The

The Voicesign of the Wisconsin Sign Industry Since post 1970 November 2006

now! He assisted in the interview process and hiring of the A Message From . . . WAM association that is also doing a great job for us. Gail Schroepfer, 2006 WSA President THANKS, JIM, for the GREAT leadership!!

Hope all is well with everyone!! I’m We also announced the new officers and board of directors: so excited to inform you all about what is happening on the WSA front. PRESIDENT: Gail Schroepfer, Northern Advertising, Inc. I’ll start with the fall conference that VICE PRESIDENT: Dennis Bauer, Poblocki & Sons, LLC was held October 5 & 6th at Chula SECRETARY/TREASURER: Roger Ostermann, RLO Signs Inc. BOARD MEMBERS: Vista Theme Resort in the Wisconsin Shelly Crawley, Cochran Sign Co., a Division of Appleton Sign Dells. WOW!! I’d call it quite a suc- Brian Dantinne,Alpha-Neonx Sign & , LLC cessful conference. It started with a Craig Gray, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Co. golf outing with 24 golfers. We had Myron Mertens, Orde Advertising close to 70 attendees, of which half Bill Morrow, N. Glantz & Son, LLC were sign companies and half suppli- ers/manufactures. I’d like to encourage more sign compa- I’d like to welcome the new members and assure the old nies to join and take advantage of the many WSA benefits. that I’m looking forward to working with you all towards With some dedication the advantages are ten fold. the continued success of WSA. If you would like to serve on a committee please contact Naomi Hink at the WSA The sign design contest drew 101 entries—a new all time office. high. Look next month in your local papers for the win- ning entries. Please let us know if you happen to see it in Committees are a great way to network, expand your the papers, we would like to keep them for our scrapbook! knowledge, and contribute to the sign industry in Wisconsin. WSA is by company, rather than by individual, so We also awarded three scholarships at the conference. anyone from your company is welcome to volunteer. We They went to: (Continued on page 2) Scott R. Nielsen - $1000 — Miami (OH) University WSA Member Firm – Cochran Sign Company Desired Career – Small-Medium Size Manufacturing In this issue . . .

John Ostermann - $500 — University of Wisconsin-Stout Sales Meeting at the Fall Conference 3 WSA Member Firm – RLO Sign Inc. Reflections from the Annual Fall Conference 4-5 Desired Career – Technology Education Equipment Exchange Online 6 Michael D. Stith - $500 — Winona State University WSA Member Firm – La Crosse Sign Co, Inc. Thank You From a WSA Scholarship Winner 7 Press Release 7 Desired Career – Composite Engineering 2006 Sign Design Contest Winners Named 8-9 Congratulations to the winners!! Sounds like all were very close. Welcome New WSA Members 10 WSA Committees 10

Also, we gave Jim Emden from Badger Display a plaque in New User-Programmable Sign and appreciation for his six-year term as our WSA president. User-Programmable POP Holographic SpinLED 11 Jim has lead WSA from an almost extinct association to BOARD OF DIRECTORS WSA SIGN POST, November 2006

PRESIDENT — Gail Schroepfer Northern Advertising Inc. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (Continued from page 1) N4220 State Hwy 45, P.O. Box 92 Antigo,WI 54409 (715) 623-3000; FAX (715) 623-4738 are also still looking for a sign company director to sit on the board of direc- [email protected] tors. Please contact Naomi for more information.

PRESIDENT-ELECT — Dennis Bauer Poblocki & Sons, LLC Friday started off with Bert Guinee, President from Miratec Systems. He 922 S. 70th Street Milwaukee,WI 53201-1541 worked with us on Sales, Profits and Cash Flow Management. He demonstrat- (414) 453-4010; FAX (414) 453-3070 ed management techniques applicable to managing for profit, developing a [email protected] healthy balance sheet and forecasting critical cash flow.

SECRETARY/TREASURER — Roger Ostermann RLO Sign, Inc. Mid morning we heard from Troy Crocker, President of Sign Faces, LLC. He 1030 Ontario Avenue Sheboygan,WI 53081 talked about Customer Service 101. In a society where everything moves at (920) 457-6602; FAX (920) 457-2399 the speed of , are we stopping to say thank you? He gave helpful hints on [email protected] how to please our customers which could give us the competitive edge and keep them coming back. PAST-PRESIDENT — Jim Emden Badger Display Signs, Inc. 2242 Mustang Way In the afternoon we broke out into discussion forums: Sign Designers/Owners Madison,WI 53704 (608) 222-5353; FAX (608) 222-6363 & Managers/Sales. [email protected] Coming up on a Friday in January is our Holiday party. Please look for details

DIRECTORS coming soon!

Shelly Crawley, Cochran Sign Co. 2460 Hwy. 28 Our Spring Workshop is also coming up on March 6, 2007. It will be held at Kewaskum,WI 53040 the Comfort Inn in Madison. This year’s topic will be Sales. (262) 338-8082; FAX (262) 338-4102 [email protected] See you at the Holiday Party!! Brian Dantinne, Alpha-Neonx Sign & Lighting, LLC 11607 W. Dearbourn Avenue Wauwatosa,WI 53226 (414) 543-6300; FAX (414) 431-4949 [email protected]

Craig Gray, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Co. CODE OF ETHICS 10061 S. 54th Street Franklin,WI 53132 (414) 423-1200; FAX (414) 423-0300 Members of the Wisconsin Sign Association pledge their customers: [email protected] To honest competition with a fair profit on quality products and services, Myron Mertens, Orde Advertising 1825 Nimitz Dr., DePere,WI 54115 P.O. Box 11595, Bay,WI 54307 Produced with materials and workmanship of the highest standards, (920) 339-4600; FAX (920) 339-4611 [email protected] In an environment of safety with concern for energy conservation,

Bill Morrow, N. Glantz & Son, LLC 6900 W. State St. Personnel development and the general elevation of the industry Wauwatosa,WI 53213 (414) 259-1331; FAX (414) 259-7922 [email protected]

Administrative Office 11801 W. Silver Spring Dr., Suite 200 Milwaukee,WI 53225 (414) 271-9277; FAX (414) 464-0850 www.wisconsinsign.org If you have any article ideas for the WSA newsletter or would like to write an article, please contact Heather at [email protected].

2 WSA SIGN POST , November 2006

this approach, the sales rep is performing a valuable service Sales Meeting at to our customers. the Fall Conference Big Idea Bill Morrow We tossed around the idea of a sales award, contest, or some type of recognition for the sales reps of our member On Friday afternoon at the sales breakout session the fol- companies that could possibly be incorporated into the lowing were in attendance: Dominic and Chad from Alpha Spring Conference. The feeling was that we obviously have Neonx, Jim Miller and Chris Emden from Badger Display, a lot of talented designers working for our member com- and Roger, Jr. and Randy Ostermann from RLO Signs. panies, but someone had to sell that sign. The old adage that "Sales drives the bus!" seemed to ring true to us. Since it was a small group, I opened it up by asking what they wanted to see out of future conferences in terms of sales training. The discussion was beneficial, and I wanted to highlight the main points for everyone to digest.

Future Topics 3 Prospecting - How to find and qualify leads Time Management - How do you carve out enough time in a day to concentrate on new business? How much time should you spend on existing customers? How do you manage the pipeline of new projects com- ing in? 3 Marketing Ideas - What works? Direct mail? Associations? 3 Service Contracts - Should a sales rep spend time on this? Should they be compensated for pursuing serv- ice contracts? 3 Websites - How should a company website be designed to build sales, leads, etc… Can a website help maximize sales? 3 Codes - How do you balance creativity vs. what is legal? Are sales reps spending too much time in hearings or meetings (some as high as 20%)?

Meeting Format We felt that a combination of classroom/ballroom instruc- tion was beneficial, with several breakout sessions to follow. Everyone was very complimentary of Troy Crocker's pres- entation. What I suggested was a pre-planned schedule of breakout sessions that would include all conference atten- dees, which would be designed to allow maximum partici- pation.

Sales Purpose We concluded that the purpose of a sales rep in the sign business is business development, for both the customer and the sign company. We also determined that by taking

3 WSA SIGN POST, November 2006

Reflections from the Annual Fall Conference . . .

Golfing Team: Golfing Team: Steve Plumhoff, Plastics Dynamics; Jim Brusek, 3M; Bill Morrow, Craig Gray, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Supply Co.; N Glantz & Son, LLC; and Myron Mertens, Orde Sign and Graphics Charlie Demoulin, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Supply Co.; Paul Fuchsel, La Crosse Sign Co.; and Jim Murphy, Midwest Neon Supply

Golfers enjoying their lunch. The winning golf team! Harry Dunville,Alpha-Neonx Sign & Lighting, LLC; Brad Kreidler,Voltarc Technologies & Transco Inc.; Dominic Gugliatto,Alpha-Neonx Sign & Lighting, LLC; and Chad Engstrom,Alpha-Neonx Sign & Lighting, LLC

Exhibit and Conference Room Set-up Jim Emden presenting a scholarship to John Ostermann from UW-Stout.

4 WSA SIGN POST , November 2006

October 5-6, 2006, Chula Vista Theme Resort,Wisconsin Dells

Gail Schroepfer presenting Jim Emden Sara Moran from Orde Sign and Graphics receiving an award with his President’s plaque. at the Sign Design Awards Presentation.

Greg Moerner from Poblocki Sign Company accepting an award Troy Crocker Seminar at the Sign Design Awards Presentation.

Brian Meyer from Appleton Sign Company accepting an award Bobbie Jo Rosenthal from La Crosse Sign Co accepting an award at the Sign Design Awards Presentation. at the Sign Design Awards Presentation.

5 WSA SIGN POST, November 2006

Your #1 Choice for Flat Stock!

Midwest has the flat stock you need to create durable, eye-popping signs and displays. We carry a full line of high-quality substrates and more! Sintra Fome-Cor Alumalite Dibond JetMount Econolite Gatorfoam Coroplast D-Lite

We also stock a full range of substrates perfect for Equipment Exchange Online your indoor and outdoor signage: The "Members Only" Equipment Exchange ads are designed MDO GE Lexan to help members list items available for sale or locate items Sign•Foam Allwood Cedar Blanks they wish to purchase. These ads are not for general every- day products and services, but for the goods and services spe- Get the most from your signs and displays with flat stock cific to the sign industry,including used trucks, cranes and mis- substrates from Midwest! Contact Us Today! cellaneous supplies. There is an online submittal form that will allow you to easily post a listing:

www.midwestsign.com http://www.wisconsinsign.org/equipment_exchange.htm

There is a sign for every GEMINI product, every service. LETTERS•PLAQUES•LOGOS Your clients have given you the words... let Gemini supply the letters.

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6 WSA SIGN POST , November 2006

Press Release Thank You from a WSA Midwest Carries M&R's Entry-Level Textile Scholarship Winner Equipment

Ms. Hink, ST. PAUL, MN-Midwest Sign & Screen announces their full line of affordable M&R equipment designed specifically for Thank you for selecting me as one of the 2006 WSA entry-level textile shops including the Sidewinder manual Scholarship recipients. and Diamondback automatic presses, along with the Fusion R Electric Textile Dryer. It is an honor to receive this recognition. To have the opportunity to earn tuition assistance is also greatly The Sidewinder Manual Press incorporates proven and appreciated. innovative design features, such as multiple-bearing upper and lower carousel plates and a precise micro-registration Please extend my thanks and appreciation to all those system.The Sidewinder is designed to integrate seamlessly involved with the selection of the scholarship recipi- with any M&R automatic textile press and is available in 4- ents. station/4-color, 4-station/6-color, and 6-station/6-color models.The Diamondback is an affordable, entry-level auto- Thank you for your confidence in me, matic press designed to increase output and minimize labor. The Diamondback comes in 6- and 8-color models and are Mike Stith also available in base and enhanced configurations. Winona State University Engineering Student Affordable and easy to use, the Fusion R Electric Textile Dryer provides fast cure rates for more efficient produc- tion. It features a thermal insulation system that prevents heat from escaping, maximizes dryer capacity and reduces energy costs. The belt widths are available at 36", 48", and 60" and the textile dryers come in 6' and 10' heat chamber lengths.

DEALER FOR NEW: For more information on M&R equipment and other Elliott-High Reach Midwest products, visit Midwest's website at www.mid- Boom Trucks westsign.com - or contact Midwest by emailing mid- [email protected], or by calling 800-328-6592. Broderson Link-Belt Manned Rentals Available on Cranes Required Annual Inspections CALL TODAY! Bruce Bayless (800) 236-5335 Office (414) 788-0094 Cell 6 Locations to Serve You Milwaukee Kaukauna Madison Chippewa Falls Decatur Wausau

7 WSA SIGN POST, November 2006

2006 Sign Design Contest Winners Named

The Wisconsin Sign Association has represented the professional on-premise sign industry of Wisconsin since 1970. Each year, the Association holds a prestigious contest to recognize Wisconsin's leading sign companies and their professional designers. The winners represent the finest sign designs that undoubtedly make an impact to communities across the State. This year,WSA received 101 entries for our 11 sign design categories. Start saving your favorite sign designs for the 2007 Sign Design Contest!

TOM DERSE “BEST OF ZSHOW” AWARD

Coast Restaurant, Poblocki Sign Company Designer: Lynne Holton

SMALL SIGN SHOPS

BEST OF SHOW/1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place “Retro Club" "Pine Tree Grill" "Waterscape Designs" D&L Signs Inc. Image Advantage Signs Image Advantage Signs

PYLON MONUMENT

1st Place 2nd Place 1st Place 2nd Place "Casa Di Luigi" "Cellcom in De Pere, WI" "Poblocki Main Identification" "Nicolet National Bank" Appleton Sign Co. Orde Sign & Graphics, Inc. Poblocki Sign Company Poblocki Sign Company

8 WSA SIGN POST , November 2006

NON-ILLUMINATED DIRECTIONAL/WAYFINDING

1st Place 2nd Place 1st Place 2nd Place "Milwaukee Public Market" "Watershed - 3rd Ward" "Continental Towers" "Poblocki Sign" Poblocki Sign Company Poblocki Sign Company Poblocki Sign Company Poblocki Sign Company

VEHICLE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS

1st Place 2nd Place 1st Place 2nd Place "Mad City Mastershield" "EGX Van" "Fusion" "Wet (Nightclub)" Badger Display Signs Innovative Signs, Inc. Appleton Sign Co. Appleton Sign Co.

UNIQUE (NEON/LED/SCULPTURAL) INTERIOR IDENTIFICATION

1st Place 2nd Place 1st Place 2nd Place "Bar Louie" "Johnson Bank" "Department Signs" "Dream Garage" Alpha Neonx Poblocki Sign Company Appleton Sign Co. LaCrosse Sign

MURAL/BANNER/AWNING/DIGITAL SILLY SIGNS Judges for this year's contest were:

Nancy Buege

We’ll Miss you Grandpa... Street Cance

...OH Look- Chicken Wings ! Sue McConnell Former Sign Designer

Monica Schick 1st Place 2nd Place 1st Place The Schick Group "The NEW Zoo in Suamico" "Children’s Museum" "Lake View Funeral Home" Orde Sign & Graphics, Inc. Orde Sign & Graphics, Inc. Alpha Neonx

9 WSA SIGN POST, November 2006

WSA Committees

If you would like to serve on a WSA Committee, contact the Welcome New WSA WSA at (414) 271-9277 or e-mail [email protected]. Members Paul Fuchsel (President), La Crosse Sign Central Sign Council Company; Jim Emden (Vice President), WSA would like to welcome the following members Badger Display Signs

to our growing organization. On behalf of the WSA CHAIR: Myron Mertens, Orde Board of Directors, please join us in welcoming: Education & Programs Advertising; Gail Schroepfer, Northern Advertising

Government & Public CHAIR: Brian Dantinne,Alpha-Neonx Sign VENDORS Relations & Lighting, LLC CHAIR: Craig Gray, Midwest Sign & FMS CORPORATION Screen Printing Supply Company; Brian Membership Dantinne,Alpha-Neonx Sign & Lighting, Mike Sweet LLC 8635 Harriet Avenue South Newsletter Dennis Bauer, Poblocki Sign Company Minneapolis, MN 55420 Phone: (952) 888-7976; Fax: (952) 888-7978 Craig Gray, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Supply Company; Charlie [email protected] Nominations DeMoulin, Midwest Sign & Screen Printing •Service Area: International Supply Company •Equipment, Products & Services: Neon Sign Materials Dennis Bauer, Poblocki Sign Company; Sign Design Contest Rick Bender, JNB Signs

THE HOWARD COMPANY/ MAINSTREET MENU SYSTEMS Dawn Pankow 1375 N. Barker Rd. Brookfield,WI 53045 Phone: (262) 782-6000; Fax: (262) 782-6515 Toll Free: 800-782-6222 info@howard •Equipment, Products & Services: menuboards, graphics and p.o.p. displays

PLASTICS DYNAMICS, INC. VISIT Steve Plumhoff 16824 W. Orchard Valley US ONLINE Gurnee, IL 60031 Phone: 414-698-4747; Fax: 269-869-5999 [email protected] www.wisconsinsign.org

10 WSA SIGN POST , November 2006

Small or large custom logos are easily made and very cost New User-Programmable effective, and even offer multicolored Flow-Neon effect if Neon Sign and User- desired Programmable POP For additional information, or to have documentation emailed to you, contact the Techno-Marketing™ division of Holographic SpinLED International Robotics, Inc. or respond to this email, or email us at [email protected] or call to The Holy Grail of Neon Signage has finally been found, and schedule a visit to the Techno-Marketing™ Lab in New York it comes to us in the form of cute multicolored Neon City at 212 982-8000 Letters which you snap together like child's play, creating your own signs in a matter of seconds.

Imagine consumers and businesses walking into a store, buying very affordable individual letters and creating their own Neon Sign on the spot! But that's not all! This new technology offers many advan- tages which Neon does not:

HOLOFAN Holo-Fan is a tiny user-programmable Sign which consists of a rapidly spinning flexible plastic leaf onto which are mounted miniature color LEDs. As the safe-to-the-touch leaf Spins and disappears from view, a brightly colored LED message is seen floating in space.

1. Low voltage, runs on 12V

2. Much safer, since no high voltage is used

3. Runs very cool, and can easily and safely be handled by human hands. Letters are individually sealed inside modular auto-connect clear plastic housings

4. Has practically no to speak of This hand-held device can be used as both an advertising 5. Light weight and inexpensive to ship with less risk of POP or POS Display,or as a giveaway to let your customers breakage walk away with your message strongly imprinted in their mind. 6. Can be suction-cupped to a window or wall, or sus- pended by thin wires For additional information, or to have a brochure emailed to you, contact the Techno-Marketing™ group at 7. Small power supply has on/off switch, and controls International Robotics, Inc. New York, NY. or respond to pulsing or always-on this email, or write us at [email protected].

11 Wisconsin Sign Association, Inc. 11801 W. Silver Spring Drive Suite 200 Milwaukee,WI 53225 (414) 271-9277 www.wisconsinsign.org

SAVE THE DATE! Holiday Party The Wisconsin Sign Association will be having a Holiday Party on a Friday in January of 2007.

More information coming soon! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 1