Whether your campaign is for branding, events or advertising, a visually stunning, high definition digital graphic has the potential to revolutionise your business. Digital graphic signage is a great way to create brand awareness and to get your company’s desired message out there.

Digital graphics create a lasting first impression, from projecting signs, posters, hanging banners, flags, window vinyls to hoardings. Each can be created to your exact requirements to stand out over your competitors. Here are three reasons why you should take the plunge and use digital graphics for your company.

1. Digital Graphics Build Your Brand Presence
   A creative and attractive digital graphic that contains a business’s logo can help reinforce brand awareness. Retail signage and window displays are a great way to draw attention to promotions and to convey information about the business. In a FedEx study, 76% of consumers were drawn to enter a store because of their sign.  Digital graphics are visible 24 hours a day, so producing a high quality graphic is an essential component to a business’ overall marketing strategy. A well designed graphic can also be a great way to enhance your building’s appearance, whilst also encouraging impulse purchases through eye catching designs.
2. Appeals To Large Audiences Businesses are continually looking for innovative ways to advertise their products and services, aiming to grab the attention of their customers against rivalry brands. Sign dimension and copy readability each play a significant role in achieving signage that is easily viewable and striking. Providing high quality, long lasting signage in high-traffic areas, such as local high streets,  motorways and main roads, will guarantee maximum visibility. A good example of this, is the use of high definition property marketing signage and digital graphics – they grab our attention due to their oversized imagery and text.  Another added benefit is that we spend a considerable amount of time on the road, therefore it is understandable that outdoor advertising is regarded as one of the most effective forms of advertising.
3. Builds Credibility
   It is important to create signage that is consistent as it should fit with your brand, and be inline with your target market. The visual impression a business creates will determine whether a potential customer is likely to convert. Therefore, a well designed graphic can help to improve your business’ credibility.  Investing in digital graphics tells your existing and potential customers that your business’ quality matters. Hollywood Monster have worked with companies across the UK to create stunning high definition signage. If you have any questions or queries do not hesitate to get in touch.

Corporate branding throughout a work environment helps boost employee morale and motivation. Keepmoat are firm believers of this. We recently gave their new office in Nottingham a brand overhaul, acrylic letters, digital printed wall paper and frosted manifestations with corporate branding have gone up on walls over two floors.

Taking two days and an access machine to complete, the finish is professional and on brand.

Bike ride organisers feeling upbeat ahead of British Heart Foundation Event

The 11^th annual Heart of England Bike Ride will be taking place on Sunday 17 July and organisers have announced an advanced registration for the hundreds of riders set to take part. Organised by the Knowle and Dorridge Lions Clubs, the ride starts at National Trust property Packwood House and gives riders the chance of a 12, 18, 30 or 60 mile route through Solihull and Warwickshire countryside.

This year’s event will raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Mending Broken Hearts Appeal and local causes. In addition to raising funds for charity, the Lions Clubs say that it’s a great way to get fit whilst enjoying the countryside air.

Paul Wheatley, organiser Knowle and Dorridge Lions Club said: “This ride seems to be going from strength to strength with over 700 participants last year. We received great feedback from entrants who enjoyed the lovely atmosphere, getting fit, completing a challenge and raising money for such a worthy cause, all at the same time.

It is a great opportunity to spend a Sunday with friends, family or colleagues cycling through the glorious Warwickshire countryside and villages. After the bike ride, food will be available to purchase from the Lions BBQ and there is free entry to Packwood House and gardens. It’s a great day out for everyone!”

This year’s event is, again, being supported by Birmingham-based Hollywood Monster, who will provide marketing signage in the lead up to the event as well as directional signage on the day. Solihull resident and Managing Director of the printing and signage company, Tim Andrews, said:

“It’s an honour to be supporting the Heart of England Bike Ride for another year – this is our fifth year of being involved and we have seen it grow from strength to strength. It’s a fantastic initiative to help get people fit, whilst also enjoying their beautiful surroundings. The event, of course, is also about helping to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and in the five years we’ve been involved, we’ve seen over £50,000 go to the very worthy cause. Whatever their level of fitness, that’s the beauty of having four distance options… I hope everyone gets on their bike on 17 July!”

Starting between 9.30am and 11.30am at the stunning Packwood House, cyclists will have a choice of approximately 12, 18 or 30 mile circular routes (20km, 30km or 50km) along country lanes in Solihull and Warwickshire. They can also take on the ultimate challenge and cycle 60 miles (100km) by completing all three routes.

Discounted online advance entry is £10 for adults, children 8 years and over £5, under 8 year olds are free. After 10 July an entry fee of £15.00 adult and £7.50 children 8 years old and over applies. The entry fee covers the costs of promoting and organising the event safely and it is the sponsorship money that really makes a difference. Funds raised will go towards the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, which hopes to raise enough money to fund the ground-breaking research that could help the heart to ‘heal itself’ and prevent thousands of people developing heart failure.

You can register online via www.knowleanddorridgelions.com/bikeride and link through to the BHF website or call them on 0121 661 5100 for a registration form.

Astwood Bank Carnival’s logo gets a Monster Makeover by local youngster

After many years of great service, Astwood Bank Carnival’s current logo will be retired at this year’s Carnival, in favour of a brand-new design. The latest logo has already been selected and is the result of a competition launched by the Carnival committee and Birmingham’s biggest signage and graphics company, Hollywood Monster. The competition called upon the children of Astwood Bank to illustrate an emblem that celebrated the diverse range of events that the Carnival committee organise throughout the year. The lucky winner was then awarded the chance to bring their design to life, collaborating with Hollywood Monster’s design experts.

After the competition’s launch, the committee was inundated with entries from the Astwood Bank’s talented youngsters. A panel of judges comprised of experts from the Carnival committee and Hollywood Monster picked their three favourite logos, with the selected creators being awarded with £20 gift vouchers. A design was then picked from these three candidates to be crowned the overall winner.

Commenting on the competitions popularity, the Chair of Astwood Bank Carnival Ashley Hewitt said:

“We were delighted not only with the quantity of entries that we received but also the high quality, and the variety of ideas that the entrants had. While the old logo was much-loved, the committee felt like it was time to spruce it up and make it more relevant to the work that we do now. I think the logo that we’ve chosen is definitely the worthy winner.”

After much deliberation, the judges announced the winner to be Olivia Bevan, a Year 6 student from Ridgeway Academy. In addition to her £20 gift voucher, Olivia won the opportunity to visit the Tyseley headquarters of Hollywood Monster. She spent her day there working alongside studio manager Emma Hyland, to transform her drawing into a logo that will be suitable for Astwood Bank Carnival events for years to come. Emma guided Olivia through the process, starting with her hand drawn original design, before helping her digitise, edit and simplify, lastly presenting her with the final product.

Speaking about the day, Emma said:

“Olivia was an absolute joy to work with! She had a knack for design and together we worked to make sure that the finished logo was exactly what she had envisaged. It was a pleasure to be able to be a part of the process. All of the Hollywood Monster team would like to congratulate Olivia again and thank her for all of her hard work on the day.”

Eager to catch a glimpse of the new design? There isn’t long to wait! The logo will make its grand debut at the Astwood Bank Carnival on Saturday 9 July, and future events organised by the committee, including their quiz night in September and Carols in the park in December.

To find out more about these events, which helps raise money for local charities and causes, visit www.astwoodbankcarnival.co.uk.

McDonald’s serves up a tasty deal as Hollywood Monster Plans Expansion

McDonald’s has chosen a West Midlands firm as one of the primary contractors for graphics, as part of a multimillion-pound deal that will see over 1,000 UK restaurants undergo refurbishment. Hollywood Monster will deliver a rollout programme for stores and drive-thrus nationwide, in line with its adventurous three-year expansion plan.  

The Tyseley-based signage firm has been selected as one of three contractors – the only one from the West Midlands region – to work on the project, after rigorous testing by the corporation. McDonald’s welcomes around 2.5 million customers per day across its 1,200+ UK restaurants, and Hollywood Monster’s specialist team will install Dreamscape wall covering textile as part of an interior design refresh.

The multi-million-pound contract will take place over the next three years and work has already begun, with a selection of stores receiving the new styling. As of this year, this will also include new graphic themes being introduced to restaurants and drive-thrus.

Simon McKenzie, Sales Director at Hollywood Monster, said: “This is a huge contract win for us and we’re delighted to have been chosen as one of the primary contractors for graphics. We’ve already completed over 100 restaurants, giving us the chance to devise the best installation process for long-lasting interior wallpaper. With so many restaurants to complete as part of the contract and thousands of people visiting every day, we need to ensure not just speed but serious accuracy. We’re using high spec Dreamscape wall covering paper, which is being installed by team members that have over 10 years of experience in retail graphic interiors, so it’s the best quality you’ll get.

“Securing this contract comes during a key time for Hollywood Monster; we have spent the past two years expanding the business with new contract wins, team restructures, and Regional Growth Funding playing a major part. We have already invested in two of the printing industry’s leading machines – the Vutek and MTEX – setting us apart from our competitors – and we have also purchased a new EFI H2000 Hybrid printer, which has been brought in specifically to help deliver the speed and accuracy needed for McDonald’s.”

Remaining one of the region’s flagship businesses, Hollywood Monster has increased employee numbers to almost 80, including an internal restructure that has welcomed several new roles including quality and systems manager and print operator. The business is also on the verge of announcing further expansion plans.

“We’ve got some ambitious targets to meet over the next 12 months as we’re looking to achieve £10million turnover by 2017. McDonald’s joins our ever-expanding national client base, which includes Westfield and Virgin Media; and it’s great to see these well-known brands looking to our expertise to deliver high-quality work around the UK. This McDonald’s contract gives our team an exciting challenge and showcases the quality of work that we can achieve. We wouldn’t have been in a position to tender for the work without our Regional Growth Funding two years ago, so I hope we act as an example of the stellar work that the West Midlands region is doing to support sector growth. We continue to fly the flag for Birmingham and the region as a whole, as a place to do great business,” added Tim Andrews, Managing Director at Hollywood Monster.

On Sunday 3rd July, two of our staff switched business attire for the uniform of the Royal Air Force as they attended their annual Field Training day competitions and parade at MOD Stafford.

Our Quality Systems Manager, aka Flight Lieutenant Ian Halford Officer Commanding 481 (West Bromwich) Squadron and our Business Manager, aka Flight Lieutenant Chris Kelly Officer Commanding 1206 (Mercian) Squadron in Lichfield, both volunteer their time outside of work as Officers in the Air Training Corps (ATC).

The ATC which is celebrating it’s 75th anniversary this year, is a youth organisation that is sponsored by the RAF and has over 40,000 cadets aged 12 – 20 across the UK. Whilst many cadets go on to serve in the Armed Forces, the skills and experiences gained through membership provide an excellent grounding for a successful civilian career and often puts them ahead of their peers in job interviews.

This year the field day saw nearly 1000 cadets and staff from 31 Squadrons across Staffordshire come together to compete in drill, shooting, aircraft recognition, aircraft modelling, first aid and radio communications. The day culminated in a spectacular parade led by the Wing band and reviewed by Group Captain John Middleton of the No.2 Flying Training School at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.

Flight Lieutenant Kelly and Business Manager of Hollywood Monster said “whilst I am always proud to put on my uniform, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the dedication, commitment and turnout of the young men and women I have the privilege to work with. I owe so much to the ATC in establishing my career; many of the skills such as leadership, communication, organisation, initiative and teamwork are all attributed to my time as a Cadet and Officer and I am equally thankful of Hollywood Monster for supporting me in what I do”

Printing and signage company, Hollywood Monster, has announced team changes following its recent London expansion.  Responding to increased work in the Capital and across the UK, the business has welcomed a new sales team member, as well as the introduction of a dedicated sales suite at its Birmingham headquarters.

With increased client work across Hollywood Monster’s key sectors, the Birmingham-based business has welcomed Kerry Price as Sales Customer Relationship Manager. Joining from a business development role, Kerry takes responsibility for day-to-day client liaison and relationship management, acting as the point of contact for project updates and innovative solutions to client needs.

“I have really enjoyed my first couple of months as part of the Hollywood Monster family. The company is a friendly and vibrant place to work, and I think this is something that both those working for and with Hollywood Monster recognise. I have had lots of really positive meetings since starting, where our clients have praised our service, knowledge and professionalism, and I think that it’s clear to see why they are so loyal to us,” Kerry commented.

“My role is to ensure that our service goes beyond the delivery of a project. With workloads increasing, new clients coming on board and existing clients increasing orders, I’m dedicated to keeping that flow of information between the business and our clients. Sitting within the sales team I am also at the forefront of new and innovative products and services, which means that I can provide advice to clients. It’s great to work for a Birmingham-born company that has not only big ambitions but a great reputation to match,” she continued.

In addition to the expansion of the sales team, Hollywood Monster has also created a purpose-built sales suite at its headquarters in Tyseley, Birmingham. The open plan working and meeting area is decked out with state of the art equipment and displays showcasing the company’s work. From time-lapse videos of projects from start to finish, a wall exhibiting material samples, and graphics of client projects, visitors get a sense of the size and scale of Hollywood Monster’s expertise.

Simon McKenzie, Sales Director at Hollywood Monster, said:

“The sales suite is the first of a number of transformations happening here on site, which speaks volumes about how integral the work we, as the sales team, do for Hollywood Monster is. This new space means that we can invite both clients and suppliers to immerse themselves in the Hollywood Monster experience, showcasing what we as a company do and how we go about doing it.

“Over the next three months we will be changing a number of areas – from offices through to the factory floor – to ensure that we’re equipped to work effectively and continue delivering the best possible service to clients. This is a really exciting time for us and we’re seeing the business grow considerably, across our key sectors; property, retail, sports stadia, and exhibitions. We also have a number of emerging sectors that we’re gaining more work in, which is great, and the addition of Kerry to the team means that we’re able to communicate with clients right through the process.”

Birmingham businessman, Tim Andrews, has been crowned this year’s West Midlands Director of the Year at the annual IoD Director of the Year Awards.

With over three decades of experience at the helm of printing and signage giant Hollywood Monster, Tim Andrews has been recognised by the West Midlands branch of the Institute of Directors for his “incredible contribution” to both business and the community in the region.

Jason Wouhra, Chairman of IoD West Midlands, commented:

“Tim is quite simply a force of nature, somehow managing to fit several jobs into a working week. It’s clear from clients’ comments that he always puts them first and leads by example with his astonishing work ethic. Throughout the recession and ever since, Hollywood Monster has posted consistently strong growth and profits – a testament to his strategy to continually invest in the company’s people and technology.”

Tim and his father, John, co-founded what is now known as Hollywood Monster in their loft space in 1991. In August 2009, the two sister companies – Hollywood Signs and Monster Digital – were merged and moved to Headquarters in Tyseley, where the business still remains today. From this base, Hollywood Monster employs over 70 people and works with some of the biggest names across a range of sectors, including commercial, construction, events, exhibitions, property, retail, theatre and sport. Some of the business’ best-known projects include the Mailbox redevelopment graphics, during its £50 million revamp; Coca Cola advertising next to the 2012 Olympic Park; large scale hoardings for Westfield Stratford developments; and even banners to help Arsenal FC celebrate their victory over Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup Final.

“To say that I’m honoured to win this award is a complete understatement – being recognised by the IoD I, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my career to date,” said Tim.

“I am really proud that, after 25 years, Hollywood Monster remains a family-run business and operates from the heart of Birmingham. The challenging economy has seen the business, and our target sectors, change over the years but our team has remained dedicated to providing the best possible quality and service for each and every client.”

In addition to Hollywood Monster, at the beginning of this year, Tim was named as the new CEO of Birmingham City Ladies FC, taking responsibility of off-field activities, particularly developing the club in an ever-increasingly competitive and financially demanding climate.

Added to this, Tim is also known as a leading corporate fundraiser in the region, having been behind major charity events and part of the team that launched the 7inSeven cycle initiative in 2013. Tim is also Chairman and Trustee at LoveBrum, which unearths and funds hidden gem projects that make Birmingham an even better place to live. He was awarded a West Midlands Pride Award at the Business Masters 2013 and 2015, and at yesterday’s IoD Director of the Year Awards also picked up the corporate social responsibility award.

“Giving back to the community and supporting the work of people in the community is something I’m extremely passionate about. I have been involved in many charity events and fundraisers over the years – and I’ve completed challenges from 700-mile bike rides through to running eight marathons around the world – raising well over £200,000 for local causes. Through LoveBrum, I’m able to help smaller projects run by people who simply want to make Birmingham a better place to live,” he concluded.

We go to great lengths to get signs up for our clients. Situated on junction 1 on the M6 motorway, this project for Roxhill required a 200 tonne crane, 70 tonne additional ballast, spider access machine and 32 metres of concrete. The structurally designed steel work took a total of five days to both build and install. Using 3mm Dibond and a spirt flex banner for the faces, the finish strong, durable and smart.