Month: June 2024

Brand consistency embodies the manner in which an organization communicates its core values, brand identity, and perceived quality. Regarded as a foundation of branding, it holds immense significance; not only does it elevate brand recognition, but it also cultivates a cohesive experience for both existing and prospective customers.

With each company’s visual identity consisting of several complex and delicate intangible elements, great care must be taken to ensure that a brand’s messages remain consistent across every channel. Often, we see companies go wrong when they begin outsourcing different elements of their branding to various companies. For example, company ABC might engage business AX to deliver their digital screens, business BX for the software that will be installed on these displays, and business CX for their outdoor signage.

While many see no problem with this sort of approach, there is one underlying issue that stems from involving multiple brands in the branding process – consistency. Objectively, there is a small element of subjectivity in branding – one’s perception of a brand is influenced by a range of personal characteristics that are unique to them. While this is not an inherently negative issue, problems begin to occur when key stakeholders who are involved in the creation of your brand’s visual identity are all working for different outsourced companies – each one with a slightly different perception of what your brand is looking to portray.

The CV value add

CV Media & Signage have steadily grown to become one of Australia’s most trusted providers of visual solutions. Our all-encompassing service is designed to cater to businesses seeking tailored visual solutions, whether in the realm of digital or static signage. Collaborating closely with our clients, we craft optimal signage solutions, while our dedicated project management team oversees every aspect of the journey, from inception to delivery.

What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to in-house production, executed within our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Brisbane. By harnessing the collective expertise of our nationally based team and local workforce, we minimize reliance on third-party involvement. This approach not only ensures an unparalleled level of control over production but also fosters brand consistency— a cornerstone of effective visual communication. Continuously evolving alongside technological advancements, we regularly upgrade our machinery, enhancing our capabilities to work with an extensive range of materials. If you’re eager to discover how our top-tier visual solutions can enhance your brand while ensuring steadfast consistency, do not hesitate to get in touch.

Engaged employees are the backbone of any successful business. Research by Gallop suggests that organisations whose employees are in the 99^th percentile of engagement are four times more effective than those who boast employee engagement rates in the 1^st percentile.

Though with only 13% of the global workforce engaged, the million-dollar question becomes; ‘How can I engage my employees?’ Research suggests that the answer is internal communication; workers need to know the what and the why of your business. Essentially, by understanding what the company stands for, employees will begin to realise their role in helping the brand grow.

While an internal communications strategy has traditionally consisted of e-mail campaigns and newsletters, the digital transformation of the early 2020’s has seen a multitude of businesses take on an alternative approach with internalised digital signage fast becoming the norm. Here are 3 reasons why your business should consider using digital signage as a part of its internal communications strategy.

Demonstrate appreciation for employees

As previously stated, a lack of communication is one of the most common issues that exists in modern workplaces. Many employees feel like cogs in a machine and are often upset by the fact that their concerns are not taken seriously by management.

Fortunately, office-based digital signage provides businesses with an opportunity to demonstrate employee appreciation through two-way communication. For example, a handful of progressive businesses regularly ask workers for suggestions on how the company could be better run and display the best ideas on a central screen in the office. While something like this may be a relatively simplistic idea, it is a fantastic way for corporations to demonstrate appreciation to employees.

Seamlessly spread information

In order to maximise business efficiency, many corporations aim to ensure that their employees are aware of any major organisational changes within the business. While manually telling workers about change is relatively straightforward when the team consists of 10 people, a large-scale corporation with multiple offices will obviously have trouble undertaking a similar approach. Additionally, with the average employee receiving 121 e-mails per day, important messages can often get completely disregarded.

An increasingly popular solution for these issues is internalised digital signage. Often placed in an optimal area of the building, these screens are used to detail company announcements and are effective in ensuring that a message is seamlessly passed around.

Simplify the meeting room booking system

Businesses that install dynamic meeting related signage outside certain rooms allow employees to easily see information such as;

• Status of a meeting room
• Availability

Additionally, some more advanced systems allow employees to interact with the screen, and book, end, or extend meetings. While these devices may be relatively simplistic, they are ultimately effective in boosting productivity and communication and generally promote a more simplistic work environment.

CV Services Group is a business that understands the functional benefits that can arise from implementing modern meeting room systems. By utilising these systems within their facilities, the company is able to drive productivity and facilitate a higher degree of operational efficiency.

In a world where employee engagement is essential to a brand’s success, the importance of an effective internal communications strategy should not be overlooked. With digital signage possessing a recall rate of over 80%, it is unsurprising that many companies are beginning to base their internal communications strategy around internalised digital signage.

When scanning out upon the urban skyline, it is practically impossible to miss the corporate high-rise signage that tends to dominate the horizon. Often considered to be a demonstration of success and status, placing your logo on the face of a skyscraper can reinforce your presence in a certain area. With their unrivalled visibility, these solutions tend to demand attention from several thousand people each day, making them one of the most effective advertising mediums on the market. Here’s why sky signage is crucial for any business that is serious about elevating its brand.

Maximising exposure

The word ‘impactful’ is exceptionally telling when speaking about the effect of sky signs. These assertive solutions are more than capable of attracting eyes from afar and are exceptionally effective in helping a business make a strong first impression.

It is important to note that the impact made by these solutions is not necessarily confined to the daytime. Upon request, sky signs can be produced with high output LED modules to make sure that a powerful glow is emitted long after the sun goes down.

Developing brand awareness

Sky signage, quite literally, can take your brand to new heights. Research suggests that on average, it takes 5 to 7 impressions for a person to remember your brand. Fortunately, due to the prominent nature of high-rise solutions, it is relatively easy to instil your brand’s logo and name into many thousands of minds within a matter of weeks.

These repeat impressions of your brand are so crucial because familiarity equates to value. Over 70% of consumers state that it is either ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ important that they recognise a brand before making a purchase. With this in mind, it can be theorised that there is a link between high-quality sky signage and company revenue.

Durability

Due to their obvious lack of accessibility, it is crucial that sky signs are produced with a focus on longevity and resilience. CV Media & Signage take great care in ensuring that your sky signs are built to last. With an experienced team that are comfortable undertaking delicate high-rise projects, we aim to ensure that your solution will never need replacing.

Latest work

Ausenco

Founded in Brisbane back in 1991, Ausenco is a multinational company that specialises in engineering, consulting, project delivery and asset operations & optimisation. In 2021, CV delivered a premium, vertically positioned logo along the southern wall of Ausenco’s facility. This placement was chosen to maximise visibility from drivers on the M3 Pacific Motorway. With each letter covering a space of 0.75 x 0.86m and the entire sign spanning 1.06 x 7.2m, Ausenco’s new visual solution has created a strong first impression on passers-by. Due to its fabricated halo illuminated finish, the logo emits a powerful glow at night and stands out in the bustling inner-city suburb of South Bank.

Ronald McDonald foundation

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that serves to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the well-being and health of children. CV Media & Signage were engaged by RMHC to deliver an exterior signage solution at the charity’s South Brisbane location. The team delivered two pieces of signage with one apiece on the building’s eastern and western facing walls. These locations were strategically chosen due to the fact that they face both inbound and outbound traffic. Illuminated flex face solutions were used for both walls, primarily due to the fact these signs are exceptionally effective at capturing attention. These bespoke solutions span 9m x 4.5m and 6m x 3m respectively, making them virtually unmissable to passers-by.

If you are in the market for a high-quality sky sign that will allow your brand to make a bold statement, please do not hesitate to contact CV Media & Signage.

While the physical retail model was already undergoing structural changes even before COVID, the post pandemic successes of online giants such as Amazon and eBay have forced traditional brick & mortar stores into drastic alterations of their service propositions. Here’s how retailers are redefining the customer experience to stay competitive with online counterparts.

Immersion
The nation’s most innovative retailers have been starting to place a bigger emphasis on immersion to evoke emotion and drive sales. In a retail environment, this term encompasses the use of futuristic technologies such as virtual and augmented reality to create a personalised, customer-centric shopping experience. It is effectively an extension of the term ‘retailtainment’ which was coined in 1999 to describe how ambience, emotion, sound, and activity get customers in the mood to purchase merchandise.

Sporting giant Rebel was one of the first Australian retailers to showcase the true capabilities of in-store immersion through their RCX (Rebel Customer Experience) concept stores. After contracting CV Media & Signage for comprehensive fit outs in their first two RCX locations, the team delivered a large array of futuristic digital assets such as video walls, LED hero displays, digital screens, and LED tickers. The result? Inspiring and highly engaging stores that have taken the meaning of experience-based retail to a new level.

Despite the perceived threat to brick & mortar stores, Rebel’s new shopping utopias have shown that physical retail does still have a future as long as it utilises the one advantage that it has over online shopping – a tangible experience.

Interactivity

While immersion is all about creating new touch points, the nation’s most inventive retailers are also becoming more obsessed about refining their existing ones. Put simply, market-leading brands are focused on optimising the customer experience for young tech-savvy consumers. Raised in a rapidly evolving time where ‘the customer is always right’, this group naturally have much higher service expectations than previous generations.

To please this group, today’s retailers are upgrading their existing signs into purposeful modern systems that simplify and streamline the customer journey.  A perfect example of this can be seen by looking at the case of Andersens – to connect with ‘digital natives’, the Australian flooring giant engaged CV Media & Signage to deliver over forty freestanding 49” touch screen displays across many of its stores. These interactive solutions allow Andersens’ customers to seamlessly obtain information and perform actions. Perhaps most importantly however, these digital signs help the retailer to form a stronger connection with younger generations. With 60% of millennials stating that they prefer to use in-store kiosks than speak to staff, Andersens is clearly doing its part to drive customer satisfaction.

Minimalism

While it may not be as exciting as the previously mentioned trends, minimalist signage is continuing to make waves in the retail industry with its elegance and simplicity helping brands to stand out amongst a crowd in which competitors are screaming for attention. The loud, in-your-face marketing communications with flashy colour themes are simply not appealing to the masses anymore; while maximalist advertising had its time, the modern consumer wants companies to connect with them by combining minimal design elements with a powerful yet succinct message.

With retail design elements being a crucial determinant of consumer satisfaction, companies need to be proactive in ensuring that they are keeping up to date with the latest fads. With regards to the year of 2022, research suggests that the most topical trends are unsurprisingly to do with technology and minimalism.

Pylon signs are one of the most effective and versatile marketing tools in the book. When used correctly they have the ability to transform a business, giving you a competitive edge. Due to their large presence, these signs can catch the eyes of customers from metres away. Pylon signs not only gain exposure for your business, but they provide an effective way to build brand awareness, recognition and value – the list goes on. Street front signage, like this one, allows businesses that don’t share street frontage an effective form of exposure.

So, you have a Pylon sign – great! But what makes yours stand out from the next?

Digitalisation!

Without detracting from your sign’s original aesthetics, the digital component aims to provide a fresh outlook on your brand while building your customers’ value perception. Through the years, static pylon signage has evolved and improved dramatically but there is no improvement better than digitalisation. Digital pylon signs allow businesses to change their content regularly, showing a desire to meet customers’ needs, wants and demands.

Financial benefits

While the initial costs of installing the digital element to your pylon sign may be high, the ROI is almost a sure thing. Digitalising your pylon sign can be one of the most effective ways to drive revenue. Unlike static signage, digital signage can easily be changed remotely; saving the time and money it would normally cost to engage someone to directly modify the sign.

Increased visibility and viewer engagement

There is no doubt that anything digital automatically adds to the overall visual appeal. Needless to say, a digital pylon is more visually appealing and therefore be more likely to attract customers. Digital signage can display multiple messages, moving images and engaging graphics to encourage customer interaction. The LED component will also ensure visibility through all hours of the day and night, giving a business 24/7 exposure.

Environmental impact

Shifting from static to digital pylon signage is an environmentally conscious business move. Consumers are becoming increasingly more receptive to socially responsible businesses. Transitioning to a more sustainable form of signage signifies to customers that their beliefs/values are respected. This will only create a more positive relationship with customers and in turn increase ROI.

Where to start? As experts in the signage industry, CV Media & Signage are no strangers to a job like this. We recently worked on a project with Re-Grow Property in Aspley, updating the static pylon sign at Robinson Road Marketplace to incorporate double-sided P6 LED displays. The digitalised pylon sign now catches the eyes of patrons passing through both sides of the busy Robinson Road.

As featured on Unwrap LFRA here.

As LCD display technology continued to evolve in the late 2000’s, many industry titans began to expand their range of products to include bespoke solutions for indoor and outdoor screen advertising. In these situations, multiple screens were linked together to create a large-scale digital broadcast.

By the early 2010’s, LCD displays dominated the market. Not long after, big players began to introduce fine pitch LED displays to the commercial market. With these energy efficient displays boasting display resolutions and wider dynamic ranges, LED began to be seen as a much more advantageous option for brands that were looking to optimise the consumer viewing experience. Nowadays, these solutions dominate the digital signage market with a range of display options allowing consumers to experience complete customisation.

Let’s take a brief look into how LED came to be. LED (Light Emitting Diode) has evolved significantly over the past 20 years. From originally being made up of a single colour diode, LED now uses a cluster of red, green and blue diodes to form full-colour pixels. This evolution also saw the pitch improve from 30mm through to the current industry standards. This has brought LED from primarily being a large format, long to medium distance viewed solution to the ultra-fine LCD substitute we now experience.

Being such a sophisticated fixture, it is not uncommon to get confused over the many different variables. This article will focus on one area of customisation – a screen’s pixel pitch. This article will help in making a categorical decision as to whether your business’s digital vision can best be fulfilled by utilising P1, P3, or P6 technology.

P1 – an overview

As the name suggests, a P1 display consists of 1mm modules that work together to deliver an exceptionally sharp image. These displays are perfect for companies that are looking for a premium, crystal-clear solution and are designed to be seen in close quarters – with an ideal viewing distance of around 1 to 2 metres. Businesses commonly use these screens to communicate in high foot traffic locations.

The Gold Tower

The Gold Tower is a perfect example of P1 technology being used to great effect. After engaging CV Media & Signage for a solution that would help visitors navigate their way through the 35-floor building, the team delivered a pair of unique P1.9 LED displays in the reception area on the building’s ground level.

P3 – an overview

With an ideal viewing distance of around 3 to 6 metres, P3 displays are best suited to businesses that are looking for premium medium-sized displays. Versatile and able to excel in a wide range of situations, these screens present companies with a range of fantastic advertising opportunities.

On The Run

CV Media & Signage recently delivered a range of bespoke P3 solutions for Australian convenience store chain On The Run. Placed in strategically superior locations, the company has used these displays to promote its offerings as well as gain an additional revenue stream by selling advertising slots to external companies.

P6 – an overview

With a pixel density of 6mm and an ideal viewing distance of between 6 to 12 metres. These LED modules are comparatively a much bigger than the previously mentioned solutions and therefore, it should come as no surprise that P6 solutions are generally used by businesses who are seeking large-scale screens that will demand attention from a mass audience.

AOSCo

The AOSCo digital billboard in Newmarket, Brisbane is a great representation of P6 technology being used effectively. Located on the ever-busy Enoggera Road, this CV Media & Signage solution spans a monstrous 9.3 metres wide and 3 metres high.

It is not a question of whether your business needs an LED screen, the decision is simply which one will be best suited to your business. Contact the experts at CV Media & Signage.

A pylon sign is typically described as a freestanding outdoor structure that is supported by one or two poles. Due to their simplicity, size and visibility, these signs are used to great effect by companies in a range of different industries.

One of the most well-known examples is the service station sector. Today, almost every metropolitan petrol station across the country has at least one pylon in use. While most of these modern pylons utilise new-age content management systems and vibrant LED backlighting techniques, it’s important to remember that this wasn’t always the case. Let’s look back at the evolution of the petrol station pylons.

Early 1900’s

In the early 1900’s, soon after automobiles became more widely adopted, the first “drive-in filling stations” began to pop up. These hubs were introduced to reduce traffic congestion and provide an easier customer experience. While these early gas stations were functional, they unsurprisingly lacked signage with most utilising nothing more than a basic pylon showing off the station’s brand and a small, ground-level board sign to detail prices.

Late 1970’s

While the quality of the signage did rapidly evolve over the next few decades, it was not until the late 1970’s when what we know as modern solutions, began to come into play. Service stations began to utilise large freestanding structures that detailed fuel prices. These signs, while noticeable, were predictably very basic by today’s standards. Fuel prices were handwritten using chalk, which meant a continuous rotation of gas station employees having to climb up a ladder to erase and re-write information.

Mid 1990’s

By the mid 1990’s the service station model had completely changed, with leading retailers beginning to focus on augmenting their services through the introduction of attached convenience stores. To market these additional offerings, many companies began to add an extra element to their existing pylon signs, usually in the form of a textual message underneath the gas prices. With all this being said, it is important to note that while the mid to late 90’s were characterised as a time of rapid tech adoption, pylon structures could not yet detail dynamic information which meant fuel prices still had to be updated by hand.

Today

Perhaps the biggest changes to petrol station pylons have occurred after the turn of the millennia. Due to a shift in consumer demands over the last 10-15 years, companies have started to focus on value creation and convenience with the ultimate goal being to simplify the customer journey wherever possible. As a result of this, gas station pylons have become more streamlined in their approach – with most now focused on detailing an express benefit to the consumer (e.g. 4c off per litre for using our loyalty card).

Additionally due to further advancements in technology, the process of manually setting prices has become a thing of the past. With dynamic content management systems not only a necessity but a legal requirement; prices can be remotely updated with changes showing up instantly on the pylon’s LED screen.

Future

Looking into the future, research suggests that petrol stations will continue to head down the road of digitalisation. With LED technology continuing to become more accessible and affordable, there is no doubt that digital pylons will soon become the norm for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

If your business is in need of a pylon or if you simply need an upgrade, CV Media & Signage is here to help. Our knowledgeable team has decades of experience in the service station signage industry and would be glad to assist you in improving your business.

Many experts see the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst in demonstrating the importance of business flexibility. After all, this willingness to quickly adapt was central to the mid-and-post-pandemic successes of innovative market leaders such as Guzman Y Gomez, Coles and Woolworths. These companies, along with others, managed to thrive by implementing futuristic strategies that would streamline their operations while also increasing service-quality.

The already promising click & collect model is a perfect example of a strategy that absolutely exploded in popularity over the course of 2020. This omnichannel model encourages customers to research, order and pay online before physically coming into the store to collect a product. While the use of this strategy was already gaining significant traction between 2015 and 2019, the pandemic resulted in a >100% increase in year on year click & collect sales between 2019 and 2020. While this growth is obviously not sustainable, research does point to an annualised ≈18% growth in sales between 2021 and 2025.

This continual growth will be the result of greater adoption across a wider range of industries – while the model is already relatively prevalent in the QSR and supermarket sectors, it can ultimately benefit almost any product-based company. Even automotive retailers have started to utilise variants of the click & collect model with industry leaders such as Toyota, Hyundai and Ford all giving customers the opportunity to order a vehicle online before collecting it in person.

Here’s why why your business should be next to adopt the click & collect framework:

Productivity improvements

Nowadays, most major product-orientated companies invest large amounts of money and time into perfecting their delivery offerings. Unfortunately, research suggests that consumers are wary of delivery options with roughly 20% stating that they do not trust the delivery systems of major companies. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that 35% of prefer to use in-store pick up services. With more people favouring the latter, it could be said that businesses who utilise such a strategy could reduce home deliveries and therefore maximise in-store productivity.

Cost reductions

Following on from the previous point – if a company was able to reduce home deliveries, it would be able to effectively cope with demand while utilising less staff. As a result of this companies can minimise costs while utilising a proven method that will increase profits.

Increase in spending per consumer

A multitude of research focusing on the click & collect model suggests that consumers, more often than not, will purchase extra products when picking up their items. While numbers vary across different studies, there is a general consensus that at least 50% of shoppers will make an additional order when collecting something they ordered online.

Increase in loyal customers

Customers will receive superior service-quality when they utilise a click & collect service. In-store pickup is convenient, reliable, and cheaper than home delivery. In monopolistic markets such as the supermarket or fast-food sectors, service-quality can often be the deciding factor as to whether a customer remains loyal or goes to a competitor. Therefore, businesses in these spaces should be hyper focused on creating competitive advantages through streamlined customer-focused offerings. The click & collect model has the potential to create clear differentiation points that can increase the probability of a one-off customer becoming a loyal buyer.

While the click & collect model was already proving to be a market disruptor prior to the pandemic, an exceptionally unique set of circumstances has seen this strategy explode in popularity over the past 18 months. Dubbed as the ‘ultimate link between digital and physical retail’ the research suggests that businesses who continue to offer in-store pickup services will consistently perform more favourably than competitors who are yet to jump on the trend.

As featured on Inside Retail.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is a performance-based code that sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability of particular buildings. While signage did not traditionally need to comply with the NCC, its exemption was removed in 2019. As a result of this, signage now needs to comply with the flammability requirements of external wall materials and has become a hot topic between CV Media & Signage and customers.

But where do you even begin?

The reasoning behind these changes can be traced back to the Grenfell Tower tragedy back in 2017. This fire demonstrated how flammable ACM (Aluminium Composite Materials) can be and how quickly flames can spread once the core ignites. Signage is now assessed in accordance with its flammability (how it is manufactured and installed) and its location (where it is installed).

How do you know if your sign complies?

To minimise the likelihood of fires, the NCC now states that ancillary elements on class A & B buildings cannot be fixed, installed, or attached to a wall that is required to be non-combustible unless they are non-combustible or fulfil the new exemption criterions. Put simply, signs that are not a required sign or are non-combustible must:

• Meet specific spatial requirements (i.e., does not extend beyond one storey, does not extend beyond one fire compartment, and is vertically separated from other signs by at least two storeys) and
• Achieve a group number 1 or 2

This is in relation to the 5637:2015 test that is used to determine fire hazard properties. Group 1 refers to materials that do not reach flashover within 10 minutes after exposure to 300Kw, while Group 2 refers to materials that reach flashover within 10-20 minutes of exposure to 300Kw. Materials that don’t fit into these two groups are generally timber products, plastics such as acrylic and polystyrene, and other components that are often used for cladding

What if my sign doesn’t meet the above requirements?

Fortunately, if you are insistent on attaching a specific sign to a non-combustible surface but cannot meet the previously stated requirements, there are other options. First and foremost, there is the option to get a performance-based assessment from an accredited risk and compliance organisation. Fortunately, CV Media & Signage can step you through this process.

It is important to note that these kinds of performance solutions are incredibly common in the signage industry – with acrylic such a commonly used material, external certification is required in a large majority of cases. All illuminated signs on Class A & B buildings (except for perforated, ally flex face and glass) require performance solutions.

The assessment begins with an examination of your sign to determine its fire rating. As a part of this examination, the specialist will look at how the solution was manufactured while also taking its material composition into account. If there is a digital/illuminated element to the sign, the location and physical makeup of the power supplies will be considered. Finally, the sign’s placement in the building will be assessed including:

• Whether or not the sign is on the top storey (fire burns vertically so a product at the top of a building will not affect anything below)
• Whether the wall construction above the sign is non-combustible and will resist a fire
• Whether the sign is located above an exit corridor
• Whether exposure to a fire that will ignite the sign is likely or not.

Proceeding these assessments, our accredited risk and compliance contractor will then use their findings to make an informed decision as to whether the sign is safe or not.

What if I don’t want to go through external certification?

If you do not wish to go down the performance solution route, we can create a sign out of materials that are permitted for use wherever incombustible material is needed. Materials such as aluminium casing have been proven to provide a strong barrier against fire and are less likely to ignite in a flashover. For more information and advice, do not hesitate to contact the experts at CV Media & Signage who are well versed in solving fire rated signage related issues in a timely and cost-effective manner.

As featured on Unwrap.