Federal Highway Administration study confirms safety of digital billboards and signs!

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has released a landmark study, years in the making, that declares digital billboards and signs do not pose a safety risk to passing motorists. For those within the digital sign industry, this result of the study is no surprise. Cities and communities across the U.S that have used this concern to ban or put a moratorium on LED displays. Definitive proof that the long fear of digital displays causing more accidents to motorists is now officially  a myth.   

For the purposes of the studies, The FHA refers  to digital billboards as Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS). The study sought to look at three major concerns:

• Do CEVMS attract drivers' attention away from the forward roadway and other      driving relevant stimuli?
• Do glances to CEVMS occur that would suggest a decrease in safety?
• Do drivers look at CEVMS more than at traditional billboards? 

To conduct the study, the FHA tracked participant's eye movements with an eye-tracking camera device mounted in the vehicle. This device was able to track the driver's eyeball movement and determine if the driver was looking ahead at the roadway or off to the side of the roadway at a static billboard or CEVMS.

The research concluded that drivers do indeed look at digital billboards longer than they do at static billboards. Glance duration toward digital billboards averaged 0.379 seconds, while glances at static traditional billboards were at 0.335 seconds at both test sites. Both of these measurements fall far below the two-second benchmark which would constitute a hazard, according to the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In conclusion, the study states, "These results did not provide evidence indicating that CEVMS, as deployed and tested in the two selected cities, were associated with unacceptably long glances away from the road. When dwell times longer than the currently accepted threshold of 2,000 ms (milliseconds) occurred, the road ahead was still in the driver's field of view. 

 This study should help put to rest concerns that digital billboards and the other outdoor digital signs, pose a hazard to passing motorists. This study will also help cities struggling with regulating digital LED displays. This study will also help pave the way for communities to bring this powerful outdoor advertising medium to their communities, benefiting not just local operators and advertisers but the entire local economy as well.

For more information contact: Judy Dennis, Business Development Manager, LED Resource. 10963 Cutten Rd. C-102 Houston, TX 77066 judy@ledresource.us 

LED Sign Sources.....Manufacturer or Reseller?

With the internet constantly delivering us daily commercials for all types of products, tracking what we shop for, and then using that information to bombard us with more options.....cell phones, daily use products, and even big ticket items, including cars and yes, even LED signs. How do we sort through this maze of information to determine what the best source is for LED signage? Sounds easy, right? Well, not really!  

Most folks out there are busy building their businesses and I have found that most people REALLY believe that all LED sign are the same! That's like saying all cars are the same! I have often asked potential LED buyers a simple question. "Have you just shopped online, or have you had demonstrations on LED signs from different companies?" The answer 99.9% of the time is: "I have shopped exclusively online." 

Taking this a step further, and I'm astounded by how many people have NEVER looked at or even touched an LED sign in person prior to buying! That has amazed me for years.....why is that?  Well, the answer is simple. THERE IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE!

Very few companies carry inventory. The capital investment required to do so, is just out of the financial reach of most sign companies. After all these signs are not cheap! There are hundreds if not thousands of sign companies all over our great Nation that sell, but do not manufacturer their own LED displays. These folks are classified as Resellers. They purchase LED signs from a "source" and then mark them up for sale. There is nothing wrong with good ole capitalism and this is the norm in almost all cases.  

In other cases, the company selling the LED signs are not LED experts. So, what happens to the general consumer in this case? Well, having been in this industry for many years, I can tell you it can get very difficult for the customer of a reseller! Most people don't realize that LWD signs are generational, just like cell phones, that we all use and upgrade every 2 years for the latest and greatest!

What happens is that the reseller, not being well versed in the industry, does not plan for their clients future?! What in the work is this lady talking about? I'm talking about the fact that these products are electric, and you can bet that at some point in the life of the LED sign, parts will in all likely hood be needed!   

So, here you are, your LED sign is 2 maybe 3 or 4 years old and all of the sudden you need parts. You call the sign company you bought the sign from to get nothing but crickets!! They don't have parts because they purchased signs from "somewhere and that "somewhere" will not supply parts for an older model, and they never even thought to keep parts for the signs they sold. Sound ridiculous? Trust me, it's not! Here at LED Resource, we get call from desperate consumers DAILY who bought from "someone" and they are gone, or just can't help even if they wanted too. So, the hunt is on! I had a call from an IT Director just yesterday. He was determined to find parts for a big sign at his church. He said, "If I can just find the parts, I can keep this thing going!" In an effort to  help, I asked him to go and look for a makers mark anywhere on the unit. He called me back and said he found one, but it was in an Asian language!  It became very clear that this customer was just out of luck! So, what is the number one thing to take from this?  NEVER EVER buy an LED sign from a reseller! The first question any savvy consumer will ask when looking for a reputable source for an LED display is to ask, "Are you the manufacturer?"

If the answer is no, then move on and save yourself future headaches. Here at LED Resource, our signs are manufactured to our specification, our design, our quality control and we ALWAYS stock parts for every generation! Our Showroom is packed with over a million dollars of IN STOCK inventory! Want your sign today? You can have it today! Our Showroom is located at 10963 Cutten Rd. C-102 in Houston Texas. We are located at Beltway 8 and 249! Come visit! We will show you all the different types, and sizes available, and you can see, learn and experience LED signage at it's finest. Come look and learn, before you buy!

Judy Dennis, Corporate Business Director   832-900-9434   judy@ledresource.us        

46% of Customers Say Signage Brought Them In!

Many business owners THINK word of mouth is the best advertising. In surveys of new customers of Businesses using LED signage, 46% reported they came in because of the Companies Signage! This might just be a good reason to rethink your advertising plan!

Most business owners are used to the tried and true, marketing strategy of yesteryear. Newspaper, direct mail and a little radio or television mixed in, will by many standards be a success with a 3%-5% return on the investment. What about a 20%-30% return? Sound like a dream? IT'S NOT!

The Small Business Administration says this about LED displays:
" With an LED sign, the average cost to achieve 1000 impressions (CPT) on consumers as they pass your business is less than 10% of the cost to reach them using any other marketing medium, including TV, radio or newspaper".

Let's look at some of the benefits of LED Displays: Unlimited number of message changes.  Flexibility to advertise specials or aging inventory. Delivering information of interest such as Community support, time and temperature, Weather conditions, Amber alerts and so much more. Quickly brand your business within your community. Elimination of employee physical hazards associated with changes to a traditional reader board and a ladder. LED message centers never take a break, or go on vacation. They consistently attract new customers 24/7/365 days a year!   

So, what is it that makes Business owners not jump at the opportunity to OWN their own marketing tool? The perception is that they are too expensive so let's think about this for just a minute. If a banker said to you, hey Joe, I have this opportunity to make you a ton of money! Joe listens to the banker as he outlines the plan.....Joe, invest 10,000. dollars with me and I will guarantee you a 20,000 in return in less than 24 months? There isn't anyone who would not want to double their return on the investment! Of, course there are no guarantees in this world, but the fact is that LED displays can and do deliver new business daily. So, how can I afford a display?

One of the best ways to own an LED display is to let it pay for itself! Yes, I said pay for itself! Capital Equipment financing is one way to own a display and let the sign do all the work!

 For example, The Small Business Administration states  "A small business that makes $1,000.00 a day in gross income adds an Outdoor LED sign. The business quickly increases by the minimum 15%, adding another $150 per day in total revenue. That turns into an additional $1,050.00 a week in revenue, or $54,600.00 per year".  

Most folks, taking this thought to heart, realize very quickly that the sign can REALLY pay for itself! So, the next thought usually is, how do I get my new LED sign without a ton of cash going out the door? Capital Equipment Financing!

Not only is Capital Equipment financing easy, but it helps to maintain your liquid operating capital. There is very little money down with leasing, typically the first & second month's payment are due at signing. In addition the IRS does not consider an operating lease to be a purchase, but rather a tax deductible overhead expense. Therefore, you can deduct the lease payments from your business income. Because an operating lease is not considered a long term debt or liability, it does not appear as a debt on your balance sheet, thus making you more attractive to traditional lenders when you need them! According to industry research, eight out of ten companies lease some or all of their equipment!  Why? Because the flexibility provided by leasing allows them to have the most effective operation possible. Companies that lease tend to be the most entrepreneurial and competitive!    

Interested in more information? Call Judy Dennis LED Resource 832-900-9434  judy@ledresource.us
 

CONTENT IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS WITH YOUR LED DISPLAY!

With almost 10 years in the sales and marketing end of the LED Sign industry I have  talked to hundreds if not thousands of perspective clients. I have observed that very few folks understand the importance of creating good content for their new LED Display, at least in the beginning. Daily, I talk to clients whose only focus is the cost of the display. I get it, if I can't afford the display, then nothing else really matters, after that, type of thinking. I have observed clients who panic once they pass the point of initial purchase of the display. They never asked some of the most important questions associated with the success of the project. What is the software used? Is it user friendly? Can I pre program in advance? I know NOTHING about creating content for the sign, so who is going to train me? The most important question might be, how many hours of training will I have before I'm on my own? Do I have after sale support that will help me in this task? These are good questions and should be looked at prior to making the decision to go with one company over the other!  

 The truth is that the product you have just purchased is only a machine, and is only going to deliver higher profits to the level of the quality of the content that is branding your company or advertising your products. In my experience I have routinely seen uplift in profits between 10% - 43%. You have to wonder why such a wide gap? The answer is simple. Clients who understand the importance of good content creation and creating a schedule with variety, relevance and impactful messages will see the highest lift in profits!  

This being said, it now becomes extremely important to learn and execute the best content for your display possible. "But, I'm not an artist", many clients bluster, so what now? The answer to this question is also very simple. Include in your search for the best display more than just price! Ask the important questions that will ensure the highest lift in profits. Can you demonstrate the software? Is it user friendly? What are the best colors to use on an LED Display? Font styles? Templates within the software? How many still images are included with the display? Can I take photo's or video's to import to the display? The most important question to ask is HOW MUCH TRAINING COMES AT NO EXTRA CHARGE ON THE SOFTWARE?   

Would you believe that some companies just give you the disk and a manual and say have a nice day? Some companies will include 2-3 hours of training at no charge, but then the meter starts running after that. So, what is a consumer to do? The answer is this. DON'T just focus on the engine, focus on the whole car! In other words, when your shopping for an LED display, don't get so focused on just the price, that you forget the value of after sale support! Without it, you will only realize the minimum lift in profits, and no one purchasing an LED Display is wanting minimum profit lift! So ask the questions and maybe, just maybe you will find a company like LED Resource who offers unlimited  software support for the LIFE of the display. Our Company routinely works to educate our customers on the importance of the content being fresh, informative and relevant. We encourage our clients to take advantage of this super service designed to enhance the overall profitability for all of our clients! Whether you have forgotten a step in the creation process in the middle of a build, or your current programmer has decided to retire, our Graphic arts team stands ready to teach, encourage and support our clients. We as a company feel that to do anything less, makes us "just another equipment supplier". As a manufacturer of quality LED Displays, our Clients success is our success.  That is why we will continue to offer unlimited FREE content creation training and support for the life of your display!

Contact: Judy Dennis, Director of Business Development 
judy@ledresource.us or call: 832-900-9434

LOOKING FOR THE BEST VALUE IN LED SIGNS? COUNT THE DOTS!

If you're in the market for an LED sign you have most likely gone to the internet searching companies that supply this type of product. Your searching the first page of companies and now you're in the "calling for quotes stage". You have spent the good part of the day on the phone with sales representatives. So much information....what to believe? The quotes are rolling in you have 3,4 maybe even 5 to compare. You have  narrowed the field down to 2 quotes, so now what? They are both in budget, and appear to be a quality product, so how do you decide which is the best value for the money? One very simple way is to calculate the number of pixels that populate the face of the LED sign and then the total number of LED's on the boards faces. 

If you have never heard the term pixel, let me explain it. A pixel is a group of LED diodes that when lit, create an individual dot on your sign. Look at the image below. You can see the individual dots that makes up an image.

Each one of those dots is a pixel. The pixels on the sign make up what is called the active Matrix. Example:  64 x 144. The first number is the number of pixels high and the second, number of pixels long. When analyzing any quote, it's important to see the matrix numbers shown. If your quote does not have a Matrix number on it RUN! Any good company out there will include the Matrix number as a point of measurement that identifies the size of the  screen NOT just the cabinet size!

So now the challenge is to figure out which sign is the best value. This is not rocket science! All you need to do now, is figure out which sign has the highest number of diodes on the board. With that  information you will know which sign will have the nicest images, and a higher resolution. It's sort of like buying a television, the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. The higher the image quality, the higher the return on investment! 

Let's do a simple math formula to determine the actual number of LED's on each vendors product. Start with Vendor #1. 

Vendor #1 uses 3 LED's per pixel which equates to: 64 x 144 =9,216 pixels  X  3 LED's = 27,648 LED's     per face. 

Vendor #2 uses 4 LED's per pixel. 64 x 144 pixels = 9216 pixels x 4 LED's = 36,864 LED's 
per face.

It's becomes clear that Vendor #2 has the highest resolution/density of LED's per face and is therefore  the best value. This is a simple comparison anyone can use and it's so easy!

For more information on LED signage contact: Judy Dennis, Director of Business Development,           www.led Resource.us. 832-900-9493

Please visit our showroom: 10963 Cutten Rd. C-102  Houston, TX  77066  

On Site Marketing, Bang or Bust? DEPENDS........

In the changing world of advertising, do you ever wonder what is the best use of your advertising dollars? I sure did at one point. As a small business owner at one point I was overwhelmed! Television is expensive and delivers your message to thousands of folks outside your market area. Newspapers are on the decline with printing presses stopping all over the country as online news, social media, and a host of other services take over and bombards the consumer with messages that may not hit their intended target. Radio.... yes, I said Radio, continues to drone on with only a fraction of the listeners of      yester year.

So what should a business owner do? Continue to dump money into the old tried and NOT so true mediums? What are our options? What really works in today's marketing madness? If you listen to the "experts" they shift their seats, and say "Well, a mix of several mediums is most likely the best bet! Even the experts don't really have a handle on "what works"! The big thing these days is all sorts of ideas for on-site marketing. How to bring folks through the door. QR codes with special promotions. Fun interactive displays, video monitors attached to kiosks, product sampling, college functions promoting your brand, and LED Signs. WHAT? Yes you heard me LED Signs! Expensive is a relative term when you look at profit vs. cost. What would you think about owning your own advertising agency? Sounds good buy expensive right? What would you pay to have someone on the street advertising your business 24 hours 7 days a week? $100.00? 1,000.00? How about less than .08 cents per hour? Less than $20.00 a day? Think about it. Take your average profit from one sale and then multiply it by the number of new customers that LED Signs brought in the door. Do the math. Over a month you would have 60 new customers spending ???
 
LED Signs are the newer kid on the block. The market has not become saturated with them and let's face it, every time you pass one on the street you're looking at it! From Las Vegas to Springfield, Mo. to New York City LED displays deliver messages at a lower cost than any traditional marketing tools like Television, Newspaper, Radio and Direct Mail. 

Where do you start looking into the world of LED Displays? What should I do? I never went to College to understand marketing medium! Do your research. I don't mean talking to rookie sales Reps. who don't have a clue what makes a good display! Find a person with the knowledge, time in the industry and the desire to help you through the maze of Manufacturers', importers and resellers out there. There is no magic bullet, but connecting with the right company and Representative could save you thousands of dollars over the life of the machine. Remember, LED signs are just that....a machine!
Ideally, the goal is to find a teacher. Someone that will take the time to teach you the good, bad and the ugly when it comes to LED Signs. LED Resource in Houston, Texas is just that! YOUR RESOURCE for all things when it comes to education, manufacturing, and content creation for your LED Sign marketing program. The staff has almost 30 years of business knowledge on LED Signs and are available daily, to answer your questions. LED Resource employs ONLY Sales Representatives who have proven their proficiency in the industry and will take the time to "teach" the finer points of this type of marketing medium. LED Signs are not inexpensive, but one thing is for sure.....with the right knowledge, guidance and expertise you can EXPECT the highest lift in business over any other medium. With the right Company your new LED Sign will yield a Bang not a Blast!

Call today and expect the best from YOUR resource in the LED Display industry! 
 Judy Dennis, Direct: 832-900-9493

Resource One Bank, LED Sign

 

 First LED Display Showroom Opens in Houston, Texas.                                  

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Dec. 13, 2013 - Houston, TX  - Contact: Judy Dennis 713-493-0558  

judy@ledoempartners.com

Houston, TX - LED OEM Partners, LLC, manufacturer of commercial outdoor LED Displays, recognized a problem within the LED Sign sales process. Almost 90% of LED sign sales in the US have been purchased by the end user without seeing, touching and examining the product! Consumers rely on the internet to connect them to products and services daily and by doing so rely on photos, and videos  to make  buying decisions on everything from shoes to LED signs. The sales of these displays has more than doubled in recent years. Eye catching full color LED displays have been proven to increase business by delivering products and services information to passing traffic. The Small Business Administration's report boasts of a MINIMUM of a 15% lift in business when LED signs are part of a business advertising plan. Displays advertise everything from Pizza Shops  to Emergency Messages aimed at highway traveler's. LED signs deliver results in a niche that no other medium can fill. 

So, what is the problem you ask? Well, in the past  business owners  were forced to rely  on internet photographs and videos to make decisions on what to buy when it came to LED Outdoor displays, and these units aren't cheap. They can run between $5,000.00 for a smaller display to over $100,000.00 for large Full Color displays. Times have changed! For the first time, an indoor and outdoor LED Showroom has been created to fill this void. LED OEM Partners LLC, heard the call and delivered! Consumers can now look at, evaluate and talk to a company with over 25 years of combined experience in the Digital display Industry. With upwards of 1 million dollars of in stock, ready to ship inventory, and a showroom that hosts Indoor displays down to 5 mm to large format outdoor displays in pitches of 25mm, 20mm, 16mm and 12mm. This company has what it takes, to not only educate the consumer, but to facilitate the reduction of time from the traditional 6-8 delivery turn time to 1-5 days on in stock inventory. The showroom is located at 10963 Cutten Rd. C-102 just off of Beltway 8 & 249 Highway. 
It's worth the trip. The showroom is open Monday - Friday from 8:00-6:00.