Score with great Branding!

Soccer fever has hit. And we've got it bad. Admittedly, it doesn't take much for me to get into the dressing-up, buying-useless-stuff, showing-support-for-a-game-I-barely-understand mood!

Expand a Sign has been inundated with Fifa Soccer World Cup-related work this year, and we always get a great feeling when seeing our products displayed; like the 32 country flag Ex-Discs at Sibaya Casino in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.
 

After the supersized, gigantic soccer t-shirt that we manufactured earlier this year, we have received many subsequent orders for other large supporters shirts. These are usually hung on walls in office forecourts or against the exterior of buildings to show support to the oncoming traffic.
 

Oh, and the flags! It would seem that everyone is clamouring for one, or all of the 32 participating nations flags. From standard 1.2 x 1.8m flags to be erected on flagpoles in a show of patriotism, to the 12m bunting - it's great to see that people are getting so involved in branding themselves in preparation for 11 June. I'm sure I could create some crazy ( if not ever-so slightly exaggerated) statistic about 'If we laid each flag that we have produced, side by side, it would wrap around the globe.' But that's how it seems at the moment when walking through our factory. It's brilliant. In fact, I might even begin on my own flag patchwork quilt, if I get any more excited!

With 43 days to go (I have been crossing off the days on my Soccer-themed calendar.) we're getting ready for the international invasion... are you?

 Branding the Brave.

If you're anything like me, where the simple act of channel surfing on the TV remote control can cause a strain injury, then the thought of splashing through an expanse of open water, followed by a bottom-numbing bicycle ride and then a final torturous road run, is bound to cause some degree of terror.

And yet masses of adrenaline-seeking, fitness fanatics thrive on this as a hobby and some sort of self-fulfilment; from the sponsored professional who participates for a piece of the prize money to your average Joe, who just wants to try reach a personal goal. 'Ironman' is a long distance triathlon event combining the world's three most popular sports disciplines a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle rounded off with a full marathon run of 42.195km.

Ironman started in 1978 in Hawaii when some grass skirt-wearing,  tiki torch-holding athletes discussed who was the fittest athlete - the swimmer, the biker or the runner. The decision was easy: The first one finishing a combination of these three should be called an Ironman.   

Today, there are 20 Ironman labelled events worldwide, each of them giving qualifying spots for the Ironman World Championship taking place in October - in Hawaii.

Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa started in 2004.The inaugural race was a Half-Ironman, and since 2005 the race in Port Elizabeth became a full distance race. Expand a Sign has been a proud sponsor of Ironman since the first days in South Africa. For the last 6 years Expand a Sign has branded the beach, roadside, finish line and hospitality areas with Flying Banners, Folding A-Frames, Ex-Discs, Gazebos and Fence Banners. We have also provided branding for Ironman Montecarlo. Expand a Sign specialises in indoor and outdoor branding solutions and being able to partner with Ironman was a perfect fit for our products.

I must admit, though - after writing this article, I am actually slightly inspired to don my speedo and burn some kgs. I'm still not sold on the tarmac-trodding, nor the bike seat thigh-burning. Give me time.

Earth Day?!

It's 6am. The orange embers of a rising sun guide me in the direction of where I am meant to be going , as I drive to work. The familiar voice of the lady reading the radio news bulletin is informing me that today, the 22nd April, is Earth Day.

Earth Day?! Whattheheck? Perhaps I've been living under an unrecycled, man-made rock but this is the first mention of an Earth Day to me. So what's the deal? Am I expected to be still for one day, meditate beneath a sleepy willow tree and contemplate my personal carbon footprint and the effect that my messy little toxic body is having on the planet?

As soon as I turn the computer on at my desk, I navigate my way to http://www.earthday.org/ and read up on this Earth Day Network. Mention of climate policies, renewable energy and sustainable resources stir an eagerness in my belly to take action against the demise of our beloved Earth.

But I'm just a mere speck amongst the 6.697billion ( I looked it up!) of us who inhabit this great round rock. So what can I do to make a difference? I know the basics. Like, don't throw my chocolate wrapper out of the window as I'm whizzing along in my (non hybrid) car. Thankfully, I work at a company who pride themselves on being Eco Friendly. Expand a Sign is a global manufacturer who complies with strict waste disposal guidelines. We implement clean production technologies and are constantly recycling our cardboard boxes, as well as turning our waste fabric and off-cuts into school bags and raincoats for underpriviledged children.

That's a great start. Now I'm totally inspired. Less plastic - more paper! Less car fumes - commute!  Organic - healthier and eco-friendly!

My new mission is to make recycling sexy... wish me luck!

Sponsoring the Irish. Ta be sure, ta be sure!

On the 28th March 2010, the London Irish were victorious over the Sale Sharks Premiership Rugby team, with a whopping score of 38 - 0.

 

A St.Patricks Day theme inspired Berkshire to come alive with carnival spirit oozing from each corner of the Madjeski Stadium. Car parks were awash with festival atmosphere, green shirts, daft wigs and the compulsory gallons of O’da Black stuff .  

The Formation Drinking team Expand a Sign were on hand (of course) with maximum professional attention given to supporting the club and to the drink intake. With Flying Banners and Ex-Rolls visible in the stadium, as well as against the searing sun-drenched skyline, the day  proved to be a massive success.

Moving into our 5^th year of sponsorship with London Irish, the Expand a Sign UK relationship goes from strength to strength. This year saw a whole new approach to marketing of the London Irish as a club and as a top Guinness Premiership Brand. Expand a Sign were then commissioned to assist with this transformation with changes to the new brand identity and stadium dressing.

With the upcoming match against Gloucester on 24th April,  we have our team jerseys and are ready to cheer once again in drop kick delerium for the mighty London Irish!

Cheers,

The EAS team.

The skies may be empty, but your branding should still be Flying High!

With air travel halted, the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland has proven to be a real pain in the ash. The beast Eyjafjallajokull ( I dare you to try pronounce that one.) spewing her dust clouds across the skies has resulted in the shutting down of many of Europe and Britains' air spaces. 

With that amount of soot and smog lingering in the atmosphere, one would assume that there could be a lasting detrimental effect. Will our precious Ozone Layers' already-gigantic hole begin eroding at an even faster rate? Will ashen acid rain fall to earth and destroy our land? As extreme as this may sound, keeping ones' carbon footprint to a minimum is becoming more important than ever - what with the likes of ol' Volatile Volcano doing us no favours. Fortunately, Expand a Sign has gone Green and has made changes to keep our planet clean!

Every company, business and service provider requires branding. Standing out from the crowd with indoor and outdoor advertising really does attract attention, and provides a highly visible sales opportunity. A nasty ash cloud? No problem! With our advanced printing technology, we are able to print bright, vibrant and bold graphics; perfect for being noticed in even the dullest, most dreary weather conditions. 

Freak snow storm? Not an issue! Our Flying Banners have withstood the harsh Arctic climate, the Sahara Desert and even Hurricane Katrina. 

Check out this video to see for yourself how robust our banners really are!
   


 There really is never a reason not the let your brand soar!

Cheers,

The EAS team.

It's good to be left in the dark!

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global movement with more than 40 million people across 32 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome’s Colosseum all stood in darkness for 60 minutes, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

On March 27th at 8:30 pm, millions of people around the world turned off their lights for an hour. Creating awareness has educated millions and every hour, people are taking small steps to lessen their impact on the environment. From hanging your clothes to dry to taking public transport, those small steps add up to huge changes for our great globe. Expand a Sign is also going green and is a proud sponsor of Earth Hour. Over the past 2 years we have provided branding solutions for WWF Earth Hour events.

Expand a Sign makes and sources all our components in one country, producing the smallest footprint possible. We are committed to improving lives and to keeping the environment clean with the donation of our waste fabric cut-offs to community projects around South Africa. They use it to make bags, raincoats and other useful items. Each person benefits directly and can help uplift their local community. Expand a Sign is also involved in programmes which donate thousands of school bags and raincoats to underprivileged children each year.


We're going green and giving back... are you?

Cheers,
The EAS team.