Lowen Corporation Announces ISO 9001 Certification

Lowen Corporation is proud to announce it is now certified as an ISO 9001:2008, Quality Management Systems compliant organization. 

Digital Billboards vs. Fleet Graphics

Outdoor media is easily the most cost-effective form of advertising, however which one is the best to use? We compared the pros and cons of digital billboards vs. fleet graphics in the hopes that it would help to make an informed decision.

Digital Billboards:

Pros include the fact that you can change the message quickly- within a day. In comparison to other outdoor media, many digital billboards have super clear pictures so you can display full-color photos for a flawless look. For a marketing campaign, digital billboards do provide a good reach, depending on location, and have had high returns on retention.

photo courtesy of studiocitynyc.org

Digital billboards do have some cons though. The first being that they are priced based on the targeted audience- similar to online banners. Secondly, they are stationary so location is a very important aspect when choosing the digital billboard. Most likely, you will be reaching the same audience because most of the time most people stick to the same route every day.

Fleet Graphics:

On the flip-side, you could consider the pros of fleet graphics- first being that fleet graphics move wherever you move; they aren’t stationary like a billboard is. Because of this, you can target a greater audience than a billboard. Images can be as clear as you’d like them to be with the advance of digital printing, and with reflective materials you can be seen 24 hours a day. The biggest pro is the cost, which has been stated year after year as the most cost-effective form of advertising through the American Trucking Association. When you take into consideration how many views you’re receiving on any given day, the cost of materials and the length of time your graphics will last, the cost savings in comparison to other outdoor media is no-contest, fleet graphics always win.

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The cons to using Fleet Graphics are only if you’re considering doing a marketing campaign where you’d want an immediate change within the day. Otherwise, you can enjoy the same benefits as digital billboards plus much more!

No matter what the overall choice is though, consider using an integrated plan with both a digital billboard and fleet graphics. The more times your audience sees your advertising message the more brand retention you’ll receive!

Do Opt-Outs Apply to Outdoor Media?

Opt-outs are included in email communications and soon to be an addition to Facebook advertising. However, opt-outs aren’t only in the online world- they happen internally to each of us as we process what ads we want to pay attention to. So in reference to your fleet graphics, how do you get around this?
Don’t let your brand fall into the internal opt-out and follow these quick tips for your fleet graphics:

Innovate Montana is a great example- targeting business owners, beautiful pictorials and a quick call to action with the web address prominent.

• You have only a few seconds to capture attention. Catchy designs and simple phrases will help to deliver your message to your target audience faster.
• Consider your target audience. With fleet graphics you can target multiple demographics, however which demographic are you trying to reach the most? This should come through your messaging and pictorial.
• Location is important. Think about where your fleet is traveling and what your audience considers to be important about your product in those areas. Targeted messages in different regions could prove more effective
• Switch it up! Just like anything else, your audience can get tired of the same message over and over again. Consider changing your message at least yearly- if not quarterly- for maximum exposure and brand retention
Are you ready to utilize your fleet graphics to their fullest potential? Give us a call today at 800-835-2365.

Wraps Gone Wrong

We don’t want to be advocates for anything against vehicle wraps, but sometimes you just gotta say no when the wrap is just plain wrong. From a design standpoint, it’s in the eye of the beholder…right? Take for example, these wraps.

Not exactly the design I’d want on my vehicle, but hey who is to judge? But where wraps really go wrong isn’t so much with the design, it’s with the installation. Wrinkles, bubbles and burn spots will ruin a wrap quicker than a design like this:

Just say no to bad vehcile wrap skills and consider signing up for a 3M Preferred vehicle wrap class.

What are other skills that you think can ruin a vehicle wrap?

Rebranding Fleet Graphics is an Easy Task at Lowen

Our next Trucker Tuesday post features a fellow Kansas company, Hutton Construction. Recently, Hutton went through rebranding to enhance their overall mission to be a fresh and innovative construction company that delivers high-quality end results to its customers.

Spurred with Concrete Vision (the Hutton company tagline) it was apparent that the construction crew needed to get to work so that their company vehicles reflected the new image. That’s where Lowen Color Graphics came in.

Through a process that involved removing old graphics from the vehicles, to the printing production and ending with scheduled graphic installs by 3M Preferred Installers, Hutton’s rebranding of its fleet graphics was a much easier task than the rebranding itself.

3M Preferred Installer, Jeremey Jackson, removes the vehicle graphics for Hutton’s main brand that will be replaced with the green and blue logo for their Hutton Facility Services division.

Why re-brand the vehicles though? Well, Hutton realizes that not only are fleet graphics a rolling billboard for their trucks and vans, it’s also the most cost-effective form of advertising they have.

“[Fleet Graphics] gives us a more professional look, identifies us when we’re on site and reinforces our overall brand identity…it’s also permanent, we would pay more to have a billboard up for a month than we do to have these graphics on a service van for its lifetime. Overall, fleet graphics are a great value,” said Brett Weller, Brand Enforcer at Hutton Construction.

Below is the most recent vehicle wrap completed for Hutton’s division, Hutton Facility Services, which provides on-site maintenance to ensure the lifespan of a building.  Regardless of whether you see yellow, or you see green, the Hutton brand is noticeable!

Are you considering rebranding your vehicles? Give us a call today at 800-835-2365 and learn about how Lowen can help streamline the process.

Advanced Auto Parts Vehicle Graphics

You don’t have to own a fleet of vehicles in order to benefit from vehicle wraps. In fact, you don’t even need to have a full-wrap to benefit from a vehicle wrap. Take the case of Advanced Auto Parts where this specific dealer is utilizing their logo on a decal to create brand awareness.

Advanced Auto Parts uses a decal on the vehicle doors to help create brand awareness.

You might be thinking, “What good is that doing?” But then we’d return that with another question- “What good is a blank vehicle doing?” The plain and simple truth is that this Advanced Auto Parts decal is generating more brand awareness in a day than a billboard or a TV ad could do in a week and at a much lower cost per thousand too!

So here’s something to think about when it comes to your company vehicles. Are they actively promoting your brand, or are they sitting bland? If you’re unsure of whether a vehicle wrap is in your budget, just think about how much more attention you could receive with even a door decal like what Advanced Auto Parts is using.

Are you using vehicle wraps currently? How is it working out for you?

Allow the Visual and The Message Tell a Story

Think about the last ad that really caught your attention. Was it the strong messaging that drew you in, or was it the strong visual? Maybe it was the combination of the two? Either way, when you use strong visuals and messaging together you will receive a higher brand retention than if you would only use a strong visual or a strong message.

Whether you agree with the statement or not, the Humane Society’s bus wraps are a great example of how strong visuals and messages work together to leave a lasting impression. What we like about this wrap is that the message is relating back to the medium that they are using to advertise. “How would you like to spend the rest of your life in a space as small as a bus seat?” Many of us would read that and then consider the last experience we had on a bus seat. I know personally, that my reaction was, “No thank you!” And although you may not be a vegetarian, it’s hard to look at these photos and not feel a little bad for the pig behind those bars.

Outdoor advertising is highly effective because you can target specific locations at a low cost. However, in order to use your bus wraps or other outdoor advertising mediums to their best ability, make a lasting impression. Do that through a strong message and a visual. And take a cue from this example and think about the medium that your advertisement will be displayed.

What outdoor ad do you remember the most?