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

Getting all wound-up.

Whenever a season of Survivor ends I go into a deep, funky depression. Not even the alternative reality TV channels can satisfy my interest in viewing unshaven, rugged men. Nothing is able to calm the urge to starve myself and live in my back garden for a week, or soften the detox-type cravings for cunningly edited hour-long goodness. 

This time, when the fog of Survivor-absence malaise lifted, I decided to take action. One of the 5 phases during grief is apparently anger. And I was mad. Slouched in my office chair, I couldn't help but notice the Ex-Up wind-up Banner to my right; it was almost looking at me. Taunting me, even. As if it was telling me, 'I've won an International Design Award. What have you done to impress?' 

With it's smugness, the product was asking to be abused.

So when The Boss strolled in declaring that he wanted to test the Ex-Up's durability on hard impact, I nearly fell off my chair in violence-anticipatory excitement. To vent my woes onto an inanimate object would do me the world of good! 

I was to set up the Ex-Up A-Frame on the outside loading zone ramp, while someone else would heave a (already broken) large laser jet printer onto it, from the 4th floor ceiling. With the banner in place, the printer was hurled down to the ground. Once, it missed it's target and had to be put back together and sent back up for another attempt at distruction. And again, the printer failed to make contact with the Ex-Up. 

By now, my enthusiasm for damage and demolition was beginning to subside. Maybe it was because the impressive 1.4m x 2.4 product was beside me, awaiting it's brutal attack-by-printer. With it's durable frame and long-lasting fabric, I couldn't be sure how it would cope. But when the third printer grenade shaved the side of the banner and burst a plume of pink printer ink, we chose to abort mission.

I quickly wound the banner up and clung to it as I vacated the scene of the experiment. Yet The Boss was not satisfied and instructed two of us to take the product to the Moto X track over the weekend and cause a mess. Ramping over it, driving into it and mad wheelies onto it will test the tolerance of the mighty Ex-Up.

Come back next week to find out the verdict and how the Expand a Sign tribe has spoken!

Cheers,

EAS Team.

Don’t be trashy. 

We live in a throw-away society. Just last week I was dumped for a younger, blonder, skinnier version of myself. Over-consumption and excessive production of short-lived and disposable items has resulted in an instant gratification society. (Note: I ain't the kind of girl who provides instant gratification. Could have contributed to the break up…) This would be alright if we had an everlasting supply to clean energy to make replacement goods and bottomless landfill sites. But we have neither. 

 

Disposable relationships aside, people seem to have forgotten how to re-use, repair, recycle and reduce. Instead, the trend to replace has taken over. At Expand a Sign, we see the benefit of superior quality products. They simply last longer. Our Banner stand, Ex-Dome gazebo, Ex-Shade parasol and Ex-Up frames are designed so the frame can be re-used with new printed “skins”. Our Ex-Dome gazebo is even supplied with a 'spare parts kit' in the event that Mother Nature or a lack of common sense requires the frame to be mended on location. Our polyester fabric is also 100% biodegradable. Our slogan of 'say no to styro' means that all packaging is made of cardboard and can be re used.

We are also committed to community development and our strict recycling programme works hand in hand with this. All waste fabric from the business is donated to a small sewing enterprise made up of previously unemployed women who make unique school bags, shopping bags and sports bags. Each person involved benefits directly and in this way, we are helping to uplift the local community. We’ve bought thousands of these school bags and donated them to under-privileged school children around South Africa as part of an AIDS education programme. Our international agents and affiliated companies as well as other corporate companies are also buying shopping bags and sports bags as customer incentives and give-aways. 

We're doing our bit to wipe out waste. After all, people who recycle can do it over and over and over.

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

Sunday dawned and with it the realisation that the weather was horrible. I woke up with the thudding of my barbeque room door echoing through the house. I really need to fix that door. (yes, the weather gets so bad in Cape Town that we need a room to BBQ in) 

Had winter finally arrived in Cape Town? I am an eastern Cape boy and in the 22 years that I have lived in this place of 4 seasons in one day, I have always hated the weather. Upon waking, my wife and I had a simultaneous thought; What are we to do with our boys on a day like this. Shopping? No, boring. Aquarium? No, did that last weekend. What, then? I remember reading in that Westcoast Guide magazine that it is the Darling wild flower festival. Wife said. "Yesss!" I groaned. "Let’s go check it out. It will be nice for the boys too." She added, "Perhaps the weather will be better there and if it’s not, we can go and check out something else."

I know when to keep quiet.

An hour later our 2 sons were dressed, breakfasted and ready to go. Jackets, beanies and scarves were the order of the day.

We arrived in the small village of Darling and the weather was worse.

Jumping castles, wine tastings and the flower show were almost all deserted. There were a few loyalists, but they must have lived in the neighbourhood and were making up the numbers. The wind was howling. Being an Expand a Sign man, whenever the wind is like this, I look for banners. I was not disappointed.

Our Expand a Sign Flying Banners stood proud and bright in front of the dark and gloomy backdrop of the sky, with all else flapping and falling around them. The innovative design of the Flying Banner ensures they cut through wind and rain and remain standing. Unlike myself, who had no desire to be the Last Man Standing in Darling, and was just dead keen to get back home.

Cheers,
Expand a Sign Cape Town.

 

A steamy 37'c mid afternoon, yesterday saw me cruising down the town's main road with my window down, arm out, and Justin Bieber on the radio squealing about being so teeny tiny.

Being the law-abiding driver that I am, I halted at a pedestrian stopping and allowed the on-foot masses to sluggishly amble past me in the extreme heat. But like lemmings to a seaside cliff, they all appeared to be headed in the same direction. As my gaze followed them, I noticed a roadside fast food franchise was dispensing softserve ice cream cones at an astonishing pace. Arms everywhere, money exchanging hands at lightening speed, it looked more like a horserace tote or the stock exchange than a take away joint.

Beside the entrance stood 4 Medium double-sided Flying Banners. For a chicken-aholic or anyone in desperate need of something to quench their thirst, the banners were certainly eye-catching enough to advertise the establishment's presence.

Although we do provide a range of suitable mounting options, I chuckled as I noticed the old tyre being recycled and used as a weight. I certainly couldn't fault their efforts.

I might have sped off and left the banners behind me, but still can't seem to curb the craving for chicken wings. Go figure.

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

Picture the scene:

You overslept this morning, traffic is at gridlock, and you are late for a company event.

You could choose to dither in your poor time-management skills, the fact that you insisted on watching CSI until 1am, and the beer intake that took place simultaneously. Or, and this is the advisable option, you could be grateful that your destination (should you reach it) is an idyllic Golf Resort, where you will be setting up and hosting a hole at a charity golf day. Soaking up the sun, salty air, and your sand wedge.

When you reach the resort, luck is on your side. You effortlessly empty the contents of your car into a golf cart and meander down the path toward your sponsored hole. There are two scantily clad promotional ladies awaiting your arrival who happily remove the contents of the golf cart and help to set up  the Ex-Dome gazebo, 2 Large Flying Banners and an XL Ex-Up Wind-Up Banner. Fully branded in 10 minutes! Who says blondes aren't clever?

In your urgency, you might have left your mobile phone at home but you remembered to bring the extras; a tablecloth, tee-disc and pin flag.

Your spot is looking great. The guy next to you looks bleakly at his tatty parasol and then enviously gazes over at your branding. You smile, wave and holler to him, 

"Three words, buddy. Expand a Sign."

Some believe there is little in life more thrilling than 80 minutes of weaving your way through a horde of opponents at full sprint, landing that penalty from an almost impossible position in almost impossible circumstances, or leading a stampede to bring down a powerful player.

Some of us, unfortunately, have the hand eye co-ordination of a blind amputee and are limited to merely watching the fine game of Rugby instead of playing it. 

But we have still been able to get involved.

Over the past 5 years, as a sponsor and branding partner, Expand a Sign has forged strong ties with the London Irish Rugby Club, the team, and the supporters. We've provided the club with a wide range of banners and branding products for the endorsement of the brand, the club and the other sponsors.

On match day, Small, Medium, Large and even the XLarge Flying Banners display the lavish colours of the club. The hospitality area is peppered with Ex-T BannerStands and the stadium mega store also is adorned with the stunning display of 1.5m wide Ex-Rolls BannerStands.

Off the back of the relationship, Expand a Sign has enjoyed developing new relationships and business with virtually all of the other Premiership Rugby Clubs as well as many other associated events and bodies, including the Middlesex 7’s Competition, the Bournemouth 7 competition  as well as the RFU, England’s governing body over rugby and rugby development.

The overriding story with all of these premium clients is that they choose to purchase and endorse Expand a Sign products due to the impeccable service, support and quality that we offer.

However, it does have its downside. The waistlines of many of our Expand a Sign supporting staff have suffered, particularly in the pre season training for the formation drinking and social activities squad. 

Remember - New Zealand are playing Australia this weekend, in the final of the Southern Hemisphere's Tri Nations. We'll be anxiously watching the All Blacks’ Haka and the Wallabies run onto the field for the last time in this tournament.

Cheers,

EAS Team.

Work on your tan while we work on your branding.


With Summer winding down in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring making it's warm entrance in the Southern half of the globe, now is the ideal time to get out in the sun and lap up some Vitamin D.  

Get the ol' lime green mankini from the cupboard, lather on some Factor 40 and head for the beach.

From sponsored surf and music festivals to seaside cafe's and restaurants, branding can be seen wherever beachgoers are. 

Carlsberg placed 3 Expand a Sign Flying Banners in one of the most popular beach clubs of an island off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey. These banners have not been taken down for the last 2 months, in full sun exposure. There is no sign of fading and they are still looking good. Quality does matter.

Joe Cools Restaurant's top deck overlooks the beautiful North Beach in Durban, South Africa. We supplied them with branded Castle Lager Ex-Shade parasols. Not only do they entice customers to enjoy an ice-cold beer, but also provide cover from the elements.The Ex-Shade parasols are great, as you can replace the fabric or 'skin' to update your branding or marketing message.

Bored of lounging around on your deck chair? Why not get the blood pumping and take up volleyball? (Perhaps replace the mankini for this activity. Wedgies are no fun!) Expand a Sign's Folding A-Frames are ideal for beach activities. The pop-up mechanism means that there is no risk of injury. These branding products are lightweight and quick to assemble, offering instant visibility and convenience. 

 We've already blown up our inflatable tubes and are ready to hit the beach, so cheers for now.

EAS Team.

Making our Mark amongst the Masses.

This week was Markex week. As the premier marketing and promotions trade exhibition in Southern Africa, being seen and standing out at this annual event is really important.

So, with Ex-Dome Gazebos, Banner Stands, Medium and Extra Large Flying Banners and Backwalls boldly decorating Expand a Sign's stands, we had a great presence. As the industry leaders, we cannot ignore the obvious pressure to keep pushing the boundaries as the innovators of creative branding. Our new Extra Large Ex-Up banners really impressed, and the new collapsible Event Bin was enjoying it's trade exhibition debut.

On day 1 of the show, we picked up an urgent request for an Expanding Backwall. An order was placed, artwork was created, then approved, and we have already provided another happy customer with their branding product.

We also pride ourselves on the fact that we can brand almost anything. As experts in printed textiles, we indulged in some overkill and branded our mini bar fridge, main stand's flooring and our bar counter. These were not intended to add to our already extensive product range, but instead to dig deeper into the possibilities in print. 

We invented the patented teardrop-shaped Flying Banner. Many have attempted to replicate it, but nothing can match the signature design and print quality. Which is why we chose to place 2 double-sided Extra Large Flying Banners on our stand, to aide people in navigating their way to Expand a Sign. Like a giant 'Hellooo! Here we are!' it provided 2 functions; advertising our brand and directing prospective customers to us. 

If you missed us at Markex this week, come and visit at Sign Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 8-10th September. 

Cheers, EAS Team.

Combining innovation with ease.

Organising an event can be a time-consuming and sometimes stressful undertaking. So being able to effortlessly brand your golf day or sponsored occasion is crucial. The red dot award winning Ex-Up banners wind up quickly and easily.They have the weight advantage of a pop-up A-frame banner combined with the great shape of a traditional rigid A-frame banner.

Ex-Ups are compact, lightweight and portable so they can be moved from one location or branding opportunity to another.The printed fabric or skin is removable and can be unclipped to insert new branding or to update your marketing message.

Dumesani is our security guard at Expand a Sign, Durban. Although he stands 6ft tall, we're afraid that his co-ordination leaves a lot to be desired.

Which makes him a perfect candidate for testing our Extra Large Ex-Up.The XL is the latest in the Ex-Up range and pushes the boundaries; one product, no loose parts, and opens up to 1.4m x 2.5m! Dumesani sets it up each day, no matter the weather conditions. (view this video of our tester Ex-Up in strong winds) He pegs it into the ground and cranks it down 9hrs later.

Ex-Ups can also be used indoors. The Ex-Up Tower has 3 panels, making it eye-catching from any angle. Both the Ex-Up A-Frames and Towers are now available in Medium, Large and Extra Large.

Cheers,

The EAS Team

How one handles fear is an excellent indicator of one’s temperament and attitude.


Although we work hard at Expand a Sign, we also understand that keeping a fun and lively vibe within the company is essential in maintaining a motivated and inspired crew.

So in a teambuilding effort, the Expand a Sign big boss held a competition asking people to submit their names for the chance to ride on the Moses Mabhida Stadium Big Swing. 

It looks completely terrifying, but at least 20 thrill seekers put their names in a hat. Last week, the lucky individual's name was drawn – Bruce Bollay from the Art Studio.

Meet Bruce.

28 years old. Talented graphic designer. Father to a 4year old son. Recently married to his long-time love.

i.e. Not great if his stadium swing proves fatal.

The afternoon of the big jump arrives and we bustle off to the stadium to witness his leap of bravery. Lots of chat and laughter in the car by everyone... except 1 x very quiet Bruce Bollay. At the base of the stadium's 120metre arch, even the boss' 6yr old son's 'The pig went to the doctor for oinkment and the bird for tweetment' jokes didn't catch a laugh from the harnessed-up, pale-looking guy whose usual broad smile and jovial ways seemed to have subsided a little. By now, I was wondering if this was such a good idea. It seemed almost cruel to subject this poor bloke to such free-falling fear. 

We bid farewell and good luck to Bruce and settled at the seats within the Moses Mabhida stadium, which has recently been host to some exciting Soccer World Cup matches. Binoculars, video cameras and fancy camera lenses are tested (can you say Japanese tourists?!) whilst we sit and wait for the 5 would-be dare devils to reach their jumping point. First, a lady takes her leap. We watch in silence as she sways into the great vacancy inside the stadium. And then another. And another. C'mon Bruce - where are you? Finally, always the gentlemen, Bruce is the last madman person to step forward to soar on nothing but a bungee cord. 

He timidly navigates his way toward the jumping point....we watch him get into position...we hear '3.2.1.Step Off.'..and nothing. Once again, we witness Bruce bracing himself for his fall. And once again, nothing. But on the third attempt, he flies through the air and loud shouts and howls of delight are heard emanating from this tiny creature on the end of a rope. 

Bruce's big jump video 

He is slowly winched back up to the top of the arch staircase and begins his descent. When we meet up with Bruce on solid ground, his eyes look wild, his grin is wide and he is relaying his experience at super speed. 

I'm not entirely sure as to the moral of this story. Perhaps, 'If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.'

Cheers,

EAS Adrenaline Junkies.