Posted on Thursday, August 4 2016 in Our Blogs
With Comic-Con over last week, we were excited to see the aftermath and the crazy costumes that come with the much anticipated event. So, we thought it only appropriate to showcase a project we did for Comic-Con for an iconic organization, Charles …
Posted on Thursday, July 28 2016 in Our Blogs
I recently received an e-mail that says, “Think before you print this e-mail, save paper.” Many marketers use this tactic in order to cut their costs, not with the intention to complete any philanthropic crusade. It is a common misconce …
Posted on Thursday, July 21 2016 in Our Blogs
Branding is irrefutably the most important part of marketing a business. It is what sets a business apart from its competition and what will hopefully be its defining feature in its industry. Finding what makes a company unique is something that sh …
Commercial car wraps, van graphics and truck wraps are the most cost efficient advertising you can get as a business. Their cost verses their benefit is scaled heavily toward the latter, and if you decide to enter the world of effective advertising …
Posted on Thursday, July 14 2016 in Our Blogs
At AJ Printing & Graphics and Wine Country Signs (WCS) we are always inspired to write about our industry, but also the ailments and challenges faced by our customers. This topic is something that our graphic designers, freelance marketing profes …
We see a lot of brochures come through our printers and some ultimately stand out more than others. Brochures can be thick displays of products or simple tri-folds meant to tell a branding story. Either way, when a company adds something spec …
Posted on Thursday, June 30 2016 in Our Blogs
In honor of Independent Business Month in July we would like to remind everyone of the numerous benefits that come from buying local. As part of Sonoma County’s Go Local Cooperative we have seen first-hand how buying local impacts our local e …
Posted on Wednesday, June 22 2016 in Our Blogs
Once their marketing materials are off the press, packed and ready to go, many of our friends and clients struggle with distributing them in an effective way. Whether by direct mail, grassroots marketing or leaflet distribution, they want to ensure …
Posted on Wednesday, June 15 2016 in Our Blogs
We all need a little inspiration, whether we are having a bad day, week or month, it is nice to know our little failures are not so detrimental in the big scheme of things. And since we are in the habit of making our clients (and readers) happy in …
Posted on Wednesday, June 8 2016 in Our Blogs
I almost had a heart attack when I heard that a customer recently threatened to leave a negative review on our Yelp page. His dissatisfaction was unavoidable, as any business has experienced, but alas, you can’t keep everyone happy. But when …
Our theme for the past couple weeks has stayed fighting in the corner for direct mail, because it is best time to add it onto your marketing "to-do" lists. With millennials favoring direct mail and the postal service reducing the price last mont …
History has been made and it may have slipped under your nose. Last month marked the first time in over 100 years that the United States Postal Service (USPS) lowered its postage rates. Although only a fraction per package or mailer, when talking a …
We’ve all seen it, and some of us have felt it, the struggle to land the sale, to finally get that meeting with your dream client, and turn weeks, months and maybe years of hard work into a success that finally pays off. The process is expens …
A generation brought up in the world of technology and computers, those that are now running San Francisco tech companies and developing your new favorite app are actually turning, looking and listening to an unexpected medium: direct mail. …
Last week we completed a fun and amazing project at Balance Financial Fitness Program, a financial wellness provider based throughout the Bay Area with locations in San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Oakland and now in Concord. Balance and designer Sheree Ka …
Even if you are terrified and shriek and sulk away when you hear the word “algorithm,” as a marketer or small business owner you need to know about the changes sweeping through Google with its new (somewhat), ahem, algorithm, Pa …
Posted on Thursday, April 21 2016 in Our Blogs
In the age of digital, to some, print looks obsolete. As more marketing is going online it seems as though variable data and direct mail may be falling out of the ROI spectrum. If you think this, you would be mistaken. Although marketing has made t …
Do you ever wonder why some people kick butt at getting things accomplished while others set their dreams big but never seem to achieve them? Are you one of these people? It may surprise you but it has nothing to do with luck or accident. After tal …
Posted on Thursday, April 7 2016 in Our Blogs
It is all too common for marketers to look at content as “one and done.” Meaning you spend boatloads of time and money designing and curating content and picking the right print materials and sending it to all the right people n …
As marketing professionals, we are constantly hearing it again and again- one of the fastest ways to turn a prospective client into someone that will probably never do business with you in the future is to contact them too often in too short of a p …
Our first mixer at our new facility was a success! With over 100 attendees we saw some familiar faces and met some new ones that brought our moving marketing to a new level. We are still seeing the leftovers lingering in our fridge, wine anyone?
The …
Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2016 in Our Blogs
As we start to settle into our new facility and hurriedly prepare for our mixer tomorrow we want to reflect on the marketing we put in motion in order to inform our customers and the public of our expansion. Some tactics were successful, some …
Posted on Thursday, March 17 2016 in Our Blogs
If you’ve ever been on a mountain bike and felt the exhilaration of barreling down some well-worn single-track, you’ve likely also felt the pain of crashing headfirst into a tree. You might've sat there dazed, thinking, “wha …
Posted on Thursday, March 10 2016 in Our Blogs
One of our customers, Digilock, is a large company in Petaluma and most of their marketing consists of tradeshows. And although this is a fading tactic, chances are you have had your turn at tabling an event or working a tradeshow, no matter your ind …
Posted on Thursday, March 3 2016 in Our Blogs
What Your Typography Says About You The term typography does not refer to any one particular type of font, but rather an entire family of fonts. Serif and Sans Serif are two different fonts, for example, but they both belong to the same family. S …
Posted on Thursday, February 25 2016 in Our Blogs
Recently, a prospective client said they wanted to get customers’ attention through non-traditional marketing using printed products. Who knew that in 2016, the printed word would be considered “non-traditional?” We’re sayin …
Posted on Friday, February 19 2016 in Our Blogs
We are moving on up! Or actually just around the corner, but our newest facility is larger and just finished with construction so it kind of feels that way.
We are excited to announce that on February 18 we will be moving into our new facility on 13 …
Posted on Thursday, February 11 2016 in Our Blogs
Any kind of marketing in an economy that is still sluggishly recovering is not easy. But if you think marketing a profitable business is tough, imagine how hard it is for a non-profit that is completely dependent on donations. Dreams4Kids is one su …
Posted on Thursday, February 4 2016 in Our Blogs
We bet you don’t know that you need certain information on your company letterhead in order to stay on the right side of the law. But you do. It is important not only for the obvious reasons but for your business, your brand and your sanity.
1 …
Posted on Thursday, January 28 2016 in Our Blogs
Recently, we experienced some confusion from a business owner on where they should place their window graphics for best viewing. In order to be best seen by their customers and so they can be best seen from the street. Our advice was simple but effec …
Posted on Thursday, January 21 2016 in Our Blogs
People always ask us what the difference between offset printing and digital printing is and when is should be used, so this week we made an easy-to-read infographic to help out. The printing industry can be confusing with words like CMYK and direc …
Posted on Thursday, January 14 2016 in Our Blogs
Product flyers are great for showing off your brand and releasing a new product to your audience. Most often than not it is best to use a graphic designer but we want to show you some basics to get you started in case you want to save a little bit in …
Posted on Thursday, January 7 2016 in Our Blogs
First what is "Smarketing"? HubSpot defines it as the alignment between your sales and marketing teams created through frequent and direct communication between the two. But I would just say the love (and goals) are finally met between the tw …
Posted on Wednesday, January 6 2016 in Our Blogs
Instead of the written word this week, we are giving you a much needed break (because you are probably back from vacation) and showcasing this week with our Product Spotlight Video: AJ Printing & Graphics Calendar 2016. This monthly video series …
Posted on Wednesday, December 23 2015 in Our Blogs
What do you think of when you think of printing? I know that what probably pops into your mind first is your home HP printer and how much it frustrates you when it jams one simple document. Or maybe that is me. Most business owners think of busines …
Posted on Thursday, December 17 2015 in Our Blogs
With the holidays coming up next week we now finally have a chance to breathe, but if you are still scrambling take a minute to read this and hopefully you will feel so inclined to give back this year. Every year we send out a holiday gift card to al …
Posted on Thursday, December 10 2015 in Our Blogs
When using images keep with high resolution images 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher. With some large format signs you can get away with 72 dpi but ask before committing to that image in your print materials. Note that you cannot change a 72 …
Posted on Friday, December 4 2015 in Our Blogs
We recently took a survey among our customers, wondering how important print and signage is to them and their overall marketing efforts. We found that over 80 percent said that it was “Very Important,” while the remaining few said it wa …
Posted on Wednesday, November 25 2015 in Our Blogs
This year AJ Printing & Graphics and Wine Country Signs is excited to sponsor the Winter Lights Celebration and the Business Lighting Competition alongside the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and the Press Democrat. This is the first year the …
Posted on Thursday, November 19 2015 in Our Blogs
Featured Project: AJ Printing & Graphics and SR Photographic Society Calendar
Yay! It’s finally here and we are beyond excited because after months of layout, graphic design work and creative we have come up with the perfect final product …
Posted on Thursday, November 12 2015 in Our Blogs
Point-of-sale displays are essential for any consumer packaged goods (CPG) business, wine or consumer targeted business, whether this be in your own local store or in retail stores across the country. How they are designed says another thing, whether …
Posted on Thursday, November 5 2015 in Our Blogs
The title of this blog may make you snore, but it could be something that could make or break your marketing efforts. Analytics, of course, is a very broad term, and in marketing could mean in-depth website and SEO analytics or something as basic a …
Posted on Thursday, October 29 2015 in Our Blogs
We've got your Halloween treats covered with this next one...
Recently, I got the idea for this blog after a colleague of mine got really excited over some post-it notes that came on a mini-wooden crate (this is certainly something only someone in …
Posted on Thursday, October 15 2015 in Our Blogs
As you finally get a much needed rest from your summer events and marketing, you’ll soon be spearheading your holiday marketing efforts. In order to get ahead of your competition, it is imperative to start early, planning out a key goal …
Posted on Thursday, September 24 2015 in Our Blogs
As a continuation from the blog last week and our emphasis on images, we couldn't get it out of our mind so we decided to draft this unbelievably amazing infographic for you to show you just how fun and appealing they are and of course the topic had …
Posted on Thursday, September 17 2015 in Our Blogs
Whether you are a restaurant, a winery or a storage supply owner you always want to be on your customers’ mind by promoting yourself and the product you supply that they “cannot live without.” If your customers live across the count …
Posted on Thursday, September 10 2015 in Our Blogs
This week marks the end of our project with the Council on Aging Meals on Wheels new vehicle graphics and we have to say we love how they turned out! We just finished the last vehicle on Wednesday, and after a new logo and a new colorful look the thr …
Posted on Thursday, September 3 2015 in Our Blogs
So I am sure you’ve heard it. On Tuesday, Google unveiled its new logo and one day later Verizon showcased theirs. Big news by the way: two multi-billion dollar companies that haven’t change their logos in 16 and 15 years respectively are …
Posted on Thursday, August 27 2015 in Our Blogs
What a Vehicle Wraps Can Say and Do For Your Business
You can’t deny that our world is ever more visual. Everyone loves visual content. It is even hard-wired into our brains, so it is essential as a business to take advantage of the visual wor …
Posted on Thursday, August 20 2015 in Our Blogs
In an age of get it fast and cheap, where business cards can be bought in an instant it may be better to slow down, ask and expert and get a brand that will last and make an impression on your clients that will keep them coming back.
I was a …
Posted on Thursday, August 13 2015 in Our Blogs
Keeping your company brand fresh and relevant is essential to your business’ success. What is the first thing that people recognize about a company? It’s logo. Nike and Coca-Cola are examples of this. Their logo is synonymous with …
Posted on Thursday, July 30 2015 in Our Blogs
After decades of preforming vehicle graphics and wraps we have compiled a master list that includes the 5 most common mistakes businesses make when deciding to have a vehicle wrap or graphic.
Vehicle wraps and graphics can be extremely benefic …
Posted on Thursday, July 23 2015 in Our Blogs
With Ecommerce no small business has to be small anymore. Now you can buy products online and even customize those products all from the comfort of your own home. This opens a huge door for small businesses that we didn't have before.
Now, can alway …
1. Lack of Contrast
Designing with colors that blend into the environment and/or don't have a lot of color. Always design signs with an element of color in order for them to stand out in their environment. If your building color is black, use a lig …
Knowing Key Printing Terms
When it comes to printing, there are many things that can make the process go more smoothly for both you as the customer and us as the printer. Knowing printing materials and lingo can help complete your project faster a …
5 Reasons Why Printing Is Here To Stay...
Even in the Digital Age
With increasing images between social media, e-mail and everything online it seems as though things may be shifting for your marketing but here are five reasons why print will never …
Sarah Giometti from Provaro Marketing in Rohnert Park kicked off our new monthly podcast, “Marketing Your Small Business,” discussing everything from social media tactics to branding strategies and tips for event planning. Eve …
Posted on Thursday, June 25 2015 in Our Blogs
In a day and age where more and more people get their news online and viewers can easily change the channel, traditional forms of advertising such as newspapers and television commercials are quickly losing their effectiveness. While billboards and o …
Posted on Thursday, June 18 2015 in Our Blogs
How Can I Get More for Less?
Whether you're a marketing guru or just starting out, printing is a large part of your marketing efforts and budget, and there may be things that you're missing that could optimize your sales. Making the right choices …
Throughout the years we have made an effort to contribute to Sonoma County’s long list of non-profits totaling thousands of dollars and countless hours of work. In the past, we worked with organizations like Social Advocates for Youth and who a …
The best advertising and marketing doesn't rely on just one type of advertising. Using verious strategies can keep your audience interested and attract new clients. Be careful to use specific techniques that work with your companies' brand and messag …
Sandra Lee of Healdsburg, CA and owner of Gorgeous Grape Girls won our Visa Gift Card Giveaway! The Contest ran throughout the month of May for our clients, friends, family and local community. We had more than 80 entries from the Santa Rosa …
Planning an event can and will be time consuming, tiring, and sometimes very difficult when approached without a thoughtful marketing plan. Getting your marketing materials just right can give your event the professionalism it may need to drive parti …
This week marks our 37th birthday in Sonoma County! AJ Printing & Graphics opened in 1978 and we have enjoyed every year! Time flies when you're having fun printing signage and more for wonderful customers while watching their businesses gro …
As the printing industry moves forward, we are constantly expanding our abilities and investing in new technology to bring our customers the highest possible quality signs, banners, booklets, and more. At our shop in Santa Rosa, we here at AJ Printin …
The strategy can be half the battle. "The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself," Peter F. Drucker. But how can one achieve this? Exposure is key but creating your next sign, …
As members of the printing industry at Wine Country Signs and AJ Printing & Graphics, we are invested everyday in where the print industry is going. You might be interested too when you hear about the new innovative technologies in the print …
AJ Printing and Graphics has recently joined with Wine Country Signs as its' sister company so now you can come to one place to make a banner, deck out your company vehicles or produce business forms and brochures.
AJ Print …
Environmental Practices
Earth Day is a great way to learn and educate others about environmentally friendly practices and share new ways to help keep the Earth clean and beautiful. The simple fact is higher populations and an increasingly large …
Why are we called Wine Country Signs? We are located smack-dab in the middle of wine country, and frankly, we can't get enough of Sonoma County wine! Along with AJ Printing and Graphics, located in Santa Rosa, California, we are in the midst of award …
Outdoor signs can be exposed to a lot of wear and tear. At Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa, we know how important it is to you that your signage be correct. We have a lot of experience with both interior and exterior signs and know which materi …
Posted on Friday, February 20 2015 in Our Blogs
Every client is valuable to us and we always strive to leave behind customers who are happy with their signs, banners, graphics, or whichever of our many services they require. We love new customers, but it is always a special privilege for …
Posted on Friday, January 16 2015 in Our Blogs
We specialize in many things here at Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa, and are therefore able to fulfill all sorts of different needs. One of our recent projects gave us the opportunity to exercise many different aspects of our sign making abilities. …
Posted on Friday, January 9 2015 in Our Blogs
At Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa, we do our part to make your business look good. If you know you want a great sign, banner, window graphic, or other product to show off your business but you aren't sure how to design, we can help. Just like it sa …
Posted on Friday, December 26 2014 in Our Blogs
If you're in the market for an amazing backdrop for your event, look no further! At Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa we pride ourselves on being a one stop shop. We do everything in our power to make your project a success and to make your job easier …
Posted on Friday, December 19 2014 in Our Blogs
Vehicle graphics are one of the most cost effective forms of advertising. While a television or radio ad may reach hundreds or even thousands for the amount you pay out, a vehicle wrap or graphic can reach even more for a much smaller investment, giv …
Posted on Saturday, December 13 2014 in Our Blogs
Here at Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa we do everything possible to meet the needs of our clients. If you need a sign for your building, we've got you covered. We are a one stop shop for all your signage needs. Whether you're looking for indoor sig …
Posted on Friday, December 5 2014 in Our Blogs
Here at Wine Country Signs in Santa Rosa, we are proud to say that we get a lot of repeat business. Why? Because we always do our best to give exceptional service and return the best finished product possible, whether it be signs, banners, vehicles w …
Posted on Friday, November 21 2014 in Our Blogs
At Wine Country Signs we have a varied history of incredible customers whom we have supplied with signs, banners, vehicle graphics, and more. Take a look at our blog for information on just a few of our projects and past customers.
For this pro …
Posted on Friday, November 14 2014 in Our Blogs
Unique graphics and eye-catching signs and banners help make any business a success. At Wine Country Signs we wanted exactly that for Q-Zar Laser Tag, which is why we made high quality digital prints and signs for their new business location. The own …
Posted on Thursday, July 24 2014 in Our Blogs
You may have seen some of our signs and banners or even ordered them for yourself or your company, but you may still be surprised by the diversity of projects we've done! For example, our recent project for Extreme Catering is a shining illustration …
Wine Country Signs is all about amazing graphics. We do all sorts of unique projects for various clients. One of our recent successes was installing vehicle graphics for Vintage Tree Care Inc. Fred Frey originally contacted us about doing graphics on …
Posted on Thursday, July 17 2014 in Our Blogs
Whether you need something eye catching or something more professional and reserved, Wine Country Signs has the experience necessary to get your project done the way it should be. While we do projects such as traffic signs, decals, and construction s …