Griffin Designs Blog

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:07:00 GMT

It is always nice when the country is galvanised to take part in an initiative, especially a patriotic one such as the Queen's Jubilee Event. My own daughter sent in her self portrait, which may or may not be part of the 1000's being projected onto Buckingham Palace in the form of a portrait of the Queen.

It does, however, cause problems when the successful logo (designed via a Blue Peter Competition) is not widely available in a large high res format, and proves to be unsuitable for the more environmentally method of block vinyl cutting.

Joined up thinking required!

Can You Wrap It For Me?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:40:00 GMT

Just a few years ago, this would mostly be directed at the staff of one of the smarter Department stores. Increasingly, it is being heard by vehicle sign writers. Put simply, technological advances have made it possible to 'wrap' vans and cars, to eyecatchingly devastating effect. Think Sky vans, originally sporting Simpson characters on each side. These days you are likely to see full printed pictures wrapped round the side and part rear of even local tradesman's vehicles.

But is it worth it? The raw materials alone cost x6= of traditional vehicle sign writing vinyl. Factor in a day to remove the vehicle furniture, 2 men a further day to apply it, and day 3 is (as fondly remembered by those old enough to know a Haynes manual), a reversal of of Day 1. Hang the financial expense, can you afford to be without your trades vehicle for three days?

Traditional vinyl graphics are cut from sheets of vinyl that is coloured all the way through. They don't fade, can be applied fairly quickly in most locations, meaning that many sign writers will come to you. No down time! The skill is in the design - they don't have to be panel applied. Yes, the windscreen and front side windows need to be kept clear, but otherwise the rest is just a blank canvas.

So if you want a van that stops the traffic, yet works for you when you are stopped in traffic, spend a little more time thinking design rather than wrap.

Is Your Caravan Secure?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to get a mention on Page 13 of the Caravan Club's guide for Caravan Security.

If you are thinking about sprucing up your mobile holiday home, why not have a read and make sure your caravan is kept safe until the weather warms up?

Business Culture or Disaster Vulture?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Despite George Osborne pontificating recently about the 'anti-business culture' in the UK, could this be a case of 'you get what you wish for'?

It has been an honour for us to host a lovely Ugandan lady, Maureen, over the last few weeks.

Learning first hand about living and business conditions in an African country has been an amazing (and truly shocking) experience. I have great admiration for the way Maureen has adapted to the differences in our cultures during her 4 week stay, and it has made us look at our business and the opportunities we have through different eyes.

In the UK, we have few real barriers to business, whatever Mr Osborne thinks. We can deal equally with men or women, straights or gays. We can use 'sex', bad language and shock tactics to sell our products and not worry about language barriers.

In Uganda, there are 17 different tribes, all with their own cultures and languages. English is the only common language, and then only spoken by the educated (often younger) minority. Women don't so much suffer from glass ceiling, as a glass wall. Many tribes prohibit women speaking to, or even being taught by, men. Add on to these very real barriers, the geographical problems of being in a country with only one railway, intermittent electric, broadband etc facilities and many lesser people would just give up all ideas of free trade. I would be one of them.

Many of my customers and business colleagues have so generously given up their time to meet with Maureen and speak to her about her own personal business interest - Industrial & Occupational Psychology. I have been heartened by the generous time given by so many individuals, and on behalf of Maureen, would like to thank them. If Maureen is representative one of the new generation of young Ugandans, there is much for this African country to hope for, and we can all consider ourselves blessed to have contributed, in a very small way, to this change.

The cold is a challenge

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:14:00 GMT

not just to certain demographics of the population, but also to vinyl users.

Few modern vinyls 'behave' in temperatures of less than +5c. They become brittle and tear easily. The adhesive becomes hard, making it difficult to get a good, lasting application. For this reason, it can often take a good hour in the morning to heat the workshop and the vinyl rolls to anything near usable. We often finish early too, because there is no point cutting and prepping the vinyl, only to leave it to be applied the following day.

January has been a busy month for car and van decals - mostly because of the unusually mild weather. So who can complain?

Are the days REALLY getting longer?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:35:00 GMT

Or do the nights just seem shorter? Despite the relatively mild weather we are enjoying for January, it is still pretty hard to get motivated these dark, chilly mornings. It was particularly difficult today, especially when we had to scrape the ice off the INSIDE of the workshop windows just to let some light in.

If the temperature is below 5c (which it was first thing inside even!) the vinyl won't behave and we have to resort to all sorts of tricks with hotwater bottles and hairdriers - and that is just to warm ourselves up!

Seasonal Thanks

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:13:00 GMT

We are feeling especially benevolent having received a lovely letter from a primary school that we made a banner for. They raised £1200 from their Christmas Bazaar. How lovely of them to write and tell us? Personally, we all hope for a 'thank you' from our children, nieces, nephews etc for gifts received at Christmastide. These days it is so easy to communicate by text or email, taking minutes if you are not into traditional letter writing, but so few youngsters take the time.

Which makes business customers who write all the nicer . . . . .

All the best to all our lovely customers. We close on 21 December, and re-open on 3rd January.

We will also be looking for our two charities to sponsor . . . . email here if you would like to suggest a worthy cause.

Are you a QR?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:46:00 GMT

The latest marketing band wagon - QR codes.

Nothing to do with customer service - although as a company, we like to think we are Quick Responders.

Nothing to do with design fads - although you could say we are Quirky Reckoners

Nothing to do with market segmentation - although it we could be thought of as Questionable Regroupers

Enough!!! QR Codes are those funny little black and white squares that keep popping up on adverts in papers, on banners, on t-shirts and all over the place! QR stands for Quick Response Codes - and the idea is you 'scan' them with your smartphone and get taken directly to a website page.

Do they work? We've not yet measured a response as we have only just started putting them on our promotional material for 2012 - but M&S are using them heavily so there must be something in it.

Why not have a small one put on your banner?

Hey Ho, Hey Ho

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:04:00 GMT

Back to work we go . . . refreshed and ready to tackle the 640 (filtered) emails and the 30cm high pile of post . . normal service might be resumed by Wednesday at this rate . . .

The Stamp Has Landed!

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:17:00 GMT

Check out this lovely blog post by one of our new suppliers . . .

http://www.superrb.com/blog/2011/08/10/the-stamp-has-landed

What else do you do?

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:15:00 GMT

Just love it when a customer rings up, pleased with their purchase, and wants to know what else you make! That's job satisfaction.

Anyone for ? Going home on time?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:53:00 GMT

Tennis season . . . just not the same listening to the radio, so we predict we will, unusually, be out of the workshop quick as flash for the next two weeks for an evening of sofa sitting! Maybe overtime will have to be re-named 'earlytime' to catch up!

Boats Ahoy!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:13:00 GMT

Last week was all things floating! Every year we offer our services for free to two different local charities, and this year it was a busy week as the two coincided.
The Chair Boat at Cobnor Activity Centre allows disabled people to enjoy the wonders of water borne activities, and it was a pleasure to put the decals of the main sponsors (Henry Adams and Southern Water) on the boat for them.
And on Saturday we attended the Raft Race organised by the Chichester Lions Club in aid of The Point (formally Scope) after we supplied the banners for them. We spent a leisurely day face painting to raise a few more funds.

If you would like us to consider your charity for 2012, please contact us in December.

Media Can Be Socialising

Thu, 19 May 2011 07:33:00 GMT

We launched our first Social Media competition on Tuesday, and within 15 hours we had a winner. Congratulations to Hugo from Chichester who was first to submit a photo of our banner adorning Bognor High Street!
And it has certainly got customers talking . . . and ringing . . . for those not physically able to get to Bognor to enter the competition, we promise future comps will be a lot more open to everyone.

Thank you for all the positive feedback.

Wedding Fever - continues

Thu, 05 May 2011 08:40:00 GMT

Having just emerged from under a pile of rush 'road closure' banners for the Royal Wedding, we are working yet another weekend at the Wedding Fair being held this Saturday in a Chichester Department store. Our banners are very popular for congratulating the new couple or even directional signage now that weddings are being held in increasingly diverse location. So if you are in Chichester on Saturday, come down to A&N's to say hello. You'll find us between ladies' fashion and lingerie!