See the Possibilities, Not the Problems, and Stand Out from the Competition

Are you ready for anything?

It’s a question worth asking. More often than not, “anything” comes along when we least expect it.

Recently a client of ours was faced with that reality. His company had struck a deal with a national distributor to place product displays in the stores of a major chain. At the eleventh hour, despite a thorough process of testing, and having had input on the design, the distributor cited an unexpected concern and backed out of the deal.

The effect could have been devastating. My colleague’s company had changed the dimensions of their display specifically to suit the store chain’s requirements. They had thousands of displays already completed and ready to go—but nowhere to place them. They were facing the prospect of a severe financial loss.

Then along came another national store chain—this time, with no distributor in the middle. They loved the displays and said the new dimensions were perfect for their shelves. The two parties came to an agreement, and my colleague’s company had an even better deal than before.

Too often, we look at a negative event as if the window of opportunity has been forever closed. The reality, however, is that most of the time when one door closes another opens, and a new opportunity is born. Many times, that new opportunity is better than the one that came before.

I’ve mentioned before how Dave Hess and I were both designers when we started Creative Source. As the business grew, client demands created tighter and tighter deadlines, and we found it increasingly difficult to get things printed on time. So we invested in our own printing equipment. And that led to a change in our business; today, we work with some of the leading advertising agencies and corporate marketing departments in the region, helping their designers by printing and installing the signs, displays, decals and other graphic productions they create.

Today, our business is much different than the one Dave and I began with almost two decades ago, but it’s also a much better one.

Have you experienced what you thought was a major setback? Lost a customer? Watched as a deal fell apart right before your eyes?

Put it behind you. Look for the opportunities that lie in the road just ahead. What you choose to do in the face of adversity will make a profound difference, and may just help you stand out from your competition in ways you never expected.

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source. Clients looking for sign companies in Canton, Ohio

and the surrounding region look to Mike and his staff for creative marketing solutions.

Floor Your Customers with the Right Graphics in the Right Place

The key to more sales may be right under your feet. And everybody else’s.

I’m talking about floor decals, and here’s why.

I recently read about a new phenomenon that doctors are calling “iSlouch.” No kidding; people are hunched over so much, looking at their smart phones and other electronic devices, that it’s leading to back and neck problems.

Doctors are also warning their patients that so much time spent looking down at their techno-gadgets can shorten the neck muscles, increase the gravitational pull on the jowl area, and result in a drooping jawline—what’s being called a “smartphone face.”

Now, I’m not here to prescribe medical solutions for millions of Americans who are exhibiting these habits. What I am here to suggest is that this phenomenon represents an opportunity. If people are looking down so much, why not put your message where they’ll see it?

Floor decals are an often-overlooked method of displaying a name, logo, brand or message. They’re made of durable, slip- and scuff-resistant vinyl that holds up well under foot traffic and prominently displays your message right where people are looking: Down. They’re colorful and creative and can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes.

No, I’m not trying to add another new condition (decal droop, perhaps?) to the list. But the fact is, people are looking down more. Why not put your message there?

Next time you’re out, look at the people all around you, and see for yourself why floor decals could be just the thing to help you stand out in the marketplace.

‘Everywhere a Sign’ – So Make Yours Stand Out

Banners, signs and displays are everywhere—but are people getting the message?

Have you ever been driving down the road and spotted a sign with so many words on it that you don’t know where to begin reading?

You glance over, decide “I can’t read all that!” and turn your attention back to the road in front of you.

The sign might have been colorful, or contained a strong visual—maybe a photo, or a logo. But, because it tried to do too much, the message got lost.

We see it all the time in our business.

It’s been estimated that we’re bombarded with 2,000 images a day. In larger cities like New York, that number jumps to as many as 5,000. Sides of buses. Floors. Windows. Pens. Receipts. Websites. Shopping bags. You name it—if there’s space available, it probably has a sign or an image or an advertisement on it.

We’re battling sensory overload. That’s why, when it comes to your banners, signs and displays, it’s important to communicate quickly and clearly.

On one hand, the “tricks of the trade” aren’t tricks at all. They’re common sense. Shape, size, color and location all affect visibility. Ignore any one of them, and you’ve got problems.

Likewise, the font you choose, and the size you make it, affect readability.

On the other hand, you’d be surprised at the number of companies that take a do-it-yourself approach when it comes to graphically displaying their message. Knowing what message you want to convey is one thing; knowing how to do it effectively is another.

At Creative Source, we pride ourselves in being experts in the creation and printing of banners, signs and displays that cut through the clutter and reach your intended audience. We’ve been in the business for 30 years and know what works and why.

Standing out and getting your message noticed doesn’t have to be a mystery. It just has to be done right.

With so many messages competing for our attention every day, that can make all the difference.

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source. Clients looking for sign companies in Canton, Ohio

and the surrounding region look to Mike and his staff for creative marketing solutions.

To Thine Own Self Be True

I turn down work all the time.

Sound crazy? It’s not, and it shouldn’t be for you, either.

At Creative Source, we do certain things very well: Banners. Displays. Graphics.

We do them professionally, accurately and quickly. Clients looking for sign companies in Canton, Ohio and the surrounding region come to us for visual marketing solutions. These include shopping malls, banks, hospitals, schools, doctors, dentists, lawyers, manufacturers and more.

Dave Hess and I broke into the business two decades ago at Camelot Music, in the marketing and advertising department.  A big part of our job was to design and produce signs, displays and banners for more than 400 retail stores nationwide.

Along the way we learned that more than 90 percent of communication is non-verbal. What’s more, we humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. How many times have you heard people say, “I’ll believe it when I see it?” That’s not just a saying; it’s the truth.

We capitalize on that fact by producing great graphics for our clients.

So why do I turn down work? Because sometimes people ask me if we produce advertising campaigns. Or radio commercials. Or websites. And I tell them no.

Could we? Maybe. Probably. But that’s not who we are.

At Creative Source, we’ve found that the key to standout performance is to know what we do, and do it better than anyone else.

Banners. Displays. Graphics. We’re a one-stop shop for creative visual solutions.

Is your brand clearly defined? If not, identify the key products or services that propel your business forward, and focus on those.

We can’t be all things to all people. But if we’re the right things to the right people, we have a better chance of standing out and being a success.

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source. Clients looking for sign companies in Canton, Ohio

and the surrounding region come to Mike and his staff for creative marketing solutions.

At Golf Outings, Low Scores Aren't the Only Way to Stand Out

I played in a golf outing recently, and was reminded that sometimes, in order to stand out, you have to fit in.

It was a beautiful day on a beautiful course that is the centerpiece of a prestigious country club. Teams representing businesses and organizations from Ohio and beyond assembled early in the morning to shake off the cobwebs, warm up, and embark on a day of fun, food, and fellowship.

My company sponsored a foursome, and it included colleagues from the sales training, web design, and public relations fields. Other foursomes included the usual list of suspects: bankers, attorneys, accountants, contractors, craftsmen, corporate executives, salespeople, union representatives and more.

Golf outings are held to raise money and awareness. You end up spending most of the day with your group, which makes it easy to miss the big picture. Because outings provide remarkable opportunities for networking, learning and listening.

How many times a year do you have the opportunity to cross paths with so many fellow professionals in such a relaxed, intimate setting? To be honest, golf was the last thing on my mind. I enjoy the game, but I’m no PGA pro. What interested me most was the opportunity to meet and converse with a diverse group of business professionals.

Those opportunities were seemingly few and far between: early in the morning as players arrived; during a lunch break on the turn; in the clubhouse for drinks after our round; and at the dinner that concluded the event. In truth, however, those moments provided me with the chance to interact with others and find out more about their businesses.

It’s not the time for blatant sales pitches. Networking never is. But it’s a great place to meet people, learn about them, and let them know you’re interested.

And that’s the key—showing interest in others. You can’t do that if you’re always off on your own, or hiding in the shadows somewhere, keeping to yourself.  Standout performance is about more than just showing up. It’s important to put yourself right in the middle of the crowd, where you can meet people and truly interact in a social setting.

I’ve written before about how I had to learn to get out into the community and spread the message about Creative Source and our brand. I had to get out of my comfort zone and literally learn to fit in with others.

Golf outings aren’t the only way to do that, but they’re definitely one of the best. If you’re trying to build your brand, look for ways to do it with more than just your work. Participate in community activities, events, and organizations. Look for opportunities to interact with people in the business community on a personal level. In addition to helping others through your participation, you’ll stand out in the minds of your business partners and prospects.

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source,

a marketing solutions company in Canton, Ohio. Click here to visit them online.

Don’t Be Just Another Orange Barrel

It’s that time of year again, when the orange barrels are back out in full force on Ohio’s roads. Once winter subsides, road construction is the norm across the state.

In fact, we become so accustomed to it that we hardly notice they’re there. Depending on where we live and work, we pass by hundreds, sometimes thousands, on a daily basis. They’re little more than an orange blur.

So we take them for granted. They’re unremarkable. No single barrel stands out.

But what if one did? What if one barrel along the side of the road was different? What if it was a different color, with a different colored flashing light? I bet you’d notice.

And that got me to thinking: It’s no different with your business. If you don’t do something to stand out, you’ll be lost in the marketplace—just like those orange barrels get lost along the highway.

So what are you doing to make your customers notice you? What are you doing to make sure your message gets through? It’s all about branding—about making your name and your business memorable.

It’s a noisy world out there, and a competitive one. What are you doing to stand out?

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source,

a marketing solutions company in Canton, Ohio. Click here to visit them online.

Stand Up, Speak Up, and Stand Out

Toastmasters? What’s a "toastmaster"?

If you’ve ever wondered that, you’re not alone. So did I, at one time. But before your mind wanders off to an image of a cook buttering toast at the local diner, let me explain.

Toastmasters International has been around since 1924. It’s a non-profit organization that operates clubs worldwide that are designed to help members improve their public speaking and leadership skills.

It’s that last part – “improve their public speaking and leadership skills” – that drew me to a local Toastmasters chapter a few years ago.

Mike Boyd (L) and Dave Hess of Creative Source.*

Our business was growing at Creative Source, and, as president, I had to grow, too. We wanted to be known for more than just signs, displays and banners. We wanted to be known as a business resource for creative branding solutions of all kinds.

That required changing our message, and communicating it to our target market. In addition to joining Toastmasters, I participated in sales training sessions and began networking anywhere and with everyone I could.

Here’s the kicker: At the time, I thought I was doing all of that for me. And, to some extent, I was. Over time, however, I realized that the training I was going through was also putting me in a position help others.

Ultimately, that’s the most important part. Because it’s when we help others, and mentor others, that we truly stand out.

That really hit home for me when my daughter went off to college at Ohio State. She’s graduated now, but back then—due in large part to the new perspective I was gaining—I was able to describe college to her from a different viewpoint.

“This is the biggest networking event of your life,” I told her. “Every day you’ll be in the middle of 50,000 students, plus countless professionals who can help you get the most out of your college experience. Make the most of it.”

Instead of just thinking of college as a place where she could take some classes and party with friends, she followed my advice and built relationships throughout her four years there. Now, she works in communications for the university and is applying to graduate school.

We can have the same effect on everyone we come in contact with. Call it giving back. Or paying it forward. Whatever terminology we want to use, the key is sharing our knowledge and experience to benefit others.

That’s the kind of thing I’ve learned through organizations like Toastmasters. Stand up. Speak up. Turn your focus outward instead of inward. Not only will you be better for it, but the benefit you provide to others will make you truly stand out in the marketplace.

*Photo courtesy The Repository, Canton Ohio

MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source,

a marketing solutions company in Canton, Ohio. Click here to visit them online.