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Meet Eight38 | Evan Ledman | Production Manager

lindsay — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:56:12 +0000

Do you feel like the Eight38 Offices change everytime you stop by the shop? You're not going crazy! Over the past year, we've updated our space several times including a remodeled bathroom, converting Kyle's office and the printer room into a larger printer room, cutting a window into one of the walls in the lobby, and adding wall wraps to two of the offices. And we owe all of those improvements to our very own Evan Ledman!

Evan is our production manager, and he's one of our most innovative employees, dreaming up bigger and better solutions than our customers originally envision. He's also incredibly good at figuring out the most cost-effective solution, saving money for our customers.

I had a few moments to sit down with Evan, and I hope you'll be able to get a glimpse of why we love having Evan as part of our team:

Lindsay: Hey Evan!

Evan: 'Sup?

(No, I'm kidding! He didn't say that! He might come after me for posting this picture, though!) ;)

Here's how it really happened:

Lindsay: Hey Evan!

Evan: Hey!

Lindsay: "So, is orange your favorite color, too?"

Evan: "Nope. My favorite color is blue."

Lindsay: "How about your favorite food?"

Evan: "I like pasta."

Lindsay: "Me too! What about your favorite song? You've gotta have a favorite song since you're a DJ."

Evan: "Right now I like SuperBass and Party Rock."

Lindsay: "Me too! Me too! Favorite movie?"

Evan: "Tommy Boy"

Lindsay, singing: "Fat guy in a little coat."

Evan: "Ha! Yeah."

Lindsay: "What are your hobbies?"

Evan: "DJ'ing and electronics."

(Evan owns his own Mobile DJ service, Elite Sounds. You should check them out on Facebook!)

Lindsay: "Tell me a little bit about your family."

Evan: "Well, I'm married to Leanne, and we have a son, Landon. He just turned five."

Lindsay: "Aw, my little girl is getting ready to turn five, too! What's one of your favorite memories with your family?"

Evan: "Last year, we went on vacation, and we got to take a boat ride and see dolphins. That was pretty awesome."

Lindsay: "Do you have a dream vacation?"

Evan: "Probably Hawaii."

Lindsay: "Hey! That's what Mary said, too. We should see if we can talk Kyle into an Eight38 trip!"

Evan: "Uh, yeah. You get right on that."

Alright, that's about it for Evan. If you've got any questions for him, leave them in the comments, and I'll get you some answers!

Have a great day, everyone!

The NEXT Eight38 Sign Co. Non-Profit Giveaway!

lindsay — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

So you thought the first Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway was cool, huh? We did, too!

Thank you, thank you!, to JP Video Productions and Heath CPA and Associates for partnering with us to make this a truly incredible event.

We can't wait to do it again...

So...we'll be hosting the second Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway in April! We're excited to partner with new local small businesses and provide products and services that will support local non-profit organizations and make a Greater Lafayette. If you'd like to be a part of the next Non-Profit Giveaway, please contact us and let us know. We'll be getting the details together in the next few weeks, and we're looking forward to it!

If you've got a non-profit organization that you'd like to nominate: stay tuned! We'll be opening nominations on Monday, April 2nd. We'll be sharing details closer to the nomination period.

Thanks again to everyone for supporting this giveaway. Your participation has gone far beyond our wildest expectations, and you make us proud to be a part of this community!

Professionals with Passion. Partnerships with Purpose. This is how we make a Greater Lafayette.

And the Winner is...

lindsay — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0000

At Eight38 Sign Co., we've been looking forward to this day for nearly a month! Today, we get to announce the winner of the first-ever Eight38 Sign Co. Non-Profit Giveaway!

We've partnered with Heath CPA and Associates and JP Video Productions to offer more than $2500 worth of promotional products and services to a very deserving non-profit organization here in the Greater Lafayette area.

So, without further ado, we're excited to announce that the Emma Paige Foundation has won the giveaway with more than 800 votes!

We can't wait to see how these products and services help the Emma Paige Foundation get off on the right foot. We'll keep you updated, as well.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this incredible event. We can't wait to do it again! (Details coming on Friday. Stay tuned!)

On the Go? Stop by Eight38!

lindsay — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

It's a big day!
We're announcing the winner of the first-ever Eight38 Sign Co. Non-Profit Giveaway!

But that's not all...

Today is our second anniversary, and it's also Kyle's birthday!

To celebrate, we've decided to give away more than a vehicle wrap. We're giving a $5 gift certificate to everyone who stops by the shop today and checks in on Facebook. That's right... You get a gift card! And you get a gift card! And you get a gift card!

And you! And you! And you!

It's like Oprah invaded 819 S. Earl!

Okay, maybe it's not exactly like that, but we're pretty excited about seeing as many faces as possible in the office today!

If our pretty smiles and $5 gift certificates aren't enough to get you in the door, we're also giving away donuts and cake!

We're calling it all "Gifts on the Go." And we're hoping this won't be the last time we lure you into our office so we can make you smile!

So, if you've got a few minutes to spare, stop by the shop between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., check-in on Facebook, and pick-up your gift certificate. We can't wait to see you!

(Clarification: The gift certificates are *not* for Eight38 products and services! :) We wouldn't do something that silly! You get a choice between a gift certificate to K. Dees Coffeshop or Fast Eddie's Carwash! We love local small business, and we love our customers. This is what we call a win-win, folks!)

Eight38 Sign Co. | Our Services | Vehicles

lindsay — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:21:06 +0000

It's no secret: Vehicle Wraps are some of our favorite projects!

We absolutely love seeing a vehicle pull into the garage looking like this:

And roll back out looking like this:

It's our mission to help every small business and organization in Northern Indiana to STAND OUT in their community, and a full vechile wrap is certainly one way to accomplish that goal.

However, a full vehicle wrap might not fit in your current budget, and we want you to know that Eight38 Sign Co. offers a wide range of products and services that are specifically designed to help your vehicle STAND OUT. We can provide graphic solutions that fit every budget. A professionally designed partial wrap makes a big impact in the community while making a smaller impact on the bottom line:

We also design and install vinyl decals of all shapes and sizes. From simple door decals:

To large-scale vinyl decals:

Perforated window film is another great option:

Are box trucks or trailers included in your fleet? You might need bigger solutions for promotional graphics.

Eight38 Sign Co. has got you covered:

If you're not ready to make a semi-permanent change to your vehicle, we've still got products to help you promote your company. Personalized license plates and vehicle magnets are easy to install and easy to remove. Once we've designed and created your product, you can choose when to display your promotional material.

Our graphic designers can also create a design that can be implemented in multiple stages. Installing your graphics on an extended timeline creates more flexibility on the financial side of the project.

Call us today to schedule a consultation about your vehicle graphics. We can't wait to help you Stand OUT!

Meet Eight38 | Mary Cooper | Office Manager

lindsay — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:02:47 +0000

If you call 765-838-1811, the first words you'll hear will be: "Thanks for calling Eight38 Sign Co. This is Mary. How can I help you?" The best part of hearing Mary say those words is that she really means them! Mary is one of the kindest and most helpful people you'll ever meet, and we believe you'll really enjoy working with her.

As the office manager, Mary's duties include everything from answering the phone to organizing Kyle's schedule to keeping our projects on pace. Her job is a big one, and she handles it like a pro. Aside from her official tasks and responsibilities, Mary is always smiling and ready to laugh. We love having her around the shop, and we hope you'll like getting to know her, as well.

I sat down with Mary last week and asked her a few questions...just like Kyle and Kim. Here's what she had to say:

Lindsay: "So, you know the first question: What's your favorite color?"

Mary: "Orange."

Lindsay: "Really?"

Mary: "For real."

Lindsay: "How about your favorite movies?"

Mary: "I like comedies. Romantic comedies and stupid comedies, but not the really sappy ones and not the really stupid ones."

Lindsay: "What's your favorite food?"

Mary: "That's hard. I like food a lot. Can I just make it general? Like Mexican? Yeah, that's what I'll say."

Lindsay: "Do you have any hobbies?"

Mary: "I like to draw."

Lindsay: "I didn't know that! That's cool."

Mary: "Yeah, I guess."

Lindsay: "What's your dream vacation?"

Mary: "Free."

(laughter all around the office)

Mary: "No, I'd really like to visit Hawaii, Maui specifically."

Lindsay: "What attracted you to your husband, Evan?"

Mary: "His energy. He's very lively, the complete opposite of me. It was nice to experience things with him. I still think we balance each other out well."

Lindsay: "And you're an aunt now! What's your favorite part about that?"

Mary: "Just watching him grow and develop! It's amazing what Wyatt can do, even though he's so young. I love hearing the stories that my brother tells about him. Last week, they were staying at a hotel, and Wyatt was hanging from the bars of one of those luggage carts. That's incredible. I can't believe he's strong enough to support himself like that!"

Lindsay: "I really like hearing you talk about him. It's obvious how much you love him. :) Let's end with this: What's your favorite part of working at Eight38?"

Mary: "I enjoy the chance to help with the hands-on stuff. When the guys ask me to help lay down some vinyl or install a wrap, I really like that. There's a lot of variety, and I get to do stuff that I don't get to do very often otherwise."

Lindsay: "Thanks for letting me interview you! Just for the record, you're one of my favorite things about working at Eight38!"

Mary, smiling: "Thanks."

---------

If you haven't had the chance to work with Mary yet, now is a great time to connect with her. You should give the shop a call today and see how Mary (and the rest of the Eight38 Team) can help you STAND OUT.

Eight38 Sign Co. | About Us

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:20:30 +0000

Late in the fall of 2009, two friends started discussing the idea of opening a new business in Lafayette, IN. The details were hammered out in a matter of months, and, in February 2010, Kyle Burke and Jarred Mathis opened the doors of Eight38 Sign Co.

Today, Kyle continues to run the business, and Jarred has moved on to serve as an associate pastor at a local area church. The business now has eight employees, and the friendship that started between Kyle and Jarred has grown to include them all. If you hang around the office very long, you'll hear quite a bit of laughter.

Kyle leads this team, and he pops in and out of the office between meetings and installations. He likes his truck, border collies, movies, his niece and nephew, and his wife, Kim. If you're looking for a way to make your business STAND OUT, Kyle's your guy.

Kim, Kyle's wife, is our lead graphic designer. She likes cooking, dogs, "How I Met Your Mother", and Kyle, of course. Kim will work with you, step by step, to insure that your project reflects your passion and purpose.

Mary, our administrative assistant, keeps the whole crew in line. She likes organization, her nephew, "Big Bang Theory", and Mexican food. Mary is the one who'll make sure your project gets completed to your satisfaction.

Evan is our production manager, and he's a beast! When he's not making custom signs or remodeling the Eight38 offices, he's busy DJ'ing for local weddings and events. If you're looking for a creative solution or a unique sign, Evan will make your day.

Kevin, Josh, and the other Evan make up the rest of our production staff, and we'll just say they keep things interesting! :) They're responsible for a lot of the laughs around the shop, but when it comes to making sure your project meets your expectations, they're all business.

I'm Lindsay, and I'm in charge of our social media and marketing projects. I like McDonald's Sweet Tea, books, "Party Rock Anthem", and flying. My goal is to show you, our clients, how much we appreciate you and to find out how we can serve you better.

As a team, our goal is to provide you with excellent service and outstanding marketing solutions. We provide logo design, branding services, business cards, brochures, interior signage, exterior signage, and vehicle graphics. We're on a mission to get you the exposure and recognition you need to grow your business.

Let us know how we can help you STAND OUT.

How about you? Leave us a comment and tell us about yourself. We'd love to get to know you!

Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway | Let the Voting Begin!

lindsay — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We are so excited to announce the finalists in the Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway, but first we've got to let you know that we are absolutely astounded at the amount of response we've received over the past week and a half. More than 100 nominations have been submitted, and a total of 18 non-profit organizations were nominated for this giveaway. Incredible!

Because of your amazing support, we are happy to announce that, contrary to our original announcement, we'll be including SIX finalists in the voting round instead of three.

Without furthre ado, your finalists are:

Almost Home Humane Society

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lafayette, IN

The Emma Paige Foundation

Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.

Hanna Community Center

and Matrix Pregnancy Resource Center

Congratulations to all of you!

Voting is now open to all of our fans on Facebook, and you can cast your vote by going to the "NPO Giveaway" link on the left side of the page. Or you can just click here. ;)

Each fan is allowed to vote once per day from now until the voting period ends at 10:00 p.m., February 14th, 2012.

The Non-Profit Organization with the most votes at the end of the voting period will win a promotional prize package worth more than $2500, including a partial vehicle wrap from Eight38 Sign Co., a two-minute informational video from JP Video Productions, and a full day of accounting services from Heath CPA and Associates.

So...what are you waiting for?! Head over to the Eight38 Facebook page and vote for the organization that you feel most deserves this incredible prize!

Good luck to all the finalists! We wish you the best!

Eight38 Sign Co. | Logo Design

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:12:56 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a logo is worth at least that many. On a business card, letterhead, or an outdoor sign, a well-designed logo can communicate many ideas to potential clients. Whether a company has been open for five minutes or five decades, a thorough evaluation of its brand and logo is time well-spent.

Take a few moments and think about your company:

Use three words that describe your purpose or product.

If your company was a color, what would it be? Why?
(Hint: Your company's color may not be the same as your favorite color.)

If your company was a shape, what would it be? Why?

If your company was an animal, which would it be? Why?

If your company was a party, what kind of party would it be? Why?

These types of questions will give you a clear idea of your company's identity. Once you're able to communicate that identity to your graphic designer, he or she should be able to create a logo and brand design that will tell your client about your company before you ever say a word.

Eight38 Sign Co. offers complete logo and brand design services. Our graphic designers would be thrilled to walk through this process with you, helping you determine your company's identity and designing a logo that will make you and your company STAND OUT. Contact us today to get started!

Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway | And the nominees are...

lindsay — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:44:10 +0000

We've had over 65 nominations for the new-and-improved Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway, and there are still four days left to make sure your favorite Non-Profit Organization is entered to win over $2500 of products and services that will help them STAND OUT in our community. The following is a list of the organizations that are currently entered in the givewaway:

Almost Home Humane Society

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lafayette

The Center at Jenks Rest

The F.I.L.M. Project

Food Finders Food Bank

Friends of Downtown

Great Strides of Lafayette

Hanna Community Center

Junior Acheivement of Greater Lafayette

Lafayette Community Church

LafayetteTech HUB

Life Bridge Church of Valparaiso, IN

Matrix Pregnancy Resource Center

Natalie's Second Chance Dog Shelter

NICHES Land Trust

North Central Indiana Spay and Neuter

Do you support a non-profit organization that's not included on this list? Fill out the nomination form and enter them in the Eight38 Non-Profit Giveaway. Nominations close at 10:00 p.m. on January 31st, 2012. Finalists will be announced on February 1st, 2012.

We're excited to partner with JP Video Productions and Heath CPA and Associates to help you (and your favorite non-profit organization) STAND OUT!

Eight38 Sign Co. Non-Profit Giveaway - An Update!

lindsay — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:37:19 +0000

We're one full week into the first-ever Eight38 Sign Co. Non-Profit Giveaway, and we are absolutely astounded at the amount of support we've witnessed! Over the past seven days, we've received more than 50 nominations!!!

Today, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that this giveaway has just gotten even better. Check out this little video we shot with JP Video Productions and Heath CPA and Associates:

When Jay and Tressa approached us with their desire to join the giveaway, we couldn't accept their offers fast enough. What an incredible and exciting opportunity for the Greater Lafayette Community!

The non-profit organizations that have been entered in this giveaway are now eligible to receive a total price package including:

* 1 Partial Vehicle Wrap

* 1 Professionally Produced Informational Video

* 1 Full Day of Professional Accounting Services

These oganizations are now eligible to receive over $2500 worth of services and products that are specifically meant to help them STAND OUT in the community and gain the recognition they need to continue serving Greater Lafayette.

If you haven't already nominated your favorite non-profit organization, please take a moment and do that soon. We are accepting nominations on the Eight38 Facebook Page until Tuesday, January 31st, 2012. The finalists will be announced on February 1st, 2012.

While you're on Facebook, please visit JP Video Productions and Heath CPA and Associates. "Like" them, and let them know how much you appreciate their contributions! This kind of collaboration and generosity is inspiring, and we can't wait to see what begins to happen in the Greater Lafayette community as professionals with passion create partnerships with purpose. We expect great things!

Thank you, again, for all the support you've given us. We're constantly encouraged by our clients and partners, and we're so thankful we get to continue being your partner and helping you (and your favorite non-profit organizations!) STAND OUT.

Meet Eight38 | Kim Burke | Lead Graphic Designer

lindsay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:10:47 +0000

"When I was really little, I wanted to be an artist or a football player.
I played soccer in high school, but I think graphic design suits me better."
~ Kim Burke, Lead Graphic Designer at Eight38 Sign Co.

Last week, you met Kyle and learned about the marketing skills he's been honing since he was old enough to tell bad jokes. Today, I'd like to tell you about the best sales pitch he's ever conducted.

I'll give you a hint. This beautiful woman was a major player in the negotiations:

This is Kyle's wife, Kim. She's the lead graphic designer at Eight38 Sign Co., and she's the real deal. You can see her graphic design all over Eight38's portfolio, but I wanted you to see some of the art she produces outside of the office:

All is Calm, All is Bright by Kim Burke
Kim created this ceramic piece to add to her mother-in-law's collection of nativities.

The Epicenter by Kim Burke
This oil painting was commissioned for a fundraiser after the Haitian Earthquake.

Kim completed that oil painting in less than four days! So what happens when you give her a cardboard box?

She turns it into a robot!

You could say that I'm a little biased, since I'm her sister-in-law, but that won't change how I feel about her:

Kim is one of the most loving, creative, entertaining, and authentic people I know, and I really hope you get the opportunity to collaborate with her on a project. I'm certain that her skills will far exceed your expectations.

I got the chance to interview her a couple of days ago, and I believe it will give you a small glimpse into what makes her so fun and delightful.

Lindsay: "Okay, we'll start with the same question I asked Kyle. What's your favorite color?"

Kim: "Orange!"

Lindsay: "Really? I thought it was green."

Kim: "Well, I've always been 50/50 between green and orange. It depends on what I'm doing with the color. If you want to get specific, my favorite colors are Eight38 Orange and Kim Green. (That's Pantone 021 C and Pantone 382 C, in case you were wondering.)"

(Photo Credit)

Lindsay: "Okay, that wasn't as simple as Kyle's. :) How about your favorite song?"

Kim, laughing: "One song? How am I supposed to answer that?"

Lindsay: "How about band, then? Your favorite band? Or singer?"

Kim: "Gungor or Matt & Kim."

Lindsay: "Not Neil Diamond?"

Kim: "Oh! That's my favorite song! Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond is my favorite song!"

Lindsay, laughing: "I thought so. How about your favorite movie?"

Kim: "Can it be a series? Chronicles of Narnia."

Lindsay: "Do you have a hobby?"

Kim: "Eating. Eating and Traveling."

Lindsay: "Alright, let's end with this - When did you know you loved Kyle?"

Kim: "Well you know that I wasn't attracted to him at first. But he pursued me for months. He would say things like, 'You love me. You just don't know it yet.'"

Lindsay, laughing: "That is totally Kyle."

Kim: "Yeah! So, eventually, I started to feel bad. I realized I needed to figure out what to do and not string him along. One night, I spent time praying about it. When I woke up the next morning, I knew that I loved him."

Lindsay: "For real?"

Kim: "True Story. I know, from first-hand experience, that he's an excellent salesman."

Lindsay, getting sentimental: "I'm so glad you bought what he was selling."

Kim: "Me too. Me too." (big smile)

A note from the author of the "Meet Eight38" blog posts, Lindsay Goodwin:

It's been fun to sit down with the staff of Eight38 Sign Co. and learn more about them. In the coming weeks, I'll be introducing you to the rest of the team. Each Eight38 team member is passionate about his or her job, and that alone makes them an excellent choice for your next marketing project. However, I believe it's also important for you to know that they're first-class people, all around. Working with them is a pleasure, and I hope these posts give you an idea of what it's like to partner with Eight38 Sign Co. as we help you STAND OUT.

Why Wrap?

lindsay — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:59:51 +0000

Have you heard? We're giving away a free vehicle wrap! (Details here.)

Maybe you're wondering, "A vehicle wrap? What good is a vehicle wrap?"

We're so glad you've asked!

Vehicle wraps are one of the most efficient and affordable methods of advertisement available. A well-designed wrap will garner attention and communicate a message whenever it's seen. When properly installed, it will also last for years. This leads to an incredible amount of exposure and increased community awareness.

How does this help a non-profit organization?

Non-profit organizations have one major challenge: They're not for profit. These organizations tackle some of the biggest issues facing our community, and they do it all on a shoe-string budget. Decisions are made every day: feed another family or rent a billboard for a week? mentor another child or buy a radio spot? save another dog or run an ad in the newspaper?

The men and women who run these programs don't hesitate: They choose the family, the child, the animal. Every time. They trust that the funds they need and the resources they require will come in due time.

But donors can't contribute to an organization unless they know about it. In order to sustain their services for the long run, non-profit organizations must raise the community's awareness of their purpose and programs.

You see where I'm going with this, right?

An organization that needs more community awareness + a product that increases exposure = A perfect match

Eight38 Sign Co. is dedicated to helping non-profit organizations spread their messages far and wide, as economically as possible. That's why we offer a permanent 10% discount on all services and products for non-profit organizations. Take a moment to nominate your favorite non-profit organization for a free vehicle wrap and let them know that Eight38 wants to help them STAND OUT and do good.

Happy Monday!

Eight38 Giveaway - Free Vehicle Wrap!

lindsay — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:27:45 +0000

Eight38 Sign Co. is giving a free vehicle wrap to one local non-profit organization, and you get to help us choose the winner! All you've got to do is head over to our Facebook Page and fill out the nomination form.

Here are the Official Details:

1. Eight38 Sign Co. is giving a free partial vehicle wrap to one non-profit organization in the Greater Lafayette Area.

2. To be entered to win the wrap, an organization must be nominated by a member of the community. Nominations will be accepted via the nomination form on the Eight38 Sign Co. Facebook Page. The nomination form will be available to fans of Eight38 Sign Co. from January 20, 2012 - January 31, 2012.

3. Eight38 Sign Co. staff will choose three finalists from the nominations. Eight38 Sign Co. fans will vote to decide the final winner.

4. The vote will take place on the Eight38 Sign Co. Facebook Page, and the voting session will be open from February 1, 2012 - February 14, 2012.

5. The winner will be announced on our second anniversary, February 15, 2012.

Good luck! Now go fill out a nomination form! :)

Eight38 Sign Co. Product Review | Pop-Up Banners

lindsay — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:51:30 +0000

Professional. Portable. Versatile. Flexible.

Pop-up banners are one of our most popular products, and it's no surprise to us! When it comes to getting every last penny out of your investment, pop-up banners are the way to go.

Professional - Whether you've got a professionally designed logo and brand or not, we can help you make a good impression wherever you go. Offering a full range of graphic design services, we'll help you create a logo and brand for your company or we'll translate your already established brand into a sleek and cohesive concept:

Either way, we know how to help you catch the right kind of attention and STAND OUT among your competition.

Portable - Pop-up banners are the easiest and most impressive option for portable displays at trade shows, conferences, and presentations. Each banner automatically retracts into the base of its stand, protecting the banner during transport. A black carrying case further protects the banner and simplifies transport.

Versatile - By offering a variety of heights and widths, we can help you create a plan that meets your specific need. A stand-alone banner can create a stunning anchor for your display. A set of pop-up banners can create a unique and memorable backdrop. Our design team will work with you to create a product that meets your needs and your budget.

(How does this display STAND OUT?)

Flexible - My favorite feature is the sheer flexibility of these products. Maybe your vision includes a full trade show display with three pop-up banners, but you've only got the budget for one. Maybe you've got a logo and brand, but you're planning to change it between this year's conference and next year's conference. Well, I've got great news for you!

We can construct a plan that will allow you to build your display one piece at a time: each piece holding its own weight so your display never looks like anything is missing. This option allows you to buy one banner now and purchase additional banners on your own timeline.

And if your plan (or logo) changes? No problem! The pop-up stands are re-usable, which allows us to replace the actual banner and give you a newly designed pop-up banner for just 40% of your original investment.

With flexibility like that, it's hard to lose.

"Eight38 always asks, 'Do you stand out?' I do! One of the best decisions I've made as a small business owner is hiring Eight38 Sign Co. to create and coordinate my promotional materials. My first purchase was a pop-up banner that I planned to use at this year's Midwest Bridal Affair. It was the best decision I made for my company. I got so many positive comments on not only the pop-up banners, but the branding and logo, as well.

(Photo Courtesy of Laurie)

I cannot say enough good things about Eight38 Sign Co. to do justice to what they've done for me. Not only did they meet my expectations, they exceeded them. They gave me a superior product, and they did it fast. What more could a customer ask for?" ~Laurie Webster, Owner, Wedding Plan-It LLC

Meet Eight38 | Kyle Burke | Owner and President

lindsay — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Imagine a little boy drawing pictures of cars and trucks...always with a unique design scrawled across the doors and windows. Imagine a young boy who plastered his bedroom walls with his favorite band's promotional posters and large-format pictures of high-performance vehicles. Imagine a young man who spent hours perfecting the art of writing his name...grafitti-style.

I want to tell you about a little boy who toured through the tables at a wedding reception telling jokes, until he learned that he could make more money by offering to stay away from certain tables for the small fee of $1.00. I want to tell you about a young boy who excelled when his fifth grade teacher implemented a classroom economy and a young man who cut his entrepreneurial teeth in High School DECA. He honed his skills at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management, and, today, he owns his own sign company.

Kyle Burke was born for this business. His love of graphic design, cars and trucks, and business have very naturally led him into his position as the owner and president of Eight38 Sign Co. I took a few minutes to sit down with Kyle and find out a little bit more about The Man in Orange:

Lindsay: "Hey Kyle, Let's start with something easy. What's your favorite color?"

Kyle: "Orange, of course!"

Lindsay: "How about your favorite food?"

Kyle: "Tomato Dill Soup and Breadsticks from Panini Deli. That one's easy, too."

Lindsay: "Favorite Song. TV Show. Movie."

Kyle: "Lie in Our Graves by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds...the live version from Radio City. How I Met Your Mother. My favorite movie is Gladiator. Or maybe The Patriot. I like both of those movies, because they portray really strong father-son relationships. Since my dad is my hero, it's pretty fitting."

Lindsay: "So, why did you decide to start your own business?"

Kyle: "Honestly? I got tired of stressing over other peoples' money. (laughter) No, seriously, if I'm going to worry and stress about sales and business expenses, I want to stress about my own money...something I have more control over. And on a bigger level, I really believe God led me to start this business."

Lindsay: "What would you like to see Eight38 accomplish over the next five years?"

Kyle: "I've got four goals: 2 additional locations, 20 full-time employees, increased community involvement, and the competency and ability to provide full vehicle wraps in half a day."

Lindsay: "Why are those goals important to you?"

Kyle: "Lafayette is a great community. There are businesses here like The Henriott Group who have set a high standard for locally owned businesses in the area. There are men like John Schumann of Tempest Homes and Joe Bumbleburg of Ball & Eggleston who have been investing their time and talents into the Greater Lafayette area for decades. These are the types of businesses and people that inspire me and make me want to contribute to the greatness of this community. By adding locations and increasing our workforce, Eight38 can help stimulate the local economy and provide good jobs for good people. These are the goals that I really care about, and my short-term goals help us work toward these end results."

Lindsay: "Anything else you'd like everyone to know about Kyle Burke?"

Kyle: "Yeah, just one more thing: I have the most beautiful wife in the world." (big smile)

That's all she wrote, folks. Have you got any questions for Kyle? Leave them in the comments or send them to us with the contact form. I'll do my best to get some answers for you! :)

Giveaway Winners

lindsay — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:55:08 +0000

Over the past two years, Eight38 Sign Co. has had the great opportunity to work with hundreds of local small business owners. Now, we have the opportunity to thank some of those small businesses by sending a few customers in their direction!

We're so excited about this giveaway that we've decided to go ahead and award gift certificates to everyone who participated in the Hidden Logo Scavenger Hunt!!

Congrats to Joe, Laurie, Mari, Brittany, Kelley, and Tressa! Thanks for searching through this site and giving us some of your time. We really appreciate you. Please leave a comment or send us an e-mail letting us know what local area small business you'd like to visit. We'll be purchasing the gift cards this weekend and delivering them to you early next week.

Thanks again to everyone who has visited the new website this week, and congratulations to all the winners!

Welcome to the NEW Eight38SignCo.com!

lindsay — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:15:07 +0000

Welcome to the NEW Eight38SignCo.com! Our 2nd Anniversary is right around the corner, and we're starting the celebrations early with a brand new site.

The support we've received over the past two years has been overwhelming, and we can't thank you enough. Our hope is that this site will turn into one of your favorite resources for creative inspiration and new solutions that will take your business to the next level. Each week, we'll be adding new features and content that are aimed to help you stand out. Today, we're taking the opportunity to thank you and offer a small token of our appreciation:

So, we're giving away three gift certificates! We've hidden a small Eight38 logo somewhere on the site, and three people who find the hidden logo will win a prize!

In order to be entered to win a prize, we're asking you to do two simple things:

1. Leave a comment on this blog entry letting us know what you'd like to see on the site: staff introductions, product reviews, project case studies, or someting else entirely!

2. Find the hidden logo, then use the contact form to tell us where you found it.

Once you've done both things, you'll be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the local small business of your choice.

The scavenger hunt will close on Wednesday, January 12th, at 10:00 p.m. Three winners will be chosen using a random number generator and announced on the blog Thursday, January 13th.

Here's a hint to get you started:

Good luck!

Thank you again for all of your support over the past two years.