Bon's Eye Marketing

Grow Beyond

By

Business Signage Isn’t Dead

revenue2

How many times have you said or overheard, “What a great (restaurant, shop, boutique)! I didn’t even know it was there.” I’ve said it countless times – and probably overheard it countless more – especially when walking densely-packed urban areas with lots of storefront turnover.

This is true even in these digital days, where everybody just automatically seems to know where everyone/thing/business is by virtue of the Web or a smart phone. Proper business signage is still a must if you want customers coming through your door.

In the old days, it was enough to scrawl your brand, product or service across the side of your mostly brick building. Evidence of this still exists today on some buildings in downtown Wilmington’s business district.

As times advanced, so did the signage. Business owners boasted signs attached to or hanging above their storefronts. The materials varied – aluminum, vinyl, plastic – while signage design became more elaborate. Distinct fonts, various colors, flashing lights, eventually even animation, became common.

Today, business signage has gone digital, too, making the range of possibilities to let people know you exist even more dynamic.

One really fine piece of modern signage has recently appeared on the 200 block of North Front Street. This excellent example hangs above the entry to Outdoor Equipped (OE), a splendid purveyor of outdoor gear and apparel. Despite an extremely robust online presence with international customers who may never make it to their brick-and-mortar store, Outdoor Equipped has done a great job locating and branding itself in the Wilmington community with proper business signage. It was a terrific investment.

At a right angle to the storefront, Outdoor Equipped’s sign incorporates the OE logo using neon light pipe. It’s a modern, elegantly-styled sign with a rustic feel that makes you wax poetic for days summering in the Adirondacks or, for the slightly more ambitious, summiting K2. The sign is proportional to the building, unobstructive and, most important, conspicuous. It is an extension of and delivers on the Outdoor Equipped slogan and brand promise: Get Outdoors. Get Equipped.

Nicely done, OE – I’m sure customers will be keeping an eye out for you.

team-dave

 

    David Frederiksen | Creative Director

By

Bon’s Eye Onboards New Creative Manager

Marlena CullenBon’s Eye Marketing (BEM) – an award-winning brand and message development agency – announces the hire of Marlena Cullen. A New Hampshire native, Cullen attended both Pennsylvania State University and North Carolina State University, where she studied business administration and marketing.

As BEM creative manager, Cullen will assist in the implementation and management of various brand and message initiatives. Her skill sets include graphic design, social media, photography, and website development.

“Marlena’s comprehensive understanding of creative strategy will serve Bon’s Eye in a number of different capacities, and clients are sure to see her design and technical influence,” ” said Stephen Bon, BEM founder and president. “Marlena’s onboarding comes at an exciting time in Bon’s Eye seven-year history, as it continues to position itself as a leader in brand and message development.”

Prior to joining BEM, Cullen was creative director for Salon Blu hair and spa in Raleigh, NC, where she implemented and oversaw all salon promotions, advertising, web design, social media, photography, community collaborations and event planning.

“Joining Bon’s Eye gives me the chance to use all my skills, from graphic design to web development,” said Cullen. “Often in today’s agency environment, it’s easy to fall into doing just one thing and thinking just one way. Here, it’s clear that everyone has a diverse, seasoned skill set, and is committed to giving clients the widest range of solutions possible, in the most dynamic ways possible, to meet their traditional and digital marketing and advertising needs.”

Cullen can be reached at BEM headquarters, 228 North Front St., Ste. 302 B, at marlena@bonseyeonline.com.

By Leave a Comment

Bon’s Eye Spotlight: Men, Ink.

better manJust about every day, business owners ask us what we do. It’s a difficult question to answer, because our work varies depending on each client and their needs. However, this story gives you a taste of what we’re capable of achieving.

When you hear “men’s club,” do you picture a group of young to middle-aged men laughing and smoking around a boardroom table, probably from the Mad Men era? It’s either that or a bunch of old, sweaty guys sitting in a country club’s sauna.

Men, Ink. (MI) is a men’s club, but not like either one of these instances. It offers a club membership, but that is just one aspect of the company. The MI website also offers bi-weekly articles, features and events for like-minded men. All the content speaks to what it means to “Be A Better Man.” From what real men eat to how they relax, MI offers advice on how to live your life to the fullest.

Men, Ink. was born in the spring of 2012.  A brainchild of David Frederikson, MI came after spending four years as a stay-at-home dad. He loved sharing that time with his daughter Olivia, but at the end of those busy days, David started thinking about what it really meant to be a man. Where was the balance between masculinity and femininity?

Then the idea for MI was born. It came from a passion for writing and self-betterment, but like many start-up entrepreneurs, David soon realized that enthusiasm isn’t always enough. Dreams don’t survive on passion alone.  Unfortunately, there were no processes in place to produce revenue for what was then only a magazine.

So in spring of 2014, he made the difficult decision to put MI aside for a while – but not for long. When David joined Bon’s Eye’s team, Men, Ink. resurrected itself. With fresh ideas and a new business model, MI 2.0 has been giving men opportunities for personal transformation ever since.

That idea of individual development is exactly what MI’s tagline “Be A Better Man” means to inspire. MI men strive to be better intellectually, spiritually and physically. The MI philosophy aims to give men pause, to encourage them to think thoughtfully and honestly about what kind of man they are, and to help other men be better too.

Even the logo speaks to the mystery of what perfection looks like. The silhouetted man symbolizes the undefined perfect man. As you become more involved in the MI experience, it should become easier and easier to see the silhouette start to look like a more informed, stylish and thoughtful version of yourself.

Bon’s Eye helped Men, Ink. through its growing pains to become more mature and well-rounded; maybe MI can do the same for you.

Follow Us

Subscribe to the Bon's Eye Bulletin