Signs of the Times - April 2012 - (Page 22)

VINYL APPS A Hangout for a Real Fungi Mellow Mushroom is an Atlantabased pizza and sandwich chain that, since its mid-1970s founding, has grown to more than 100 locations in 18 states. In addition to a diverse menu (I have yet to find anywhere else that offers jerk chicken as a pizza topping, or a tempeh hoagie) and artwork that cultivates a groovy atmosphere, distinctive signage represents a major component of its branding. Mellow Mushroom sometimes provides enough caché that municipalities will modify their codes to facilitate signage (see ST, February 2011, page 62). Randy Holland, Snyder Signs’ ( Johnson City, TN) operations manager, said his company has enjoyed a years-long relationship with Mellow Mushroom as a preferred sign fabricator. “They give us creative license to create individual sign programs at every location,” Holland said. “We’ve developed a joint creative team to look at each property and examine new opportunities.” When a new Mellow Mushroom opened in Gatlinburg, TN, the restaurant’s staircase near the front door provided an excellent canvas for a unique stair graphic featuring “Mel,” the chain’s iconic fungal mascot with sleepy eyes and a winsome smirk. To prep the surface, Snyder Signs thoroughly cleaned the stairs and applied 3M’s Primer 94 to aid media adhesion. Holland and Ted Tubbs carefully laid out the 20-ft.-long Mel graphics using CorelDRAW X5 Graphics Suite, and tiling the graphic pattern so that it flowed flawlessly across the individual risers. Snyder Signs printed the material using 3M’s Controltac with Comply v3 air-release media, which reduced installation time for an exacting installation within a confined space. Although the material isn’t marketed as a floor-graphic product, Snyder tested it for safety. The shop printed the material on its Mimaki JV3-250SP “baby grand” solvent-ink printer, and prolonged Mel’s invite to patrons by applying 3M’s 8518 glossy overlaminate with a Seal 62 Pro laminator. “Fabricating stair graphics is definitely a growing trend for our shop,” Holland said. “The owner of another shop in Gatlinburg saw the Mel stair graphics and promptly ordered a similar job for his store.” Available at your distributor • Fast, easy and secure • No skinning, only snapping • Snap-konek III fits most led wires • Could be riveted LVC CoNNeCtorS INC. 8979 robert-Armour Street, Montreal (Quebec) Canada H1e 6J7 tel.: 1.888.648.9195 – Fax: 1.888.606.2368 – www.snapkonek.com E339231 ** Ne w CoNNe ** Ctor Visit us at booth #1521 22 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / APRIL 2012 / www.signweb.com http://www.snapkonek.com http://www.snapkonek.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - April 2012

Signs of the Times - April 2012
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Technology Review
Software Update
Sign Museum News
New Products
Times Square Update
That Sign is Fine (Art?)
Victory at Yorktown
Temporary, with Permanent Appeal
The Value of Signs
Anatomy of an M&A Failure
Industry News
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - April 2012