Christmas lights and decorations are expected to be extraordinary for the holiday season! A family car ride to see Christmas lights is a safe holiday event that many people are excited about. Lights and Christmas signs will bring something magical to the end the year. Expect to see extra festive lights, displays, signs and lawn décor in your town!
There are many wonderful ways to decorate for the holidays, but we’ve narrowed our list down to our top 4 favorite themes. We have the signs and stencils to help you decorate with each of these themes!
1. Prepare for Santa’s Landing!
Whether we’ve been naughty or nice this year, we will all be expecting something extra special from Santa’s Workshop! Kids and adults alike are excited to bring Christmas magic to their homes and yards to make Santa and his reindeer feel welcome. Here’s how you can get ready for Santa’s visit to your neighborhood, yard and home:
Leave Santa Parking Room!
Lead the way to your home with festive street signs
Make sure neighbors know to drive carefully when flying reindeer are near
Mark Santa’s landing zone
Make sure there’s adequate parking for Santa’s sleigh
Make sure Santa knows which family and pets have been good or bad this year! Design your own yard sign.
2. Create Your Own Woodland Winter Theme
If you want to make your yard look like a festive winter wonderland, go for classic reindeer, woodland creatures, pine cones and other forest inspired décor. Whether you’re in a mild or snowy climate, you can turn to mother nature for all the best décor!
Image: diynetwork.com
Create your own rustic reindeer wooden signs with white paint and a stencil! You can make them of all sizes, and lean them next to your front door for a warm welcome
Create pine cone mulch to make a festive entry to your cozy home
Find unique, creative décor like this reindeer mobile to hang on your front porch or mark your yard with a Reindeer Lane street sign
Image: BobVila.com
Bring the outdoors inside and make your own pinecone garland!
Create your own picket-fence snowflakes, or rustic snowflake signs. Use store bought picket fence sections, or find natural elements from your own back yard to create a rustic version of this!
4. Celebrate Your Loved Ones with Personalized Yard Signs
Loved ones make the season bright! Celebrate your family with personalized Christmas yard signs! Add your favorite family photo and a message from you to everyone who passes by. Send well wishes and holiday happiness, or add a little holiday humor with this ugly Christmas sweater sign.
There are countless ways to celebrate and decorate! If you have unique ideas we’d love to see them. Tag us on Instagram @CustomSigns!
As many students head back to brick and mortar learning, schools are doing everything they can to enforce social distancing. From one-way entries and exits, and reminders on signs and decals, to designated COVID response teams, school districts and instructors are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of their students.
Many parents and educators fear the risk of depriving children of in-person instruction, as research shows that children experience learning loss, depression, anxiety and other symptoms as a result of lock down. Other educators and parents would rather continue distance learning to avoid the potential spread of coronavirus, and may have immunocompromised or elderly family members at home. There is no one size fits all answer to whether children should be back in the classroom.
Source: USA Today
While the debate continues across the US, some schools have taken an educational and lighthearted approach to social distancing. To combine the best of in-person learning AND COVID safety, a school in Ithaca, New York, for example, is using educational floor decals to keep kids at a safe distance.
Check out these creative floor decals being used by a school in Ithaca, New York:
There are many safety procedures being taken to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Schools are implementing safety procedures such as:
Designating small groups of students who stay together throughout the day
These designated groups take recess and eat lunch together
Avoiding communal gathering in large groups
Planning a hybrid approach to learning (groups of students take turns learning remotely when possible)
Arranging instructional spaces so that students have distance between one another, and from the teacher
There are also many ways to make COVID safety procedures educational, and helpful tips for teaching students of all ages about coronavirus. Whether you have chosen to send your kids back to school or you’re continuing distance learning, there are measures we can all take to stay safe.
If you have a creative idea, or a unique sign in your home, office, or school, share it with us at @customsignsco on Instagram!
UPDATE: Due to the continued outbreak of COVID-19, on July 23rd, Donald Trump and the Republican party cancelled the Jacksonville event. The Republican National Convention will instead take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, as originally planned.
With the 2020 presidential election racing ahead at full steam, there was a shake-up with the RNC. Originally scheduled to take place in Charlotte and due to disagreements between the White House and the North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the RNC Convention was moved to Jacksonville.
Here are a few notes to help you prepare for the event.
When is the Republican National Convention?
The GOP convention will take place from August 24-27.
Shifting on this short of a notice means the city has little time to prepare. Some pointed out how overwhelmed the city was for the 2005 Super Bowl. But, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Governor Ron DeSantis are confident the city will be ready. According to Politico, Curry stated, “…additional rooms had been added to the metropolitan area.”
Where is the Republican National Convention?
Celebrations, such as Donald Trump’s acceptance speech for receiving the nomination, for the RNC will be held at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina was the convention site. And, more of the “official” business will still be done there due to contractual obligations. But, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper insisted on maintaining social distancing guidelines, as recommended by health officials, for the rallies. To which Donald Trump refused to accept.
Many of Duval county’s voters are concerned about the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a survey conducted by Red America, Blue America, 61 percent of those surveyed are concerned the Republican Convention could cause a new outbreak of COVID-19 in the area.
Get Ready to Show Your Support
Do you want to show your support at home and at the convention?
CustomSigns.com is a Jacksonville-based company that has a variety of Republican Party merchandise. Save on your accessories when you use the coupon code: csign20.
Find signs, front license plates, buttons, and more. Display your allegiance with pride before, during, and after the 2020 Republican National Convention with CustomSigns.com.
What better time to update your business’s safety standards than the start of a new year?
2020 is here. When was the last time you audited your safety requirements? The importance of following OSHA regulations cannot be understated. So, as you move into the new year, ensure your workplace stays up-to-date on all safety standards.
To start, what is the number of people injured on the job?
Workplace Injury Statistics
As with most studies, the figures and statistics can vary.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that number to be even higher. According to the NSC, a workplace injury happens every seven seconds which approximates to 4.6 million injuries each year.
Here is an infographic from the NSC illustrating their findings:
Review your workplace. What can you update to improve safety within your organization?
A Year in Safety
The end of the year is a great time for you to reflect on your current safety standards.
What worked?
What didn’t work?
Are there gaps in your training?
Have there been OSHA updates that affect your business?
How much did your company pay out for safety violations or worker’s compensation?
Are your signs faded or broken and need replacing?
Gather as much information as you can and update your safety regulations. Work with your administrative level employees as well as the rest of your work force. Audit your high traffic areas and work zones to ensure compliance with national safety standards. Ensure your workplace follows fire safety procedures. Replace safety signs that may be difficult to read.
Check Your Equipment
Ensure your equipment is functioning properly. Much like how a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one, if your equipment or tools aren’t cared for, the likelihood of injury increases.
Relating to training, make sure everyone who operates required machinery or other tools understands how to use them safely. This could mean additional digital courses or in-person sessions teaching proper handling, operating, cleaning, storing, and maintenance. Any employee who uses your equipment should also follow established guidelines on general inspection before and after use. Encourage them to report any irregularities such as exposed wires, cracks, unusual sparks, or other malfunctions.
Aside from daily use inspections, you may need to follow regulations requiring professional equipment inspections depending on your business. These inspections may occur trimonthly, semi-annually, annually, or at a different interval. Be sure you know when your equipment needs to be inspected.
It seems obvious, but be sure to repair or replace and equipment that needs it. Your workplace and employees will stay safer if you do.
Is Your Workplace Fire Safe?
‘To hope for the best and prepare for the worst, is a trite but a good maxim.’
Fires can break out almost anywhere. While there are prevention measures you can take to lessen the chances, your organization should establish procedures to prevent injury and death.
Inspect your fire extinguishers. You should check on them monthly and have a fire equipment professional inspect them annually. Again, the end or start of the year is a great time to have this done. Furthermore, ensure your sprinkler system functions. Your automatic fire dousing system needs to work to prevent, or at least, delay a fire from spreading. Test your alarms to make sure their tones are loud and clear. Functioning alarms may be your first warning of a starting fire.
Clearly mark fire exits with eye-catching signage. Set safe meeting places to account for everyone. Label fire extinguishers for everyone to see. Ensure your employees know where all of these things are with proper training. These are all things you can do to reduce damages and keep your work force safe.
Refresh First Aid Supplies & Equipment
Every business should keep first aid supplies on-hand. You should inspect your kits at least annually, so the end of the year is the perfect time.
Make sure your equipment is still viable and all the necessary equipment is present. Bandages, antiseptics, gauze, and other medical supplies needed to treat minor injuries should be clean and stored.
If you operate a warehouse, factory, or other workshop, inspect your eye wash stations. Are they functional? Do they need cleaning? Are they easy to find and marked with appropriate signage? These are all important in keeping your employees safe in treating exposure to dust, debris, and hazardous chemicals.
Update Your Safety Signage
Once you’ve reviewed the areas in your business that need updates, make sure your safety signs are updated. We’ll go into the importance of understanding signs below, but know that your signs need to be visible at all times.
Are your signs dull, worn, or broken? Many businesses are required to post specific signage signifying hazardous areas. Maintaining your signs and replacing old ones keeps everyone aware of possible dangers and the proper methods of preventing injuries. Understand all required signage your business needs to post, audit your current signs, and update or replace them as needed.
Once you’ve reviewed or made updates, ensure your work force follows any new regulations with proper training.
Safety Training
Most workplace injuries are preventable. It is common to hear professionals claim that 99% of accidents are preventable. Some say there are no such things as “accidents” at all.
Depending on your market, a hazard-free workplace may not be achievable. Construction sites, road repair services, factories, and other fields are inherently dangerous. But, you can decrease the likelihood of injuries with proper employee training.
Is your training comprehensive and easy to understand?
Your safety regulations may be in-depth and fool-proof but that means nothing if your employees don’t understand or are unaware of your established standards.
Workplace safety starts with your employees.
Regular safety training ensures everyone understands new standards. Most fields must perform annual training at a minimum. But, frequent and effective training can decrease the chances of serious injury. A 2009 study found that effective training can reduce the number of days-away-from-work injuries.
Has your work site experienced a recent, serious injury? Review your current training programs and identify areas in which your process can be improved.
The new year also gives you an opportunity to look back at 2019 and find any gaps in your training programs.
Would an online, in-person, or on-the-job element help? Ask your long-time employees and new hires what their concerns are. They may give you new insight into misunderstandings around your training courses. They’ll also appreciate having their voice heard by management.
The Cost of Poor Training
Training employees can seem like a major expense, but it shouldn’t be overlooked or ignored. The cost of not including proper training for your workers can far outweigh the downsides.
Shift eLearning states that companies that put a focus on employee development can see an average of 24% more profit if they invest $1,500 into their training. Furthermore, investing in your employees means a more productive work force, less turnover, and a happier work environment.
If you don’t train your employees, your business could suffer more than lost profit. OSHA’s penalties for violating workplace safety regulations can start at $13,260 per violation. Your company may also be liable for workers compensation, medical bills, and legal payments depending on the severity of the incident.
Ensure your company doesn’t spend more money than it has to, with comprehensive training for all employees. Your business will benefit from it while avoiding violation fines and other unnecessary expenses.
Understanding Signage
Part of your training should include a section or sections on what safety signs mean.
There are many pictogram hazard symbols. If your company handles hazardous materials, your employees need to know what each symbol means.
Posting these signs serves as a reminder for your employees to follow safety protocols. However, if your employees don’t know what these signs mean, then they won’t help in your safety efforts.
Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain signage to properly advertise hazardous elements in your business. When ordering or designing your signage, you must follow the OSHA signage design guidelines.
Ensure your training program covers what signs your company uses and their meanings. Again, your business may follow all the design requirements and regulations, but it means nothing if your work force doesn’t know what they mean.
This all leads to how improper training can cost your business more money.
CustomSigns.com is your one-stop-shop for compliant safety signage. We are your experts on the professional signs you need for your business.
The holidays are here which means many Americans are taking to the roads for home. If you’re one of the thousands of travelers this season, following posted signs and other traffic control devices will mean a safer trip for you and other drivers and pedestrians.
Understanding the importance of traffic signs and their meaning keeps everyone safe. The holiday season is a busy time of year for travelers, so follow the warnings posted along the roads of the United States for your safety and the well-being of others.
If you’re a new driver, make sure you understand these and other signs. Your safety and the safety of others depends on all of us knowing traffic laws and following posted traffic control devices.
We’re going to break down the basics of sign designs in color and shape. These give an easy way to identify upcoming road hazards or changing conditions. At the end of this article, we’ll show you some uncommon or confusing signs you may come across.
But, before that, let’s see the design concepts behind these signs.
Regulatory Signs
As the title suggests, regulatory road signs regulate the flow of traffic. These signs direct motorists to specific actions such as yielding to other lanes or upcoming speed changes.
These types of signs are meant to be followed at all times. Some signs, as you’ll see later, are suggestions or call attention to attractions or rest areas. These are not considered regulatory signs. Whereas things like Yield Signs, Speed Limit Signs, or Construction Signs regulate and control the flow the traffic. So, these are regulatory signs.
With that in mind, you need to know what the colors of different signs mean.
Road Sign Color Meanings
We previously touched on how businesses use color to influence customers, but color also plays an important part in road safety. Colors quickly and easily convey vague messages to road users. The symbols assign the specific meaning, but color is usually the first thing drivers notice. While the full intent of a sign may not be immediately known, seeing the color provides drivers with initial information.
Understanding the general idea of road sign colors keeps you alert and cognizant of potentially changing road conditions.
White
White road signs have a wide variety of uses as they are primarily regulatory signs. Speed limit, lane restriction, and weight limit signs are all examples of white road signs.
Red
Red road signs are regulatory signs. They indicate prohibited actions or direct drivers towards certain actions such as stopping at an intersection or yielding to oncoming or highway traffic.
The best known type of red sign are Stop Signs. They’re bright, they’re noticeable, and they tell you what to do.
Yellow
Yellow signs issue a warning to road users. These may be the most common and numerous type of road safety sign. Warning road signs have a variety of uses and generally inform drivers of changes and disruptions to the flow of traffic or terrain such as potential wildlife or merging lanes.
Green
Green signs serve as guides. Guide signs tend to bear information such as street names, interstate on and off ramps, and distances to cities and towns.
Blue
Blue signs are not regulatory signs. However, they denote services for drivers such as gas stations, hospitals, and rest areas.
Since they aren’t regulatory, blue signs don’t control traffic in any way. They show you places to stop or other attractions, but you’re under no obligation to follow them.
Brown
Like blue signs, brown signs are not regulatory. They indicate guidance for road users towards recreational areas such as picnic areas, swimming locations, hiking trails, and many more.
Again, since brown signs aren’t regulatory, you don’t need to follow them.
Fluorescent Yellow-Green
These signs signify pedestrian crossing areas and school zones. It may be difficult to differentiate between this color and the yellow warning signs, and it is important to acknowledge the caution these signs offer for the safety of pedestrians and students.
Orange
Contrary to some beliefs, orange construction signs are not permanent. An orange sign means drivers need to know of temporary traffic control changes such as lanes closed for construction, slow traffic, and marking the beginning or end of road work zones.
Road Sign Shapes
The shape of a traffic sign works in tandem with its color in quickly imprinting and informing of a general warning or alert. Like color, since shape is an easy visual identifier, you can quickly interpret a traffic control sign’s general meaning by looking at its shape.
Diamond Shaped
Diamond signs mean some form of warning. They’re typically used in conjunction with the color yellow to better alert drivers.
Pentagon Shaped
These signs indicate a school zone or crosswalk. Many of these signs use the fluorescent yellow/green color for consistency.
Triangle Shaped
There are a couple meanings for triangle road signs.
Yield: Possibly the most common form of triangle sign, Yield signs alert drivers to slow down and yield to oncoming or ongoing traffic
No Passing Zone: These pennant-shaped signs inform drivers of a stretch of road where passing is not allowed and potentially hazardous such as around long turns or narrow lanes
Rectangular Shaped
Rectangular vertical and horizontal signs have a variety of uses, but there are some general meanings for each.
Vertical: Regulate driving behaviors such as indicating speed limits or informing of lane restrictions
Horizontal: Typically help in guiding drivers such as indicating a sharp turn, but horizontal signs have a variety of uses
Round/Circle Shaped
Circle road signs inform drivers of an upcoming railroad crossing.
Octagon Shaped
This may be the most easily recognizable. Octagon shaped signs are Stop signs.
Road Sign Symbols
While a sign’s color provides preliminary information, its symbol defines it. Many symbols and phrases adorn our streets, highways, and interstates, and understanding them ensures safe travels during the season. There are many different types of roads signs and they each carry their own meaning.
Most signs bear symbols in black or other contrasting color. This makes the sign easy to see and identify from further away. The typical colors for road sign symbols are white and black. They’re easy to see and contrast with most background colors.
Uncommon Sign Meanings
Knowing the colors and shapes of the variety of signs found along America’s highways and interstates allows you to quickly understand their general ideas. However, the symbols define the specific meanings.
As a reminder before your holiday travels, here are a few confusing or less-than-common signs to bear in mind:
This sign often gets confused with the similar Leaving Divider sign. The Divided Highway sign signifies an upcoming physical split in the road.
You should understand why this is important. If you don’t adhere to the warning of a Divided Highway sign, you could run into the median or off the road.
Merging Traffic
This sign alerts drivers that an upcoming ramp merges directly into the flow of traffic.
Staying aware of your place and the places of other drivers keeps everyone safe. You need to know that an on-ramp is coming up to keep an eye out for merging cars.
Added Lane
Contrasting with the Merging Traffic sign, an Added Lane sign informs drivers of a road or ramp adding another lane alongside and in the same direction as the current flow of traffic.
Similar to Merging Traffic signs, you need to know whether a ramp adds a new lane to the road or not. If it does, you’ll need to be aware of drivers staying in their lane. If not, you need to find a safe way to let other drivers into the flow of traffic.
Slippery When Wet
Relatively self-explanatory, a Slippery When Wet sign warns drivers to take caution of water on the road.
If you’re travelling through states or regions prone to snow for the holidays, you need to heed the warning this sign offers. Water always alters road conditions, but certain road types, such as bridges and overpasses, can become even more hazardous than standard asphalt.
Bridge Ices Before Road
Another example of weather warning, a Bridge Ices Before Road sign alerts motorists to watch for ice patches on the road.
The reason bridges ice over faster than roads is due to their construction. Roads built on the ground take longer to change in temperature because only one side is exposed to the air while bridges cool faster because of the colder air both above and below the structure.
Road Narrows
This sign means that the road itself narrows up ahead. Understanding this warning is important as a tighter lane space means less room for you and other drivers.
A narrowing road could mean dangerous conditions such as soft dirt to either side, a water feature such as a river, or tight and close rocky walls. Whatever the reason, you need to follow a Road Narrows sign to avoid a collision or falling off the motorway.
Two Way Traffic
These signs demonstrate a change from one way or split roads into a two-way highway or interstate.
If you’ve been traveling on a single-lane road, these signs alert you to on-coming traffic. This is important so you understand where the new bounds of your lane are.
“X” Crossing
There are many kinds of crossing signs and they vary from region to region. Many signs indicate wildlife crossing areas for animals such as bears, deer, or cattle. Additionally, there are signs warning of farm equipment or recreational vehicle crossing.
Regardless of the source, you must stay aware of animal and equipment crossing signs for your safety and other bystanders.
These signs warn of potential hazards. As a driver, you should already be aware of your surroundings. But, Animal or Equipment Crossing signs reinforce that behavior. An animal could dart out in front of your vehicle, but you might be able to avoid a collision if you stay vigilant in these sections of road.
Advisory Speed
Some stretches of road indicate a suggested speed. Such markers may be found along exit ramps or lanes, upcoming turns, or other potentially hazardous sections of road.
These signs are not regulatory speed limit signs. However, they indicate and suggest the maximum safest speed given usual road conditions. While these signs aren’t absolute, it is best to heed them.
Winding Road
This type of warning sign alerts drivers of an upcoming section of road that contains more frequent turns and curves. Advisory Speed signs may accompany these markers for added safety.
A multitude of signs line America’s highways and interstates. Understanding their meaning and heeding them ensures you, your family, and other drivers will arrive safely.
CustomSigns.com is your one-stop-shop for professional-grade signs. From safety signs to office signs to ADA compliant signs, we are the best online source for all of your signage needs.
The holiday rush is coming. People across the country will be shopping for the best deals on the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Your business needs to stand out to catch the eye of every potential customer, but how effective is your sale signage?
A bright, flashy sign may seem like a great idea, but what effect will it have? We addressed how to use psychology for your sale signage in a previous post, and we wanted to expand on the effect of the techniques addressed.
Signs Improve Sales
The purpose of your Black Friday sales is to move product, right? Proper labeling, even for items with unchanged prices, may improve your business’s numbers. Luckily, savvy marketers and researchers have already studied ways to capture sales.
Business Insider references an unpublished MIT study that separated products into three groups. The first was the control; unlabeled at regular price. The second group had their prices reduced by 12% without signage. And, the final group kept the normal price but marked with sale stickers.
The second group had an approximate increase of 17% in sales. But, the third labeled, unchanged-price group sold over 3% more compared to the control. This study’s conclusion demonstrates that sales improve by posting sale signs.¹
The end goal of your signage should be to influence a customer into committing to a sale.
Customer Influence
Attracting new customers should be an integral part of your Black Friday sales. Studies show that appealing signage is great at bringing in new business and securing sales.
According to a FedEx survey, 68% of people make a purchase because a sign grabbed their attention. Additionally, 76% of Americans visit a new store based on their signage.²
Color and your product’s appearance also plays a major role in securing sales.
Results of Implementing Colors
Reading how colors influence customers is a great first step towards improving your store’s signage. But, how effective is it? In a previous post, we addressed how color influences people.
To recap; people associate emotions and reactions depending on which colors they see. Reds invoke a faster heartrate, blues elicit a sense of trustworthiness, greens indicate health or prosperity, etc.
What does this mean for your sale signage? Well, as mentioned previously, a large majority of consumers make purchases because a sign caught their eye. Additionally, roughly 93% of people claim that the visual appearance of a product is the main reason for their purchase.³ Furthermore, a study from the SCMS Journal of Indian Management estimates that a customer’s willingness to read and selling potentialincreases by 80% when color is present.4
Prepare for Black Friday
To give your business the best chance at taking advantage of the busiest shopping day of the year, we’ve aggregated some Black Friday statistics and frequently asked questions. Understanding key aspects of Black Friday shoppers and numbers helps in your preparations.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is November 29, 2019
How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Black Friday?
Finder estimates that the average person will spend between roughly $252 and $626 depending on their age5
How Many People Shopped on Black Friday?
Over 34 million people shopped in stores in 20186
How Much Did People Spend on Black Friday 2018?
Over $717 billion total between in-store and online7
While there seems to be a downward trend for in-store shopping, ignoring the millions of brick-and-mortar shoppers is ill-advised. Your sale signage can play a major role in ensuring a successful Black Friday and holiday season.
With so many people shopping, both online and in-store, you need to prepare the best deals and signage to stay competitive and catch the eyes of any and all potential customers.
CustomSigns.com is the best online store for ordering high-quality, eye-catching sale signs and business banners. Customization is always free and most orders ship next business day. Attract new customers for Black Friday and special holiday sales with CustomSigns.com.
With winter fast approaching and your holiday sales starting soon, if they haven’t already, you may want to consider some of the psychology behind successful signage. How does color affect customers? What do numbers mean to consumers? These are questions to bear in mind when designing signage for your sales.
How Colors Affect Customers
Since signs are a visual form of advertising, colors play an integral role in the success of your sales. According to The Ultralinx, over 84% of people say that color is the main reason they buy something.¹ With this in mind, the color of your sale signage influences your customers decisions.
The Color Red
Generally, sale and clearance signs are in red, but why? A 2011 study found that grip strength and the velocity of the force increases when a person sees the color red.² The study concludes that red encourages a fast, physical reaction from individuals. Additionally, red conjures up feelings of urgency and can lead to an increased heart rate. With all these factors combined, red is the perfect color to entice shoppers into taking advantage of sales.
What About Other Colors?
Other colors evoke intrinsic reactions as well. Shades of blue instill a sense of trustworthiness and dependability, green hues show health and wealth, and yellows elicit positivity.³ Depending on your business, you may want to play with colors that are in-line with your brand and what you want to convey to your customers. While colors are the first thing consumers notice, what your signage says should further entice a sale.
The Numbers Matter
If you’re planning on adjusting prices for your holiday sales, you may want to consider the specific numbers used. Numbers play an important part in any marketing or advertising campaign, and your signage should reflect that value. Prices ending in 7, 8, or 99 indicate value according Mark Ellwood, who wrote “Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World.” Items priced with “.99” generally advertise special savings while “7” or “8” are usually used for clearance items.4 The psychology behind “.99” comes from the idea that consumers tend to round down these numbers. For example, an item priced at $4.99 is perceived as $4 rather than $5. This plays into how your customers perceive the sales you launch during the holidays. Are your sales meant to convey value or that you are attempting to clear out your stock?
Dollars Signs Are Discouraged
In addition to how your sale prices end, you may want to reconsider including the dollar sign on your signage. Cornell University researchers conducted an experiment with customers of St. Andrew’s Cafe. They made three menus to test which one led to increased sales. One menu listed items with the dollar sign ($), one with the word “dollar” spelled out, and one with nothing next to the prices.
The study found that customers spent more money when they ordered from menus without the “$” or word “dollar.”5 The researchers concluded that the symbol or word solidified the idea that customers would be spending money whereas leaving them out meant the numbers were less concrete in the minds of the consumers.
Suggest Bulk Offers
Offering bulk discounts or sales touting savings for purchasing multiples of the same product is a tried-and-true marketing tactic. Buy one, get one has been around for decades, but advertising bigger can entice consumers to buy even more. John Gourville of Harvard Business School states “many people buy the amount, or buy in increments….”6Consumers perceive an inherent value when a greater number of goods is suggested for the same proportionate deal. Including this method on your holiday signage can help increase sales and move more merchandise.
CustomSigns.com is your one-stop-shop destination for all your business signage needs. From sale banners to hours of operation signs, you can find and customize the signage your business needs to succeed.
Home fires are an unpredictable tragedy that can be difficult to recover from. While people are capable of finding their way to safety, pets follow their instincts, which means there is more risk in protecting them during emergencies. There are special considerations you should take to give your pets the best chance of survival in the case of a fire.
Animal Instincts
As humans, we understand that we need to escape a burning building. However, our pets often revert to their instincts during stressful situations. Many animals will go into familiar hiding places thinking they are safe. They may become agitated or aggressive, making it more difficult to remove them from a fire. Understanding your pet’s behaviors will give you a better chance of saving them during an emergency.
Pet Alert Stickers
Stickers or signs that alert to the presence of animals in your home may help keep them safe. Pet alert stickers are placed on windows or doors to alert firefighters and rescue workers that your household has animals inside.
Do They Work?
There is some question as to whether pet alert stickers and signs actually help keep our animals safe. The question “How do firefighters feel about those ‘Please save our pet(s)’ stickers” on Quora.¹ Most of the responses indicate that firefighters generally ignore these signs. According to the answers, there is no way of knowing if the pet, or pets, are still alive, if the animals are even present, or if the stickers were put in place by a previous occupant. Structural damage caused by a fire makes prolonged searching dangerous, so firefighters don’t seem to put special consideration into pet alert stickers.
However, firefighters generally conduct searches during a fire, if the circumstances allow. Additionally, there are a few responses on Quora from some firefighters stating they appreciate knowing that pets may be present. Ensure that your stickers are updated to reflect the current occupants.
Pet Safety Tips
What can be done to keep our pets safe during a fire? There are a number of precautions you can do in order to prepare for the worst.
1. Note Hiding Places
If your pets hide during thunderstorms or when fireworks are set off near your home, you should take note of their preferred spaces. Animals may tuck themselves under beds, under tables, in closets, or other confined spaces in order to feel safe. During a fire, your pets may hide themselves in one of their favorite spots in an attempt to escape the danger. Knowing where your pets could be can help you and rescue workers retrieve them in time.
2. Keep Kennels Close to Entrances
Many people keep their pets in kennels or crates during the day for various reasons. The locations of where these are kept vary according to house or apartment layout. However, if possible, place kennels, crates, and other animal carriers near entrances or exits while you’re away from home. This makes finding your pets much easier for firefighters and first responders.
3. Post Pet Alert Stickers
While pet alerts may or may not be heeded depending on the level of danger, it is still important to alert firefighters to the presence of your animals. An updated sticker detailing the number of animals in your household can help rescue workers in their search.
4. Train When Possible
It is also easier for first responders to locate your pets if you train them to respond to particular commands. You or emergency personnel, if given the command word or phrase, will then be able to call your pets during the search or out of the burning building.
The right to vote is an integral element to the United States electoral system. With the 2020 Presidential election rapidly approaching, it is imperative to follow along if you plan on participating. Throughout the next year, there will be many important dates and events to remember in order for you to exercise your right to vote. Passionate support for a candidate is well and good, but making an informed decision on who you vote for is important on guiding the direction of your town, county, state, and country.
We have aggregated major 2020 campaign dates to ensure that you to stay updated during the election season.
2019 Dates
While the elections aren’t until November 2020, the campaign trail starts in 2019. The Democratic Party held six debates over the course of 2019. They have planned for four more for the first part of 2020.
At the time of writing this post, the Republican Party has not scheduled any debates.
2019 Democratic Debate Schedule
June 26-27
Candidates addressed a variety of topics and their involvement from Medicare for All, environmental dangers, and geopolitical issues. NBC hosted the debates on their networks.¹
Watch the full debates on NBC’s YouTube channel here and here.
July 30-31
Candidates addressed healthcare and immigration primarily. CNN hosted the debates.²
Full transcripts of the debates can be found on NBC’s site here and here.
September 12
Candidates primarily debated over healthcare. However, they also touched on foreign relations and pulling forces out of Afghanistan. ABC and Univision aired the most recent Democratic debate.4
The 12 qualifying candidates discussed a wide range of topics including the impeachment inquiry, foreign policy, and job loss due to automation. CNN and The New York Times hosted the debate.5
The fifth 2019 Democratic Debate was held on November 20th and hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post.6 Candidates addressed racial inequality, Medicare, and housing.
You can watch the debate on MSNBC or read the transcript on NBC News.
December 19
The sixth 2019 Democratic Debate was held December 19th. PBS NewsHour and Politico hosted the event.7 Candidates addressed the on-going impeachment process, changes in trade, healthcare, and foreign policy.
Most of the election cycle will take place over the course of 2020. From February until November, candidates will campaign across the country in bids to gain traction over their opponents.
2020 Democratic Debate Schedule
January 14
The seventh Democratic candidate debate was hosted by CNN and The Des Moines Register. Participants discussed foreign trade and relations as well as healthcare, prescription drug prices, impeachment, and climate change.8
Watch the full debate on CNN or read the transcript on Rev.com.
February 7
Healthcare was a major topic for the candidates. But, they also addressed their electability and foreign and domestic policies.
Hosted by ABC, WMUR-TV, and Apple News. You can watch the full debate on the ABC News YouTube channel.9
February 19
As with most of the previous debates, the discussed topics varied. But, common topics included climate change, electability, and domestic policy. This was the first debate Michael Bloomberg participated in.
The seven candidates discussed much of the same topics including electability and domestic and foreign policies. Hosted by CBS News and The Congressional Black Caucus Initiative.
Watch the debate on the CBS New YouTube channel or read the full transcript here.11
March 15
Only two candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, qualified for this debate. Both candidates discussed the coronavirus pandemic, our healthcare system, and the economy.
Once the Democratics decides who will represent the party, most of the 2020 race will consist of the states holding primaries or caucuses.
Primary or Caucus?
What is the difference between primaries and caucuses? The difference between the two can be confusing as they accomplish the same goal; they determine which candidates will run for the presidency.
Caucuses are localized meetings where registered voters gather to elect delegates who will attend conventions to elect political candidates. Typically, attendees may only attend caucuses that are held by their registered party.
Primaries are statewide voting processes that allow voters to directly choose their preferred candidate. Registered voters submit secret ballots for their chosen candidate which are then tallied. There are two types of primary; Open Primaries and Closed Primaries. In an open primary, an individual may cast a vote for any valid candidate no matter their registered party, and in a closed primary, votes may only be submitted for candidates within an individual’s party.³
Primary & Caucus Dates
The primaries and caucuses held across the country are scheduled ahead of time for voters to prepare and educate themselves on the potential candidates.
Some states pushed their primary dates back due to public health concerns.
Click here for a full list of primary and caucus dates by state and territory.
Party Conventions
Once the primaries and caucuses have ended, the Democratic and Republican parties will hold conventions. These conventions are held to announce the official presidential candidates from each party. The nominations will be announced here and the last few months of campaigning will begin.
The Democratic National Convention was pushed back from July to August.
Convention Dates:
Democratic National Convention: August 17-20, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Republican National Convention: August 24-27, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Voting Reminders
Election day is November 3rd, 2020. In order for you to exercise your right to vote, you will need to register. Each state has its own laws concerning registration deadlines, so be sure you check to see if you are registered or how to register with a site like Vote.org.
Also check to see if your state has early voting procedures or vote by mail options. Military service members and spouses have the option to participate in absentee voting if they are stationed away from their residence.
Find out where your closest polling station is and make sure it is within your precinct, and help others find your station with directional yard signs. You will be assigned a polling station based on your address, so you will need to go there in order to cast your ballot. If you go to a different station, you will not be listed and not allowed to vote.
Inauguration Day
Inauguration day for the 2020 elections is January 20, 2021. This will mark the start of the new or continued administration based on the results from the election.
Loitering is not easy to define or to control. It is important to understand what constitutes loitering and how you can prevent it from leading to criminal activity on your property. You have likely seen no loitering signs posted in store windows, but what exactly is loitering? The definition of loitering is likely to change due to social distancing mandates during and after coronavirus quarantine.
What is loitering?
To loiter, or prowl, means to remain idle in a public place for a protracted time without any apparent purpose. The legal definition of loitering can vary by state, and can also include wearing masks or disguises in public. The essence of loitering is that an individual is engaged in suspicious behavior that causes justifiable concern that a crime will be committed against a person or property.¹
Examples of loitering
Loitering ordinances and statutes enable law enforcement to cut down on crimes such as prostitution, solicitation, panhandling, begging, drug dealing and other illegal acts. Standing outside of a business for a prolonged period of time is not in itself a punishable crime in most places, but is often known to be associated with illegal acts. However, if a business has a visible no loitering sign posted, police can take action against loiterers without other cause.²
Loitering laws give police the right to disperse suspicious or potentially dangerous crowds. The enforcement of loitering ordinances has been met with much controversy over the years.
Is loitering a felony?
Loitering is a subjective offense. In some places, loitering is a crime in and of itself. In other places, police must observe criminal behavior before they can confront a suspected person.
Loitering is most commonly a city or town ordinance, not state law.
Why is loitering an issue?
Loitering is a vague and subjective act and is difficult to punish. Business owners, schools, public spaces and venues often post no loitering signs to help prevent loitering that can lead to criminal behavior. If a person or group of people stands outside of a convenience store late at night, for a prolonged period, they may be suspected of selling drugs, begging, panhandling and more. If not dispersed, loiterers can also grow to become a disorderly or violent crowd.
Moreover, loiterers can deter other customers. When stagnant individuals or large crowds convene around a store entrance, for example, they can make incoming customers feel unsafe. In this case, the store owner may contact police to have the loiterers removed. A business owner, and the police, have grounds to disperse loiterers when there is a visible no loitering sign posted.
How can loitering be prevented/avoided?
There are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the chance of loitering on your public property.
1. Install a security camera and post a surveillance sign.
When people see that your building is under surveillance, they’re much less likely to stick around unnecessarily.
2. Perform regular maintenance and upkeep to your building, parking lot and entrance.
A well maintained commercial property helps deter loiterers. Unruly crowds, graffiti artists, skateboarders, drug dealers and other individuals are likely to avoid well maintained areas due to the heightened chance of police presence. Keep your parking lot free of trash, broken glass and debris. Provide adequate lighting at night and ensure all signage is in maintained and working order.
3. Provide trash and recycling receptacles inside and outside your building
Give people adequate opportunity to properly dispose of waste. This will help cut down on litter, and will let passersby know your business is under watch. There are many recycling signs to choose from that will help reduce litter and support your effort to go green.
4. Remove graffiti and vandalism quickly
If graffiti is painted on your building or in your parking lot, remove it within 24 hours if possible. Walk your business grounds daily to ensure signs, light fixtures and windows are secure and not broken. A well-maintained building lets people know you keep an eye on your property and that police will be contacted in the case of trespassing, loitering or vandalism.
5. Deter overnight loitering by eliminating potential sleeping areas
Unfortunately, transient individuals have no place to call home. They may resort to sleeping on commercial property, and if you’re concerned with overnight loitering on your business grounds, you’ll want to reduce potential sleeping areas. You can do this by locking public restrooms at night, planting thorny bushes, installing dividers or arm rests on benches or by installing gates that are locked after hours.
6. Play loud music or distracting sounds
There are also more unconventional but effective ways to reduce loitering. Many store owners have used music or annoying sounds to disperse crowds. A 7-Eleven owner in Modesto, California, for example, started blasting classical music and operas outside of his store.³
Loud music makes it harder for people to stand around, gossip and cause trouble. Annoying buzzing or screeching sounds can also be used. Store owners can turn these on and off as needed, which reduces the danger of them asking loiterers to leave their property.4
Order No Loitering Signs and Other Property Signs Online
First and foremost, to let customers and passersby know that the shop owner does not condone loitering, vandalism or trespassing, signs must be posted. A posted sign provides the initial warning that certain acts will not be tolerated, and gives the business owner grounds to call law enforcement if a person or group of people refuses to leave the property.
CustomSigns.com offers hundreds of templates that can be ordered as is, or customized to your needs. Shop all property signs here.
