radcliffe Street
Bristol, PA 19007-5017
For complete contest rules and information and an official entry form, call 215-785-1922 or email ussc@ussc.org.
Sign Contest Winners
1. “Why I Use Roland Inks” Contest Winners Announced!
Why do Roland customers love Roland inks? This question was answered thanks to Roland DGA Corporation’s “Why I Use Roland Inks” YouTube Video Contest.
Three winners were chosen from a variety of entries. The grand prize of a year’s worth of Roland’s inks, valued at $5000, went to Steve Coy of Wynalda Litho in Belmont, Michigan. Coy’s video featured members of his entire family, and it was voted most compelling by Roland’s creative team.
“We are excited to win the grand prize,” says Coy. “We use our VersaUV to produce prototypes and comps on just about any material you can imagine. The quality of Roland inks is exceptional. We can produce a very opaque white, which is important when printing on foils. The clear coat is a huge plus, too, allowing us to show our customers very realistic comps.”
The first place award for most viewed video went to Kimberly Korb of Wrap City Graphics in Hopkins, Minnesota. Rich Voss of Sign Pro in Owatonna, Minnesota won honorable mention. Both winners received $1000 in Roland media.
“Congratulations to our contest winners and to everyone who participated,” says Rick Scrimger, vice president and general manager for Roland DGA Corp. “Each video illustrates the outstanding performance of Roland inks and displays the loyalty and passion we find from Roland customers everywhere.”
To view all of the entries, visit www.rolanddga.com/gallery/contests/inkcontest.
2. 2010 SEGD Design Award Winners
The 2010 SEGD Design Awards Program honored the best in environmental graphics and recognized 43 winning projects. There was a trend this year toward interactive and technology-based designs. “Environmental graphics is migrating closer and closer to interaction design in its need to engage users and solicit their responses,” says Henry Beer, co-founder of CommArts in Boulder, Colorado and chair of the 2010 Design Awards jury. “There’s no question the two are heading for convergence as technology allows it and the demographics of designers and users change.”
The jury narrowed down the winners from a pool of 430 entries, which is a record for the design awards program. International entries were also at their highest and made up 27 percent of the total entries. Ten Honor awards, 22 Merit awards, six Jury awards, and five projects cited for Doing a Lot with a Little were recognized at a June 3 luncheon during SEGD’s 2010 Conference + Expo, held June 2-5 in Washington, D.C.
Here is a sampling of the winners:
2010 SEGD Honor Awards
• California Academy of Sciences Exhibits (San Francisco) by Volume Inc. and Cinnabar Inc.
• Green Community (Washington, DC) by Matter Architecture Practice and MGMT. design
2010 SEGD Merit Awards
• American Eagle Outfitters Flagship Spectacular (New York) by The Barnycz Group
• Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill (Sydney) by Holy Cow! Design & Advertising
For more details and a complete list of winners, visit www.segd.org/design-awards/index.html.
New Appointments
Affinity Express, Inc. has hired David Kang as executive vice president, chief digital officer. Kang will be responsible for establishing an interactive business segment and expanding the company’s array of digital services. Previously, Kang worked for TrueAction, Beyond Interactive, and McCann Erickson Relationship Marketing. He also founded a full-service interactive agency, deepFry, LLC.
Sign Faces, LLC (faces) has acquired the assets of The Channel Letter Company, Inc. (TCLC). TCLC staff has now joined faces, and in addition to plastic sign faces, custom sign cabinets, and architectural signage, faces will now sell channel letters, as well.
SloanLED Europe b.v. has hired Serge Verhoeven as customer support engineer. Verhoeven brings nearly nineteen years of experience working for various service companies to the position.
Teckwin International has hired Ryan Buy as director of Channel Sales. He will be responsible for direct and indirect Sales Channels for North and South America. Buy previously worked with SA International and Nur, and he brings thirteen years of experience in sales, marketing, and business development to the position.
Meetings and Events
JUNE
June 24: The International Sign Association’s annual Supplier/Distribution Conference will occur at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester, Ohio. To learn more, browse www.signs.org/SDC.
JULY
July 14-18: The Mid South Sign Association (MSSA) announces that its MSSA Convention & Tradeshow will take place at the Marriott Shoals Hotel in Florence, Alabama. For further information, log on to www.midsouthsignassociation.org.
July 27-31: The United Franchise Group, which includes Sign-A-Rama, will hold its World Expo 2010 at the World Center Resort in Orlando, Florida. To register, visit www.urgworldexpo.com.
Sponsored Links
Radocy Inc --
For over 50 years, Radocy Inc has been a sign industry source for telescopic cranes that are user friendly, cost effective and dependable. www.radocy.com
This Month's Trivia Answer:
Times Square in New York City is the only neighborhood where tenants must display brightly lit signs.
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For in-depth coverage of these topics and other
sign industry topics, check out
www.signshop.com
ATTENTION SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the July 2010 Readership Survey issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Awnings Installation
Banner Fabrics
CNC Router Projects
Franchise Management
LED Power Supplies
On-Site Service Equipment
Vehicle Graphics Design
Video Displays Installation
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the August 2010 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Special Expanded Section: ADA/Wayfinding Installation
Digital Printing Outdoor
Electric Codes
Monuments Installation
Neon Lighting
Contact your ad sales representative to reserve your space today.
As the premier e-newsletter for the sign industry, SBI Update encourages readers to send feedback on what you like, what you'd like to see, and any other comments you might have. To do so, send an e-mail to Associate Editor Ashley Bray at abray@sbpub.com.
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© 2010 Simmons-Boardman Publishing
345 Hudson St., 12th Floor • New York, NY 10014
212-620-7200
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LED Lighting for the Largest Channel Letters New Tetra¨ PowerMAX from GE combines bright white light output with unparalleled uniformity across the sign face. Money saving features include: superior surface area coverage that enables using fewer strokes of LEDs per sign, simple 2-wire installation, long life, greater energy efficiency and remarkable performance for the largest channel letters. Lumination.com
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LexJet SIMPLE Adhesive Vinyls Simple Does It! For great-looking graphics you can post anywhere, trust LexJet to deliver just what you need! LexJet Simple adhesive vinyls provide the consistency, opacity, and easy handling qualities that make it a breeze to create sharp, vibrant brand graphics for walls, windows, taxi tops, carpets, floors, vehicles, and signs. Don’t have everything you need for a multi-graphic job? Call a LexJet account specialist at 1-800-453-9538 for personalized technical support and delivery from one of LexJet’s 29 shipping locations. Or visit: LexJet
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Stimpson Self-Piercing Grommets and Washers Stimpson Self-Piercing Grommets, when set with their matching washers, pierce and set in a single action without the need for a pre-punched hole. Stimpson Self-Piercing Grommets and Washers are available in brass and can be furnished with a nickel or dull black chemical finish. They can be set with Stimpsons No Hole Needed tooling or with the existing self-piercing tooling widely available in the marketplace. Stimpson Grommets and Washers are unmatched for quality and supported by on-time delivery and attractive pricing. Please call one of our Customer Service Representatives at 877-765-0748. Stimpson
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Green your ADA signage with NEW NovAcryl GR from Nova Polymers Nova Polymers offers its new NovAcryl¨ GR photopolymer sign material for high-resolution raised graphics and ADA-compliant room identification signage. The result of a partnership with 3form¨, the material is environmentally and user friendly. The material is processed in plain tap water and bonds to 3form’s Clear Ecoresin panels, which are non-toxic, Greenguard Certified, and have up to 40% recycled content. For more information call 888/484-6682 or visit: Nova Polymers
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New Slim-line LED illuminated Campus Maps are Bright and Easy to Read Howard Industries is pleased to offer a new series of LED illuminated signs ideal for campus maps. These signs feature slim-line four-inch deep cabinets with heavy gauge aluminum frames, low voltage LED Illumination, and long life eco-friendly solvent inkjet printed graphics. The super bright LED’s boast a 50,000-hour light source life, low energy consumption and reduced maintenance costs. Signs can carry two sides of copy, have radius or peak-top frames, custom shape headers and offer several post styles. All aluminum components are from 75% recycled material. Learn more. Contact Howard Industries at (800)458-0591, sales@howardindustries.com, or: www.howardindustries.com.
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Going Green? Go LED Power! Class 2 / UL 879 SAM / UL 8750 (LED Power Source) Mean Well’s 3,000 Power Supply models have been serving worldwide customers, since 1982. If you are thinking green, Mean Well’s LED Power Supplies have 9 series with dozens of models, which will provide the best power solutions for your needs. Mean Well
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Buyer's Guide 2009
Published twice per year in October and April, the Buyer's Guide lists manufacturers, distributors, and sign companies that comprise the industry in the U.S. and Canada. SBI Buyer's Guide
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Goes Digital With live hyperlinks to video clips, advertiser information, and other features, SBI Digital offers the newest online technology with the familiar layout of a hardcopy issue. To view an example, click on:
SBI Digital Magazine
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Sign Builder Illustrated:
The How-To Book Vol. 1 Learn secrets to fabricating neon, illuminating with LED, sandblasting signs, applying paints, cutting and printing vinyl, and more in this 288-page, full-color reprinting of Sign Builder Illustrated's trademark How-To articles. To visit the How-to Book Web site, click on: SBI How-To Book
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Sign Builder Illustrated presents:
It's a Wrap! Check out this special SBI supplement for all the information you need to get started, get good, and get profitable in the world of vehicle graphics. From wrap schools and required tools, to marketing your skills and paying the bills, this How-to supplement has it all. Check out the digital version here:
It's a Wrap!
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Dunkin' Donuts Ad