Here are the tops reasons why outdoor signs are important for your business:

Location

For small businesses, outdoor signs act as a guidepost to lead your customers to the right area where your business is located. With the right design, these signs can attract people’s attention that can eventually persuade them want to go inside your business especially when it’s new. They can create a really strong impression for customers. Additionally, these signs help differentiate your business from others in your locale. Tourists and people who just moved in to the area are going to look for local businesses that can help them. From being landmarks to information booths, these signs can really help you advertise and boost your business!

Function

An outdoor sign can serve as a salesperson for new customers 24/7. Most of the time, these signs are designed with what the store offers. What usually makes an outdoor sign effective is a unique displays. Sometimes, food businesses show their specials of the day while clothing stores show special discounts for every purchase of their new products. Additionally, putting your logo as design will reinforce your brand and its recognition. These signs serve as a primary link between a business and its customers.

Brand Promise

Outdoors signs are the first to give impressions to people who are walking around your area which is why they should always be neat and bright to achieve its purpose. With a clean and professional design, it conveys the promise of your brand, the high standards of your business, and the uniqueness of your business. An outdoor sign that is damaged, smudged or clearly not maintained will fail to be a good representation of your brand or your business.

Great Investment

It is no doubt that business owners use outdoor signs as a component of their marketing strategies. It is the one of the most common methods used in reaching thousands of potential customers. It is also much more cost-effective compared to other forms of advertising such as radio, television, and newspapers. As an exterior design, it is visible 24 hours a day – its exposure is prominent and continuous.

In some cases, small and medium businesses go unnoticed. With a well done outdoor sign, this will no longer be a problem for you as they help plant the seed for future sales. Put a professional sign out now, and see how much difference it makes!

Here at Hackworth, we are able to produce as many types of creative print jobs that include outdoor signage. You can leave your message or comment below, or you can contact us today so we can help design an outdoor sign for you!

The post Why Outdoor Signs Are Still Important For Your Business appeared first on Hackworth.

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to understand that what the Royals have done over the last few years has been remarkable. They have gone from a perennial “also ran” with a revolving door of talent to a stable team that is a perennial contender and now World Series Champions. That story is probably worthy of a book all its own, but a key chapter would be on their approach to offense. How the Royals approach offense is a philosophy with much broader applications.

Against what could arguably be called the best pitching in the majors, the Royals scored early and often to win the Series in just five games, two of them in extra innings, coming from behind three times! Commentators with decades of experience have been agog at the Royals’ ability to avoid striking out, the rareness with which a third strike could pass by them without the batter swinging, and the relatively low number of home runs they hit. Their secret is simple: the Royals swing the bat.

As a youth coach, I’ve had the privilege of coaching my own son for several years. When he was younger he developed into a significant asset on offense—not just a good hitter, but a smart batter who didn’t swing at garbage. Last spring he moved up to the first age level where we start to see teenagers, truly young men, competing. As an 11 year old he was one of the youngest and smallest players. The head coach of his new team knew him from earlier seasons and had high hopes for my son, but he had a rough start.

Predictably, he was intimidated by bigger kids, faster pitches, longer base paths, and the significantly higher skill level of opponents and teammates. At bat, he was overloaded and didn’t trust himself to swing the bat during the games. In practices he did well though. After the first few games of poor performance my son was killing pitch after pitch during batting practice. One of the other coaches said something off the cuff that turned out to be momentous: “Good things happen when you swing the bat!”

Late in the next game we were behind for the first time that season and my son came up to bat with two runners on and two outs. That same coach and several of the players started calling to him: “Good things happen when you swing the bat!” He swung at the first pitch and hit a two run double that started an offensive rally which lasted for several batters and put us in the lead.

As the next batters in the lineup came up the call continued to them: “Good things happen when you swing the bat!” We ended the game with a convincing win when just two innings before we’d been thinking through our “You can’t win ‘em all speeches.”

We continued on to win every game including the championship and outscored our opponents by a combined 120 runs. Certainly, we had a lot of talent, but we were in no way unbeatable until we discovered what the Royals know. When an opportunity comes your way, swing the bat and don’t even think about stopping until the game is over.

The Royals don’t crush homeruns out of the park nearly as often as some teams, but they get on base, they stay alive and move forward 90 feet at a time, better than any team in baseball. They jump on opportunities to move forward a little bit while other guys are still thinking about that game changing home run. Sometimes the homer gets it done, but more often the team that lives by the big hit, dies by it. As time gets short, the chance of one big score becomes more unlikely and morale suffers, creating a negative feedback loop that reduces expectations and results. Kansas City comes back from behind to win over and over again because their game isn’t built around one star or one swing of the bat. They swing the bat, they get on base, and they move forward consistently and that is something that is just as likely to happen in the 9^th inning, or as the Mets can attest the 12^th, as it is in the first.

In your business and in your life, home runs are great, but the real success and the real progress comes not from waiting for the perfect pitch, but from swinging the bat at every reasonable opportunity (don’t swing at junk!) and taking small steps forward consistently and relentlessly. Because you swing more and get more hits, you’ll get your share of home runs along the way and they’ll be great—in the moment. But play your game aggressively and consistently for all nine innings, or 12 if you’re so lucky, and you’ll be a winner in the larger game.

The post What the K.C. Royals Can Teach Us About Business & Life appeared first on Hackworth.

Hackworth has been awarded management of The College of William & Mary Print Shop as part of the Electronic Systems (ESI) print contract. On September 21, 2015 Hackworth will officially open for business on campus on the ground floor of the Swem Library.

“The opportunity to serve the faculty, staff, students and community of Williamsburg is one that we are excited about. We are looking forward to building relationships at William & Mary as well as providing professional print solutions that support the college,” says Vice President Charles Hackworth.

Not only will the Print Shop offer small document printing like color copies, manuals and booklets, but large format solutions will also be available to the college. A much larger selection of media and applications will now be offered through the Print Shop. Customers will be able to order banners, signs, posters, vehicle graphics and more.

Hackworth and ESI will host an open house at the Swem Library in mid-October to introduce the new team and capabilities to the faculty and staff of William & Mary.

The post Hackworth to Manage William & Mary Print Shop appeared first on Hackworth.

In early 2014, it was determined that greater efficiencies could be achieved through combining locations. The Hackworth family was able to purchase an adjacent lot in order to expand the main office location. The added space would allow for relocating The Graphics Shop to pool resources, such as personnel, inventory and equipment, in order to better serve clients in the Virginia marketplace. Demolition and construction began the summer of 2014. One year later, August 2015, the new 5,000 square foot addition is ready for occupation.

The addition is divided into two areas. One side will house a vehicle wrap bay, router room and offices for the Installation Team as well as their tools and equipment. The other side will host the Graphics Division allowing seven graphic designers from both companies to be in one convenient location along with a flatbed printer, latex printers, eco-solvent printers, laminators, plotters and more. Hackworth’s Graphics Department specializes in poster boards, banners, and small format color printing. The Graphics Shop’s expertise is in wraps, outdoor signage, building signage and commercial screen printing.

“Having both companies at the same location will minimize our travel time and expenses as well as being located in the center of the Hampton Roads area makes us more accessible for our customer base” said Charlie Hackworth, President. “It’s amazing that the clientele being served by both companies does not overlap in the design and fabrication processes…we are incorporating two industries under one roof.”

Hackworth and TGS will continue to operate as separate companies for the near future but there is always the option to combine services under one banner. An open house celebration is planned for the Fall of 2015 and the future looks bright as both companies continue to grow with the improving economy.

For more information on Hackworth or The Graphics Shop please contact Mark Rowan, Marketing Director at 757-545-7675.

The post Hackworth & The Graphics Shop Combine Locations appeared first on Hackworth.

The Graphics Shop will be moving to 1700 Liberty Street, Chesapeake, VA on Friday, July 31. Phone service for 757-485-7800 will be temporarily unavailable as the number gets ported to the new location.

Please call Hackworth at 757-545-7675 for any TGS related business. Once the move is made all TGS related phone calls should be directed to 757-485-7800.

New Accounting Software

Email Invoices
Hackworth now has the ability to send invoices via email. If you would like your invoices to be sent electronically instead of via mail please contact us at accounting@hackworth.co.

Tax Exempt Certificates
Additionally, for tax exempt organizations please send us your tax exempt certifications so that we can enter your status into our new system.

The post Important Updates for Hackworth/TGS appeared first on Hackworth.

For over 10 years Hackworth has used South Bay’s products and services including IP telephone solutions, security systems, structured cabling and video surveillance.

In the coming months you will see combined initiatives specifically in the area of facility management products and services. Our goal is to help support your business as the preferred facility professionals in Hampton Roads.

Learn more about South Bay by visiting their website.

The post New Strategic Partnership With South Bay Communications & Security appeared first on Hackworth.

Right now if you refer a new customer to Hackworth we will give you a $5 gift card to either Wawa or iTunes. The good news is that there is no limit! You can refer as many new customers as your heart desires.

Just think of all the free coffee and/or music you can enjoy on us! Sipping on a soy latte listening to the sweet sounds of Burt Bacharach - doesn't get any better!

The post Refer A Customer Get A Gift Card appeared first on Hackworth.

So, in the spirit of Christmas and giving here is our wishlist:

1. That you would enjoy all the great food. It’s the holidays. Have one more. January is for getting back in the gym.
2. That you would tear open your presents like a 5 year old.
3. That you would hug every neck within reach. It’s scientific fact that hugs make you live longer.
4. That you would tell your family that you love them. They are all gifts no matter how weird they are.
5. That you would life until you cry. Nothing improves the day like a good laugh-cry. Try it out.
6. That you would live every day to the full. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but that doesn’t stop you from living out your dream today.
7. That you would give more than you receive. Make the day of someone else and give them a smile.
8. That you would thank someone that least expects your gratitude.
9. That you would know the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.
10. And for peace and good will to all men.

Merry Christmas!

The post All We Want for Christmas appeared first on Hackworth.

However, our commitment to be the best document and information specialist has led us to add many products and services over the years. From color printing to wide format equipment we have constantly sought ways to expand our offerings in order to help you be more successful in your business. Within the last two years our additions have included upgrading equipment in our Color Department like our Océ Arizona flatbed printer, Mimaki outdoor banner printer and HP L25500 eco-friendly printer. We also incorporated document management into our services by becoming an exclusive dealer in Virginia for MySmartPlans, a project information management solution, and by launching BidDOCs our bid document management solution.

Now with the new year, we again are adding cutting edge products and services, this time in the IT arena. EVault is a full service data backup and recovery solution. EVault combines the best of on-premise software and offsite cloud services to protect data in a distributed environment. We are also dealers for HP and Dell desktop, laptop, and network equipment. If you do not have a reliable IT management solution we offer:

• Remote Network Monitoring
• Software Sales & Troubleshooting
• Antivirus Management
• Windows Update Management
• Network Device Troubleshooting
• Managed Print Services

Our desire, as always, is to be the partner that you can count on to meet your document and technology needs. If you have any questions about the new website, services or products don’t hesitate to email or call at 757.545.7675 or 800.676.2424. Have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Charles

The post Welcome to the New & Improved Hackworth appeared first on Hackworth.

Mark Rowan had been promoted to Director of Marketing. Mr. Rowan is a graduate of Liberty University. His previous role was as the company’s Web/IT Specialist. He served in this capacity for over two years and was responsible for web content and internet marketing as well as other marketing design.

Christie Williams has been named Creative Director for Hackworth’s Color Department. Ms. Williams was previously a Graphic Designer with the company for over five years. She is a graduate of the VAC.

David Luter has joined the firm’s sales team in the role of Federal Account Manager. Mr. Luter is a graduate of Virginia Tech. He comes to Hackworth from PSI Digital in Denver, CO, where he was a National Accounts Manager.

Blythe Erikson is now a Graphic Designer in Hackworth’s Color Department. She transferred from the Architectural Printing Department, where she was a Production Associate. Ms. Erikson holds an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design from ECPI.

Krissy Kotvas has joined Hackworth as a Graphic Designer. Ms. Kotvas holds an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design from John Tyler CC. She comes to Hackworth from the advertising firm Seventh Point where she was a Graphic Design Intern.

Jerrod Outlaw recently joined Hackworth’s Service Department as a Service Technician. He was previously a Production Associate in the firm’s Architectural Printing unit. Mr. Outlaw achieved this position after completing the necessary training to service the Company’s various equipment lines.

Scott Bodnar has joined the Company as a Service Technician. He comes to Hackworth from Sharp in Charlotte, NC.

Paul Williamson was recently hired as a Production Associate in Hackworth’s Architectural Printing Department. He comes to Hackworth from FedEx/Kinko’s and had additional industry experience while serving in the U.S. Navy.

Diana Sunkins has joined Hackworth as a Receptionist/Billing Clerk. Ms. Sunkins holds an Associate’s Degree in Sociology and is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in the same field.

Shalon Haith and Jerrod Outlaw recently completed Hewlett Packard’s L25500 training program in Detroit, MI and are now certified to service this cutting edge, Green printing technology.

The post Hackworth Staffing Changes: New Faces in New Places appeared first on Hackworth.