expandablog

2010-11-26T15:08:00.005+02:00

Most of us hold fond memories of Christmas. Some people enjoy the stereotyped scene of snowflakes, holly and carols being sung whilst others bask in the long, warm days with the familiar scent of suntan lotion lingering in the air.

But there’s one dude who’s not so thrilled anymore about Christmas. Ol’ Santa himself. A combination of a belated midlife crisis (He didn't cope too well upon realisation that he's been around since the mid 1600's), in conjunction with Mrs. Claus’ alleged affair with a workshop elf, had taken Saint Nicholas over the edge. After a chronic eggnog binging session, which resulted in an FUI (Flying under the influence) and the suspension of his sleigh, Santa was in despair. But when he sank into overeating depression, gained a few lbs and got stuck inside a chimney, he knew it was time for change.

So, like many high profile celebrities, Santa was sent to a remote and undisclosed location. Call it rehab, call it an escape; he just needed to get away. And the seaside city of Durban, on the East Coast of South Africa was just the perfect place. So with Rudolph and the reindeers in the kennel, Father Christmas packed his big black sack and bid farewell to the North Pole.

With his Expand a Sign chariot ferrying him around, Santa has really been enjoying his vacation in Africa. A welcomed break from the perpetual snow that he was so familiar with, has seen him socialise at restaurants and shopping centres, visit the Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium and attend the KPMG Business Relay.

But in order for Kris Kringle to truly enjoy the experience, and to recover, we feel that he needs to explore each and every aspect of the area.

So, where would you take him? Let us know here.

Cheers

EAS

*Santa is an Ex-T shaped Banner stand.

2010-11-15T15:29:00.004+02:00

5 km is a long way to travel. It's 3.1 miles. Which, even though a smaller number, actually makes it sound worse. Especially if I am meant to attempt this vast distance by any other means other than motorised vehicle.

The KPMG Business Relay is an annual 5km walk/run relay, with its starting and finishing points on the outlying fields of The Sharks Rugby stadium in Durban, South Africa. Companies, both large and small, set up camp with employees and their families for an afternoon of amateur athleticism. In teams of 3 or 5 people, everyone took a turn to sprint/run/jog/walk/stroll/crawl the route.

Whilst doing a rekkie of the situation, I was welcomed by Expand a Sign Flying Banners, Feather Banners, Folding A-Frames and Ex-Dome gazebos. All businesses were showing off their brands as people barbequed, relaxed and tried to keep cool and hydrated in the extreme November heat of Saturday.

I’d be lying if I said that I participated in the relay. Instead, I was designated handbag watcher, child minder, idle conversationalist and buyer-of-the-cold-beer. All the before-mentioned are what I do best. As colleagues dragged themselves back to base camp, flung themselves on the ground and declared themselves to be dying, I reveled in how clever I had been not to have joined in on the self-torture. A few skipped in, without so much as a sweat and casually shrugged ‘Ah, that was a breeze’, which I found more than just a little unnecessary.

As the sun drooped lower toward the horizon and dusk settled in, we packed up our Ex-Domes, Ex-Shades, Flying and Feather Banners and XL EX-Up and headed for home. A tiny pang of envy struck as I watched everyone depart with their medals around their necks.

Ah well. There’s always next year.

Cheers,
EAS

2010-11-10T10:34:00.003+02:00

It was another glum, wet day in Durban, South Africa. If this goes on any longer, I thought, I may start showing symptoms of seasonal affective depression. But today was going to be different for the Marketing ladies of Expand a Sign; we were going on a road trip!

Giving back is important, now more than ever. Expand a Sign is very conscious of the environmental effects associated with manufacturing, which is why we have committed to our Environmental and Social Responsibility Pledge. In doing our bit for the planet, we are trying to create awareness about recycling but also want to make a difference in the lives of the next generation. Which is why the Marketing gals were headed to King Shaka Secondary School, in Umlazi. We were accompanied by Nontobeko, a project officer for OneVoice.

OneVoice is a vibrant and unique non-governmental organisation, which uses innovative and creative ways of actively involving young people in HIV and AIDS prevention and Human Rights training. Expand a Sign has donated 15000 school bags, made of the off-cuts of our banners and polyester material to each child who completes a class in AIDS training with OneVoice. Expand a Sign has supported the launch of a small business run by a group of previously unemployed women, working from their own homes, who now sew shopping bags, sports bags and raincoats from our waste fabric.

As Nontobeko navigated us along the roads towards the school, I took the opportunity to absorb as much of the environment as I could. Makeshift dwellings of mud and corrugated iron were densely spread along the hills, and taxis whizzed past as we followed the dusty streets. At Umlazi’s main intersection, the First and Third world relationship truly made itself known; a KFC takeaway outlet to the right of us and a cage of 20 live chickens for sale, to our left.

On arriving at the school, we were guided into a small, dark classroom. Within the four walls sat over 40 Grade 8 learners, all huddled closely together on buckled and broken benches. With no visible learning material or text books, one wonders what quality of an education these children are receiving. This was only half the class; the others had been sent home to study as the desks were needed by the children writing exams. We were there to present each child with a certificate for participation in the OneVoice AIDS awareness programme and to hand out a drawstring bag to each learner.

A brief speech from the OneVoice facilitator was followed by names being called and each child going forward to collect their certificate and school bag. Like typical teenagers, loud whoops and cheers were heard for each child as they walked to the front of the classroom. The boys would holler and tease the girls, who would smile shyly at having their picture taken. The sense of pride was obvious, as they all clung to their certificate and compared bag designs. The appreciation from the school Principal and class teacher was immense, which allowed me to be conscious of how beneficial these AIDS training classes and small gifts of school bags really are to the kids. With the current AIDS statistics, I’m sure each child in that classroom has already been touched by the disease in one way or another.

35 minutes but a world away from Umlazi, I sat at my desk and briefly reflected on the few hours I had just spent. It might be naive to think that we are saving the world, one school bag at a time, but I can only trust that our contributions will help in their own small way.

Cheers,

EAS.

2010-11-02T13:39:00.003+02:00

4:30pm, Friday 29 October.

It's a Friday afternoon, the wet weather is finally clearing, and there's a poolside deckchair with my name on it. Oh, sweet joy. I breathe in heavily and slowly exhale the previous 5 days away. Hello, weekend!

As I drive homeward along the rural farmland road of Shongweni, South Africa, my eyes catch a wild blur of vibrant colour. I put the brakes on ( I live in the sticks. No real traffic to speak of.) and squint to get a clearer view. An enormous marquee is being erected and dozens of shiny trucks, motorbikes and cranes are parked on a giant vacant plot of land. And scattered amongst the vehicles and the huge white blanket of the tent are hundreds of banners. Teardrop-shaped, telescopic, gazebos and instant canopies - it's like a piece of branding heaven, stuck in the arse-end of nowhere!

But my weekend has officially begun and that means no more work-related activities. Sort out your boundaries, woman! Put the camera down, drive away, and forget this ever happened. Like pulling off a band-aid, I manage to get the car into gear and tear myself away from the bevy of brilliant banners before me.

9:21am, Saturday 30 October.

As I'm shlurping on my morning mango juice, my cellphone vibrates across the coffee table and beeps loudly. A text from The Boss showing an image of some banners with a blurb about the Shongweni Car, Truck and Bike Expo and that I should try and get there to take photos of our products. Feeding my branding addiction. What an enabler. Why doesn't he just throw me a crack pipe?

6:38am, Sunday 31 October.
Can take it no more. Must...see....banners....
As I roll out of bed and peel the curtains open, a sight of thick fog and heavy rain welcomes my morning.

Pah! I've dealt with worse. I'll show the rain who's boss.

7:40am.

Boots. check. Windbreaker. check. Umbrella. check. With my camera around my neck, I begin my tour of signage splendour. I'm early (small print said 8am opening) and the only person here. No matter, I'm only in it for my banner fix.

Oh, and what a fix it is! I am positively giddy at the mere sight of the 3 BMW Ex-Dome gazebos. Side-by-side, housing the powerful bikes beneath, displaying the brand with pride.

I'm not sure but I may be overdosing when I see the Small, Medium and Large Flying Banners and Feather Banners around me. From international companies to small local juice shops, they're all out in force.

The rest of the day is a blur, but I read today in the paper that the 3 day event enjoyed record-breaking attendance and was declared to have been a great success. I'm ridiculously biased, I know, but I reckon it was all thanks to the banners.

Cheers,

EAS

2010-10-22T14:50:00.007+02:00

With recent controversy surrounding sports men and women being seriously injured on the field by advertising boards and banners, the Expand a Sign Health and Safety Department (no, we don’t actually have such a task force) decided to put one of the latest members of the branding team to the test. The Ex-Up banner is unique in that it winds open and closed effortlessly, has no loose parts, and has replaceable fabric ‘skins’. I can’t lie, we love this advertising gem. With 3 sizes available, and the option of vertical or horizontal branding, I can understand why the Ex-Up won an award at the 2009 Red Dot Design Awards in Germany.

Meet Wade.

32 years old.

Loves his kid.

Surfing enthusiast, enjoys burning rubber on a dirt bike, and I suspect that he has a particular penchant for damage and demolition.

With an Extra Large Ex-Up banner in tow, Wade and his posse of wannabe stuntmen made their way to the ‘testing zone.’ Located in the outskirts of Hillcrest in South Africa, Crestholme is an area with a noticably quiet, slower pace of life.

Until now.

Wade’s mission, should he choose to accept it, would be to ramp into the air and land onto an Ex-Up banner. With his Yamaha YZ 250, Wade was amped. Psyched. Rearing to go. But would the Ex-Up banner prove too strong for our Evel Knievel daredevil? Would this leap of bravery result in severe pain and suffering?

By now, a small group of children had gathered to witness the stunt. Dubbed ‘the pit crew’, they were captivated by the events surrounding them.

As Wade turned on the ignition, opened the throttle and accelerated into 3rd gear, the crowd all gasped in unison. When he flew into the air and connected with the Ex-Up, a dubious ‘crunch’ sound was heard by all. On closer inspection of the banner’s frame, a diagnosis of ‘fractured rod’ was made. But our Motorbike Man was in one piece, and the banner was repaired in less than 5 minutes, and at a cost of less than $2 US.

Next, we hope to find someone willing to skateboard over an Ex-Up. We’ll let you know how it goes!

Cheers,

Team EAS.

2010-10-18T14:03:00.009+02:00

On the 9^th September, Roger and Matthew (the Expand a Sign 'Twins of Mass Disruption') embarked on an experience of a lifetime with two things in mind. Firstly, to complete the gruelling Wild Run Race and secondly, to make a meaningful contribution to the local community.

The Wild Run Race is a three day, 112km trail running stage race along one of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines in South Africa; the Wildcoast. The event starts at the Great Kei River and finishes at the beautiful natural wonder - The Hole-in-the-Wall. Between the two is 112km of wilderness with golden beaches, rolling hills, spectacular cliffs, wildlife, dolphins, warm sea, blue sky and friendly people. The race was extremely difficult as they ran through tough terrain – swimming across rivers, crossing soft sand, fighting the prevailing wind, rock hopping and traversing uneven ground. Passing a decomposing whale carcass and a rusty old ship wreck were certainly unique experiences in themselves.

Waking each morning with aching bones, popped blisters and bandaged knees to run the distance of a marathon, off road, for 3 consecutive days, was understandably draining on the body and mind. If anything, this gives one a taste of the lifestyles that the local community experience on a daily basis. With very little infrastructure in the Transkei, the local people face the daily challenges of fetching water, collecting firewood and keeping themselves fed. The pair regularly came across women and children dragging fire wood behind a donkey, carrying barrels of water on their heads or collecting mussels off the rocks.

The twins were joined by Bob Skinstad (ex Springbok Rugby player) and Ron Rutland who represented the Bobs for Good Foundation which is a charity that provides free shoes to the rural school children of South Africa. The aim on this trip was to supply the children of Ngubenyathi Primary School with school shoes. We embraced this initiative by contributing school bags made from the off cut banner material. The manufacture of these bags help us reduce our carbon footprint (by recycling our banner material), allows us to support a small women-only business, and results in a quality product that less privileged school children value.

Each scholar received a brand new pair of school shoes placed inside a lovely colourful school bag. A large group chose to help and hand out the shoes to the 200 children and after a very moving acceptance speech by both the local municipal leader and school teacher (one teacher for grades 6, 7, 8 and 9!) they set about fitting the boys and girls with their new shoes. It was a small initiative by us, but meant so much to the local community. All the elders arrived wearing their best kit to watch the events unfold. It was upsetting to witness how few teachers there were at the school as they were on the ‘national strike’. They ended the day by singing the National Anthem with the children which was really moving. It was so rewarding to make a small difference to a community who has so little. The motto on the wall outside the school said it all “forwards EVER, backwards NEVER”.

What an honour it was to experience such a beautiful part of the world and to experience such a wonderful community.

Cheers,

Expand a Sign.

2010-10-12T14:01:00.002+02:00

Where'd I lose my core?

Over the past few years, the mentality of 'why run when you can drive?' has unfortunately prevailed in my life. The teenage metabolism has slowed, and office work and feeble physical exertion has resulted in a body shape to be ashamed of.

So I recently decided to embark on something new. The 90s catch phrases of yoga, tai chi and kickboxing have always made my (untoned) skin crawl. But now was, excuse the pun, crunch time! I persuaded a friend to join me in my quest for bodily perfection, and signed up for private pilates classes. What's the worst that can happen from rolling around on a giant rubber ball twice a week, I naively asked myself. And so, I ambled into my introduction class to pilates.

I was terrified, I can't lie. The 26 year old blonde, svelte Reese Witherspoon lookalike personal trainer gave me the creeps. She could probably touch her earlobe with her ankle. A not-so-short survey on my medical health resulted in, 'Okay, we'll take this slow!' from Legally Blonde Reese. Great relief; I won't be folding myself into a human pretzel today.

Surprisingly, the next 55minutes seemed to go by very quickly. No torture. No abuse. The only disaster was when I very nearly passed wind whilst channelling my inner 'abdominal power house' and was expected to bring my knees to my chest.

When leaving the class, I shuffled outside and toward my car. As I sluggishly moved to open the front door, Walk The Line Reese must have noticed the car decals displayed and hollered, 'Oooh you do those groovy banners. I need banners!'

I may have lost the feeling in my right leg indefinitely, but at least this pilates studio is going to have some great branding products!

Cheers,
Expand a Sign Fitness Guru

2010-10-04T12:22:00.009+02:00

Getting all wound-up.

Whenever a season of Survivor ends I go into a deep, funky depression. Not even the alternative reality TV channels can satisfy my interest in viewing unshaven, rugged men. Nothing is able to calm the urge to starve myself and live in my back garden for a week, or soften the detox-type cravings for cunningly edited hour-long goodness.

This time, when the fog of Survivor-absence malaise lifted, I decided to take action. One of the 5 phases during grief is apparently anger. And I was mad. Slouched in my office chair, I couldn't help but notice the Ex-Up wind-up Banner to my right; it was almost looking at me. Taunting me, even. As if it was telling me, 'I've won an International Design Award. What have you done to impress?'

With it's smugness, the product was asking to be abused.

So when The Boss strolled in declaring that he wanted to test the Ex-Up's durability on hard impact, I nearly fell off my chair in violence-anticipatory excitement. To vent my woes onto an inanimate object would do me the world of good!

I was to set up the Ex-Up A-Frame on the outside loading zone ramp, while someone else would heave a (already broken) large laser jet printer onto it, from the 4th floor ceiling. With the banner in place, the printer was hurled down to the ground. Once, it missed it's target and had to be put back together and sent back up for another attempt at distruction. And again, the printer failed to make contact with the Ex-Up.

By now, my enthusiasm for damage and demolition was beginning to subside. Maybe it was because the impressive 1.4m x 2.4 product was beside me, awaiting it's brutal attack-by-printer. With it's durable frame and long-lasting fabric, I couldn't be sure how it would cope. But when the third printer grenade shaved the side of the banner and burst a plume of pink printer ink, we chose to abort mission.

I quickly wound the banner up and clung to it as I vacated the scene of the experiment. Yet The Boss was not satisfied and instructed two of us to take the product to the Moto X track over the weekend and cause a mess. Ramping over it, driving into it and mad wheelies onto it will test the tolerance of the mighty Ex-Up.

Come back next week to find out the verdict and how the Expand a Sign tribe has spoken!

Cheers,

EAS Team.

2010-09-28T12:40:00.002+02:00

Don’t be trashy.

We live in a throw-away society. Just last week I was dumped for a younger, blonder, skinnier version of myself. Over-consumption and excessive production of short-lived and disposable items has resulted in an instant gratification society. (Note: I ain't the kind of girl who provides instant gratification. Could have contributed to the break up…) This would be alright if we had an everlasting supply to clean energy to make replacement goods and bottomless landfill sites. But we have neither.

Disposable relationships aside, people seem to have forgotten how to re-use, repair, recycle and reduce. Instead, the trend to replace has taken over. At Expand a Sign, we see the benefit of superior quality products. They simply last longer. Our Banner stand, Ex-Dome gazebo, Ex-Shade parasol and Ex-Up frames are designed so the frame can be re-used with new printed “skins”. Our Ex-Dome gazebo is even supplied with a 'spare parts kit' in the event that Mother Nature or a lack of common sense requires the frame to be mended on location. Our polyester fabric is also 100% biodegradable. Our slogan of 'say no to styro' means that all packaging is made of cardboard and can be re used.

We are also committed to community development and our strict recycling programme works hand in hand with this. All waste fabric from the business is donated to a small sewing enterprise made up of previously unemployed women who make unique school bags, shopping bags and sports bags. Each person involved benefits directly and in this way, we are helping to uplift the local community. We’ve bought thousands of these school bags and donated them to under-privileged school children around South Africa as part of an AIDS education programme. Our international agents and affiliated companies as well as other corporate companies are also buying shopping bags and sports bags as customer incentives and give-aways.

We're doing our bit to wipe out waste. After all, people who recycle can do it over and over and over.

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

2010-09-20T13:09:00.006+02:00

Sunday dawned and with it the realisation that the weather was horrible. I woke up with the thudding of my barbeque room door echoing through the house. I really need to fix that door. (yes, the weather gets so bad in Cape Town that we need a room to BBQ in)

Had winter finally arrived in Cape Town? I am an eastern Cape boy and in the 22 years that I have lived in this place of 4 seasons in one day, I have always hated the weather. Upon waking, my wife and I had a simultaneous thought; What are we to do with our boys on a day like this. Shopping? No, boring. Aquarium? No, did that last weekend. What, then? I remember reading in that Westcoast Guide magazine that it is the Darling wild flower festival. Wife said. "Yesss!" I groaned. "Let’s go check it out. It will be nice for the boys too." She added, "Perhaps the weather will be better there and if it’s not, we can go and check out something else."

I know when to keep quiet.

An hour later our 2 sons were dressed, breakfasted and ready to go. Jackets, beanies and scarves were the order of the day.

We arrived in the small village of Darling and the weather was worse.

Jumping castles, wine tastings and the flower show were almost all deserted. There were a few loyalists, but they must have lived in the neighbourhood and were making up the numbers. The wind was howling. Being an Expand a Sign man, whenever the wind is like this, I look for banners. I was not disappointed.

Our Expand a Sign Flying Banners stood proud and bright in front of the dark and gloomy backdrop of the sky, with all else flapping and falling around them. The innovative design of the Flying Banner ensures they cut through wind and rain and remain standing. Unlike myself, who had no desire to be the Last Man Standing in Darling, and was just dead keen to get back home.

Cheers,
Expand a Sign Cape Town.

2010-09-16T15:17:00.004+02:00

A steamy 37'c mid afternoon, yesterday saw me cruising down the town's main road with my window down, arm out, and Justin Bieber on the radio squealing about being so teeny tiny.

Being the law-abiding driver that I am, I halted at a pedestrian stopping and allowed the on-foot masses to sluggishly amble past me in the extreme heat. But like lemmings to a seaside cliff, they all appeared to be headed in the same direction. As my gaze followed them, I noticed a roadside fast food franchise was dispensing softserve ice cream cones at an astonishing pace. Arms everywhere, money exchanging hands at lightening speed, it looked more like a horserace tote or the stock exchange than a take away joint.

Beside the entrance stood 4 Medium double-sided Flying Banners. For a chicken-aholic or anyone in desperate need of something to quench their thirst, the banners were certainly eye-catching enough to advertise the establishment's presence.

Although we do provide a range of suitable mounting options, I chuckled as I noticed the old tyre being recycled and used as a weight. I certainly couldn't fault their efforts.

I might have sped off and left the banners behind me, but still can't seem to curb the craving for chicken wings. Go figure.

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

2010-09-14T11:22:00.002+02:00

Picture the scene:

You overslept this morning, traffic is at gridlock, and you are late for a company event.

You could choose to dither in your poor time-management skills, the fact that you insisted on watching CSI until 1am, and the beer intake that took place simultaneously. Or, and this is the advisable option, you could be grateful that your destination (should you reach it) is an idyllic Golf Resort, where you will be setting up and hosting a hole at a charity golf day. Soaking up the sun, salty air, and your sand wedge.

When you reach the resort, luck is on your side. You effortlessly empty the contents of your car into a golf cart and meander down the path toward your sponsored hole. There are two scantily clad promotional ladies awaiting your arrival who happily remove the contents of the golf cart and help to set up the Ex-Dome gazebo, 2 Large Flying Banners and an XL Ex-Up Wind-Up Banner. Fully branded in 10 minutes! Who says blondes aren't clever?

In your urgency, you might have left your mobile phone at home but you remembered to bring the extras; a tablecloth, tee-disc and pin flag.

Your spot is looking great. The guy next to you looks bleakly at his tatty parasol and then enviously gazes over at your branding. You smile, wave and holler to him,

"Three words, buddy. Expand a Sign."

2010-09-07T11:13:00.003+02:00

Some believe there is little in life more thrilling than 80 minutes of weaving your way through a horde of opponents at full sprint, landing that penalty from an almost impossible position in almost impossible circumstances, or leading a stampede to bring down a powerful player.

Some of us, unfortunately, have the hand eye co-ordination of a blind amputee and are limited to merely watching the fine game of Rugby instead of playing it.

But we have still been able to get involved.

Over the past 5 years, as a sponsor and branding partner, Expand a Sign has forged strong ties with the London Irish Rugby Club, the team, and the supporters. We've provided the club with a wide range of banners and branding products for the endorsement of the brand, the club and the other sponsors.

On match day, Small, Medium, Large and even the XLarge Flying Banners display the lavish colours of the club. The hospitality area is peppered with Ex-T BannerStands and the stadium mega store also is adorned with the stunning display of 1.5m wide Ex-Rolls BannerStands.

Off the back of the relationship, Expand a Sign has enjoyed developing new relationships and business with virtually all of the other Premiership Rugby Clubs as well as many other associated events and bodies, including the Middlesex 7’s Competition, the Bournemouth 7 competition as well as the RFU, England’s governing body over rugby and rugby development.

The overriding story with all of these premium clients is that they choose to purchase and endorse Expand a Sign products due to the impeccable service, support and quality that we offer.

However, it does have its downside. The waistlines of many of our Expand a Sign supporting staff have suffered, particularly in the pre season training for the formation drinking and social activities squad.

Remember - New Zealand are playing Australia this weekend, in the final of the Southern Hemisphere's Tri Nations. We'll be anxiously watching the All Blacks’ Haka and the Wallabies run onto the field for the last time in this tournament.

Cheers,

EAS Team.

2010-09-02T08:10:00.006+01:00

Work on your tan while we work on your branding.

With Summer winding down in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring making it's warm entrance in the Southern half of the globe, now is the ideal time to get out in the sun and lap up some Vitamin D.

Get the ol' lime green mankini from the cupboard, lather on some Factor 40 and head for the beach.

From sponsored surf and music festivals to seaside cafe's and restaurants, branding can be seen wherever beachgoers are.

Carlsberg placed 3 Expand a Sign Flying Banners in one of the most popular beach clubs of an island off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey. These banners have not been taken down for the last 2 months, in full sun exposure. There is no sign of fading and they are still looking good. Quality does matter.

Joe Cools Restaurant's top deck overlooks the beautiful North Beach in Durban, South Africa. We supplied them with branded Castle Lager Ex-Shade parasols. Not only do they entice customers to enjoy an ice-cold beer, but also provide cover from the elements.The Ex-Shade parasols are great, as you can replace the fabric or 'skin' to update your branding or marketing message.

Bored of lounging around on your deck chair? Why not get the blood pumping and take up volleyball? (Perhaps replace the mankini for this activity. Wedgies are no fun!) Expand a Sign's Folding A-Frames are ideal for beach activities. The pop-up mechanism means that there is no risk of injury. These branding products are lightweight and quick to assemble, offering instant visibility and convenience.

We've already blown up our inflatable tubes and are ready to hit the beach, so cheers for now.

EAS Team.

2010-08-27T09:46:00.007+01:00

Making our Mark amongst the Masses.

This week was Markex week. As the premier marketing and promotions trade exhibition in Southern Africa, being seen and standing out at this annual event is really important.

So, with Ex-Dome Gazebos, Banner Stands, Medium and Extra Large Flying Banners and Backwalls boldly decorating Expand a Sign's stands, we had a great presence. As the industry leaders, we cannot ignore the obvious pressure to keep pushing the boundaries as the innovators of creative branding. Our new Extra Large Ex-Up banners really impressed, and the new collapsible Event Bin was enjoying it's trade exhibition debut.

On day 1 of the show, we picked up an urgent request for an Expanding Backwall. An order was placed, artwork was created, then approved, and we have already provided another happy customer with their branding product.

We also pride ourselves on the fact that we can brand almost anything. As experts in printed textiles, we indulged in some overkill and branded our mini bar fridge, main stand's flooring and our bar counter. These were not intended to add to our already extensive product range, but instead to dig deeper into the possibilities in print.

We invented the patented teardrop-shaped Flying Banner. Many have attempted to replicate it, but nothing can match the signature design and print quality. Which is why we chose to place 2 double-sided Extra Large Flying Banners on our stand, to aide people in navigating their way to Expand a Sign. Like a giant 'Hellooo! Here we are!' it provided 2 functions; advertising our brand and directing prospective customers to us.

If you missed us at Markex this week, come and visit at Sign Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 8-10th September.

Cheers, EAS Team.

2010-08-24T09:30:00.004+01:00

Combining innovation with ease.

Organising an event can be a time-consuming and sometimes stressful undertaking. So being able to effortlessly brand your golf day or sponsored occasion is crucial. The red dot award winning Ex-Up banners wind up quickly and easily.They have the weight advantage of a pop-up A-frame banner combined with the great shape of a traditional rigid A-frame banner.

Ex-Ups are compact, lightweight and portable so they can be moved from one location or branding opportunity to another.The printed fabric or skin is removable and can be unclipped to insert new branding or to update your marketing message.

Dumesani is our security guard at Expand a Sign, Durban. Although he stands 6ft tall, we're afraid that his co-ordination leaves a lot to be desired.

Which makes him a perfect candidate for testing our Extra Large Ex-Up.The XL is the latest in the Ex-Up range and pushes the boundaries; one product, no loose parts, and opens up to 1.4m x 2.5m! Dumesani sets it up each day, no matter the weather conditions. (view this video of our tester Ex-Up in strong winds) He pegs it into the ground and cranks it down 9hrs later.

Ex-Ups can also be used indoors. The Ex-Up Tower has 3 panels, making it eye-catching from any angle. Both the Ex-Up A-Frames and Towers are now available in Medium, Large and Extra Large.

Cheers,

The EAS Team

2010-08-17T13:26:00.003+01:00

How one handles fear is an excellent indicator of one’s temperament and attitude.

Although we work hard at Expand a Sign, we also understand that keeping a fun and lively vibe within the company is essential in maintaining a motivated and inspired crew.

So in a teambuilding effort, the Expand a Sign big boss held a competition asking people to submit their names for the chance to ride on the Moses Mabhida Stadium Big Swing.

It looks completely terrifying, but at least 20 thrill seekers put their names in a hat. Last week, the lucky individual's name was drawn – Bruce Bollay from the Art Studio.

Meet Bruce.

28 years old. Talented graphic designer. Father to a 4year old son. Recently married to his long-time love.

i.e. Not great if his stadium swing proves fatal.

The afternoon of the big jump arrives and we bustle off to the stadium to witness his leap of bravery. Lots of chat and laughter in the car by everyone... except 1 x very quiet Bruce Bollay. At the base of the stadium's 120metre arch, even the boss' 6yr old son's 'The pig went to the doctor for oinkment and the bird for tweetment' jokes didn't catch a laugh from the harnessed-up, pale-looking guy whose usual broad smile and jovial ways seemed to have subsided a little. By now, I was wondering if this was such a good idea. It seemed almost cruel to subject this poor bloke to such free-falling fear.

We bid farewell and good luck to Bruce and settled at the seats within the Moses Mabhida stadium, which has recently been host to some exciting Soccer World Cup matches. Binoculars, video cameras and fancy camera lenses are tested (can you say Japanese tourists?!) whilst we sit and wait for the 5 would-be dare devils to reach their jumping point. First, a lady takes her leap. We watch in silence as she sways into the great vacancy inside the stadium. And then another. And another. C'mon Bruce - where are you? Finally, always the gentlemen, Bruce is the last ~~madman~~ person to step forward to soar on nothing but a bungee cord.

He timidly navigates his way toward the jumping point....we watch him get into position...we hear '3.2.1.Step Off.'..and nothing. Once again, we witness Bruce bracing himself for his fall. And once again, nothing. But on the third attempt, he flies through the air and loud shouts and howls of delight are heard emanating from this tiny creature on the end of a rope.

Bruce's big jump video

He is slowly winched back up to the top of the arch staircase and begins his descent. When we meet up with Bruce on solid ground, his eyes look wild, his grin is wide and he is relaying his experience at super speed.

I'm not entirely sure as to the moral of this story. Perhaps, 'If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.'

Cheers,

EAS Adrenaline Junkies.

2010-08-11T12:39:00.001+01:00

Keeping the Team Hydrated

Expand a Sign headquarters is a hub of design, creativity, and good old fashioned hard work. Our employees and their wellbeing are important to us. Keeping our staff happy and healthy is a top priority (discount that last paintball trip - pain and suffering was the mission of that day).

Which is why we have invested in a device that not only purifies the drinking water in our factory and office building, but also enlivens and alters the structure of damaged water by enriching it with thousands of positive frequencies and healthy energy to bring it back to its natural state. I was skeptical at first. Why install an appliance purely on the promise that it will regain and maintain my level of health? Subscribing to the school of thought that being healthy meant adding ice cubes to my gin 'n tonic, I was never one to clamber for the latest health fad or jump at this month's '10 steps to smoother skin'. And a daily intake of 2 litres of water meant the inconvenience of more trips to the bathroom, so I didn't stick to that New Years Resolution for very long.

The point of this unique Gie Water Activator device is that the key to healthy, enlivened water lies in its natural whirling, swirling and vortexing motion. Not only can water cleanse itself both chemically and physically through this motion but the Gie Water Activator is a device that can mimic the simple yet powerful process of nature’s dynamic ways: turning lifeless, inactive water back into its living state.

Great - so I can now shlurp my Gin 'n Tonic (on the rocks) through a straw to activate some twirling, swirling action, allowing the water to pirouette down my throat and dance it's way into each nucleus of each cell.

No. Not quite.

But we genuinely believe in this process. In the one month since we have installed our Water Activator, we have already noticed some benefits. From subsiding of skin disorders to a general sense of wellbeing, it seems that energised water really does result in energised bodies.

To learn more about the Gie Water Activator from Spyralyx, go to http://www.spyralyx.com/

Cheers,
EAS Team.

2010-08-06T10:54:00.003+01:00

Some people are natural cyclists, whilst others (ie, myself) are more prone to flying over handlebars, acquiring nasty roasties and denting their helmets. But even if you happen to be a disaster on 2 wheels, it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy yourself in the company of other Lance-Armstrong-Wannabes at events like the Duesouth Xterra.

The action-packed Duesouth Exterra duathlon was held during the Annual Knsyna Oyster Festival at the magnificent Pezula Private Estate in Knysna, South Africa. On Thursday the 8th of July, hundreds of focused competitors gathered to participate in 25km of off-road mountain biking and a 10km trail run.

Expand a Sign Ex-Dome gazebos and Feather Banners were set up at the finishing leg of the cycling discipline, welcoming the athletes back and sending them off for the final trail run. KTM Bike Industries are loyal and satisfied customers of ours, who enjoy sending photos and feedback from events.

Knysna is a quiet seaside town that comes alive for a week every July. The annual Knysna Oyster Festival is a vibrant occasion with sporting events, an art and culture emphasis and many food and wine tastings.

You know what they say about oysters and their affect on endurance? I reckon these athletes are at an unfair advantage!

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

2010-08-03T08:42:00.008+01:00

At Expand a Sign, we're all about using the environment to your benefit.

From branding the walls of buildings, staircases and fences to street poles and pavements; we know how to make the most of both the man-made and natural landscape.

Generally, every main road has a street lamp. Whether in a bustling town, a University campus or along the beachfront, lamp posts and street poles are ideal for outdoor signage.

Boulevard Banners are great for branding main roads, shopping districts, business parks and exhibition centres. Located above eye level, they stand out from afar. We just supplied these Boulevard Banners for the 2010 BC Summer Games in Vancouver, Canada. These brightly designed branding products could be seen throughout the township of Langley.

Flying and Feather Banners are also really effective advertising banners when used on lamp posts. This shopping mall has made maximum use of its light posts and fence for branding and have been loyal customers for 4 years, purchasing over 300 Banner skins (fabrics only). How is that for added value and great recycling - keep your hardware and change your marketing message or promotion whenever you like!

The Ex-Disc is the best way to give your brand 360° impact and combines the practicality of the Boulevard Banner with the movement of the Flying Banner. This clever design allows the disc to feather out of the wind and the double-sided print shows off your brand from any direction. The innovative clasps are adaptable, attaching to any size pole - from 50 to 300mm.

We're not all destined for a future in pole dancing, but pole branding is certainly unique and distinctive, without taking up floor space. We have a a wide range of outdoor branding products and mounting options so give us a call to put your brand firmly on the map!

Cheers,

The EAS Team.

2010-07-29T13:06:00.006+01:00

Let's not get Carried Away!

The Expand a Sign Product Development, Research and Destruction Team (think Mythbusters, but without the facial hair) were on a mission. We needed to test our Ex-Dome gazebo and Ex-Shade parasol umbrella against the harshest of weather conditions; extreme wind!

Every product requires slight modifications and adaptations in order to develop the strongest, most durable item possible. And we were pretty confident that our Ex-Dome and Ex-Shade could withstand the best that Mother Nature could give us.

After negotiations with Nasa Aeronautics and the top International Tornado Specialists (no, not really), we deduced that wind tunnels and turbines were not for us - we wanted to feel the icy grip of the sea winds and to taste the salty blasting gales. The bursts and gusts of the offshore air currents allow for the most accurate natural scenario possible.

Our Ex-Dome gazebo superseded expectations. This 3m x 3.3m beast fared exceptionally well once we had it pegged down. With wind speed picking up to 20knots, the frame's gentle swaying was almost a disappointment for those of us who were expecting demolition and carnage.

View Ex-Dome Video

Next to be put to the ultimate test was the Ex-Shade parasol umbrella. We set 2 up, side by side. The umbrella to the left was an older model and the one to the right, the latest version.

We were amazed that such slight, almost insignificant alterations to the frame have provided some really convincing results. Although we were setting up in absurdly strong wind, the new product stood firmer than the older model. Eventually, the older umbrella succumbed to the elements and a spoke popped out of it's spigot. This is easily fixed, but meant that our experiment was over.

View Ex-Shade Video

With salty lips, wayward hair and a sense of satisfaction, we piled up the car and headed back to base camp.

As always, we must advise that you use your grey matter when setting up any of our products in adverse weather conditions. Common sense is the best method in order to avoid damage to your products and yourself.

Cheers,
EAS R&D Team

2010-07-28T09:33:00.003+01:00

Get your business On The Board!

I must be honest; I really know very little about horse racing. All that I do understand is that I never win. When I bet on a horse, it inevitably turns into a 3 legged mange donkey once it leaves the starting gates. I also know that I always seem to be under dressed when I attend a race - even the jockeys sparkle in their satin ensembles.

Yet something still awakens in me each year, come July. Unmatched as Africa's greatest sporting and social event, Greyville Racecourse in Durban will once again attract more than 50 000 of the country's most dazzling, dashing and downright delicious for the R3 million Vodacom Durban July Horse racing Event on 31st July 2010.

As they have for more than 100 years, the best of the continent's thoroughbreds will come together for the 2 200m clash from which one will emerge to join the esteemed that have dominated in Africa's greatest race. It is an eerie moment as all else pauses for just over two minutes whilst the 20 horses sprint around the course, the drum of their thundering hooves smothered by the roar of the frenzied crowd. As they flash across the line, a new champion will be declared as winner of the Vodacom Durban July.

The track and arena are fully dressed in the sponsors’ branding. From gazebos and parasol umbrellas to endless banners that wrap around the circumference of the track. Seen as one of the hottest events on the social calendar, the after party is always Durban’s ultimate party experience. Whether drowning your sorrows at your poor luck or throwing your winnings around in boozy bliss, the vibe itself is intoxicating.

I have already designed my peacock-feather-inspired outfit for this weekend. I will also cleverly be placing small bets on each and every horse, just so that I can declare that I won. (I’m cunning, eh?!)

I hope the odds are on me!

Cheers,

EAS

2010-07-20T08:43:00.019+01:00

A really Fair Way to brand!

The 139th British Open Championship was held this past weekend, with 27 year old Louis Oosthuizen winning the title by a massive 7 shots. And with millions of people watching each pitch and putt from their living rooms, the big brand names were definitely on display.

Expand a Sign also supplied branding at a golf event this weekend. We branded a hole where we set up an Ex-Dome gazebo, 2 Medium Flying Banners and a whopping big Ex-Up wind up banner. All of which was easily transported in one car.

The Ex-Dome opens up to 3m x 3.3m but folds away to fit snugly in a medium-sized vehicle. 'The boss' and myself set up the products with ease. Within 15 minutes, we had not only erected our display but also the 2 Flying Banners for the clubhouse entrance and 2 Ex-Roll Banner Stands to be used at the reception area (with no huffing, puffing or cursing!). Expand a Sign even provided 18 Pin flags and tee-discs for the golf day.

We went the whole hog here but we can also help you brand your golf day quickly, professionally and inexpensively. Use one or two well-placed banners or brand the whole course! What's more, you can re-use the banners and branding material year after year and from one event to another.

So, get in the swing of things and brand your business. Don't be left with a handicap - get seen and stand out from the crowd!

Cheers,
The EAS team.

2010-07-16T07:19:00.005+01:00

We like to give. It warms even the darkest corners of our hearts.

So, when TWBA (big Ad Agency in South Africa) approached us and asked if we could help, we jumped at the chance to donate our time and material.

Addington Childrens Hospital in Durban was opened in 1933. Unfortunately due to a lack of funding and upkeep, it closed it's doors in 1984. For the past 26years the building has been neglected and abandoned and only home to squatters and vagrants.

But The Department of Health has risen to the challenge and has taken on the task of re-opening this building. With the help of some sponsors and R200 million, in about 2 years we hope to see Addington Childrens Hospital once again used to care for and treat the kids of Kwazulu Natal.

Expand a Sign sponsored hundreds of metres of fabric for the launch. This was to be wrapped around the building like a giant bandage. We also printed vinyl band-aids with each sponsor’s logo. The perimeter boards were covered in latex-printed bright children’s drawings and old black and white archive photos of the hospital.

We endured 2hrs of speeches this morning, but understood that Expand a Sign’s contributions were a small piece in the puzzle of helping a bigger cause. The Health Minister of Kwazulu Natal and Deputy Mayor of Durban were present (the Deputy Mayor sang a Whitney Houston song... very cringe-worthy listening to off-key ‘The Children are our fuuutuuure’) and my boss hovered around the biscuit table when he wasn't watching the pilots practising their fancy formations for this weekend’s air show.

Cheers,

EAS team

2010-07-14T08:23:00.010+01:00

Don't let your company be seen as a blow out.

Stand proud and fly your flag high!

Every conquering army strives to be the first to plant their flag and be declared victorious. Are you ready to go to battle and win the war in this competitive world of branding? Well, settle your flag in your conquered land and let the enemy know who the leader is!

And if you are going to be King, you will need a full set of advertising armour.

Teardrop or Flying Banners are great for indoor and outdoor use and are available in a range of sizes. With strength and stability, this product is long-lasting and can also be reskinned for a new promotion or brand refresh.

Folding A-Frames are lightweight and quick to assemble, offering instant visibility and convenience. These banners are engineered to withstand the elements and can be staked to the ground.

Need to defeat the adversary with an indoor advertising display? Our Banner Stands are designed to be lightweight and easy to set up for trade show displays and other indoor branding opportunities. Our Banner Stands have no loose parts and the graphics can be changed in under a minute!

Every King needs a castle. Expand a Sign's impressive Ex-Dome gazebo with it's domed canopy, provides more headroom and greater shade cover than a standard instant canopy. This ensures that your branding will stand out from the crowd at any event.

You are now prepared for the battle that is business. Good luck, crowned monarch of your brand.

EAS, Royal Advisors.

2010-07-07T09:20:00.006+01:00

Brand yourself back to Business!

The flags are frayed. The stick-on tattoos have peeled away. The 2010 Soccer World Cup is winding down. With only 3 matches remaining, most of us are wondering what we will do with ourselves after July 11th. Where to from here? Take up a new hobby? Buy a soccer net for the back garden and re-enact all the great goals (or at least try!)? Purchase the Xbox or Playstation Soccer games and continue living the dream?

Whether Netherlands, Germany or Spain are declared victorious, my heart has swollen with pride for my own country and it really doesn't matter who wins. And as soon as my sleep patterns return to normal and my eardrums heal from the vuvuzela-induced damage, I will get my head back into my work. Many businesses have been in limbo over the past month, but now is the time to inject some life into your company. Re-invent, re-juvinate and re-fresh your branding. Allow the great vibe and hype that has surrounded this incredible sporting event to inspire you and your organisation.

Branding has become crucial for advertising your business or services. Standing out from the crowd is vital these days. As the leaders in portable instant advertising products, Expand a Sign is continually working on improving our existing products and designs using lighter, stronger components and advanced printing technology to meet your branding needs.

Our wide range of banners, a-frames, gazebos and other branding products are portable, durable and quick to assemble and can be used for indoor advertising displays and trade show displays as well as outdoor advertising.

Expand a Sign ships to 48 countries, which means that whichever corner of the globe you are, we can help to brand your business and put you firmly on the map.

Germany

are playing Spain this evening, to see who will fight it out in the Soccer World Cup Final Match on Sunday. I'm so stressed; will it be frankfurter or chorizo for dinner?

Cheers,

EAS team.

2010-06-29T08:30:00.002+01:00

Flying the brand in Turkey.

Caffè Nero operates throughout the UK and now has stores in both Turkey and the Middle East.

Caffe Nero

Turkey

have decided to use Expand a Sign double-sided Flying Banners on location wherever they have a new store opening.

This is their newest branch in one of the business centers in Istanbul...

"KAHVEYE BEKLERIZ" means "WE ARE WAITING FOR A COFFEE" in Turkish.

No decaf skinny latte's here - this has got me in the mood for a rich double espresso.

Cheers,
EAS team.

2010-06-28T11:04:00.004+01:00

The Rush for a Cure!

Expand a Sign has been branding companies, both large and small, with our Flying Banners and branding products over the years. Earlier this month more than 400 participants raced around the Vancouver lower mainland by foot and public transport during a 6 hour event that was put together by the BC Lung Association. This is the first year for BC Lung Association’s Newest Amazing-Race Style Fundraiser: The RUSH: Race and Urban Scavenger Hunt.

Participants raced through 10 required checkpoint challenges, ranging from building model bridges out of Popsicle sticks and bubblegum to identifying famous movie quotes. ( 'Thish town ain't big enough for the both of ush.' Or 'You had me at Hello!') Each participant was required to raise a minimum of $200 each to help fight lung disease and BC Lung has thus far raised over $85,000 to help fight lung disease.

Flying Banners lined the finish, as the participants raced to complete the course and stand a chance to win a trip for 2 around the world.

A great product provided for a great cause!

Cheers,

EAS team.

2010-06-25T09:06:00.004+01:00

Are you really covered? ( not an insurance scam, we promise.)

The Northern Hemisphere is currently glowing in the Summer rays and enjoying the warmth and sunshine that comes with the sizzling season. From barbeques to sporting events, being out in the open and taking in a bit of natural goodness is top on most people's weekend to-do lists.

But whether you're at a surfing contest or trying to keep baby out of the midday sun at a country fete, or even desperate for the make-up not to run whilst enjoying the horse races - shade cover is imperative! Branded parasol umbrellas are perfect for creating shelter and getting your brand, product or promotion message seen. At beaches, restaurants, sporting and social events; a parasol is ideal for quick instant advertising.

Expand a Sign has taken an age old design and greatly enhanced the features (like plastic surgery, but without the pain.) to create the Ex-Shade parasol. We can even print these on the inside; so whether underneath or at a distance, you never miss a branding opportunity. ( I can't lie - we think we're pretty clever for coming up with this feature.)

What sets the Ex-Shade apart from the others?

Stronger but lighter pole - better than anything on the market
Larger surface area for showing off your logo and branding
Folds down to 1.5m for easy transport
Quick and easy to replace branded canopy when updating your marketing message
UV resistant for longer lasting colour
Super strong and flexible frame withstands heavy winds
Available with or withour a printed valance
Washable so keeps looking like new

Cheers,

EAS

2010-06-09T07:47:00.013+01:00

2 Days until kick off!

Expand a Sign has branded the masses. We've helped companies, both big and small, to show themselves to the world for the next month. All eyes will be on us so why not give them something to look at. We've covered the nation in flags and banners. We are feeling it; it is HERE!

The Greeks training camp is located 15km north of Durban, 'the boss' informs me. I have already purchased my camping gear and intend on squatting at a nearby location until July 11th, when the tournament ends. A friend of mine has inside knowledge regarding the Italian team and which gym they will be working out at. She has stated that she will be doing little else apart from intense athlete ogling for the next 31days. The gym towel will apparently only be used for mopping up her drool.

Expand a Sign has been World Cup mad since November 2009, when our first orders started coming in. MTN, an official sponsor, then purchased a large amount of Feather Banners, Ex-Dome gazebos and Folding A-Frames. A few enormous SA Soccer shirt banners have also made their way through our factory. South Africa is known for its festive, multi-cultural vibe and are encouraging tourists to visit informal taverns or shabeens. Old Brown Sherry and Castle Milk Stout have both purchased large numbers of Ex-Dome gazebos which will be set up at these taverns during the matches, handing out sherry to warm up the fans ( It really does get quite cold in Africa!) and milk stout to quench their thirst.

Coca Cola are another official sponsor of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and have opened up fan parks throughout the country, where people can sit on a bean bag with an ice-cold coke (it gets pretty warm too, here in SA!) and watch the games on the giant TV screen, in the company of both locals and tourists. Expand a Sign has provided hundreds of metres of branding to be used at these fan parks.

Large malls and casinos have placed Ex-Discs on their parking lot lightposts, with country flags displayed on each. A unique product with great eye-catching appeal. From hardware stores to pet shops, Expand aSign flags are everywhere! Bunting is also strewn along at restaurants, shopping centres and offices.

BP (should I be mentioning them?!) and Shell petrol companies have purchased Feather Banners for the forecourt at each of their gas stations.

I have ticked off my checklist of must-haves for the next month. Christiano Ronaldo on my arm is the final box that needs filling. I'm going for it... sure hope I score!

Cheers.

2010-05-31T10:10:00.021+01:00

09:25am, Friday 28 May:
It's 2 days before the 85th Comrades Marathon in Durban, South Africa. Myself and 'the boss' are at the Durban Exhibition Centre for the Comrades 2010 Expo, to get a view of the branding and sponsors who will be present during this years' race. Instant canopies/gazebos and banners are displayed at each stand, advertising everything from athletic gear to the latest energy drink.

Having never strived for a 6-minute-mile, I am more interested in the freebies and hand-outs, to be honest. Oh yes - and the Expand a Sign products! Bonitas Medical Fund is a sponsor of the event and placed an order with us for 173 Large Flying Banners, to be displayed in Pietermaritzburg at the start of the race when the runners will begin their 89km route to Durban.

When we arrive at the Flora stand 'the boss' is once again asked if she will be running this year. (she won't. She knows better) I'm now developing a complex about my obviously unathletic figure as no enquiries have come my way. Personal paranoia aside, I am most impressed by the bright yellow and green Flora displays with Expand a Sign Flying Banners, Ex-Ts and an Overhead Cylindrical.

When leaving the exhibition centre, the brisk walk back to the parking lot has left me exhausted. And in two days, 20 000 men and women will be attempting 56miles in under 12 hours?!

05:30am, Sunday 30 May:
Hair's a mess. It's dark, I'm cold and someone has finished all the coffee. But here I sit, infront of the TV, and watch in amazement (I've seen this every year for 2 decades but it still gives me the chills.) as the cock crows, the gun blasts and the Comrades Marathon ceremoniously begins!

08:35am, Sunday 30 May:
I'm at the roadside, awaiting the arrival of the first runner! It's light, still cold but I have coffee! The supporters are bbq'ing their eggs and bacon, some already on the champagne and orange juice, but there is a wonderful vibe along the road. Young and old are getting excited as the helicopters fly over and we begin to hear the rumble of clapping and support in the near distance.

3:20pm, Sunday 30 May:

I'm back on the couch, watching the television. By now, many runners are turning the bend for their last mile towards the finish line. Expand a Sign Post Office Flying Banners and Flora Feather Banners hug the way, as the exhausted and understandably relieved athletes cross the finishers carpet and clock in their times.

I think most of us are more enthused about being a bystander than a participant. But witnessing thousands of people - normal, everyday folk who have jobs and kids and stressful lives - complete an ultra marathon, inspires me each year to push my own limits. Even if just a little.

The real winners of the Comrades Marathon video

Cheers.
EAS.

2010-05-25T09:42:00.013+01:00

Branding the peeps on the streets!

I'm driving up Buro Crescent in Durban, on my way to the Expand a Sign office. Informal stalls selling fruit, sweets and cool drinks are strewn along the roadside. As the pedestrians meander past on their travels, the tired-looking gazebos that house each makeshift shop look somewhat in keeping with the dishevelled, dusty surrounds of the area.

But then , as I make my way down the road and closer to Expand a Sign, a familiar sight comes into view. And another! Perched on the roadside, gloating with pride like peacocks on display, are 2 Ex-Dome instant canopies. One blue, one pink. With a mad grin on her face, the newest recipient of her very own Ex-Dome gazebo is Pretty. Each and every day, she has supplied the neighbourhood's workers with refreshments, snacks and meals from within a tent that was barely clinging to its rusty old legs. And now she has her own fold-away branded store. Look out Spar - Pretty has joined the game!

Leon, on the other hand, has been our 'guinea pig' and Ex-Dome tester for 2 years now. 5 days a week he sets up and takes down the same gazebo without complication. With any new product comes alterations and advances, and Leon has tested all of our R&D changes. As we try new printing machines and fabrics, he has been presented with a new Ex-Dome 'skin' which he replaces effortlessly.

Expand a Sign has been the leader in portable instant advertising and branding for over a decade. We know that displaying and promoting yourself works. Whether an international franchise or a small business self starter such as Leon, being noticed counts. And helping just 2 people like Pretty and Leon to stand out from the crowd and improve their sales is both rewarding for us and beneficial to them.

I'm now craving one of Pretty's sandwiches - gotta go.
Cheers,
EAS.

2010-05-21T06:40:00.005+01:00

Keeping our Competitive Edge!

With the FIFA Soccer World Cup only 20 days away, Expand a Sign has decided to get into the footie spirit and host our own Expand a Sign Foosball World Cup.

Our Art studio and printing team were awarded with a Foosball machine in 2009, for keeping errors to a minimum and quality printing to a max. They are allowed to play during lunch breaks and before or after work.

In our quest to find the ultimate Foosball champions, departments within the Durban-based head office are teaming up to take on their rivals in what is guaranteed to be a nail-biting final.

Each day at lunch, we will be holding best-of-7 matches until the winner is finally announced. I’ll keep you informed.

Cheers,

EAS

2010-05-14T11:39:00.004+01:00

Stretching is imperative. Oh, and buying a good pair of running shoes. Carbo-loading; that's also recommended beforehand. Not to mention a good night sleep.

But so much more is required in order to complete a Comrades Marathon. Nearly 17 000 runners have trained and trodden countless kilometres of tarmac in preparation for the 2010 Comrades ultra marathon, to be held on Sunday 30th May. The 89km race starts in Pietermaritzburg at 5:30am. In the morning chill, local supporters barbeque and cheer the runners along as they start on the first of 'big 5' hills that will require defeating. From undulating terrain that offers fairly comfortable running to a steep decent of 500m in only 22km, the Comrades Marathon route is both gruellingly agonising and spectacularly beautiful. With the rolling hills of the Cato Ridge farmlands and the large country homes that hug the hillsides of Hillcrest, the winter beauty of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa can hardly be matched.

Televised to millions, the Comrades Marathon is an ideal opportunity for suppliers and sponsors to be noticed. Branding is seen from the first whistle to the winners finish tape. Unilevers' Flora Feather Banners are on display at the final lap of the Sahara Cricket Stadium and Reebok, Nedbank and Bonita’s Medical Fund Expand a Sign banners and branding are everywhere along the 56mile course. Restaurants at the roadsides set their banners up and Estate Agents, small businesses and franchise companies all take the opportunity to get their name and logo out there at such a significant annual sporting event.

We have 2 Expand a Sign employees running the race this year (they have both completed it before so can't use first time ignorance as an excuse). We will all be enjoying ourselves that day, supporting the runners as they traipse like lemmings toward the sea and closer to that coveted medal.

Personally, I intend to stretch myself out on a deckchair with a cuppa coffee and a blanket and watch the runners go by in the comfort of my winter woollies.

See you on the day!

Cheers,

EAS.

Expand a Sign Product Brochure

2010-05-05T09:49:00.001+01:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Expand a Sign Product Brochure

View more presentations from Expand a Sign.

2010-04-29T08:28:00.007+01:00

Score with great Branding!

Soccer fever has hit. And we've got it bad. Admittedly, it doesn't take much for me to get into the dressing-up, buying-useless-stuff, showing-support-for-a-game-I-barely-understand mood!

Expand a Sign has been inundated with Fifa Soccer World Cup-related work this year, and we always get a great feeling when seeing our products displayed; like the 32 country flag Ex-Discs at Sibaya Casino in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

After the supersized, gigantic soccer t-shirt that we manufactured earlier this year, we have received many subsequent orders for other large supporters shirts. These are usually hung on walls in office forecourts or against the exterior of buildings to show support to the oncoming traffic.

Oh, and the flags! It would seem that everyone is clamouring for one, or all of the 32 participating nations flags. From standard 1.2 x 1.8m flags to be erected on flagpoles in a show of patriotism, to the 12m bunting - it's great to see that people are getting so involved in branding themselves in preparation for 11 June. I'm sure I could create some crazy ( if not ever-so slightly exaggerated) statistic about 'If we laid each flag that we have produced, side by side, it would wrap around the globe.' But that's how it seems at the moment when walking through our factory. It's brilliant. In fact, I might even begin on my own flag patchwork quilt, if I get any more excited!

With 43 days to go (I have been crossing off the days on my Soccer-themed calendar.) we're getting ready for the international invasion... are you?

2010-04-26T12:45:00.001+01:00

Branding the Brave.

If you're anything like me, where the simple act of channel surfing on the TV remote control can cause a strain injury, then the thought of splashing through an expanse of open water, followed by a bottom-numbing bicycle ride and then a final torturous road run, is bound to cause some degree of terror.

And yet masses of adrenaline-seeking, fitness fanatics thrive on this as a hobby and some sort of self-fulfilment; from the sponsored professional who participates for a piece of the prize money to your average Joe, who just wants to try reach a personal goal. 'Ironman' is a long distance triathlon event combining the world's three most popular sports disciplines a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle rounded off with a full marathon run of 42.195km.

Ironman started in 1978 in Hawaii when some grass skirt-wearing, tiki torch-holding athletes discussed who was the fittest athlete - the swimmer, the biker or the runner. The decision was easy: The first one finishing a combination of these three should be called an Ironman.

Today, there are 20 Ironman labelled events worldwide, each of them giving qualifying spots for the Ironman World Championship taking place in October - in Hawaii.

Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa started in 2004.The inaugural race was a Half-Ironman, and since 2005 the race in Port Elizabeth became a full distance race. Expand a Sign has been a proud sponsor of Ironman since the first days in

South Africa

. For the last 6 years Expand a Sign has branded the beach, roadside, finish line and hospitality areas with Flying Banners, Folding A-Frames, Ex-Discs, Gazebos and Fence Banners. We have also provided branding for Ironman Montecarlo. Expand a Sign specialises in indoor and outdoor branding solutions and being able to partner with Ironman was a perfect fit for our products.

I must admit, though - after writing this article, I am actually slightly inspired to don my speedo and burn some kgs. I'm still not sold on the tarmac-trodding, nor the bike seat thigh-burning. Give me time.

2010-04-22T11:11:00.007+01:00

Earth Day?!

It's 6am. The orange embers of a rising sun guide me in the direction of where I am meant to be going , as I drive to work. The familiar voice of the lady reading the radio news bulletin is informing me that today, the 22nd April, is Earth Day.

Earth Day?! Whattheheck? Perhaps I've been living under an unrecycled, man-made rock but this is the first mention of an Earth Day to me. So what's the deal? Am I expected to be still for one day, meditate beneath a sleepy willow tree and contemplate my personal carbon footprint and the effect that my messy little toxic body is having on the planet?

As soon as I turn the computer on at my desk, I navigate my way to http://www.earthday.org/ and read up on this Earth Day Network. Mention of climate policies, renewable energy and sustainable resources stir an eagerness in my belly to take action against the demise of our beloved Earth.

But I'm just a mere speck amongst the 6.697billion ( I looked it up!) of us who inhabit this great round rock. So what can I do to make a difference? I know the basics. Like, don't throw my chocolate wrapper out of the window as I'm whizzing along in my (non hybrid) car. Thankfully, I work at a company who pride themselves on being Eco Friendly. Expand a Sign is a global manufacturer who complies with strict waste disposal guidelines. We implement clean production technologies and are constantly recycling our cardboard boxes, as well as turning our waste fabric and off-cuts into school bags and raincoats for underpriviledged children.

That's a great start. Now I'm totally inspired. Less plastic - more paper! Less car fumes - commute! Organic - healthier and eco-friendly!

My new mission is to make recycling sexy... wish me luck!

2010-04-22T10:05:00.004+01:00

Sponsoring the Irish. Ta be sure, ta be sure!

On the 28th March 2010, the London Irish were victorious over the Sale Sharks Premiership Rugby team, with a whopping score of 38 - 0.

A St.Patricks Day theme inspired Berkshire to come alive with carnival spirit oozing from each corner of the Madjeski Stadium. Car parks were awash with festival atmosphere, green shirts, daft wigs and the compulsory gallons of O’da Black stuff .

The Formation Drinking team Expand a Sign

were on hand (of course) with maximum professional attention given to supporting the club and to the drink intake. With Flying Banners and Ex-Rolls visible in the stadium, as well as against the searing sun-drenched skyline, the day proved to be a massive success.

Moving into our 5^th year of sponsorship with London Irish, the Expand a Sign UK relationship goes from strength to strength. This year saw a whole new approach to marketing of the London Irish as a club and as a top Guinness Premiership Brand. Expand a Sign were then commissioned to assist with this transformation with changes to the new brand identity and stadium dressing.

With the upcoming match against Gloucester on 24th April, we have our team jerseys and are ready to cheer once again in drop kick delerium for the mighty London Irish!

Cheers,

The EAS team.

2010-04-20T09:14:00.004+01:00

The skies may be empty, but your branding should still be Flying High!

With air travel halted, the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland has proven to be a real pain in the ash. The beast Eyjafjallajokull ( I dare you to try pronounce that one.) spewing her dust clouds across the skies has resulted in the shutting down of many of Europe and Britains' air spaces.

With that amount of soot and smog lingering in the atmosphere, one would assume that there could be a lasting detrimental effect. Will our precious Ozone Layers' already-gigantic hole begin eroding at an even faster rate? Will ashen acid rain fall to earth and destroy our land? As extreme as this may sound, keeping ones' carbon footprint to a minimum is becoming more important than ever - what with the likes of ol' Volatile Volcano doing us no favours. Fortunately, Expand a Sign has gone Green and has made changes to keep our planet clean!

Every company, business and service provider requires branding. Standing out from the crowd with indoor and outdoor advertising really does attract attention, and provides a highly visible sales opportunity. A nasty ash cloud? No problem! With our advanced printing technology, we are able to print bright, vibrant and bold graphics; perfect for being noticed in even the dullest, most dreary weather conditions.

Freak snow storm? Not an issue! Our Flying Banners have withstood the harsh Arctic climate, the Sahara Desert and even Hurricane Katrina.

Check out this video to see for yourself how robust our banners really are!

There really is never a reason not the let your brand soar!

Cheers,

The EAS team.

2010-04-08T08:38:00.005+01:00

It's good to be left in the dark!

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global movement with more than 40 million people across 32 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome’s Colosseum all stood in darkness for 60 minutes, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

On March 27th at 8:30 pm, millions of people around the world turned off their lights for an hour. Creating awareness has educated millions and every hour, people are taking small steps to lessen their impact on the environment. From hanging your clothes to dry to taking public transport, those small steps add up to huge changes for our great globe. Expand a Sign is also going green and is a proud sponsor of Earth Hour. Over the past 2 years we have provided branding solutions for WWF Earth Hour events.

Expand a Sign makes and sources all our components in one country, producing the smallest footprint possible. We are committed to improving lives and to keeping the environment clean with the donation of our waste fabric cut-offs to community projects around South Africa. They use it to make bags, raincoats and other useful items. Each person benefits directly and can help uplift their local community. Expand a Sign is also involved in programmes which donate thousands of school bags and raincoats to underprivileged children each year.

We're going green and giving back... are you?

Cheers,
The EAS team.

2010-03-16T11:08:00.001+02:00

Branding that will get you to the Finish Line!

Expand a Sign is a proud partner of Alive Outside, an Irish sporting events company. From Aquathons to Duathlons and Triathlons, we're confident in our ability to provide the most suitable branding products for each event's requirement.

Alive Outside are extremely safety conscious and always have the participants welfare as a concern. Our products proved to be an ideal option; our Folding A-Frames have a pop-up mechanism which means that there is no risk of injury if used on a sports field. Our Flying Banners are staked into the ground safely and our patented "Quick Connector" locks each banner in place, meaning no runaway banners in particularly unpleasant weather conditions!

Alive Outside hopes to attract the interest and participation of anyone in Ireland who may want to embrace a change of lifestyle.

If you would like to learn more about Alive Outside, go to: http://www.aliveoutside.ie/index.php

Cheers,
The EAS Team.

2010-03-10T13:51:00.005+02:00

Letting Creativity Fly!

In June 2009, Nottingham City Council Arts & Events department approached us with a most interesting dilemma.

Having previously purchased a number of Expand a Sign banners for branding their local events, they were now looking to engage schoolchildren around the city in living arts projects to be displayed at various Council organised events throughout the region, but on a naturally limited budget.

The solution was simple and yet extremely practical. We provided 60 small, non printed Value Wing Banner fabrics, on medium pole sets. This allowed the children to create their own vibrant works of art on these unique novel canvases.

The results were amazing. 60 unique, individual and colourfully decorated banners at a price that made it great value for money. The project was so successful that the authority aim to repeat the exercise for 2010!

Cheers,
The EAS team.

2010-02-19T13:47:00.011+02:00

We're Gonna Have a Ball!

South Africa received a bad wrap in the 20th Century. Fraught with Political turmoil, the Nation went through many tough and some incredibly triumphant times.

So being able to host something as huge as the Soccer World Cup is a pretty big deal. The FIFA Soccer World Cup has grown from its beginning in 1930 to become one of the greatest sporting events in the world. Well over two billion people are expected to follow the month long tournament between the world's top 36 soccer playing nations.

And the branding opportunities for such a massive sporting event are endless! If you read a previous blog (below...no, go down... no, the next article..yes, well done.) you will see that Expand a Sign provided some great Coke branding for the World Trophy Tour in late November 2009.

But how could we get in there and provide the best branding products available at one of the greatest sporting events on the planet? Our banners speak for themselves with their excellent quality, and we soon provided MTN, a huge National cell phone service provider, with 100 Feather Banners to be displayed during the course of the tournament.

But how incredible is this?

We were commissioned to produce 2 giant replica South African soccer jerseys to be used at the matches.

Just imagine the raucous crowds, clambering to hold a part of the massive jersey over their heads as they chant their National Anthem and sway along in patriotic passion.

...each to their own, I suppose.

An exciting aspect of Expand a Sign is that no two moments are the same. One day we are producing teeny tiny Flying Banners for a restaurants' table promotion and the next we're running across the enormous new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa with a monster jersey in tow.

With 4 months until kick-off, we have so much on the go. Expand a Sign will be plastering the place in branding product - but more, closer to the time.

Cheers,
The EAS team.

2010-02-17T11:24:00.003+02:00

Dam, it's exciting!

The Midmar Mile, an annual swimming event held at Midmar Dam in Howick, South Africa is in its 37th year and has attracted over 17000 annual entries over the last few years. In September 2009, the Guinness Book of Records officially recognised the Midmar Mile as the world’s largest open water swimming event with 13 755 finishers.

USN was one of the main sponsors and Expand a Sign Feather Banners were proudly displayed at the finish line, where thousands of exhausted swimmers were presented with their medal and sports drink.

All conditions were ideal on Saturday the 13th February, as the Expand a Sign swimmers braved the water and fought the masses to eventually secure 38th position out of more than 400 company teams.

Enjoying a barbeque, family and friends watched as the gun went off and proudly welcomed their soaked sporting heroes back to solid ground and a dry towel.

Expand a Sign Flying Banners, Folding A-Frames, Ex-Domes and many more were displayed by take-away vendors, small businesses and international companies alike.

So - are you joining us next year?!

Cheers,
The EAS team.

2010-02-05T13:06:00.002+02:00

The Annual Dusi Canoe Race was a blast! Expand a Sign branded the paddles off the place with our Ex-Domes, Ex-Discs, Flying Banners, Feather Banners and folding A-Frames.

The Dusi Canoe Marathon is the longest canoe race in the World. Starting in Pietermaritzburg, the gruelling 3 day racers paddle down the Umgeni River, stopping at Inanda Dam on the 2nd night (party!) and eventually finishing at the Umgeni River mouth in Durban.

2010-01-28T15:27:00.002+02:00

On 2 December 2009 the iconic World Cup trophy arrived in Cape Town in time for the World Cup Draw after travelling through 86 countries over 225 days. It covered an incredible distance of 134,017 kilometres… more than three times the circumference of the earth!

But what of the branding opportunities along the way?

One of the key steps to making an event a success is to ensure that the event ‘oozes’ your brand and Coca-Cola are masters at this. For example, when the trophy got to Tanzania, Coke and FIFA hosted another one of its massive concerts to get fans together create some World Cup hype. In Tanzania, as in many parts of Africa, things can get really hot! Coke wanted to maximise its branding opportunities while at the same time handle the practical requirements such as creating much needed shade.

This is where we came in.

Expand a Sign is an international industry leader in portable branding equipment and our products are ideal for quick and easy set up. Our world class quality showed off the eye catching Coke branding and equally importantly, created loads of much need shade. Through our African agent we supplied 150 parasols and 40 Ex-Dome gazebos. We also made sure that the Coca-Cola name was flying high on 100 A-frames, 100 flags, 50 teardrop shaped Flying Banners and 50 Pull-up Banners.

That’s our speciality; helping brands stand out from the crowd!

What next for all of this equipment?

Following the event, the equipment was sent out to different regions to other Coca-Cola offices. Because most of these Expand a Sign products can be ‘reskinned’ i.e. you can replace the old branding with new by slipping off the old fabric/skin - they can be re-used for new campaigns and even other brands. Now that is good value!

Buy right the first time, buy Expand a Sign.

So if you would like to discuss branding opportunities, please contact Expand a Sign at sales@expandasign.co.za or call 0860 744 688 and a representative will contact you to see how we can help you Expand Your Brand! To view our website and our full product listing visit http://www.expandasign.co.za/ where something you didn’t think you were looking for, might just catch your eye!

With the World Cup now only a couple of months away we hope you have your tickets and are getting into the spirit of things by wearing your Bafana Bafana shirt in support of our boys.

The Expand a Sign Team.

2010-01-28T15:22:00.000+02:00

Expand a Sign is the industry leader in Portable Instant Advertising. Our pioneering spirit enables us to continually develop new concepts and value engineering for lighter, stronger materials and components.

We've never been limited by geography or climate. It's our job to make sure that any brand, regardless of size or location, gets seen in the right place at the right time. Each product has been tested under the most rigorous conditions, as our Flying Banners have weathered the fury of hurricanes Isabelle and Katrina, as well as the freezing temperatures of the Arctic

Mission: To provide innovative and viable advertising solutions for individual businesses and corporations alike.

Products: Flying Banners, Feather Banners, Wing Banners, A-Frames, Ex Discs, Ex-Dome Gazebos, Jumbo Cabanas, Overhead Cylindricals, Wind-up Banners, Banner Stands, the NEW Ex-Shade parasol, and more!