Month: June 2024

The 2020/21 financial year was an incredibly busy time for CV, with the business forced to rapidly adjust its operational procedures in order to comply with the COVID-19 induced restrictions. With CV’s factory operating on all cylinders to deal with a rapidly increasing client list, the company recognised the importance of some making necessary upgrades in order to cope with previously unforeseen circumstances. This saw CV recently complete the installation of a brand-new Powder Coat booth and process within its Hendra facility. This machine will be used to deliver durable, high-quality finishes that can last over 20 years in the right conditions.

While a tremendous amount of time and capital was used to purchase this equipment, CV are confident that in the long term, the business will receive a positive ROI. This is because its ultimate purpose will be to streamline Hendra’s entire operations. In the past the business has had to outsource powder coating jobs to outside suppliers, and as a result of this, did not have complete control over its operations. With the business looking to maximise functionality, CV decided that it was appropriate to begin undertaking the powder coating process in-house. By installing this booth, the company will gain more operational control, and will therefore continue to deliver products of the highest calibre.

While this equipment will be essential in helping the business maximise efficiency, the benefits do not end there. Crucially, this new Powder Coating process will allow CV to generate additional value for future clients. With the booth being of very high quality, upcoming customers will now have a much larger range of paint finishes to choose from. Additionally, as a demonstration of our confidence, CV is offering extended warranties on all powder coated finishes.

Furthermore, this device will go a long way in ensuring that CV continues to lessen its environmental footprint – powder coatings contain no solvents and release almost no volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.

Though CV have only had the Powder Booth for less than one month, this piece of equipment is already becoming an essential part of the Hendra facility, with our team already wondering how they ever coped without it. The business is hopeful that the addition of this booth and process will not only streamline CV’s operations, but also create value for future clients, offer extended warranties, and assist the company in becoming greener.

Signage is a vital necessity for any modern business – when used correctly, it becomes an exceptionally effective advertising medium, conveying your brand’s essence to consumers. Research indicates that nearly 76% of consumers have been drawn into stores solely due to the prominence of a strong signage solution. 

However, many Australian businesses are still not fully aware that, in many instances, a proactive approach to installing signs without the correct approvals may mean you are infringing on local regulations, potentially leading to fines and or forcible removal of your signage.

While the benefits stemming from business signage are well-documented, navigating the pathway to obtaining the legally correct advertising sign and associated permits can often be shrouded in confusion. 

So if you are wondering how to get a signage permit, this article is for you. It will outline the fundamental steps for successfully securing a signage permit, aligning your signs with the prescribed local council and building regulations.

Legality of your Proposed Sign

First and foremost, it is important to ascertain the legality of your proposed business signage. While the intricate framework of signage laws may slightly vary from state to state, the foundational principles are generally uncomplicated and accessible to all.

It is highly recommended to refer to your local council’s website, which often will provide you with comprehensive insights into prohibited advertising devices within the designated residential zones and commercial areas.

Unsure of which local council you need to consult? Click your state below and search your address to find the correct council.

• VIC
• NSW
• QLD
• WA
• NT
• SA
• TAS

Land Zoning – the Sign Permit Loophole?

The next pivotal hurdle revolves around land use and zoning regulations. Should the prospective advertising sign find its home upon land that you personally own, typically (not always), the stringent requirement of permit approval can be mitigated.

Similarly, if your business operates within a leased property, you may also avoid the need for council permits – provided that your lease agreement explicitly sanctions the installation of advertising signs for the duration of your occupancy.

If you are unsure about whether or not your proposed signage on private land needs a permit, always consult with a council planning officer or the council by-laws before proceeding.

However, if the intended business signage occupies a location not bound by ownership or lease, procuring the consent of the landowner is paramount. In scenarios where the land is unallocated or state-owned, securing a permit from the local council is necessary. 

In cases where a permit is required, you will be asked to create a location plan for the council demonstrating property boundaries, building footprints, existing signage, and most importantly, your proposed advertising devices.

Whilst this process sounds relatively straightforward, it is important to remember that in order to get approval, your proposed sign must meet the council’s eligibility requirements. These can differ from state-to-state, but the majority of councils will agree that advertisements signs must:

 

Be appropriately sized

Achieve a harmonious blend by ensuring your signage is proportionate and well-integrated with its surroundings. Local council guidelines often stress visual harmony within the environment and for the best chance of approval, make sure you ensure that your signs do not boast an unreasonably dominant presence.

 

Be structurally sound

Ensure your sign is built to last and poses no threat to public safety. It must stand strong against environmental factors, meeting local building regulations.

 

Not impede or distract vehicular or pedestrian traffic

Position your sign thoughtfully to avoid obstructing or distracting pedestrians or vehicles, contributing to a smooth flow of traffic.

While specifics can differ from region to region, adhering to these standards is key to gaining approval for your business signage. Assuming that your advertising device meets the relevant regulatory criteria, you will then be required to purchase a permit in order to begin installation.

Navigating the Application Process with Ease

To simplify your journey, enlist the expertise of CV Media & Signage. Our seasoned team specialises in all things signage related (including managing the council application process on your behalf). We have completed thousands of applications before and with in-depth knowledge of regulations across the country, we ensure a seamless planning and development experience. By choosing us, you’ll enjoy:

• Professionally prepared applications
• Comprehensive compilation of necessary documents, including plans and images
• Efficient application submission and adept communication with the local council
• Skillful negotiation with planning officers

For those interested, add your details in the form below and a CV representative will get back to you, with a no-obligation quote.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

 

Remember: Council Guidelines Vary

Keep in mind that different local councils may have varying eligibility requirements for business signage. While this guide offers a comprehensive overview of obtaining a planning permit for your advertising sign, personalised insights can be gained through direct communication with a dedicated CV representative.

By embracing captivating business signage, you enhance your brand’s allure and capture the attention of your target audience – get in touch today!

A wayfinding strategy can be defined as an integrated set of visual cues that aim to help people navigate their way through a specific venue or facility. While wayfinding signs are often directional by nature, their effectiveness can actually extend far beyond helping people get from point A to point B – from increasing sales to driving brand awareness, here are three reasons why your business should be implementing a wayfinding system.

Create sales opportunities

Ever wondered about the psychology behind IKEA’s layout? While their stores have been the subject of many urban myths, many people still subscribe to the idea that IKEA outlets are designed in a way that will make people get lost. While this theory isn’t completely accurate, IKEA’s actual strategy is just as interesting. Essentially, the Swedish giant utilises a complex in-store wayfinding strategy which encourages consumers to take a clockwise adventure throughout the whole store, and therefore view almost every product in the process. Predictably, this encourages impulse buying and results in a large number of people leaving the store having made a purchase that they didn’t intend to make.

It is important to note that IKEA does not force consumers to tour the whole store. While there are shortcuts available, the business banks on the knowledge that humans generally employ a herd mentality and will more often than not, just go with the flow. In essence, IKEA aim to exploit the flawed nature of humans. IKEA’s incredibly unique case is proof that a well thought out wayfinding strategy can be used as a means to drive sales.

Boost brand awareness and exposure

While wayfinding signage does serve a functional purpose, that isn’t to say that it can’t also add value to your brand. In this day and age many companies use wayfinding systems as a means of demonstrating personality, often through the use of infographics, fun messages, or even storytelling. By adding these extra elements to an otherwise purely functional piece of signage, brands have been able to build exposure, and differentiate themselves from competition.

While wayfinding systems may not be the most thrilling element of branding, they continue to be an effective tool that many businesses use to pursue target markets and build relationships with customers.

Promotes convenience and enhances simplicity

While convenience was once a shopping luxury, consumers now demand it as a necessity. With more people continuing to chase a wild, fast-paced lifestyle, it is unsurprising that 83% of consumers agree that convenience is more important now than it was five years ago. This statistic suggests that the modern business should be placing a big emphasis on creating a customer journey that is both frictionless and simplistic.

At its core, an effective wayfinding system can help decongest high traffic areas, and in turn, ensure that a business is able to consistently function at an efficient level. From the perspective of a consumer, this translates to a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience.

The bottom line

It is important to remember that the main purpose of a wayfinding system should always be to help people get to where they want to be. With this being said, the effectiveness of wayfinding systems can extend far beyond the functional purpose that they serve – as detailed in this article, modern wayfinding systems have the capability to drive sales, boost brand awareness, and promote a simplistic consumer experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ASGA & FESPA Australian National Awards for Excellence is a premier biennial event that aims to recognise and reward excellence within the signage industry. Having come off a highly productive two-year period, it is unsurprising that the CV Media & Signage team received four separate accolades on the night of the presentation.

Digital Media (LED & LCD)

To commemorate the brains behind AOSCo’s Mt Gravatt based digital billboard, CV Media & Signage were awarded bronze for the Digital Media accolade. CV have continued to work with the company since this project, adding four more high-quality displays to AOSCo’s fleet since the company’s inception in 2018. With these strategically placed attention-grabbing billboards facing both inbound and outbound traffic, AOSCo can now promise fantastic exposure for its clients.

Printed Fabrics and Textiles

Due to our high-quality innovations in Rebel’s ‘Home of Football’ area, CV was awarded gold for the Printed Fabrics and Textiles award. Located in Doncaster, this concept store aims to provide consumers with an immersive highly tangible experience using jaw-dropping signage and a multitude of touch points. While the entire store is exceptionally impressive, it is the ‘Home of Football’ wall that appears to garner the most attention.

This vibrant feature wall is 5.5m x 7.7m and primarily consists of illuminated fabric boxes. With the vast majority of this fabric being suspended across the ceiling, consumers are able to feel a real sense of immersion when they walk into the designated area.

Traditional signcraft skills

CV’s print solution in Woolworths’ Burwood Brickworks store was celebrated as the nation’s best representation of traditional signcraft skill. With the Burwood outlet focusing on sustainability, it is unsurprising that the client requested a static solution that encompassed the natural looking rustic marketplace feel.

The highlight of this project encompassed the delivery of a 17m x 3.9m mural at the store’s check-outs. Crucially, in order to maximise quality, CV sent two of its most skilled workers to hand paint every element, with the pair working on the mural for a total of 10 days.

Young Star Award (Adam Watts Bronze)

To celebrate the substantial role that he played in the production of AOSCo’s 7x12m billboard, Adam Watts took home the Young Star Award. CV feel as though this accolade is nothing but deserved – Adam has demonstrated an outstanding work ethic from his first day at the company, and continuously goes above and beyond to help out his colleagues.

CV Media & Signage’s diverse range of accolades are a demonstration of the business’s ability to consistently deliver a wide range of signage at an impressive standard. If your business is interested in expanding its signage offerings, do not hesitate to get in touch with CV.

Digital printing is a contemporary method of production that creates print from electronic files. In recent times, this new-age process has taken the printing industry by storm with its many advantages allowing businesses of all shapes to benefit from the technology. With this in mind, here are 5 reasons why digital print solutions should be incorporated into your marketing strategy.

Widespread suitability

Well before the turn of the millennium, digital print evolved from traditional screen printing and began to stamp its authority on the retail sector. At the time, digital print was all but exclusive to brick & mortar stores with physical businesses utilising using these solutions as simple yet effective branding tools. While print is still predominantly utilised by retailers, times have changed, and these solutions are now used by companies in virtually every industry.

Durability

When digital printing processes first came onto the market in the early 1990’s, they were prone to a range of durability issues. Fortunately, due to the rapid advances in technology, substrates and processes, these initial teething issues were rapidly solved.

Nowadays, digital print is widely renowned for its impressive durability. As a result of this, it is unsurprising that print solutions can now offer a range of scale in durability from 1 year promotional (ideal for short-term campaigns) through to 7-year UV/graffiti/scratch resistant options (perfect for long-term advertising)

In order to properly estimate these different levels of durability, accelerated weather testing is critical. Fortunately, CV runs all new print and product through stringent testing in NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited weather accelerating laboratories.

Affordability

With digital printing technology now established, equipment has become quite cost effective and base models are now fairly user friendly. As a result of this, Wide Format (up to 2500mm wide) print has been gradually adopted by signage and traditional screen print businesses across the globe. In more recent times, Grand Format Digital Print (over 2500mm wide) has also increased in popularity, primarily due to the fact that it is slowly becoming more affordable.

Printing substrates have also gradually evolved to the point where they can now offer affordable, longer warranted products designed specifically to partner with the different printer technologies. Additionally, there are now many direct substrate manufacturer relationships for digital print companies which allows direct input into material formulation and performance. That said, cheaper prices need to be assessed with performance requirements. CV boasts a well-equipped, state of the art digital printing department which can deliver time and cost-effective solutions across a variety of substrates.

Effectiveness

If used correctly, digital print has the capability to completely transform your business’s physical environment. On the one hand, it can be used as a vibrant marketing tool that lets your consumers know what the brand is all about. Alternatively, print can serve to help your business improve its internal communications – research suggests that a visually creative work environment can motivate and inspire staff.

Flexibility

At CV Media & Signage, we offer high quality wide and grand format prints on a range of media such as self-adhesive vinyls, banners, acrylic, PVC, timber, aluminium, steel, and paper. As a result of this, there is rarely a sign that we cannot make; our premium resources and notable partnerships with global machine and substrate manufacturers mean that we are comfortable turning almost any conceptual idea into a reality.

If you feel as though a digital print solution would be right for your business, do not hesitate to contact CV Media & Signage.

One of the latest marketing fads has seen advertisers use the power of nostalgia in order to evoke emotional responses from a target audience. Due to a handful of cognitive biases, this form of promotion is exceptionally powerful and has been shown to have positive effects on both brand awareness and sales. While there are a multitude of strategies for brands to evoke nostalgic feelings, signage has quickly become a popular medium for trendy venues to demonstrate a retro ambiance. This article digs deeper into how a nostalgia obsessed generation has brought neon signage back from the dead.

In the 20’s and 30’s, neon signs became a captivating phenomenon and were seen as a staple of the bustling commercial intersection of Times Square. Skip forward to the 60’s and while that infamous red neon glow temporarily become synonymous with some of the world’s seedier areas, these solutions proceeded to swiftly evolve into an art form of sorts with businesses flocking to create unique and eye-catching signage. While the golden age of neon was long-lived, the popularisation of LED in the 90s saw businesses slowly start to ditch the outdated look. The gradual move away from these solutions meant that by the mid-2010’s, the neon industry looked to be on borrowed time. With LED’s getting cheaper and more energy efficient, it seemed as though the end was near.

Thankfully this was not the case. As we edged towards a new decade, the saying “everything old is new again” began to make a lot of sense with neon signs, polaroids and a handful of other 20^th century items making a resurgent comeback. The question therefore becomes why. Why are bright neon signs that were considered overly gaudy just 10 years ago now a popular feature of stylish nightclubs, bars, and restaurants? The answer has to do with an inherent obsession about the past. To put it simply, people seek experiences and/or items that embody a period which they associate with happiness and simplicity. For older generations, neon signs are synonymous with a time when they were coming of age and seeing these signage solutions can therefore induce warm memories.

Perhaps paradoxically, neon and other vintage memorabilia have also formed into nostalgic symbols for the Gen Z demographic – despite the fact that this group was born after ~1996. While this generation’s obsession with a time period in which they were not alive is baffling to many, it does present businesses with a plethora of fantastic opportunities. Many venues now encompass an 80’s-90’s inspired aesthetic to target patrons aged in their teens and early 20’s.

Surprisingly, the use of neon solutions has not strictly been limited to trendy venues – Australian supermarket giant Woolworths has also jumped on the fad utilising neon solutions throughout its Double Bay outlet. Boasting a CV Media & Signage created solution, “The Kitchen” aims to create a more authentic customer journey through an aesthetically pleasing rustic marketplace design.

With nostalgia providing our lives with a sense of continuity and meaning, many people continue to seek experiences/items that will help them reminisce or relive the past. Neon signage is fast becoming a trendy medium that is being used to evoke these positive associations from consumers’ minds, taking them back to a simpler time.

 

As Viv Da Ros, Caltex Australia’s Chief Information Officer said when talking about the company’s approach to innovation, “It’s about ensuring seamless connectivity between key systems, processes, operational workflows and customer touchpoints.”

Petrol stations have a multitude of customer touchpoints available to create a seamless digital experience. From the forecourt and entrance to in-store point of sale advertising screens, focusing on delivering the right content at every touchpoint in the journey can not only improve the customer experience, but also the effectiveness of promotions. Due to the flexible nature of petrol station digital signage, promotions can be created, tested and tailored quickly, giving companies an advantage over less nimble competitors.

Let’s talk about the different options.

Forecourt

Whether it be integrated within the pump or directly facing customers as they drive up, a digital display within the forecourt is a strategic opportunity to upsell and cross sell products and services. While the dwell time may be short the ability to provide impactful messages is incentive enough for a digital display. Brands and vendors are constantly looking for new ways to market themselves and forecourt signage is the perfect opportunity to reach customers directly at the first touch point.

Entrance

Impress customers as they walk through the door with a large-scale LED video wall. Installing a shop entrance digital sign allows petrol station operators to customize content based on the location, time of day, weather and customer demographics. LED is quickly becoming the first choice for outdoor communication with key features such as lifespan and high brightness in sunlight rich locations are setting it apart from its static alternatives. Seam free, LED allows for the construction of impressive video walls with visuals extending right to the edge ensuring a greater impact with vibrant picture and uninterrupted video.

Window

Double sided digital window displays are proving popular in a number of different industries. The double-sided display can advertise in-store specials to capture the attention of customers filling up, whilst reinforcing interest again at point-of-purchase. Point-of-purchase displays can provide an emotional connection with customers and are proven to drive impulse decisions.

In-Store

Customers now expect a more engaging and immersive experience. According to a Cisco IBSG study, over 40% of shoppers say that digital displays can change what they buy. Placing an LED along the top of the fridge provides prime real estate for vendors to bring their brands to life, capture the attention of customers, boost impulse purchases and drive greater revenue.

Interestingly, number plate recognition technology has also started to emerge within the petrol station industry with New Zealand based Z Energy paving the way. The automated payment technology, ‘Fastlane’, works through downloading the Z app and entering fuel, registration and payment details. Once the motorist fills up the tank, the security cameras at the station scan the car number plate and the payment is made instantly.

Not only can number plate recognition technology be useful for streamlining the customer transaction but can also be linked with petrol station digital signage, returning to Caltex Australia’s vision of “everything is connected.” Linking customer data with digital signage will allow petrol stations to display advertisements relevant to the customer. For example, a pie and soft drink promotion appears on the forecourt digital sign when an 18-year-old male tradesman arrives who has previously linked his car number plate for easy payment.

A seamless digital experience is the key to long-term success for petrol stations. From the ability to test the effectiveness of promotions instantly through on the fly content updates, to personalizing each customers interaction with targeted and relevant advertisements, innovation is essential for petrol stations to deliver a sustainable boost to their bottom line.

As featured on Digital Signage Today.

Digital billboards versus online advertising
The digital landscape sees marketing delivered in all shapes and sizes. How to package your messages is a necessary debate as platforms continue to morph and merge.

So what role does traditional signage now play, as the preference for mobile devices and online channels continues to grow? Considered a staple of the traditional signage family, the billboard has been undergoing some digital updates, to make it a strong option for your advertising investment.

Advertising in the digital age
Digital technology for outdoor environments has progressed rapidly. Aside from the obvious advantage of being able to change advertisements at the click of a button, LED projects crisp images, beautiful colour and provides the digital edge to a traditional option. The technology has been developed to withstand various weather types making digital billboards cost effective, flexible, artistic and dynamic.

So why choose a concrete investment over placing your message into the palm of potential consumers hands? Nielsen On Location Digital Signage Report found that 71% of the surveyed consumers agreed that digital billboards stand out more than online advertising with 77% agreeing that digital billboards often caught their attention. As we get saturated with online advertising, not surprisingly, consumers are becoming quickly desensitised and switching off. Digital billboards offer a bold play for consumer’s attention, diversifying standard streetscapes and building facades.

Benefits on installing your own digital billboard
Billboards maximise the opportunity for prime locations to be utilised and put eyes on your message.

Digital billboards deliver messages in a variety of ways, creating flexibility with the time of day, expected audience and capacity to live in real time. By investing in your own digital platform, you gain the freedom to experiment with mixing up your message, design and have the opportunity to create advertising that integrates as art, delivering the visual disruption needed to make an impact.

Third party advertising and ROI on initial investment
Further capacity exists for integrating third party advertising for a sales-based return on your advertising investment. For building and business owners, this allows you to sweat your existing assets with ROI possible within just 12 months, leaving positive income after.

Digital displays are built to change, which enables owners to create space for external input. Outdoor, high traffic environments naturally entice companies to want to display their message and get in on the eye capturing action. Further assisting the sale of digital space is the ability to capture analytics from the audience and measure that against return. If the advertising isn’t performing, the ability to change exists at the click of a button.

Managed solution
To fully optimise your digital billboard, a content management service incorporating a proof of play system is essential. With technology platforms continually evolving, it has become even easier to enable asset owners to sell space to third party advertisers online – similar to that of an Airbnb model.

As featured on Unwrap LFRA.

South Bank Corporation is the development and management authority of Brisbane’s most iconic riverfront destination. Visited by over fourteen million people annually and home to hundreds of events each year, South Bank is a multi-award-winning precinct that continues to innovate to ensure that it remains a progressive public hub. 

Lined with an abundance of cafes and restaurants, Little Stanley Street and Grey Street have become an integral part of Brisbane’s modern dining landscape. With new tenancies regularly joining the precinct, South Bank Corporation’s static wayfinding signage requires constant updates. As one of Brisbane’s major tourist attractions, well designed and up-to-date way finding is essential for visitors to easily track down their favourite destination along South Bank. 

CV Media & Signage developed a tailored outdoor digital wayfinding solution for South Bank Corporation, with communication and navigation being key features of the design. Six 46-inch double-sided LCD kiosks (based on commercial grade Samsung OH46F Series displays) have been installed at key locations along the dining hub, with each map oriented to the user’s view, allowing them to easily understand what streets, landmarks, cafes and restaurants are ahead. Each kiosk holds one Commercial Chromebox to power both screens.

Customised content by CV Media & Signage’s in-house creative team features an animated map rotating through each tenant’s location, highlighted through subtle colour and pulsing to capture the attention of passersby. Advertisements feature below the map to showcase current and upcoming events such as the Sunday Sessions music program on the River Quay. With a link to South Bank Corporation’s interactive map on its ‘eat SouthBank’ website, the kiosk provides viewers with an additional interactive feature. CV Media & Signage’s outdoor digital wayfinding kiosks are now a prominent feature on the Streets of South Bank.

As featured in Digital Signage Magazine.