Watchfire Signs by Time-O-Matic

Watchfire Signs Sales Director John Kunze was recently interviewed for a story in Digital Signage Today about the life cycle of an LED sign and when to consider an upgrade or replacement.

In the last 10 years, LED sign technology has evolved greatly. Business owners who were "early adopters" of the electronic message centers may be wondering if it is time to replace or update their old sign. If your sign is five or more years old, here five some key factors you shouldn't overlook.

1. Energy Requirements: Energy consumption has dropped dramatically as LED sign technology has evolved. Our customers have found that they can reduce operating costs by replacing older LED signs and particularly older bulb-driven signs. Ask your sign company to calculate an energy cost comparison between your current sign and a new unit of comparable size. The results may surprise you.

WBOC-TV and FOX21, in Salisbury, Md., have taken their commitment to delivering high-definition broadcasts one step further with the installation of their new Watchfire electronic message center.

In choosing a new LED sign, WBOC-TV/FOX21 worked extensively with Phillips Signs to find a dynamic sign “that looked as good as our television broadcasts,” explained Creative Services Director Mary Borger.

“Everything WBOC-TV/FOX21 does is in high definition, so we wanted an electronic message center that would reflect that,” echoed Ben Phillips, president of Phillips Signs in Seaford, Del., the stations’ long-time signage partner. “We only deal in Watchfire signs, and when the new XVS 12mm came on the market, the quality and resolution blew everyone away.”

With Valentine’s Day just days away and consumers estimated to spend $4.4 billion on jewelry this year, jewelers are eager to find the best way to attract new customers and increase foot traffic. Decker Diamond Jewelers in Ebensburg, Pa., has found an innovative way to do both with the installation of a high-resolution Watchfire LED sign.

David Warns, Vice President of On-premise Sales at Watchfire, recently contributed this article for Auto Dealer Monthly.

In the face of increasing emphasis on factory image programs and corporate branding, it’s no wonder auto dealers are looking at signage as a way to gain a competitive advantage. With quarterly bonuses from factory image programs creating a widening disparity between older dealerships and newer, remodeled ones, digital signage has become one of the easiest ways to refresh a dealership’s image.

There are many reasons an auto dealership would embrace digital signage, most notably because they make tailored advertising easy to create and inexpensive to change. Featured inventory, sales and promotions can be updated in just minutes, a clear advantage over other, more traditional forms of signage. According to the National Auto Dealers Association, auto dealers across the country are searching for ways to incorporate more tools into their digital advertising strategy. Because an LED sign can fully integrate with a dealer’s online marketing presence, it can provide a vital link between live customers and the information they will use to drive a purchase.

Ft. Wayne, Ind. households will don just over 250,000 Christmas stockings this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Those stockings are the direct concern of Brian Ellis, owner of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Darlington Holiday Warehouse, who with the help of a Watchfire LED sign installed by Creative Sign Resources has increased his store traffic by nearly 7 percent this year.

Want to learn more about your Watchfire LED sign? Check out the newly updated KnowledgeBase articles so you get the most of out your digital sign. You may be surprised how easy it is to install software and perform other tasks with a little help from our KnowledgeBase. It’s a great resource for any questions you might have about your sign and it’s available 24 hours a day. You can access informative articles just by typing in keywords in the KnowledgeBase search bar.

Now you can learn more about:

• Computer Setup – Learn the minimum requirements for a PC or Mac to successfully run Ignite® Graphics Software.
• Windows Communication Troubleshooting – Ignite will display Windows communication error codes, such as error 777, and this article can be helpful in diagnosing and repairing a communication issue.
• Communication Configurations – Walk through these steps to configure Ignite software for any type of communications device, including fiber, Cirronet radio and Time-O-Matic radio communications.
• Install Ignite version 8-11 or Ignite 11.1 or newer on a new computer – PCs don’t last forever, and if you have plans to upgrade or replace the computer that connects to your sign, these articles will walk you through the installation process.
• Communication Options – Watchfire has a variety of options for on premise sign communications including RWF radio and High Security radio. Learn more about communication options, including live video and digital signage network connections, in this helpful article. 

An electronic message center is a powerful way to attract attention to your business, but the sign alone is not always enough. Artwork that is eye-catching and easy to read is a sure bet for making the most of your investment.

It goes without saying that the digital signage industry is a very visual business. As a manufacturer of vibrant LED signs, we love to see photos of our signs in action. The problem is: LED signs can be a bit tricky to photograph.

Here are a few tips designed to help you capture the best possible LED sign images.

1. Use a camera that has adjustable settings. This is not typically possible with a smartphone, but most consumer-level cameras should offer access to some basic settings.