WATCHFIRE CASE STUDY: WATCH WHAT...

©2010, Watchfire Signs by Time-O-Matic. Danville, Illinois, USA.

“The people love it. We've definitely stepped it up a notch, and it has already brought in new members.”

–– Anthony Dunning, Associate Pastor,Arundel Christian Church, Glen Burnie, Md.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL SIGN DEALER.

Case Study

To survive and thrive, churches must continuously appeal to younger audiences. That was part of the

strategy behind Arundel Christian Church's move to a new location in Glen Burnie, Md. However, its sign

was doing a poor job of reflecting its mission to attract youth. That’s when Brent Haberkam of Gable-

Signs Inc. stepped in.

“They asked us for help,” Haberkam said. “They wanted us to design something to improve their image

and better relay to the general public what they were all about. They’re a very dynamic and very

tech-savvy organization, but their sign was not successfully reflecting that.”

BackgroundTwo years ago, Arundel Christian Church

moved to a new location in the town of

Glen Burnie, Md. Part of the reason for

the move was to attract younger

parishioners. But it soon became clear

that their sign, made of cinder blocks and

two-by-fours, was woefully out of date. To

remedy the problem, the church

contacted Baltimore-based GableSigns

Inc. with the intention of acquiring

signage that would appeal to the young

audience they were targeting.

ResultsWorking closely with Brent Haberkam of

GableSigns, Arundel Christian Church

began shopping for electronic message

centers. The hope was to find an LED sign

that would give the church a more

modern appeal while remaining within its

budget. GableSigns recommended a

model by Watchfire Signs, and arranged

for an on-site demonstration of the

product for church employees. It was

immediately clear the Watchfire sign was

the complete package: excellent graphics,

reasonable price and great technical

support. In short, it was everything

Arundel Christian Church was looking for.

:: SIGN SPECS ::16mm Color LED

Matrix: 48 x 144

6 Lines x 29 Characters

36” High x 8’2” Wide

AFTER

BEFORE

CHURCHES :: Arundel Christian Church - Glen Burnie, Md.

WATCHFIRE® CASE STUDY: WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

Haberkam recommended a 16mm Watchfire LED

sign to Arundel Church. According to associate

pastor Anthony Dunning, just two days of

experimenting with the sign was all it took to know

it was the right choice. “Getting to use the sign for

a couple of days really showed us what we were

going to get for our money, and all the things we

would be able to do with it,” he said.

“When you’re a church, you have to physically get people into the building,” Haberkam said. “With the

sign, it bridges that gap and allows them to communicate to passersby through visual marketing. That's

what was most appealing to Arundel – being able to grip the attention of the younger group.”

Since the church acquired the sign, Dunning says the comments have come pouring in. “The people love

it,” he said. “We've definitely stepped it up a notch, and it has already brought in new members.”

Haberkam had no doubts about the impact the sign would have on the church. “With a little help from

GableSigns, Arundel decided to go in the right direction, which is Watchfire,” he said. “Now they love the

sign, because of its user-friendly software and the quality of the equipment. They saw right away this

LED sign was the future of signs, and they wanted to be a part of that future.”


“The people love it. We've definitely

stepped it up a notch, and it has

already brought in new members.”

–– Anthony Dunning, Associate Pastor,Arundel Christian Church, Glen Burnie, Md.


Case Study

To survive and thrive, churches must continuously appeal to younger audiences. That was part of the strategy behind Arundel Christian Church's move to a new location in Glen Burnie, Md. However, its sign was doing a poor job of reflecting its mission to attract youth. That’s when Brent Haberkam of Gable-Signs Inc. stepped in.

“They asked us for help,” Haberkam said. “They wanted us to design something to improve their image and better relay to the general public what they were all about. They’re a very dynamic and very tech-savvy organization, but their sign was not successfully reflecting that.”

Background

Two years ago, Arundel Christian Church moved to a new location in the town of Glen Burnie, Md. Part of the reason for the move was to attract younger parishioners. But it soon became clear that their sign, made of cinder blocks and two-by-fours, was woefully out of date. To remedy the problem, the church contacted Baltimore-based GableSigns Inc. with the intention of acquiring signage that would appeal to the young audience they were targeting.

Results

Working closely with Brent Haberkam of GableSigns, Arundel Christian Church began shopping for electronic message centers. The hope was to find an LED sign that would give the church a more modern appeal while remaining within its budget. GableSigns recommended a model by Watchfire Signs, and arranged for an on-site demonstration of the product for church employees. It was immediately clear the Watchfire sign was the complete package: excellent graphics, reasonable price and great technical support. In short, it was everything Arundel Christian Church was looking for.

:: SIGN SPECS ::

16mm Color LEDMatrix: 48 x 144 6 Lines x 29 Characters36” High x 8’2” Wide

AFTER

BEFORE

CHURCHES :: Arundel Christian Church - Glen Burnie, Md.


Haberkam recommended a 16mm Watchfire LED sign to Arundel Church. According to associate pastor Anthony Dunning, just two days of experimenting with the sign was all it took to know it was the right choice. “Getting to use the sign for a couple of days really showed us what we were going to get for our money, and all the things we would be able to do with it,” he said.

“When you’re a church, you have to physically get people into the building,” Haberkam said. “With the sign, it bridges that gap and allows them to communicate to passersby through visual marketing. That's what was most appealing to Arundel – being able to grip the attention of the younger group.”

Since the church acquired the sign, Dunning says the comments have come pouring in. “The people love it,” he said. “We've definitely stepped it up a notch, and it has already brought in new members.”

Haberkam had no doubts about the impact the sign would have on the church. “With a little help from GableSigns, Arundel decided to go in the right direction, which is Watchfire,” he said. “Now they love the sign, because of its user-friendly software and the quality of the equipment. They saw right away this LED sign was the future of signs, and they wanted to be a part of that future.”


“The sign has increased our communica-tion with the community by tenfold. It’s the only way to change messaging effectively and get it out there.”

–– Keith Beeler, Administrative Chair,Cresaptown United Methodist Church


Case Study

As Cresaptown United Methodist Church approached its 225th anniversary, Keith Beeler had an idea of how to commemorate the occasion. “I thought it was the perfect time to get an LED sign,” he said. “What a great way to show the church is alive and going strong.”

Everyone at the church wanted the sign, but no one was sure how to pay for it. That's when one of Beeler's colleagues had a novel idea: To sell commemorative engraved bricks for $225 a piece. The profits would pay for the sign, and the bricks would be used as a decorative foundation for it.

“We figured out we would need to sell 125 bricks,” Beeler said. To promote the fundraiser, Beeler's son used a demo version of Watchfire's Ignite software to create a mock-up of the new sign, and showed it off in Powerpoint presentations during service and on the church Web site.

“The software really helped us sell the sign –and the bricks,” Beeler said. “Not only did wesell the 125, but we sold enough to cover allthe incidental things, too.”

Phil Kenney, of Kenney Signs Inc., who soldand installed the sign, was bowled over bythe church's ingenuity. “Talk about a uniqueproject,” he said. “And they made it happen.It came together nicely.”

And thanks to Kenney's help, so did the sign. “We handled installation, and set a good level surface for them to stack their bricks,” Kenney said. “We even bought a brick ourselves.”

“That's the funny thing,” Beeler said. “A lot of the people who bought the bricks weren't members of the congregation.”

Now the church can broadcast topical messages in real time. “We recently had two couples get married in the same week, and we were able to congratulate them on the sign as they were leaving the church,” Beeler said. The sign has also helped boost attendance, and is finally getting the church noticed by passing motorists. What else can the sign do? Beeler put it this way: “The possibilities are endless.”

BackgroundCresaptown United Methodist Church sits on a major Maryland highway, where more than 40,000 vehicles pass by every day. But according to church administrative chair Keith Beeler, “Only about 10 percent of them probably even realize we're here.” In early 2009, as the church prepared to celebrate its 225th anniversary, Beeler and his colleagues decided to do something about it by replacing their old letterboard sign with an electronic message center by Watchfire Signs.

ResultsChurches have a long history of using static outdoor signs to share scripture, broadcast words of wisdom, and spread messages of hope. Old-fashioned letterboard signs have served churches well, but in the 21st century, their limitations are obvious. They're hard to read; letters often go missing; messages go unchanged for a week or longer. That's why more churches are turning to electronic message centers, which let them broadcast a multiplicity of messages in bold, dynamic fashion. Keith Beeler knew an electronic message center could be a difference-maker for Cresaptown United Methodist Church. There was only one question: How to pay for it?

:: SIGN SPECS ::19mm Mono LEDMatrix: 32 x 112 4-Lines x 5” Characters28” High x 8’ Wide

AFTER

CHURCHES :: Cresaptown United Methodist Church - Cresaptown, Md.



“We’re letting the community know what’s happening in our buildings every day of the week. There are a lot of things here for the Greater Columbus area, and I don’t think people knew that before we installed our Watchfire sign.”

–– Scott Moses, Publications Manager,World Harvest Church


Case StudyWorld Harvest Church is located on a sprawling campus and is home to a kindergarten through 12th grade preparatory school, Bible College, an international missions organization, and several parking lots and sports fields. Surrounded by cornfields and residential subdivisions, and located on a 50 mph highway, the church’s old neon static sign was hardly noticeable to the thousands of cars that pass by the complex every day. To promote major church events, the church regularly used temporary signs placed over the permanent structure. The old sign lacked flexibility and wasn’t particularly pleasing to the eye. The growing church in this thriving metropolitan area looked for a better way to catch the attention of parishioners as well as residents.

BackgroundAn international ministry based in Columbus, Ohio, World Harvest Church serves a congregation of nearly 10,000 members who pass by the large facility every week to attend myriad activities and special religious and community events. Since it’s located between Columbus’ outer belt and a major state highway, thousands of cars pass World Harvest Church daily. To improve communications with its flock, a team of church staffers decided to upgrade the church’s static neon sign to a Watchfire LED sign. The sign now contains hundreds of messages and graphics that convey the church’s exciting and spiritually nurturing offerings.

ResultsIn just one year, the Watchfire LED sign has become a key component in the church’s overall communications strategy. As a sponsor of hundreds of events every month, from special lectures and services to community sporting events and picnics, World Harvest Church deploys its LED sign to notify the congregation and the 1.8 million residents in the Columbus metropolitan area about these events and activities. Easy to program and operate, the LED sign is already pre-programmed with 250 messages about seasonal activities, which frees up church staff for more pressing duties during the busy Christmas and Easter seasons. The sign has become a valuable information source for the community, as well as an easily identifiable landmark for World Harvest Church.

:: SIGN SPECS ::19mm Color LEDMatrix: 80 x 336 10-Lines x 5” Characters5’4” High x 22’ Wide

CHURCHES :: World Harvest Church – Columbus, Ohio


After looking at various sign manufacturers, World Harvest Church chose a Watchfire LED sign with the help of a local sign company. Scott Moses says he’s done a lot of experimenting with sign messages and learned that a few powerful, consistently placed messages draw more attention than a huge variety of messages. So, as a rule the church sign will provide four to five different messages per hour.

Our initial sign limited our ability to communicate to the congregation,” said Moses. Our messages had to be very short and they had to be updated manually, which took away precious staff time from other church duties.” Additionally, it didn’t provide any visual features that attract the community’s attention, such as colorful graphics, beautiful photos and inspirational blessings and other messages that reflect the church’s mission, said Moses.

The sign runs messages from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily, which is consistent with Columbus zoning regulations. Each message appears for a minimum of 15 seconds before it changes. Scott Moses says the Watchfire LED sign has helped educate the community about the valuable resources offered through the church.


“It has done more than just save us time and money,” Goodale said. “It has allowed us to present everyone with what's going on in the community in a clear, interesting and ever-changing way.”

–– Wendy Goodale, Executive Director,Parry Area Chamber of Commerce


Case Study

When the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce approached Joe Phillips at Eagle Sign Company, they were looking for an attractive, dynamic sign solution that could be easily updated on a regular basis. “They wanted a message center that could do a lot of different things,” Phillips said. “Above all, they wanted to be able to change the message constantly. I knew a Watchfire LED sign would let them do that, and would be a great visual complement to their building.”

A veteran Watchfire dealer of more than 5years, Eagle Sign Company recommended afull-color LED sign to the Chamber. It wouldgive them the versatility they desired, whileWatchfire's 5-year warranty would guaranteethe sign would remain in excellent workingorder for years down the road.

“The Perry Welcome Depot is in the busiestintersection in Perry,” Chamber of CommerceExecutive Director Wendy Goodale said. “We knew we needed a sign that would take advantage of that strategic placement. So when Joe told us Watchfire was the best out there, we knew we wanted to be able to have the most visible sign available, so we got it!”

Goodale and the Chamber Directors were not disappointed. “The sign met all of our expectations,” she said. “It provides us with visibility, it lets us change messages constantly and it connects us with the community.”

Goodale added that “The Chamber has heard tremendous feedback on the sign from local businesses and residents We have received many compliments on how the sign is so vibrant and how great the it looks.” We’re glad the community is pleased with it.”

Indeed, the sign has been a blessing for the Perry community. Furthermore, it has made life easier for Chamber of Commerce employees. Because the sign provides community updates on a regular basis, the Chamber no longer needs to produce costly fliers and posters, saving it both time and money. “It’s so wonderful to be able to program the upcoming events for the year on our Watchfire sign,” Goodale said. “The Chamber is thrilled with the results and is extremely satisfied with our decision to invest in the sign.”

BackgroundPerry, Iowa is a quaint community of roughly 7,900, located just outside of Des Moines. When the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce inherited an old railroad depot, they knew it would make a wonderful Welcome Depot for their small town. After several years of development and renovation, the Welcome Center was finally ready to open. All the Chamber needed was a way to draw attention to the new center, and make it stand apart from the surrounding landscape.

ResultsThe Chamber of Commerce contacted Eagle Sign Company in Des Moines, where Joe Phillips recommended an electronic message center. “They wanted a communication solution that could accomplish a lot of different things,” Phillips said. According to Chamber of Commerce, the new LED sign has been nothing short of a blessing, simplifying their work day while giving the building a unique appeal that leaves visitors gushing with compliments.

:: SIGN SPECS ::19mm Color LEDMatrix: 32 x 112 2-Lines x 16 Characters28” High x 8’ Wide

AFTERBEFORE

MUNICIPALITY :: City of Perry - Perry, Iowa



“The elected officials are very pleased. They see the value of the signs, and like what they bring to the city.”

–– Paul Lewis, Director,Dodge City Parks & Recreation


Case Study

Dodge City may be most famous for being a frontier town of the Old West. But in late 2009, Parks & Recreation director Paul Lewis knew it was ready for something completely new.

The 30-watt incandescent bulb sign that stood outside the city's 3,000-seat civic center needed to be replaced. Rather than purchase a new model of the old sign, Lewis and his staff invested in an electronic message center – three of them, to be exact. “We were familiar with the technology, and understood the opportunities they provide,” Lewis said. “We believed such a sign would be a real asset at three different locations.”

Dodge City began the purchasing process by issuing Request For Proposals to various vendors. Based on the strength of their proposal and the quality of their work, Dodge City decided to do business with

BackgroundDodge City, Kan., is a long way from the longhorn ranches and gunfights that made it a staple setting in Hollywood westerns. Nowadays, it's a prototypical American town home to roughly 25,000 people. And while in days past Dodge City citizens frequented saloons and gambling halls, contemporary residents prefer more wholesome entertainment – provided, in part, by Dodge City Parks & Recreation.

ResultsIn November 2009, Dodge City Parks & Recreation purchased three Watchfire electronic message centers from Luminous Neon, installing them at community facilities throughout town. In addition to using the signs to promote local events, Dodge City broadcasts public service announcements on the signs. And in the pioneering spirit of the Old West, the city also uses the signs to sell corporate sponsorships – making them not only excellent message centers, but revenue centers, too.

:: SIGN SPECS ::

Civic CenterXVS 19mm Color LEDMatrix: 80 x 192 10 Lines x 38 Characters5’4” High x 13’ Wide

Legends Park19mm Color LEDMatrix: 80 x 144 10 Lines x 29 Characters5’4” High x 10’ Wide

Raceway Park25mm Color LEDMatrix: 64 x 192 8 Lines x 38 Characters6’ High x 16’4” Wide

MUNICIPAL :: Dodge City Parks & Recreation - Dodge City, Kan.


Luminous Neon, a Kansas-based full-service sign company with six locations throughout the state, including one in Dodge City. “The quality of their service, and the product they have put out over the years made us comfortable going with their proposal,” Lewis said.

After evaluating the city's needs, Luminous Neon recommended three Watchfire animated LED signs. Lewis said Luminous Neon did a great job of handling installation of the signs, which now greet residents at the civic center, a softball complex and a motor sports complex.

Lewis compares the new LED signs and the old bulb sign to “night and day.” “With our old system, all you could do was display a couple lines of text,” Lewis said. “Now, we can use graphics, and the colors are bright and vivid as they fade in and spin out. It's much more visually appealing and attractive.”

Also attractive, Lewis said, is how the signs are paying for themselves. Dodge City is taking advantage of the signs' ability to display multiple messages to sell sponsorship space to local businesses. Dodge City business owners have been eager to capitalize on the opportunity. A fast food chain, two local restau-rants and a hospital are among those who have purchased sponsorships so far.

There were no major hurdles in securing the signs or using them for sponsorships, Lewis said. “There are sign regulations, sure,” he said. “We got permits from our city development services department, and we had to make the signs' overall design conform to their requirements, but they weren't excessive.”

All told, the signs have been a boon for the city. Even those in charge agree, Lewis said. “The elected officials are very pleased. They see the value of the signs, and they like what the signs bring to the city.”



“Since we installed the sign, attendance is up 25% and program attendance is up 33%.”

–– Susan Macken, director, Oelwein Library

Case Study

The old library in Oelwein had served the small town for years, but in 2007, it had become clear that its time has passed. Built in 1917, the building was no longer big enough to house the library's growing collection. Furthermore, it was hidden away on a side road, and as a result, received very little traffic.

When the decision was made to build a new library, Susan Macken was put in charge of outfitting the building with modern signage. She called Larry Cavanaugh at Nagle Signs, who recommended Watchfire products to her with no hesitation. “We've been a Watchfire dealer for nearly 20 years now,” Cavanaugh said. “We knew right away that a Watchfire sign was what this library needed to stand out.” After seeing a Watchfire sign firsthand, Macken was in full agreement. “When Larry showed us the sign, we were very impressed,” she said. “Not only by the sign itself, but with Watchfire as a company, and how they stand behind their product.”

There was only one small problem with the demo sign, Macken said it wasn't big enough. She wanted to ensure it would make an impact on everyone who encountered it. So when time came to make the purchase, Macken went with an even larger Watchfire model.

She had no doubt the sign would attract attention throughout the Oelwein community. But the results surpassed her expectations. “The comments started coming in right away,” she said. “Many in the community were very excited about it and impressed with everything it could do.”

Macken’s hope in acquiring the sign was to create a sense of excitement that would lead to more traffic at the library. She wasn't disappointed. According to Macken, with their Watchfire sign and the move to a new building the library has seen attendance increased by nearly 60 percent. Meanwhile, attendance at featured exhibits nearly doubled.

“There are many reasons why we like the sign, and the results, of course, are a big one,” Macken said. “But the fact that we can put up numerous messages, and do them ahead of time, with graphics included, is really helpful. Many people in the community rely on the sign to stay informed and updated about upcoming events.”

Macken also noted that her entire experience with Watchfire has been uniformly pleasant and positive. “Watchfire has not only provided us with a good experience for our first outdoor electronic message center, but with a lasting connection to our community and the people in it,” Macken said.

BackgroundAs Oelwein, Iowa, prepared to open its new public library, it was looking for innovative ways to use the space to make a meaningful impact in the community. New library director Susan Macken suggested the city invest in an electronic message center. After seeing LED signs at other locations, she felt it was just the dynamic, attention-getting tool the library needed to attract visitors and truly engage the community.

ResultsMacken's search for an electronic message center led her to Larry Cavanaugh at Nagle Signs, who introduced her to Watchfire's line of LED signs. After an on-site demonstration, Macken was convinced that an easy-to-use, easy-to-update electronic message center by Watchfire would be a perfect fit for Oelwein's new library. Since the sign was installed, attendance at the library increased by 25%, and 33% more people have attended its featured exhibits.

:: SIGN SPECS ::16mm XVS Color LEDMatrix: 48 x 144 6-Lines x 21 Characters36” High x 8’2” Wide

AFTER

PUBLIC LIBRARY :: Oelwein Public Library - Oelwein, Iowa




Case Study

Missy Van Meter made it her mission to replace Shawnee Township's traditional letter board with a new LED sign. After researching different sign companies, she decided that a Watchfire digital LED sign was exactly what they needed. “One sign dealer brought out a demo truck with two signs, and they were so vivid, we were convinced.” She picked the sign design she wanted right then and there.

The Shawnee Township complex houses police, fire, dispatch, roads, and administration. The sign benefits all of those groups, which made it an easy sell. It didn’t take long to convince the board of directors that an LED sign would benefit them in two ways: it would allow them to quickly and easily communicate important messages to the residents, and it would reduce the number of calls the administration office receives with questions about things like brush pick-up, fire hydrant maintenance, policies and more.

“The sign went up in September 2010, and it was beautiful! I knew right away we’d made the right decision when we went with a Watchfire digital sign. Within a short time, we received more than 100 calls from residents complimenting us on it! It’s also so easy to program and change messages, which is a huge benefit. That sign was my baby, and I just adored it.”

We say “was” because on January 25, 2011, they lost their sign to an auto accident. “The sign was totaled, and I mean completely. Repair wasn’t an option. The only thing we could do was replace it,” Van Meter said.

After the accident took out the sign, people started calling wondering where the sign was. Some people even commented on the township’s new Facebook page. One woman wrote, “Sure miss that sign….”

Van Meter and the board decided to turn lemons into lemonade. They upgraded the totaled sign with an even bigger Watchfire sign. On April 5, 2011, they installed the second sign. According to Van Meter, it has been great. “The main goal of the sign was to reach more people with messages about township information and events, and the sign most definitely delivers. If I had my way, I’d have an even bigger sign out there. It’s fantastic, and we’re thrilled with the outcome.”

Background

Shawnee Township is a close-knit community located near Lima, Ohio. They have about 12,000 engaged residents who like to know what’s going on in town, so effective communication is important. For many years, they had a wooden sign that quickly showed age and wear. It required frequent painting and maintenance, and it didn’t allow for sending messages to residents. When they first replaced the wooden sign, they chose a traditional letter board thinking it would fit the bill. But the letter board became cumbersome and inefficient when employees would have to change messages frequently.

Results

After trying to make the letter board work for a few years, Missy Van Meter, administrative assistant for Shawnee Township, decided to look into an LED sign. She knew that it would not only make changing messages so much easier, but it would also attract more attention, ultimately getting important messages out to more residents. She was right. As soon as their first Watchfire LED sign was up, residents began calling to comment on the sign. They loved it! The sign was an instant success.

:: SIGN SPECS ::19mm Color LEDMatrix: 32 x 96 4 Lines x 19 Characters29” High x 6’3” Wide

AFTER

MUNICIPAL :: Shawnee Township Offices - Shawnee Township, Ohio


“The main goal of the sign was to

reach more people with messages

about township information and

events, and the sign most definitely

delivers…It’s fantastic, and we’re

thrilled with the outcome.”

— Missy Van Meter, Administrative Assistant, Shawnee Township

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 800-637-2645.


SIGN MANUFACTURER :: Native Signs – Branson, Mo.


Case StudyIn Branson, Mo., where LED signs dominate the popular entertainment sector, standing out isn't easy. When the Huges American Family Theatre, Starlite Theatre, Titanic Museum and the Hollywood Wax Musuem each approached Erick Walker of Native Signs in search of a way to grab the public's attention, he gave them some simple advice: Go big. “High-resolution, high-intensity video animation competes well with the surroundings of these properties,” Walker said. “So one way for these businesses to stand out among the rest is with size. In this case, bigger is better for sure.”

Walker suggested a 12' by 14' video LEDdisplay to the Hughes American FamilyTheatre, so they could broadcast videopreviews of their shows to passersby. Thetheater considered various different LEDbrands, finally deciding on Watchfire dueto its weather durability and five-yearwarranty. “We were looking for a sign thatcould help us communicate more effectivelywith the community,” theater owner AdamHughes said. “But most of all, we werelooking for that 'Wow!' factor, andWatchfire had that.”

Hughes is more than happy with the decision his company made, saying they’ve had not only an increase in business but numerous comments from the surrounding community. “We have people stopping in and commenting on the sign all the time and I think that when people notice your sign then they’re more likely to stop by your place of business,” said Hughes.

When The Titanic Museum approached Native Signs they were looking for help in taking advantage of their strategic location near a busy intersection. Their static message boards were no longer captivating audiences and they were ready for some change. With Walker's help, the Titanic Museum chose a 6' by 12' Watchfire LED sign, which displays color photographs of the museum's displays, as well as upcoming events. “The full video LED displays allow the museum to always keep the content new and fresh,” Walker said.

Just down the road from the Titanic Museum, the Starlite Theatre followed their neighbor's lead, augmenting their on-site promotional efforts with a large Watchfire video display.

According to Walker, Watchfire has not only brought the “Wow!” factor to this group of businesses, but “Watchfire LED video displays have also revolutionized on-premise signs in Branson, making them point of purchase advertisements.”

–– Erick Walker, Owner, Native Signs

BackgroundPrior to opening their own sign company, Erick and Tracy Walker, owners of Native Signs in Branson, Mo., accumulated more than a decade of experience in the sign business. With so much industry experience, Erick Walker understands how important LED signs are to staying competitive in the Branson entertain-ment landscape. So when several local businesses in the Ozark Mountains entertainment capital approached Native Signs to help them get a competitive edge, Walker worked with Watchfire Signs to provide them just that.

ResultsWith the help of Watchfire LED signs and Erick Walker, four different Branson businesses – the Hughes American Family Theatre, Starlite Theatre, the Titanic Museum and the Hollywood Wax Museum – have redefined their presences in the area. The businesses all installed large-scale, animated electronic message centers that not only drew the attention of spectators, but also provided each business with crisp, high-resolution video quality that's unmatched by smaller signs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 800-637-2645.


SIGN MANUFACTURER :: Native Signs – Branson, Mo.


According to Walker, clarity and effectiveness were very important factors in choosing signs for these locations, and without hesitation he turned to Watchfire for these qualities. Walker said that although other sign brands can match Watchfire's size, they don't measure up when it comes to the total package - including total cost or customer service. “The quality of Watchfire's product is truly second to none, and the total cost of ownership is generallyconsiderably lower than other comparablemanufacturers,” he said. What's more,Watchfire offers excellent support andcustomer service, Walker said. “We promoteWatchfire products exclusively because theyhave a very dependable support team afterthe sale. Our service people are happy toget the help they need in the field withoutbeing bogged down by 30 minute hold timeson the phone. Watchfire is the way to go.”

Starlite Theatre:XVS 19mm Matrix: 96 x 1766'4" High x 12' Wide

Titanic Museum:XVS 19mm Matrix: 96 x 1766'4" High x 12' Wide

Hughes American Family Theatre:XVS 16mmMatrix: 240 x 21614' High x 12' Wide

Hollywood Wax Museum:XVS 19mm Matrix: 96 x 1766'4" High x 12' Wide

SIGN SPECS ::

“We promote Watchfire products exclusively because they have a very dependable support team after the sale...Watchfire is the way to go.”

–– Erick Walker, Owner, Native Signs


“People of the community tell us that they now pay more attention to the messages being displayed, because there are multiple messages that change regularly .”

–– Assistant Fire Chief Donald Gibson, North Beach Volunteer Fire Department


Case Study

When North Beach Volunteer Fire Department approached GableSigns, they had just renovated the fire station. Their renovation was modern and attractive – a major upgrade for the fire station.

There was just one problem: the fire department's outdated reader board sign stood in stark contrast to its beautiful new building. Stephen Gottlich of GableSigns didn't mince words when describing the sign's appearance. “It looked horrible,” he said. “It didn’t correctly represent the quality of the fire department.”

BackgroundNorth Beach Volunteer Fire Department has been a staple of the Chesapeake Beach community in Maryland for over 80 years. However, the historic organization had begun to lose the interest of the town because their old and familiar reader board sign had ceased to draw the public's attention. Following a renovation to the fire house, the department decided it was time to upgrade to a modern sign that would make an impression in its neighborhood.

ResultsAfter contacting local sign company GableSigns for some guidance in the decision-making process, the fire department was introduced to Watchfire Signs. Shortly afterward, they purchased a Watchfire electronic message center, and had it installed in front of the firehouse. The new sign, displaying various messages in luminous color throughout the day, immediately got the attention of passing motorists. And it wasn't long before widespread community interest in the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department had been restored.

:: SIGN SPECS ::19mm Red LEDMatrix: 48 x 96 6 Lines x 19 Characters3'4" High x 6'4" Wide

PUBLIC SERVICE :: North Beach Volunteer Fire Department - Chesapeake Beach, Md.


According to fire department Assistant Fire Chief Donald Gibson, the old reader board didn't just look bad; it was also a time-consuming, inconvenient messaging tool. “We had to manually change the letters, and it became more than a job to just keep track of them.”

Gibson's main concern with a new sign was being able to better communicate with the North Beach community. “Our needs as a volunteer fire department are different than a typical business,” he explained. “We have a necessity to communicate emergency information to the people of our community, and our old sign certainly didn’t allow that.”

The installation of the new Watchfire sign not only made the fire department look more professional and communicate more effectively, but it also helped them raise public money, which is a main source of funding. “People of the community tell us that they now pay more attention to the messages being displayed, because there are multiple messages that change regularly,” Gibson said. “This also means more people come to our fundraising events.”

Meanwhile, the fire department’s relationship with Watchfire has extended beyond the sale. After the sign's installation, the fire department worked with Watchfire’s art department, which designed custom animations for their sign.

“Watchfire has supported all our efforts from the inception of the project, including coming to a special exception hearing at the town hall with us,” Gibson said. “This sort of exceptional service and regular follow-up is why we have returned to Watchfire for further products.”

WATCHFIRE CASE STUDY: WATCH WHAT...

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