ISO 9000 is a family of standards related to quality management systems and designed to help organizations ensure that they meet the needs of customers, shareholders and employees. The certification of compliance with ISO 9001:2008 recognizes that the policies, practices and procedures of our company ensure consistent quality in the services and work product we provide to our customers.

To become certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant, Lowen Corporation underwent a 12 month evaluation process that included development of a formal quality management system (QMS), management systems review, employee training, process documentation, establishment of process metrics and a pre-audit initial assessment; all of which are required to be in compliance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. The process culminated in a successful registration audit by ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. and a certificate of registration was issued to Lowen Corporation on March 6, 2013.

“We are very proud to achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification, which signifies that our Quality Management Systems have been tested and meet stringent international standards. Lowen has always had a commitment to producing high quality products and continuously improving our processes”, said Matt Lowen, CEO of Lowen Corporation.

Lowen Corporation is a leading provider of signage and graphics solutions for branding, identity, information and display. Lowen serves customers throughout North America from manufacturing facilities in Kansas, Iowa, South Carolina and Colorado.

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!

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.

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.

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?

First off, with this project, we helped Apria Healthcare® by removing older graphics that were scratched and worn and replaced them with new graphics that help display the perfect image.

Apria Healthcare® is a great example of a business that would need to educate its potential customers about their services. On their vehicle, they display their top services not only to advertise, but to let people know that they are a healthcare provider.

How are you educating your prospects with your vehicles?

The previous graphics had a couple of scratches on them, however it was no challenge to our preferred installers to remove them before replacing with fresh vinyl graphics.

The after photo showcases fresh graphics and a clean graphic install

The reason why we like this fleet graphic is because it utilizes the entire space, including the wind skirt. On the vehicle body, it showcases their mission to providing exceptional quality, value and solutions while using produce visuals as the background. The logo is easy to see and free of artwork in the background and the wind skirt includes their website address.

Like a print ad, this vehicle tells a story- you know the Who, the What and Where you’re supposed to go.

Are your vehicle graphics telling your brand’s story? If so, tell us how!

Check out this infographic from Marketo.com. What we find interesting is that it identifies colors that work best for certain industries. Do your colors match up?

The important take-away here is that you shouldn’t forget your target audience when selecting colors for your fleet graphics. Are your current graphics giving your brand the image it deserves?

1. Banners: Even if you’re using a 10×10 space and you don’t have the budget to do anything extravagant, you can still get your point across with a  full-color banner. Utilize your space to fill the whole booth with your message. Remember, the more attractive your banner is, the more chance you have to be remembered.
2. Display Stands: If you’re not working with a booth that provides you with the means to hang your banner, then you’re either going to need to get creative or utilize a banner stand.  Display stands provide that ‘complete’ look in a booth and give a professional perception.
3. A Wrapped Vehicle: Ok, we know this sounds a little far-fetched, but believe us when we say that this works. We take a vehicle to many of our shows, and even a finished, wrapped vehicle is a cause for someone to stop and stare. That gives us just enough time to answer questions and explain our services. Now you’re probably thinking, “Yea Lowen, but we don’t sell fleet graphics!” Well, that’s ok. Is your vehicle something that a customer would recognize on the street if you were out delivering something or making a service call? Then call it brand recognition! Plus, if you have a clever graphic or funny saying, it’s a great conversation starter.
4. Decals: Now, don’t go and stick a decal all over the convention hall because that’s one sure-fire way to get kicked out. However, decals are inexpensive ways that you can provide a freebie that can get some real mileage.
5. Canopy: If you’re going to a trade show where you know you’ll have a lot of competition against some really extravagant booths, a canopy is just enough of an added touch to stay in the game. They are inexpensive and can be used for more than just trade shows. Plus, if you’re not that keen on fluorescent lighting, this is the perfect shelter.

Trade shows are always a great time to get to know new customers and connect with your current customers. Make sure that you’re making the right first impression. Need help? Give us a call at 800-835-2365.

For the installers out there that also offer vehicle design services, let this photo of a Starbucks van with a poor choice of design be a lesson to you. What lesson you may ask yourself? Consider the vehicle function before you design a vehicle wrap.

In this case, the van doors open to the right, so anything to the right of the door will automatically be covered up. Normally, that’s not an issue with design because heck, we can’t create a wrap that changes with each vehicle motion. However, you can consider what will happen if the graphics were to be covered up.

When you’re designing something like this van wrap, either locate a vehicle near you that operates similarly or go to the customer vehicle and try it out yourself. Take photos of each ‘stage’ of the vehicle functions, such as; door closed, door open, window down, window up etc… Then as you’re designing test your graphics to see if they will cause a faux pas like this poor Starbucks van.

Now, as a former barista myself and the fact that caffeine is my best friend,  I personally don’t agree with the statement, but for those who may have a thorn in their side about the company, this was definitely not a good look as one passerby captured the photo and turned it into a viral sensation.

What other design tips do  you think are important to consider before finalizing the fleet graphic project?