An Introduction to Vinyl Printing

 A signage and branding entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience, Mike Loftus serves as the president of MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, Illinois. Since founding the company in Elmhurst, IL, in 2002, Mike Loftus has overseen all final decisions on signage and vinyl printing.

Digital vinyl printing is copying a digital image onto a vinyl sheet. Vinyl is light, durable, works with many types of printers, and generates high-resolution images with quality dye. Companies often use printed vinyl products for indoor and outdoor promotion and marketing. Examples include stickers on vehicles and banners in exhibition spaces.

What makes vinyl printing appealing is its durability and affordability. Vinyl is waterproof and stands up to the adverse effects of extreme weather, from heat to cold. When combined with scratch-resistant ink, a printed vinyl banner or sign can remain in good condition outdoors for years. Depending on the digital printing technology, vinyl products can display photo-quality images. Vinyl products are cost-effective compared to several other digital printing techniques.

How Directional Signage Works

 As the president of the Elmhurst, IL-based MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions, Mike Loftus oversees the company's divisions, finances, and operations. The firm’s services also extend to the Chicago area. Products that MLE provides under Mike Loftus’s supervision includes interior and exterior signage for corporations, retailers and hospitality service providers throughout Elmhurst.

Wayfinding signs are a critical part of most facilities. They can be broken down into four types: identification, to label specific areas and features; directional, such as arrow signs; informational, which provide more details about a facility; and regulatory, which control access and enforce safety measures. Of these, directional signage can come in a variety of forms, often using icons and colors to expand the reach of their messaging.

Directional signs focus on guiding visitors and personnel to various areas in a facility. For instance, airport signs point travelers to different gates from where they can access their flights. This is particularly vital in a high-traffic area where most visitors are not familiar with the layout; the signage serves mapping purposes while people are on the go. These range from plaques with labels, to arrows on the floor or walls, to color-coordinated markings for certain needs.

One of the prerequisites of effective directional signage is that it is continuous. In a mall, for instance, a single arrow or sign directing one to the elevators or exit will not be sufficient as one navigates multiple corridors and corners. Placing multiple signs at visible locations along a route helps the user see whether or not they are on the right track.

What are Regulatory Signs?

 A resident of the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, IL, Mike Loftus is a business leader with a career spanning two decades. He serves as the president of the Elmhurst-based company MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions. Under Mike Loftus’ supervision, MLE has become a recognized provider of branding services, including printing, installation, and sign production.

Regulatory signs are a crucial part of organizing any service space, such as an airport, a factory, or a hospital. These are one of the four main categories of wayfinding signage and they primarily set boundaries and enforce safety and privacy measures. Such signs are generally bold, placed in highly visible locations, and unambiguously phrased, like a ‘Caution! High Voltage’ sign by a generator room or a ‘No Smoking’ sign at the entrance of and inside a restaurant.

A space needs regulatory signage if it is dealing with high-risk products or confidential information. Signs like ‘Employees Only’ and ‘Hard Hat Area’ demarcate where visitors are or aren’t allowed, and ensure that they can follow relevant safety instructions on-site, without needing full knowledge of the rules and regulations. They also control access and traffic, such as a ‘No Visitors after 7pm’ sign in a hospital. Even regular users of a space benefit from regulatory signage since one can implement instructions immediately instead of waiting on a company update, for instance. These also serve as liability protection in case someone does breach a restricted area or chooses not to comply with specified precautionary measures.

Safety Tips for Football

President of MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions Inc. Mike Loftus is an experienced entrepreneur and executive. Mike Loftus oversees all operations at his company based in Elmhurst, Illinois. Away from work, he enjoys traveling and playing football.

Football is a fun game and engaging sport; however, it entails the risk of getting injured. Some injuries can lead to significant mental health issues later in life, making it essential to take extra care and adhere to basic safety rules.

When you get your body ready to play, you can reduce your risk of injury. This can be done by staying in shape during the off-season through aerobic, strength, and endurance sports that focus on strength and flexibility. In addition to basic fitness, sport-specific routines are equally helpful, as are sprints and drills with lateral movement. However, before you begin any drills, warm up with some modest aerobic activity to avoid getting hurt when practicing and reduce the possibility of injury.

Secondly, wearing safety gear such as helmets, shoulder pads, mouth guards, pants with leg pads will significantly reduce the risk of injuries. It is vital to make sure all equipment fits, is age- and size-appropriate, and is in good condition.

Finally, it is vital to maintain safe play during games by following safety regulations. Players should understand and adhere to the game's rules. If an opponent appears to be attempting to injure them on purpose, players ought to remain calm and let their coach and the referee know about the problem for them to handle it.

Brand Advertising Strategies

Chicago-based executive Mike Loftus serves as the president of MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Inc., located in Elmhurst, Illinois. MLE, which is Mike Loftus Elmhurst company, concentrates on brand services. These services include but are not limited to interior/exterior signage production and installation and brand signs and advertising.

Advertising strategies are usually long-term plans whose purpose is to increase a brand's visibility and positive image in the market. The strategy can involve different media channels, such as paid ads, social media marketing, and video marketing.

Defining the brand's goals, values, and mission is necessary while developing an advertising strategy. Your brand's goals will help identify your target audience and enable you to establish an advertising campaign that'll reinforce this idea at every opportunity. However, a good brand's advertising strategy must consider the different audience segments that the brand appeals to; for example, Gillet is a men's shaving brand and their advertising campaigns cut across the various male age demographics.

Your campaign must showcase to the audience a problem your product can solve or how it'll improve some aspect of their lives, and it should do this directly and without unnecessary fuss. For example, Netflix markets itself as a streaming platform with something for everyone. This messaging creates in viewers' minds that it can meet their entertainment needs.

Making your campaign memorable either with a catchy jingle or a popular celebrity can go a long way, but highlighting your brand and what you have to offer should remain the focus of your campaign. Include a call to action either by offering a discount on products or offering special offers as incentives.

The key to having a solid advertising strategy with a lasting impact is using the information gotten from the initial campaign to improve subsequent campaigns while maintaining the brand identity.