Most of us hold fond memories of Christmas. Some people enjoy the stereotyped scene of snowflakes, holly and carols being sung whilst others bask in the long, warm days with the familiar scent of suntan lotion lingering in the air. 

But there’s one dude who’s not so thrilled anymore about Christmas. Ol’ Santa himself. A combination of a belated midlife crisis (He didn't cope too well upon realisation that he's been around since the mid 1600's), in conjunction with Mrs. Claus’ alleged affair with a workshop elf, had taken Saint Nicholas over the edge. After a chronic eggnog binging session, which resulted in an FUI (Flying under the influence) and the suspension of his sleigh, Santa was in despair. But when he sank into overeating depression, gained a few lbs and got stuck inside a chimney, he knew it was time for change.

So, like many high profile celebrities, Santa was sent to a remote and undisclosed location. Call it rehab, call it an escape; he just needed to get away. And the seaside city of Durban, on the East Coast of South Africa was just the perfect place. So with Rudolph and the reindeers in the kennel, Father Christmas packed his big black sack and bid farewell to the North Pole.

With his Expand a Sign chariot ferrying him around, Santa has really been enjoying his vacation in Africa. A welcomed break from the perpetual snow that he was so familiar with, has seen him socialise at restaurants and shopping centres, visit the Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium and attend the KPMG Business Relay.

But in order for Kris Kringle to truly enjoy the experience, and to recover, we feel that he needs to explore each and every aspect of the area. 

So, where would you take him? Let us know here.

Cheers

EAS

*Santa is an Ex-T shaped Banner stand.

5 km is a long way to travel. It's 3.1 miles. Which, even though a smaller number, actually makes it sound worse. Especially if I am meant to attempt this vast distance by any other means other than motorised vehicle.

The KPMG Business Relay is an annual 5km walk/run relay, with its starting and finishing points on the outlying fields of The Sharks Rugby stadium in Durban, South Africa. Companies, both large and small, set up camp with employees and their families for an afternoon of amateur athleticism. In teams of 3 or 5 people, everyone took a turn to sprint/run/jog/walk/stroll/crawl the route.


Whilst doing a rekkie of the situation, I was welcomed by Expand a Sign Flying Banners, Feather Banners, Folding A-Frames and Ex-Dome gazebos. All businesses were showing off their brands as people barbequed, relaxed and tried to keep cool and hydrated in the extreme November heat of Saturday. 

I’d be lying if I said that I participated in the relay. Instead, I was designated handbag watcher, child minder, idle conversationalist and buyer-of-the-cold-beer.  All the before-mentioned are what I do best. As colleagues dragged themselves back to base camp, flung themselves on the ground and declared themselves to be dying, I reveled in how clever I had been not to have joined in on the self-torture. A few skipped in, without so much as a sweat and casually  shrugged ‘Ah, that was a breeze’, which I found more than just a little unnecessary.

As the sun drooped lower toward the horizon and dusk settled in, we packed up our Ex-Domes, Ex-Shades, Flying and Feather Banners and XL EX-Up and headed for home. A tiny pang of envy struck as I watched everyone depart with their medals around their necks.


Ah well. There’s always next year.


Cheers,
EAS

It was another glum, wet day in Durban, South Africa. If this goes on any longer, I thought, I may start showing symptoms of seasonal affective depression. But today was going to be different for the Marketing ladies of Expand a Sign; we were going on a road trip!

Giving back is important, now more than ever. Expand a Sign is very conscious of the environmental effects associated with manufacturing, which is why we have committed to our Environmental and Social Responsibility Pledge. In doing our bit for the planet, we are trying to create awareness about recycling but also want to make a difference in the lives of the next generation. Which is why the Marketing gals were headed to King Shaka Secondary School, in Umlazi. We were accompanied by Nontobeko, a project officer for OneVoice.

OneVoice is a vibrant and unique non-governmental organisation, which uses innovative and creative ways of actively involving young people in HIV and AIDS prevention and Human Rights training. Expand a Sign has donated 15000 school bags, made of the off-cuts of our banners and polyester material to each child who completes a class in AIDS training with OneVoice. Expand a Sign has supported the launch of a small business run by a group of previously unemployed women, working from their own homes, who now sew shopping bags, sports bags and raincoats from our waste fabric.

As Nontobeko navigated us along the roads towards the school, I took the opportunity to absorb as much of the environment as I could. Makeshift dwellings of mud and corrugated iron were densely spread along the hills, and taxis whizzed past as we followed the dusty streets. At Umlazi’s main intersection, the First and Third world relationship truly made itself known; a KFC takeaway outlet to the right of us and a cage of 20 live chickens for sale, to our left.  

On arriving at the school, we were guided into a small, dark classroom. Within the four walls sat over 40 Grade 8 learners, all huddled closely together on buckled and broken benches. With no visible learning material or text books, one wonders what quality of an education these children are receiving. This was only half the class; the others had been sent home to study as the desks were needed by the children writing exams. We were there to present each child with a certificate for participation in the OneVoice AIDS awareness programme and to hand out a drawstring bag to each learner. 

A brief speech from the OneVoice facilitator was followed by names being called and each child going forward to collect their certificate and school bag. Like typical teenagers, loud whoops and cheers were heard for each child as they walked to the front of the classroom. The boys would holler and tease the girls, who would smile shyly at having their picture taken. The sense of pride was obvious, as they all clung to their certificate and compared bag designs. The appreciation from the school Principal and class teacher was immense, which allowed me to be conscious of how beneficial these AIDS training classes and small gifts of school bags really are to the kids. With the current AIDS statistics, I’m sure each child in that classroom has already been touched by the disease in one way or another.

35 minutes but a world away from Umlazi, I sat at my desk and briefly reflected on the few hours I had just spent. It might be naive to think that we are saving the world, one school bag at a time, but I can only trust that our contributions will help in their own small way.

Cheers,

EAS.

4:30pm, Friday 29 October.

It's a Friday afternoon, the wet weather is finally clearing, and there's a poolside deckchair with my name on it. Oh, sweet joy. I breathe in heavily and slowly exhale the previous 5 days away. Hello, weekend!

As I drive homeward along the rural farmland road of Shongweni, South Africa, my eyes catch a wild blur of vibrant colour. I put the brakes on ( I live in the sticks. No real traffic to speak of.) and squint to get a clearer view. An enormous marquee is being erected and dozens of shiny trucks, motorbikes and cranes are parked on a giant vacant plot of land. And scattered amongst the vehicles and the huge white blanket of the tent are hundreds of banners. Teardrop-shaped, telescopic, gazebos and instant canopies - it's like a piece of branding heaven, stuck in the arse-end of nowhere! 

But my weekend has officially begun and that means no more work-related activities. Sort out your boundaries, woman! Put the camera down, drive away, and forget this ever happened. Like pulling off a band-aid, I manage to get the car into gear and tear myself away from the bevy of brilliant banners before me.

9:21am, Saturday 30 October.

As I'm shlurping on my morning mango juice, my cellphone vibrates across the coffee table and beeps loudly. A text from The Boss showing an image of some banners with a blurb about the Shongweni Car, Truck and Bike Expo and that I should try and get there to take photos of our products. Feeding my branding addiction. What an enabler. Why doesn't he just throw me a crack pipe?

6:38am, Sunday 31 October.
Can take it no more. Must...see....banners....
As I roll out of bed and peel the curtains open, a sight of thick fog and heavy rain welcomes my morning.

Pah! I've dealt with worse. I'll show the rain who's boss. 

7:40am.

Boots. check. Windbreaker. check. Umbrella. check. With my camera around my neck, I begin my tour of signage splendour.  I'm early (small print said 8am opening) and the only person here. No matter, I'm only in it for my banner fix.

Oh, and what a fix it is! I am positively giddy at the mere sight of the 3 BMW Ex-Dome gazebos. Side-by-side, housing the powerful bikes beneath, displaying the brand with pride. 

I'm not sure but I may be overdosing when I see the Small, Medium and Large Flying Banners and Feather Banners around me. From international companies to small local juice shops, they're all out in force.

The rest of the day is a blur, but I read today in the paper that the 3 day event enjoyed record-breaking attendance and was declared to have been a great success. I'm ridiculously biased, I know, but I reckon it was all thanks to the banners.

Cheers,

EAS

With recent controversy surrounding sports men and women being seriously injured on the field by advertising boards and banners, the Expand a Sign Health and Safety Department (no, we don’t actually have such a task force) decided to put one of the latest members of the branding team to the test. The Ex-Up banner is unique in that it winds open and closed effortlessly, has no loose parts, and has replaceable fabric ‘skins’. I can’t lie, we love this advertising gem. With 3 sizes available, and the option of vertical or horizontal branding, I can understand why the Ex-Up won an award at the 2009 Red Dot Design Awards in Germany.

Meet Wade.

32 years old.   

Loves his kid.

Surfing enthusiast, enjoys burning rubber on a dirt bike, and I suspect that he has a particular penchant for damage and demolition.

With an Extra Large Ex-Up banner in tow, Wade and his posse of wannabe stuntmen made their way to the ‘testing zone.’ Located in the outskirts of Hillcrest in South Africa, Crestholme is an area with a noticably quiet, slower pace of life.

Until now.

Wade’s mission, should he choose to accept it, would be to ramp into the air and land onto an Ex-Up banner. With his Yamaha YZ 250, Wade was amped. Psyched. Rearing to go. But would the Ex-Up banner prove too strong for our Evel Knievel daredevil? Would this leap of bravery result in severe pain and suffering? 

By now, a small group of children had gathered to witness the stunt. Dubbed ‘the pit crew’, they were captivated by the events surrounding them.

As Wade turned on the ignition, opened the throttle and accelerated into 3rd gear, the crowd all gasped in unison. When he flew into the air and connected with the Ex-Up, a dubious ‘crunch’ sound was heard by all. On closer inspection of the banner’s frame, a diagnosis of ‘fractured rod’ was made. But our Motorbike Man was in one piece, and the banner was repaired in less than 5 minutes, and at a cost of less than $2 US.

Next, we hope to find someone willing to skateboard over an Ex-Up. We’ll let you know how it goes!

Cheers,

Team EAS.

On the 9^th September, Roger and Matthew (the Expand a Sign 'Twins of Mass Disruption') embarked on an experience of a lifetime with two things in mind. Firstly, to complete the gruelling Wild Run Race and secondly, to make a meaningful contribution to the local community.

The Wild Run Race is a three day, 112km trail running stage race along one of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines in South Africa; the Wildcoast. The event starts at the Great Kei River and finishes at the beautiful natural wonder - The Hole-in-the-Wall. Between the two is 112km of wilderness with golden beaches, rolling hills, spectacular cliffs, wildlife, dolphins, warm sea, blue sky and friendly people. The race was extremely difficult as they ran through tough terrain – swimming across rivers, crossing soft sand, fighting the prevailing wind, rock hopping and traversing uneven ground. Passing a decomposing whale carcass and a rusty old ship wreck were certainly unique experiences in themselves.

Waking each morning with aching bones, popped blisters and bandaged knees to run the distance of a marathon, off road, for 3 consecutive days, was understandably draining on the body and mind. If anything, this gives one a taste of the lifestyles that the local community experience on a daily basis. With very little infrastructure in the Transkei, the local people face the daily challenges of fetching water, collecting firewood and keeping themselves fed. The pair regularly came across women and children dragging fire wood behind a donkey, carrying barrels of water on their heads or collecting mussels off the rocks.

The twins were joined by Bob Skinstad (ex Springbok Rugby player) and Ron Rutland who represented the Bobs for Good Foundation which is a charity that provides free shoes to the rural school children of South Africa. The aim on this trip was to supply the children of Ngubenyathi Primary School with school shoes. We embraced this initiative by contributing school bags made from the off cut banner material. The manufacture of these bags help us reduce our carbon footprint (by recycling our banner material), allows us to support a small women-only business, and results in a quality product that less privileged school children value. 

Each scholar received a brand new pair of school shoes placed inside a lovely colourful school bag. A large group chose to help and hand out the shoes to the 200 children and after a very moving acceptance speech by both the local municipal leader and school teacher (one teacher for grades 6, 7, 8 and 9!) they set about fitting the boys and girls with their new shoes. It was a small initiative by us, but meant so much to the local community. All the elders arrived wearing their best kit to watch the events unfold. It was upsetting to witness how few teachers there were at the school as they were on the ‘national strike’. They ended the day by singing the National Anthem with the children which was really moving. It was so rewarding to make a small difference to a community who has so little. The motto on the wall outside the school said it all “forwards EVER, backwards NEVER”.

What an honour it was to  experience such a beautiful part of the world and to experience such a wonderful community.

Cheers,

Expand a Sign.

Where'd I lose my core?

Over the past few years, the mentality of 'why run when you can drive?' has unfortunately prevailed in my life. The teenage metabolism has slowed, and office work and feeble physical exertion has resulted in a body shape to be ashamed of.

So I recently decided to embark on something new. The 90s catch phrases of yoga, tai chi and kickboxing have always made my (untoned) skin crawl. But now was, excuse the pun, crunch time! I persuaded a friend to join me in my quest for bodily perfection, and signed up for private pilates classes. What's the worst that can happen from rolling around on a giant rubber ball twice a week, I naively asked myself. And so, I ambled into my introduction class to pilates. 

I was terrified, I can't lie. The 26 year old blonde, svelte Reese Witherspoon lookalike personal trainer gave me the creeps. She could probably touch her earlobe with her ankle. A not-so-short survey on my medical health resulted in, 'Okay, we'll take this slow!' from Legally Blonde Reese. Great relief; I won't be folding myself into a human pretzel today.

Surprisingly, the next 55minutes seemed to go by very quickly. No torture. No abuse. The only disaster was when I very nearly passed wind whilst channelling my inner 'abdominal power house' and was expected to bring my knees to my chest. 

When leaving the class, I shuffled outside and toward my car. As I sluggishly moved to open the front door, Walk The Line Reese must have noticed the car decals displayed and hollered, 'Oooh you do those groovy banners. I need banners!' 

I may have lost the feeling in my right leg indefinitely, but at least this pilates studio is going to have some great branding products!

Cheers,
Expand a Sign Fitness Guru