May 30—June 5
STAFF Right now, school’s out and if you’re going to hire temporary help this summer, make sure all the positions have written job descriptions. No position, not even a part-time one, should be without one. Assign specific duties.
June 6—12
SUSTAINABILITY Slowly but surely, the march toward using more sustainable materials and practices in signmaking progresses. Summer sunshine brings solar power to mind — though, of course, solar works all year ’round — and many customers could be intrigued by solar-powered, low-energy LED sign options.
ACCESSORIES If you offer apparel, and in the past have found the summer months to be slow, consider offering special pricing for orders placed in June.
June 13—19
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Parade season is around the corner and every parade needs one or more banners. Check with local organizers to see if you can produce (or even donate) banners, posters or other temporary signs.
SELF-DEVELOPMENT Seek out something truly novel to do this summer: Your brain loves new experiences and sensations, which will help it continue to build neural connections for work and life.
June 20—26
MARKETING Develop “rack cards” to hand out to clients whose channel letters are not functioning correctly. These can be like the 4 x 9-in. cards that you see in hotel lobbies. Design them with your logo, company name and contact info on top, then underneath, a quick blurb about who you are and the services you offer.
To make it easy for potential clients to comply, include a few options, such as these:
- Lights are out
- Lights are flickering
- Acrylic is faded
- Potential sign upgrade
- Sign is damaged
Include a space for the client’s company name and contact info.
June 27—July 3
OPERATIONS Let’s get organized. Discard one item for every year you’ve worked at your shop — documents you know you’re never going to read or need, items gathering dust, etc.