Strand360

So proud to be nominated this year for the medium sized business of the year for the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala.

Such an honour!

Here is a useful question to ask a few people across your company:

"When the processes do not give you an obvious answer, how do you decide what to do?"

The answers do not need to be identical, but they should come from roughly the same understanding of what the company is trying to be and what customers should be able to expect.

If they do not, the issue may be bigger than inconsistent decisions. It may be that the brand is clear to the market, but not yet clear inside the business.

That is the idea behind our latest article: “If Your Brand Only Helps Marketing, It Is Not Doing Enough.”

If Your Brand Only Helps Marketing, It Is Not Doing Enough A clear brand should do more than shape what customers see. It should help the people inside the business make better decisions, protect the right standards, and create a more consistent experience across the company.

A file can look great on your screen and still cause problems in production.

That’s why we sometimes ask for a “print-ready” file.

We're not trying to be picky, we're just trying to make sure your finished piece prints, trims, cuts, folds, mounts, or decorates the way it should.

We put together a short article explaining what “print-ready” actually means, plus a more detailed artwork guide for print, signs, apparel, laser engraving, and promotional products.

If you’ve ever wondered what file to send, start here: https://www.strand360.ca/insights/what-does-print-ready-actually-mean/

Need the technical version? https://www.strand360.ca/resources/production-ready-artwork-guide/

What Does “Print-Ready” Actually Mean? Not sure what “print-ready” means? This short guide explains why a file that looks good on screen may still need bleed, safe margins, high-resolution images, proper colour setup, or a cleaner PDF before it is ready for production.

We've got a lot of sturdy boxes that we need to get rid of. If anyone is moving, or just needs boxes feel free to stop by the shop. #1, 4013 53 Ave, Lacombe.

Do you notice when a laminate has a bubble someone else would've passed or do you know the difference between a good w**d and a great one (when it comes to signs and decals, not plants in the garden)?

If you do, then we're looking for you.

Strand360 is hiring a full-time shop technician in Lacombe, AB. We're a physical marketing shop (signage, print, branded apparel, engraving) and the person in this role directly affects the quality of what our clients see.

Laser engraving experience is a real advantage. Sign shop or print production background is a pretty high priority for us, but we are willing to train for the right person.

If that sounds like you contact us at [email protected].

Customers often start judging your business before they ever speak to you.

They see your sign.
They pass your vehicle.
They walk through your front door.
They pick up a brochure or quote folder.
They notice what your team is wearing.

None of those moments may feel like a major marketing event, but they are all sending signals. The question is whether those signals are building trust, or quietly leaking it.

In our latest article, we look at the idea of a Real-World Brand Audit: a simple way to step back and look at the physical touchpoints your customers notice first.

Read it here:
https://www.strand360.ca/insights/the-real-world-brand-audit-what-customers-notice-before-they-ever-contact-you/

With Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉