A Sign for Every Occasion - Pairing Service with Technology-Driven Products

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By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2008-The real estate industry has seen its fair share of trends come and go over the years. With a market that is either up, down or hovering somewhere in the middle, Lowen Sign Company has set itself up to weather each of these trends, giving agents the products they need to market themselves and their listings in a way that allows them to stand out among their competition.

Keeping Up with the Times

The past six to 12 months have proven busy for Lowen Sign Company, as it has been expanding its product and service line in order to help agents market themselves, their company brand and their listings more efficiently.

“We now have more printing solutions than ever for our customers,” says Rob Kline, Lowen’s vice president, sales and marketing. “We are always looking for ways to adapt our experience and processes to both our customers and the markets they serve.”

“We work with a forward-minded vision that has allowed us to evolve our business offerings to include signs, services, art, print and even production services to our customers,” says Todd Warner, the company’s business development manager.

With the industry changing year after year, so does the way in which agents must market themselves.

“In the past, the yard sign was seen as a way of giving an agent his or her identity,” explains Warner. “Today, the yard sign has warped into more than just an identity. As an agent’s partner with Web-based text messaging and MLS services, the yard sign doesn’t just advertise a home anymore; it advertises a service.”

Keeping its focus on the future has allowed Lowen Sign Company to take the yard sign-a simple form of marketing-and embellish and evolve it so that it fits the needs of today’s real estate professional.

“Our clients are taking the new technology features that are available to them and using them to enhance their signs as well as varying the data included in their signage,” says Tracy Metzger, Lowen vice president and chief technology officer.

Instantaneous Information

Putting information in front of prospective buyers in a timely manner is an important part of any agent’s marketing program, as information is key in making any decision. In fact, Lowen Sign Company offers its clients several options in which to get yard signs out as quickly as possible.

For example, Lowen’s Next Day Rider program is set up so that any order that is placed before 3 p.m. will be shipped the next day.

“This is a huge advantage for the agent, because their contact information can be added to the listing sign as soon as possible,” says Ted Crank, national sales manager for Lowen. “In any market, sellers want signs and riders on their property quickly.”

Lowen also offers clients Premier Post-a self-installing post that can be used as an alternative to the wooden post that is placed by a sign installer. “Premier Post is a great alternative for agents that need to stick to their own schedule,” says Crank.

What’s more, the company makes it easier than ever to make sure the signs are just right before submitting an order.

“Our TrueView technology gives the agent or office manager who is ordering the sign a true representation of what they are ordering once they have provided the necessary information,” says Metzger. “We are rolling this product out on all of our technology lines so that our customers can see an actual proof of their sign online.”

More Than Just Signs

Although the name may have you believe that Lowen Sign Company is all about signs, the company offers much more.

“We are not a cookie-cutter sign company,” says Warner. “We like to grow with our customers as well as with the changes that occur in the marketplace and we understand that our customers’ needs will be different each year.”

To that end, the company has introduced its new Paramount Post unit, giving agents a new way to market their listings with Lowen.

“The Paramount Post unit prints photo features of the home’s interior directly onto a powder-coated steel panel,” says Kline.

Agents can now buy a sign that is specific to any one property and format it with images from inside the house or the backyard. Using the sign to highlight specific features of the house or property allows the agent to show off an element of the home that would normally be missed, explains Kline. “Since these features are not apparent to a prospective buyer touring a neighborhood in their car, this product creates more drive-by interest in the property,” he says.

Looking Toward the Future

Change is an ever-present constant and Lowen Sign Company’s longevity proves that the company is able to adapt and grow through different market cycles as well as challenges.

“The product and service expansion that we recently went through brings full circle all of the services our customers need, from design to production, and all of the steps in between,” says Kline.

“Our product and service expansion has been met with an enthusiastic response from both our customers and our prospects,” adds Warner. “It is always a win-win when our company can provide an aesthetically pleasing sign that is customized to our customer’s needs.”

For more information, visit www.lowensign.com.

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