Archives for January 2018

We’ve been making graphics for a long time, and while I’m not naming names, of course, together with my wife, Lorena, we’ve heard some things crazy things from our clients, or just passersby inquiring about our cool decals or custom lettering graphics

I wonder what they’d say about me—probably crazy too! I mean, who else sets up at an event in 50-mile-per-hour winds, or freezing rain. As vendors, we had some great camaraderie and competition, lots of hardworking teams! Without further delay and from the top of my head, here’s number one.

1. “It must be nice!” Things were tough in the early days, but business was really insanely, fantastically great, before the crash of 2008, before the healthcare nightmare that sent the middle class crashing, and well, before a lot of stuff. Back in the day when Clinton was Prez, and we had a line of customers out the “door.” Yep, we sold vinyl graphics at flea markets, shows, festivals, you name it. And did they, once upon a time, sell like hot cakes! Thinks are a little slower these days—more competition perhaps, and as always one can blame the economy, but, things are still rolling along.
   I remember one particular customer, a regular, and one we would usually see coming from quite a distance. He always wanted whatever he had in mind, right then and there. It was a Sunday and we were beat, totally, 100 degrees outside and I just had to say, “Sorry, we’re off on Mondays.”
   We worked six days a week, then, and for years earlier, the whole seven! But Monday had become our day—no phone calls, no decals, no nothing, a total day off. Upon telling him, “I’m sorry, man. I can get to it first thing Tuesday, we just can’t do it on Monday, it’s our day off.” He replied, “It must be nice!”
   Well, Lorena and I just looked at each other, exhaustively from working at the market since 5 a.m., and we both grinned. And since, well, we have retained this one, every once in a while still letting out a: “It must be nice!” And it brings a memory of hot days (or freezing, windy days), hard work and good business, but good times.
2. “There was a balloon in there!” We ship our decals in a box, wrapped around a balloon so they don’t get squished. Anyway, one day I had a question from a customer about the order they’d received, nothing bad, although I can’t recall exactly what it was. The customer was surprised to find a balloon in the package, and I hope to this day, and think just maybe, that the balloon may have gotten deflated, or had become smaller—rare but it could happen I suppose. Every once in a while, just like the phrase above, I say it to keep things interesting in the shop, or while I’m blowing up a balloon and packing a decal, “There was a balloon in there!”

   

3. This one is a little long, and a little unbelievable. Not naming names of course, so you’ll never, ever, know who wrote it! Muahahaha!
   Anonymous potential customer:
   I am not a huge fan of the stick figure family and take pictures of other people’s stick figure families and call it the serial killer’s checklist, then I post them on Facebook. I just think people shouldn’t advertise who is in their family, and what they are interested in, especially their kids.. It’s a safety thing, I’m a mom you know. My question is that I recently saw a stick figure family sicker murder scene. Now THAT’S something I could get behind. Can you make something like that? It seems like a strange question, but they they have stickers for everyone… Lol
   Now this was a tough one to respond to, but the messages I get many times keep me on my toes. As for the names, don’t use them! If you are using the family sticker for another purpose, perhaps, and there are myriad personal in-house, creative uses for these family stickers, not just car windows, then by all means, the name option is there. As for making a murder scene family sticker, I don’t think that would be in good taste. We do have some crazy decals that’s for sure, designed by many artists around the world, and many times customers order decals and modify them later, but a murder scene family sticker might just be going a tad far. But then again, it’s a crazy world, and everything can be found online now!
4. Shipping dilemmas. It’s been a good run, really. There’s a lot of peeves about the graphics business, and I have many friends on my social media accounts and we go around from time to time with our tales. Since transferring to a strictly online seller one of the things we have to deal with are issues arriving because of faults with the shipping service—or other things that are out of our hands.
   When ordering online buyers most times come back to the sellers, first, although we both rely on a third party service, usually the USPS, to do the actual shipping part of the deal. Often sellers take the hit and USPS gets off scot-free without so much as an email. Here’s one I recall when a package got returned to us because of an incorrectly entered shipping address during checkout:
   Me: “You item was returned to me today, marked ‘undeliverable as addressed.’ If you would provide the corrected address, I’d be happy to resend.”
   eBay customer: “Never gotten item… Don t need it now. Please refund my money.. Sorry for the delay, but I forgot about the item I ordered.”

   Another, item not received (shipped during the holidays, and this item was marked as delayed at the USPS website tracking service).
   Customer: “I was supposed to get my item today and I dint get anything.”
   Me: “Hi, I checked the tracking and it’s marked delayed by USPS. I hope it will arrive soon. Likely today or tomorrow.”
   Customer: “No you didn’t send me anything I haven’t received nothing. I just want a refund”

   Again, this second one was from an eBay sale. Funny, I do seem to get more issues when dealing through eBay. It had gotten worse after, years ago, eBay halted the ability for sellers to put anything else than good, bright green feedback for customers. However, these customers are extremely rare, such as one per six months maybe, or less. But like a blooming Colorado apple tree, so are the apples with little green worms in them!

   Both seller and buyer rely on third parties to handle the actual shipping process. We must all try and realize that sometimes delays are out of sellers’ hands. We all must be respectful and patient. Over the years I’ve learned, it is true, and must remain true, even for those rare customers that might try to ruin your day: the customer is always right, do the best your can, send the refund, take the hit, and move forward. Of course there and always will be exceptions!

5. Crazy stuff aside, here’s what we mostly hear, and it really keeps Lore and I going:
   Hi John and Lore,
   I just received my Decals from you and I must say I am very pleased with the work you did and decals I received. Thank you very much! You guys are fantastic! And thank you for the little bonus decals too, that was a really nice unexpected surprise. I even received my faster than any Canadian company over. I know where to go for my decals from now on. Once again thank you for the great work and fast expedited service!

I want to take a moment to say thanks! Ad thanks for reading this ramble of a random post. Sometimes I wonder what to write about in this blog, but it usually doesn’t take long to come up with some ideas! Your feedback is highly welcome and it sends our mood flying. We are honored to have served the decal and graphics needs of so many over the years and your business is humbly and graciously honored! And although this post had a couple dabs of rare negative experiences, we’ve run into almost every type of client, most good, very few bad, we want to continue to be your one stop shop for vinyl graphics!

How do I Create Cool Family Stickers ? It’s really quite easy, and fun! Also see video below.

Well, I could advise, having had cut thousands of cool family stickers for nearly twenty years! Head on over to Full Intensity Grafx and create cool family stickers that are insanely unique!

1. Choose your category (Dads, Moms, Boys, Girls, Pets, etc.) using the buttons on the page.
2. The family stick people designs will appear for that particular category. Simply click one to make your choice.
3. Next you will be able to add a name for that member, as well select other options. Entering a name is optional. If you do not want a name just leave the box empty.
4. Repeat steps one through 3 for as many family members as you would like to add. After adding all desired family members use the other options to further customize your family sticker. Choose a header, the text’s font style, and the vinyl color.
5. Easy family member positioning: Use the small arrows beneath each family member to move that member left or right in the order. Click the Remove link to remove any particular member.
6. Member changes. Simple! Click on the image of any member in the preview window. The Member-Swap function will activate and the next member chosen, with any selected options, will replace that particular family member.
7. Finished? When your family sticker is exactly how you want it scroll down and review your selected options then add the design to your shopping cart by clicking the Add To Cart button.
8. Want to design more cool family stickers? From the shopping cart choose Continue Shopping. Upon returning to this page click Clear All Choices. Then repeat the steps above to create another family sticker.
9. After your family sticker is ordered we will create, then email a link to you. Follow the link to view your optional sample proof. Note: Family sticker sample proofs are generally uploaded to your order details page within (1) hour or less during normal business hours. We’ll adjust the height of the family members and tidy the design up a bit!
10. Verify your sample proof. If your family sticker is exactly how you want it click Approve Sample and let us know. An email will be sent to us.
11. That’s it! We ship the family stickers (5) days a week worldwide. Expect yours to arrive soon! Create cool family stickers that will surprise, or shock, your friends!

Want to create a cool Zombie Style Family Sticker? Throw the switch on the control panel to activate ZOMBIE MODE and create a unique zombie family decal online!

Also see our informative sticker applications instructions page for tips and videos. Application is easy.

We all want more sales and there’s a myriad of marketing options available, many that constantly need your attention and or maintenance. Here are 5 tips to accomplish more, for less.

If you drive your vehicle often, why not have an extremely affordable custom window lettering decals on on the tailgate of your truck or rig, or even applied to your back windows. The following article describes tips, tricks, and ideas that work, put together based on my real life experiences and experimentation in the sign industry, a cumulative span of more than two decades.

Almost free. It’s that good. Simplified branding tactics and advertisement that works.

Personally, I’ve found that the more I drive, and more importantly, if the advertising decal is catchy and clear, I get sales and more so perhaps, branding and exposure when I have succinctly stated and clear advertising vinyl decals on my vehicles back window glass or lower panels.

I’ve been designing vinyl decals for over twenty years now, and I make it a point to keep a close eye on my competition–just by looking at other vehicles! I see many that have gone wrong, and have at times even approached the business owner, offering a simple fix. Here are some TIPS for back-window, lower panels, or tailgate decals, as well, but to a slightly lesser degree of exposure in traffic, door and side panel decals, that will boost your sales and exposure.

1. Make sure all necessary information on the decal is clearly visible from a distance. This is the number one fault I see with vinyl graphics vehicle advertising. People want it flashy, with shadows and other distracting effects, at a sacrifice to clear and crisp visibility. You must make sure the information is large even with easy to read fonts or you’ll sabotage your efforts, and only those small few that happen to be parked right behind your vehicle at the stop light will be able to read your information as it will be essentially buried under it’s own bling.
2.  Use colors that POP, but also think of contrast. Applying to a back window with tinted glass? Well, white decals have 100% contrast, ie. black to white is a full spectrum shift. Thinking of applying red decals instead? Or even worse, blue decals to tinted glass? Well the contrast is less, probably by around 50% with red, and blue, we won’t go there. Less contrast might usually be okay, but if you’re driving at night and need the most visibility then the simple white on black will stand out a lot more. How much more: about 50%! In darker and dimly lit conditions, even rain, the red decals will be less visible.
   Then use an outline of another color you might say… But that takes us back to number one. We need simplicity in a world of chaos, at least and especially for the vinyl lettering itself. We want these decals to be visible for the maximum distance. How far? More than 6 car-lengths, and if you ask me, more than twenty! Not a believer, take a look on your drive to work today and see which advertisements you can actually read from a far away. No cheating–don’t tailgate!
3.  Sometimes, simple is better. Graphics all over the place, do you have tons of images? Potential-client’s eyes will be dancing about their sockets. Many times, in the short amount of time needed to take down the information, they’ll get lost looking for your contact information, or worse, what it is that your even do. Yeah, it might look like a driving kaleidoscope, but will your graphics, especially the text, catch the client when it comes down to what matters.
   Here’s a recent, personal example. I saw a mobile car-wash, Chevy minivan the other day while driving back from Durango, Colorado. It was wrapped–probably costing the owner a small fortune–with graphics everywhere, a wish-wash of soap bubbles, maybe even a dude holding a pressure-washer wand, but I could not read the text! I was driving at about sixty miles per hour, so I couldn’t safely get any closer than about 6 car lengths, and I recall being interested, but as hard as I tried I couldn’t get the important information; it was relatively small, and on the bottom of the back door, buried within the soap and bubbles, and there was the text shadow options and whirly fonts that made it just that much more difficult. So, I decided to try something. He was driving a tad slow and when I had he chance I passed. Driving by at the speed necessary to overtake the van in my Dodge 2500, I attempted to read his advertisements. Well, I had surmised (yes, I actually had to guess) correctly, through the vague plaster of a wrap–that it was in fact a mobile car wash service, but there was no way to read the information.
   “Lore,” I said to my wife in the passenger seat. “Take down that info…” She couldn’t see it. The font was just too difficult to read. And I knew, had he put some large, clear, and bold one-color vinyl text on the back windows, perhaps apart from the soapy wonderland, I would’ve been giving him a call later, perhaps.
   So, large, clear, and easy to read from the greatest distance possible–statistically the result will pay off big over the long term.
4. Less information is better, because most potential clients DO NOT have a photographic memory! For example, I never recommend including two phone numbers on your layout. One is enough! Nobody jots down two! Also, really think about what information you do need to add. Do you need the address? Do you need a full and complete list of each and every service you offer?
   More to take in, especially while driving, is less. Put only the most important information on your advertisement decals and graphics. In a day where, perhaps, attentions spans are shorter than ever, as well there is more clutter jamming the highways, more signs, more everything, you want yours to stand out, but trying too hard, well, statistically that can backfire. What I have found to be most effective: Business name, a catchy one hopefully, as well one that’s short, a captivating catch phrase. Then, one phone number, and next on the importance list is a website address that can be easily read and remembered quickly–one that hopefully you rank in the search engines for because a tiny spelling glitch when your prospective client enters the address into the browser–an address bar that now searches in all browsers–well, they will end up finding your competition, rather than you. And finally, only if needed, because you can and should already have it on the web page, the address. If needed it is okay to list a few services, not your entire repertoire!
5.  Spending big bucks, isn’t always necessary! Now we know that simple can be better–clear, crisp, allowing potential clients the ability to jot down your info in a relatively quick moment. Simple, short, catchy phrases work best. And, I recommended standard die-cut decals over fancy printed wraps many times. But why? Well, for one, the cost, it’s much, much cheaper, and the durability is the same or better when quality materials are used. Full Intensity Grafx uses quality 6-year Oracal vinyl, which has proven itself for decades.

Now what to do about all this? Take a step and decide to add this small cost-effective improvement to your business. Be it a small home-based business, an eBay store, or just a website you want to promote–do you drive enough to make it worth it? Likely. Or does your vehicle sit in a location, a busy parking lot, near traffic on the roadside, then a small $20 to $40 window lettering decal could pay for itself. *Cost varies.

Back window lettering decals drive a boost in sales.

So on your drive to work today take a look around and see which are catching your eyes, and from how far away. Want to go fancy on something for your own business, show promotion, event–the sky’s the limit–then head on over and take a look at what Full Intensity Grafx has to offer. Order online automatically DIY, or contact me, John, for a personal touch. We ship daily and in no time at all you could have a basic, or elaborate, custom lettering vinyl decal working for you with no maintenance needed for years to come!

Nope. I packed your order and threw in a couple of freebies. Everybody loves free decals, right! Lore and I started doing this in 2016 and it seems you guys love it. So, you heard it, every order you create at with us at Full Intensity, no matter how big or small will get at least two free decals henceforth or until…we might even decide to put in three!

Why? Well, we wanted to show how appreciative we are. We are honored that you’ve chosen us to create your decals, stickers, and graphics. And we want your future business, as well we want to wow you with our work, and again surprise you with more cool decals!

TIP: Create any order of $25 or more and a special checkbox will appear at checkout. Place a check in the box that says:

Send me free decals in the mail once in a while

FYI: The smallest order you can create with us is for two decals. So, if you make an order, which should come to around $8.99 for two custom decals, you will actually get FIVE DECALS: our logo, sometimes two of those, and two random freebies, plus the two you ordered!

And if you liked the decals and vinyl graphics you received from us, please tell your friends. They just might want some free decals too!

*Free decals are chosen at random, while supplies last.