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Retail

Sep 16
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Unbreakable Glass & Shatterproof Windows – Possible or Impossible?

By Retail, Safety & Security Films No Comments

Since the riots began in May 2020, the question on many building owners’ and managers’ minds has been, “Are there such things as unbreakable glass and shatterproof windows?” If you have been worried about your building’s security with the ongoing looting and riots across the country, you will be glad to hear that there is a way you can properly protect your building’s glass. (Thank goodness!)

Let’s talk about the details behind ballistic glass and shatterproof windows, so you know how you can protect your building or business location from ongoing civil unrest.

What Is Safety Glass? Is It the Same as Ballistic Glass?

“Safety glass” is meant to keep people safe from flying daggers of broken glass as well as glass “spall,” which is the hazardous glass dust that erupts from the opposite side of an impact on glass. “Ballistic glass” is typically a combination of optically clear polycarbonate interlayers laminated in between sheets of plate glass that helps block or stop entry from bullets.

The category of safety glass windows includes:

  • Laminated windows (AKA laminated safety glass)
    This type of window and door safety glass sandwiches a layer of vinyl film, which helps to hold the glass together if it is struck by impact. Windshields are made with this type of safety glass.
  • Tempered safety glass windows
    Tempered glass is a type of security glass window that has undergone a special heating and cooling process to change the qualities of the glass. When struck by impact, tempered glass will shatter into tiny cubes of glass instead of large shards.
  • Polycarbonate bulletproof windows (AKA ballistic glass windows)
    Though not actually a form of glass, ballistic polycarbonate is a type of safety glass window and door material that does an outstanding job at resisting impact. Rocks, blocks, bricks, bats, and even bullets can be stopped or resisted by these “unbreakable windows.”

You can learn more about laminated windows and tempered safety glass windows in our in-depth guide on the topic – or keep reading this article if you are ready for more information on selecting the right type of ballistic glass to prevent shooters from gaining entry to your location.

How to Choose Ballistic Glass for Shatterproof Windows and Doors

When you’re looking at unbreakable glass fronting for your business or location, you may be surprised by the variety available to you. In addition to traditional Riot Glass, which is an access denial system installed invisibly over the tops of your existing doors and windows that has a 100% success track record in stopping forced entry attempts, you also have a wide range of ballistic-grade ArmorPlast solutions available to you.

Your ArmorPlast ballistic glass options include:

ArmorPlast 50

This 3-ply ballistic glass solution includes an exterior and interior layer of 1/8” AR-1 polycarbonate panels that sandwich a bonded ¼” layer of impact-resistant polycarbonate. Resists attacks by a .38 Special.

ArmorPlast 50 meets these standards:

  • ASTM F 1233-08 Class 1.4 standards for contraband passage
  • ASTM F 1233-08 Class 2.8 for body passage
  • HP White TP 0500 Level A (.38 Special)
  • ASTM F 1233-08, Level HG1 (.38 Special)

The AR polycarbonate panels are easy to clean and resist chemical and graffiti attacks, as well as marring. The polycarbonate panels maintain high optical quality. The bullet-resistant glazing also resists spalling and white-out after repeated high force and ballistic impacts, helping to maintain visibility of the threat.

ArmorPlast 75 – UL 752 Level 1 Bullet Resistance

This 3-ply ballistic glass solution includes an exterior and interior layer of 1/8” AR-1 polycarbonate panels that sandwich a bonded ½” acrylic sheet. Resists attacks by a 9mm weapon.

ArmorPlast 75 meets these standards:

  • UL 752 Level 1 (9 mm ballistic attack)

The AR polycarbonate panels are easy to clean and resist chemical and graffiti attacks, as well as marring, and maintain high optical quality.

ArmorPlast 100 – UL 752 Level 2 Bullet Resistance

This 4-ply ballistic glass solution includes an exterior and interior layer of 1/8” AR-1 polycarbonate panels that sandwich two bonded 3/8” layers of impact-resistant polycarbonate. Resists attacks by a .357 Magnum.

ArmorPlast 100 meets these standards:

  • UL 752 Level 2 (.357 Magnum)
  • HP White TP 0500 Level IV

The AR polycarbonate panels are easy to clean and resist chemical and graffiti attacks, as well as marring. The polycarbonate panels maintain high optical quality. The bullet-resistant glazing also resists spalling and white-out after repeated high force and ballistic impacts, helping to maintain visibility of the threat.

ArmorPlast 125 – UL 752 Level 3 Bullet Resistance

This 4-ply ballistic glass solution includes an exterior and interior layer of 1/8” AR-1 polycarbonate panels that sandwich two bonded 1/2” layers of impact-resistant polycarbonate. Resists attack by a .44 Magnum. This solution is especially good for use on doors.

ArmorPlast 125 meets these standards:

  • UL 752 Level 3 rating (.44 Magnum)
  • HP White TP 0500 Level IV
  • ASTM F 1233 Class 5

The AR polycarbonate panels are easy to clean and resist chemical and graffiti attacks, as well as marring. The polycarbonate panels maintain high optical quality. The bullet-resistant glazing also resists spalling and white-out after repeated high force and ballistic impacts, helping to maintain visibility of the threat.

ArmorPlast 125MS – UL 752 Level 6 Bullet Resistance

This 4-ply ballistic glass solution includes an exterior and interior layer of 1/8” AR-1 polycarbonate panels that sandwich two different bonded layers: a 1/2” layer of acrylic on the attack side and a 1/2” layer of impact-resistant polycarbonate on the opposite side (interior). Resists attacks by an Uzi.

ArmorPlast 125MS meets these standards:

  • UL 752 Level 6 rating for high-speed multi-shot 9mm (Uzi) ballistic attack

The AR polycarbonate panels are easy to clean and resist chemical and graffiti attacks, as well as marring. The polycarbonate panels maintain high optical quality.

Stop Bullets and More During Looting, Riots, and Civil Unrest

In today’s charged atmosphere, riots, looting, and gun violence can seemingly break out in any place and at any time – and all can cause extreme damage to your building or location. Even in cases of riot control, police and military may use flashbangs and rubber bullets to control crowds, which can cause significant damage to your glass windows and doors.

To protect your building or location from riots and riot control damage, as well as looting and shooting attempts, your best bet is to choose a permanent, attractive, “unbreakable glass” ballistic glass solution that works where boarding and metal gates fail.

In other words, your best bet is to use Riot Glass or ArmorPlast riot- and bullet-resistant solutions if you are looking to have unbreakable glass and shatterproof windows.

 

Contact NGS to learn more about your options for ballistic glass and how to riot-proof your location now.

 

Image by Republica from Pixabay

Sep 16
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Retail Security Options Against Burglary and Riots

By Retail, Safety & Security Films No Comments

Retail security systems are extremely important in America right now because, as one restaurant owner in Chicago said recently, “This [looting] is the new normal.”

Upscale shopping districts from coast to coast are facing a nightmare scene of constant, unexpected riots and looting and, if there’s anything that the civil unrest of 2020 has shown, it is that the sudden destruction of luxury retail districts can happen on any day, with little to no warning.

Luxury retail store managers need to be prepared at all times – and these retail security tips will help.

The New York City Meltdown

“The looters tore off the plywood that boarded up Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square, swarming by the dozens inside to steal whatever they could find before being chased down by the police. Others smashed the windows at a Nike store, grabbing shirts, jeans and zip-up jackets… a group of looters approached Madison Jewelers on Broadway, where the glass storefront lay shattered, and forced open the store’s metal gate. With the store alarm blaring, young men foraged inside and dozens of others rushed to the scene. When an unmarked police car with its lights on passed the scene, it paused briefly — and then continued down 37th Street.”

This chilling New York Times eyewitness account of the mayhem that erupted in New York City in early June 2020 serves as a stark reminder that luxury retail stores are likely to be the top targets during periods of looting and civil unrest. It also serves as a reminder that boarding and roll-down gates will not work to keep out determined looters.

Fortunately, boarding and roll-down gates aren’t the only options for retail security and, fortunately as well, alarms aren’t the only theft deterrent available for a complete retail store security system. In cases of looting, the best solution for luxury retail security is Riot Glass.

Retail Security Tip #1: Install Forced Entry Resistant Doors

Humans are creatures of habit, which means that whether you’re conducting legitimate business or you’re a looter intent on destruction, your first instinct for entering a building will be through the doors. Effective luxury retail security requires that you install forced entry resistant doors, such as ones with Riot Glass retrofitted onto them.

Fast Facts on Riot Glass

Riot Glass is a patented framing and clear ArmorPlast shield system made from a combination of polycarbonate and plastics that mechanically anchors to your windows and doors for maximum strength. The framing system comes in anodized clear and bronze, custom fit to your doors and storefront window system to create a protective, clear shield that is always working. (Think: Permanent, clear boarding up.) The panels are scratch-coated, solar UV treated, and extremely durable.

Riot Glass stops break-in attempts using sledgehammers, crowbars, knives, pickaxes, bricks, blocks, bats, and more – in short, it stops looters from getting in to your luxury retail store.

Does it really work? Riot Glass has proven more effective any other forced entry protection system including boarding, roll-down gates, and security window film. Riot Glass currently has a 100% success rate in stopping breach attempts. It has literally never failed.

A Scene of Destruction in Los Angeles

“…[D]emonstrators have descended on some of Los Angeles’ most upscale, iconic retail areas, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood and the Fairfax District. Looting has occurred in some of those locations, as some used the cover of what were largely peaceful protests to rob stores.

On social media, residents in some communities where the protests have raged complain of the destruction, the sound of helicopters and sirens and the thick smoke that hangs in the air.”

After a night of destruction in Los Angeles, also in early June 2020 and described by the L.A. Times, many upscale retailers were still struggling to contain the damage in what should have been a bustling luxury retail district. The stores had just barely opened after the coronavirus shutdown restrictions were lifted.

A local ABC news on-the-scene broadcast (below) shows smashed windows and doors at Gucci and construction crews struggling to board up a damaged Ermenegildo Zegna before the next night of expected mayhem continued.

Retail Security Tip #2: Have a Permanent Security Solution in Place

Lately, it seems that any town and city in the U.S. could be the next location of civil unrest and violent uprisings, yet it takes time to board up a large glass retail storefront or luxury hotel. The best idea for luxury retail store managers is to install a permanent solution that you can count on for retail security exactly when you need it.

Riot Glass reinforced glass windows are a great choice for permanent retail store security and, as a security glass solution, you can also rely on Riot Glass to help prevent damage from other disasters like wind storms, blasts, and active shooter attacks.

Looting is “The New Normal” in U.S. Upscale Retail Areas

“The looters arrived downtown in cars about 1 a.m. Police had major intersections blocked off, but that did not stop groups of mostly young people roving through the district of high-end retail stores, smashing windows and stealing goods. Clothes hangers and smashed glass covered sidewalks along North Michigan Avenue. Water Tower Place, the district’s premier indoor shopping mall, was broken into on both its west and east sides. Looters shattered windows of convenience stores and retailers including Macy’s, Ralph Lauren and Express.”

The damage and destruction hasn’t stopped. Riots still continue. Though the scene above sounds almost precisely like the events that happened in New York and L.A. in early June, these events in Chicago occurred in mid-August, 2020. And, sadly, they are likely to happen again and again in response to the brutal killings of Black people in this country.

As the Washington Post reported on the scene at the Chicago riots, “A woman who was quickly walking while carrying a Target basket filled with goods said she and her friends went downtown because they ‘felt like starting a riot’” and a 33-year-old restaurant manager who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that “This [looting] is the new normal. At this point you become desensitized to it.”

Retail Security Tip #3: Understand Bullet Resistant Glass Levels

In scenes of mayhem and destruction, it’s common to watch looters wrench open roll-down gates and smash their way through boarded-up luxury storefronts. It is also common to watch looters use more weaponized methods to break in, such as Molotov cocktails, bricks, bats, concrete blocks – and even bullets – to gain entry to a valuable store.

Once the looters are inside, they can steal inventory, vandalize the property, and set fire to the building. The best idea is to keep looters out of your store entirely.

Though there are many methods to improve luxury retail security, one of the top ways to deny entry is to use bullet resistant polycarbonate panels that look like glass. Although ballistic-rated glazing or polycarbonate panels are incredibly effective materials for stopping forced entry, you can still stop forced entry with NON-ballistic-rated versions of Riot Glass. This approach allows you to reduce the cost while still achieving your objective of keeping looters out.

Choose the right level of bullet resistance for your needs by reading our handy guide on bullet resistant glass…

…Or you can simply contact the retail security experts at NGS to learn more about your options.

 

NGS is a national window film and security glass installer focused on the top retail security solutions, including security window film, anti-graffiti solutions and Riot Glass. Riot Glass has a 100% track record of success for stopping forced entry attempts. Learn more about your options for retail security when you contact NGS today.

 

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Sep 09
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A person attempting commercial burglary

Commercial Burglary: Tips for Prevention

By Building Security, Commercial Property Owner, Retail No Comments

Commercial burglary is a crime of opportunity. The longer it takes for a would-be thief or looter to enter your premises, the more likely they are to give up. Therefore, your job is to slow down or prevent access to your building or location until the police arrive.

Here are 3 tips that will help you accomplish that goal.

3 Tips to Prevent Commercial Burglary

In most cases of commercial burglary, thieves or looters enter the building using physical force. Although Hollywood would like you to believe that all burglars are master lockpicks, the reality is that most thieves and looters resort to low-tech, low-skill tools like cinder blocks, sledgehammers, and crowbars.

Keep them out using these 3 things that deter burglars:

1. Clear the line of sight

Make it hard for would-be intruders to access your premises by trimming trees and bushes and using good lighting both inside and outside your building or location.

2. Rely on security technology

Alarms and security cameras are critical tools that help you reduce the time a burglar remains on your premises, as well as identify criminals (even looters!) after the fact.

3. Strengthen your entry points

As they say, “prevention is the best cure.” Prevent commercial burglary by making it nearly impossible for thieves and looters to get into your building or location. The best way to do this is to use shatterproof “glass” known as Riot Glass.

What Is Riot Glass?

Riot Glass is a patented access denial system consisting of a clear shield and mechanically anchored frame system that is invisibly installed over the tops of your existing doors and windows. It is shatterproof and extremely impact resistant, with a 100% success track record of holding up against sledgehammers, crowbars, cinder blocks, bricks, bats, and more.

In essence, Riot Glass looks and acts like an unbreakable glass that keeps looters and thieves out. Think of Riot Glass as a clear, permanent board up that is always working and requires no maintenance.

Let’s Look at a Real-Life Case Study…

Wondering how to prevent burglary at your business or location? Let’s look at a real-life example of a foiled commercial burglary.

Check out this brief, real-life video of an attempted smash and grab and see if you can identify the crime-prevention methods the building used successfully.

As you saw, the gas station in the video effectively and appropriately used the following methods to prevent commercial burglary:

  • Clear line of sight – there were no trees or bushes blocking our view of the would-be thief, and although there were a few low obstacles in the way of the windows that looked like pallets of water bottles, the gas station used bright lighting that illuminated the criminal’s actions.
  • Security technology – though entry was denied and we therefore weren’t able to determine if there was an alarm system, we do know that the gas station had multiple security cameras, both inside and outside. This is why we had a video to watch.
  • Strengthened glass – as you could see in the video, it appeared as if there was a metal security gate that someone had forgotten to close and lock on the interior of the door, but it didn’t matter because the entrance was protected by impenetrable Riot Glass.

If you watch the video carefully, you notice that, although the gas station used multiple burglary prevention tactics, the only method that truly foiled the crime was the Riot Glass. The would-be thief was determined — throwing his whole weight into those 19 hits from a large sledgehammer in his attempt to get in — but the burglar-proof “glass” door stopped him.

However, it was only when he realized he would not be able to enter the building that he finally gave up and left, presumably to find an easier target.

Protect Your Business with Riot Glass

When all else fails, you can trust that Riot Glass will act as your last line of defense. Riot Glass is the only access denial system on the market with a 100% success rate – it has literally never failed.

Learn more about Riot Glass and other commercial burglary prevention methods.

 

Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash

 

May 29
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Woman wearing a mask

How to Promote School and Workplace Safety during COVID-19

By Education, Floor Graphics, Hospitality, Retail, Signs, Sneezeguards No Comments

The best way to ensure that staff, customers, visitors, and students follow COVID-safe hygiene and social distancing practices at your location is to keep safety at the top of everyone’s minds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that American businesses and schools:

  • Post signs in highly visible locations that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs (such as by properly washing hands and properly wearing a cloth face covering)
  • Install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart (e.g., reception desks)
  • Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that staff, customers, and children remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times (e.g. guides for creating “one way routes” in hallways)

Because NGS is committed to your safety, we’ve created a new line of social distancing and safety signs, sneeze guards, floor tapes, and decals to help your school or business get back on track safely and quickly.

Introducing Safe at Work and Safe at School Packages from NGS

There’s an easy way for you to stay Safe at Work and Safe at School: rely on turnkey graphics packages and premium sneeze guards from NGS!

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Graphics Packages

The Safe at Work and Safe at School packages include turnkey social distancing and safety graphics, which help to educate your staff and customers, students and visitors – and remind them of current health and hygiene practices at all times.

Like you, our goal at NGS to get your location reopened safely and quickly. To speed your reopening, NGS offers a range of tailored base packages you can choose from, including:

  • School safety educational series – with CDC-approved posters!
  • Business office / kiosk / customer-facing area safety
  • Back of house or F&B staff-only area safety
  • Elevator safety – with swab instructions!
  • Drive through, takeout, and pickup safety
  • Cafeteria or quick service restaurant (QSR) safety
  • Bathroom hygiene and safety – with step-by-step handwashing instructions!
  • Front entrance safety and notifications
  • Retail safety
  • Commercial building safety
  • Gas station safety
  • Safety walk graphics
  • Vehicle graphics – with removable, reflective social distancing graphics!

Most packages include social distancing instructions, hygiene reminders, off-limit area notifications, and clear instructions and signage that help students, parents, customers, contractors, employees, and visitors feel confident, safe, and secure at your location.

Safe at Work and Safe at School graphics packages from NGS range from single $5 a-la-carte graphics to packages ranging from $22-$150 and include:

  • Wall, glass, and countertop stick-on decals that don’t damage surfaces and can be removed easily
  • Durable floor decals and tapes that withstand scuffing from thousands of footsteps and help prevent slips and falls
  • Curated “best practice” sizes and shapes with clean and easy-to-understand messaging
  • Fast shipping and turnaround

Volume pricing is available on all graphics packages, and you are welcome to mix and match your safety and social distancing graphics with optional package add-ons that help you fit the needs of your unique space exactly. TIPS members receive an additional 10% off graphics and Sneeze Guard products.

View your graphics options

Sneeze Guards

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  • NGS Sneeze Guard graphic

Enhance classroom and workplace health and safety with Essential or Premium Sneeze Guards at your school or organization. These attractive transparent physical barriers are made of crystal-clear and durable acrylic or polycarbonate and block the transmission of airborne pathogens, including contagious COVID droplets, flu viruses, and the common cold.

Sneeze Guards are essential to safety in area where social distancing is difficult, such as:

  • Densely packed workspaces
  • Call centers
  • Conference rooms
  • Cash registers
  • Shared tables
  • Classrooms

Why Choose NGS Premium Sneeze Guards?

Great question. At NGS, protecting people is our mission – and we understand that long-lasting, permanent safety solutions must also reflect your business’s high quality standards.

To be honest, there are a lot of ugly, hard-to-use, painfully temporary sneeze guards out there. You’ve seen them, and you probably don’t like them much. Sure, they get the job done when it comes to safety… but their stark, utilitarian setup is a brutal reminder of the pandemic.

NGS Premium Sneeze Guards are designed with your student and staff comfort in mind. NGS Sneeze Guards are unobtrusive, elegant, and attractive – and easy to install with the highest stability of any sneeze guard because they’re mechanically fastened to your walls or top surfaces of your tables or counters. (We offer removable ones too!)

NGS Sneeze Guards are the finest, longest-lasting sneeze guards available, with the smallest possible footprint, and they come in multiple models, such as:

  • Full frame for walls or flat horizontal surfaces
  • Wall mount for vertical surfaces on counters, desks, and tables
  • Transaction pass-thru window design to fit paperwork, payments, or merchandise
  • Stand-alone for classroom desk setups

Frames on most Sneeze Guards are made of heavy-grade anodized aluminum, available in dark bronze or silver, and their modern, slimline design makes them the perfect solution when you need year-round protection that doesn’t get in the way.

View your sneeze guard options

Interested in a setup that wasn’t in the brochure? We’ll be delighted to help you design your custom configuration that meets your precise needs. Sneeze Guards are priced at $28 – $102 each and TIPS members receive an additional 10% off Sneeze Guards. Due to potential shipping delays, sneeze guards may require a 1-4 week turnaround.

Trust NGS, the Experts in Safety

At this point, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Health and safety experts predict at least another year of required COVID-safe practices – perhaps many more months or years.

But you can’t wait that long.

At your school or workplace, the time to start promoting healthy habits, including hygienic and social distancing procedures, is right now.

For more than a decade, NGS has focused on protecting schools and businesses with security glass and window film, balancing the needs of your operations, your staff, your visitors, and your students to help you maintain smart, effective, secure solutions that promote wellbeing and safety at all times and in all areas of your building. Protecting people is our mission.

The turnkey Safe at Work and Safe at School packages from NGS deliver convenient, cost-effective safety solutions that help you reopen the right way – with the proven quality and durability you can trust to help maintain health at your school or business for as long as it takes.

 

Be Safe. Stay Healthy. Shop our Safe at Work and School Graphics, Sneeze Guards, and Packages on our online site today!

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Feb 10
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White elevators in a lobby with belbien film

Elevator Restoration on a Budget

By Architectural Film, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Hospitality, Installation Services & Programs, Retail, Wall Wraps and Graphics No Comments

Elevator Restoration for a Fraction of the Cost

A dirty, scratched, or dated-looking elevator doesn’t exactly inspire confidence from its passengers. If anything, it’s more like a horror movie and the passengers are waiting for the elevator to drop. Since being packed into an elevator with a group of strangers is already uncomfortable enough for a lot of people, you want your elevator interior to feel like a safe, clean space that gives people a good impression of your property and makes them feel at ease. Your elevator will give its passengers an instant impression of your building and your business, so you need to make sure it’s a good one. 

If the interior of your elevator is so broken or so damaged that pieces need to be replaced, you might need a remodel. However, if the problem is normal wear-and-tear – things like graffiti, scratched surfaces, or outdated style, refinishing your elevator is just as effective and far more cost-effective than a complete remodel. Enter 3M DI-NOC and Belbien in metallic finishes. 

Why You Should Resurface Your Elevator Rather Than Remodel

Your elevator is an important touchpoint for your customers. It gives them an all-too-important first impression of your building and your business, and if your elevator is dingy, defaced, or even a little dated, it can send the wrong message. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to give your elevator a facelift and create an aesthetic that makes them feel like they’ve chosen the right place to do business. Here are just a few reasons why you should choose to resurface rather than remodel your elevator interior:

  • It’s Cheaper
    Not only does refinishing save you valuable time because of the ease of installation, but refinishing rather than remodeling your elevator can literally save you thousands of dollars in material costs. Gutting the inside of an elevator and replacing worn but perfectly serviceable materials is far less cost-effective than refinishing the surfaces by adding architectural film and wraps, which come in an endless variety of textures, colors, and finishes that will make your elevator look brand-new in no time. You could even give it a silk-like appearance…if you’re into that sort of thing.
  • It’s Environmentally-Friendly
    Fully remodeling an elevator typically means that there will be parts of your existing elevator that will be scrapped and thrown away entirely. This is unnecessary in many cases, as most surfaces are simply outdated and can be refinished rather than replaced. When you remodel an elevator interior, you throw away all the old parts, which need to be replaced entirely. In most cases, these surfaces are fine – if they are still structurally sound, all they need is a makeover, not a replacement. Think makeover instead of plastic surgery. Resurfacing with architectural film creates far less waste, and protects the underlying surfaces for years to come.
  • Less Time to Install and Less Disruption to Your Business
    If you choose to refresh your elevator with wraps or films, your elevator will not need to be recertified as it would if you were to perform a full remodel. Our service teams can be in and out in a fraction of the time a full remodel would take, leaving your elevator looking good as new in much less time. Architectural films like 3M DI-NOC or Belbien require very little preparation, no demolition or construction, and less equipment, which results in a faster installation process with minimal impact on your daily business. We will even come in during closed hours to reduce the impact as much as possible, a literal transformation overnight!
  • Give Your Elevator Character
    Riding in an elevator can be a terrible experience. We’ve all been there, forced into awkward silence and interactions with people we don’t know. Why not give people something pleasant to look at during that awkward silence, or better yet, provide customers with something that’s going to start a conversation? Elevators don’t need to be a simple silver metallic– they can be– but they can be so much more with the hundreds of options from 3M DI-NOC and Belbien.

Preventative Care and Restoration

Finishing your elevator interior with a wrap or film will not only elevate its appearance, but it will also protect the interior of the elevator and preserve the original materials for longer. Most elevator interiors are finished with metals such as steel or copper that scratch easily. A film such as 3M DI-NOC is scratch-resistant and available in many metallic finishes. If you have a new elevator, we also offer clear protective films that protect your walls and floor from normal wear and tear. NGS also specializes in the installation of metal and glass anti-graffiti coatings, which allow you to renew metal and glass surfaces without undergoing an expensive replacement. Mirror and metal finishes are available that allow you to install a protective surface directly over the damaged underlying material, which will renew the surface appearance and save you thousands of dollars.

Why waste time, money, and materials when you could make your elevator look brand-new in a fraction of the time? 

 

Contact NGS to discover all the options available to help your business upgrade your elevator and other interior surfaces.

 

Feb 10
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Clean open-concept lobby with geometric vinyl wrapped wall and with blue and grey chairs and white table featured in bottom right corner

Lobby Design and Redesign on a Budget

By Architect or Engineer, Architectural Film, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Floor Graphics, Installation Services & Programs, Retail, Wall Wraps and Graphics No Comments

“Never judge a book by its cover.” It’s a common saying, one you’ve probably heard your whole life. It’s good advice, but it doesn’t change the fact that first impressions do matter, especially when it comes to your business. Your lobby is the first physical touchpoint your customers have with your building beyond its exterior, and lobby design matters. It’s the place where they make their first impression. As a business owner, you know how much that first impression matters. 

If your lobby is feeling a little dated and you’re considering an expensive remodel that will take valuable time away from your business, there are other options available to you that can make your lobby feel brand-new and nail that all-too-important first impression without completely remodeling. Wraps and window films can refresh and transform the appearance of your lobby and can be applied to walls, floors, ceilings, your receptionist’s desk, casework, doors, windows, and more. 

The Bottom Line: Architectural Wraps Save Time and Money

If you’re thinking about undergoing a full or partial lobby remodel, chances are your business’s main welcome area will be overrun by demolition, construction, and installation crews for days, weeks, or months depending on the scope of the project. Often, this is completely unnecessary and far more expensive than simply refreshing your lobby by updating its aesthetics with window film, wall graphics, and surface graphics. Spruce up the surfaces in your lobby with textures, patterns, and creative designs to create an engaging, modern space where customers feel welcome, for a fraction of the price of a full remodel. You don’t need to spend a fortune to create a “wow” factor. 

Our service teams are minimally intrusive, and take far less time than a full remodel. Keep your business functional while our expert service crews apply wraps and films to transform your space.  We will even come in during closed hours – depending on the project size, we can completely transform your lobby overnight!

  • Better for the Environment
    Architectural wraps like 3M DI-NOC and Belbien are eco-friendly. Refreshing your lobby with architectural wraps uses far fewer materials than tearing your lobby apart, throwing away the old materials, and replacing them. Plus, the next time you need a refresh, it’s as easy as putting on a new wrap!
  • Wraps and Films Improve Lifespan As Well As Appearance
    Not only are wall wraps an affordable way to refresh your lobby’s appearance and give it some character, they also protect your existing surfaces from further damage and normal wear and tear.
  • Use Architectural Film to Add Color or Texture to Make Your Lobby Stand Out
    Architectural films and wraps allow you almost unlimited options to customize your lobby’s interior. Metal, stone, and wood textures are only a small selection of our offerings and are nearly indiscernible from the real thing. Floor graphics, wall graphics, and even ceiling graphics can help you create an engaging space that will wow customers as soon as they walk in the door. Plus, these graphics can help with wayfinding if your office, hospital, or hotel could use a bit of directions.

Window Film and Window Wraps: Small Changes that Make a Big Impact

Window and film decals don’t need to be full, opaque or tinted window dressings. Sometimes, less is more. Window film allows you to add logos, patterns, or other designs to the glass surfaces in your building. For the more adventurous decorators, or those who need to make glass-walled spaces more private, smart films are available that can turn from transparent to opaque with the flip of a switch, creating a more dynamic space and eliminating the need for blinds or shades.

 

Contact NGS to discover all the options available to help you refresh your lobby without breaking the bank.

Dec 20
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Event signage that reads "this must be the place"

Event Signage for Function and a Better Customer Experience

By Customers, Retail, Signs No Comments

Planning an event such as a store opening or a conference? The signage experts at NGS have got you covered with all your event signage needs.

But, wait… what exactly is it that you need for your event? Not sure? This guide is here to get you started off right with your event signage planning.

Let’s be honest here. Planning an event requires you to focus on bigger concerns than your event signs. Handoff the work to one of the nation’s leading event signage companies, NGS, so you can trust that all the signage details will be taken care of for you, hassle-free. Get in touch with NGS on our contact page.

What Types of Event Signage Are There?

Whether you’re calling attention to an event area, you’re encouraging your attendees to share your event with the world, or you simply want to ensure that your event’s attendees have a great time, great signage for your event can help you accomplish your goals.

Here are a few of the top types of event signage categories you may want to consider as you’re planning:

Wayfinding signage

Good directional signage for events is critical to your success. You want your guests to feel comfortable parking, navigating through your venue to find your event, and effortlessly making their way between various event areas throughout the course of your event – whether it be for an evening gala or a week-long summit.

The signage and graphics experts at NGS can help you set up high-quality wayfinding signage that sticks to absolutely any surface — floors, walls, windows, or ceilings! — which will deliver directions and branding all at the same time. Best of all, you can also rely on reusable wall decals that will help you easily peel your signage off of your walls at the end of your event for a fast cleanup – and then reuse the same graphics whenever you need them again.

Barricade graphics

Planning a store opening, or need temporary walls to section off key areas for your event? Barricade graphics provide the colorful, custom look that’ll keep your event and company branding front-and-center for attendees and future customers.

The experienced NGS team takes care of every aspect of barricade graphics for you, including graphic design, barricade set up, and full installation, which means you’ll have time to work on other, more pressing aspects of your event planning – such as catering!

Floor graphics

Floor graphics are great for drawing attention to specific event areas, communicating safety information, marking off booth setup areas, and more… but choosing the right floor graphics solution is harder than you may think. You need a resilient, colorfast option, which can safely and smoothly adhere to any surface without causing damage to your venue’s floors.

Yet again, the NGS signage team has got you covered with a wide range of floor graphic solutions that meet your needs, including 3M Controltac and 3M Envison, which hold up to heavy foot traffic and securely adhere to any surface — sidewalks, carpets, asphalt, linoleum, tile, and more — yet can be removed easily.

Advertising & promotion graphics

Which would you rather: have your event attendees simply stand in lines or walk through central hubs, or have attendees stop and help you advertise your event online while in line or passing between event areas? Certain event areas, such as waiting areas or central hubs, naturally lend themselves to advertising and event promotion, but unless you have graphic design signage in place that encourages attendees to snap pics and share them using your hashtag… well, you’ll be missing out on a key branding opportunity.

Work with the NGS team, or simply hand over the reins, and we’ll ensure you have ample opportunity to encourage your guests to interact with their surroundings and share their event excitement with the world. NGS has spent years helping clients improve their visibility – we’re happy to help you too.

Sponsorship callouts

If you’re hosting a gala or a conference, you’ll want an elegant way to call attention to the sponsors who helped make your event possible. Creative event signage can help here too because it’ll give you the flexibility to thank your sponsors in multiple areas throughout your venue, so you can truly express the extent of your gratitude for their generosity.

Looking for innovative ideas to highlight those sponsors’ names? NGS can help you strategize on what types and styles of signage or graphics make sense for each sponsorship tier and where to place your signage for maximum attention. Of course, we’ll be there to install your signage too – which means we’ll be there with you every step of the way.

Decorative graphics

A successful event is all about setting the scene, and high-quality decorative graphics are the best way to transform your one-size-fits-all venue into a one-of-a-kind, unique event that matches your particular brand and theme. Cover your walls, floors, ceilings, fixtures, glass, doors, temporary partitions — even your entire building envelope! — with unified decorative graphics that will make your event stand out, both in person and in attendees’ memories for years to come.

Functional event signage, such as wayfinding, sponsorship, branding, and promotional graphics can be straightforward to plan because they have a clear purpose – but decorative graphics can be harder to plan and design. Rely on the NGS team for every part of your event signage, including decorative graphics, with our full-service project management that takes care of everything from concept to completion.

Make Your Event a Success – Everywhere Across the Nation!

Planning an annual event, such as a conference or summit? Your event will naturally become more complex every year because attendees will expect you to constantly top last year’s offerings – but, luckily, there’s a way you can at least ensure that your signage planning stays simple year after year after year.

How? By working with the signage experts at NGS, of course!

Wherever you choose to hold your event, NGS has an outpost in that U.S. state, guaranteed, and we’ll be ready to work with you every year, in every state, to ease your signage setup and help make every one of your events the success it deserves to be.

 

Got an event that you’re planning? Don’t waste time managing your own event signage. Instead, contact NGS to learn more about how we can help, now and in the years to come.

 

Dec 20
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Retail signage promoting a special deal

The Function of Signage in Retail and How It Helps Your Customers

By Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Installation Services & Programs, Retail, Signs No Comments

As a leader in the retail industry, you can say with confidence that you really know signage.

You know how to design a great, eye-catching sign. You’ve spent days of your life arguing with city permit departments and landlords about the feasibility of various outdoor building signage choices. When you’re stuck in government buildings and airports, you cringe at how they (mis)use their signage.

We gotta hand it to you: you are officially a signage expert.

However… your extreme fluency in the world of signage may mean that you’re overlooking something – namely, how signage affects people who don’t understand any of the finer details about signs. Yup, we’re talking about your customers.

Let’s take a moment to go back to the basics about signage, so you can make sure you’re taking advantage of all the benefits that signage provides your retail company.

The Functions of Signage in Retail

Of course corporate signage can be used for branding, which is why your company’s logo and colors matter, as well as your choice of signage material. But, as all the good corporate signage companies can tell you, effective signage can also be used for a lot more!

Signage can help in at least 3 surprising ways:

  1. Entice customers into exploring hidden areas of your stores
  2. Encourage last-minute impulse buying at the cash wrap
  3. Deliver in-store social cues that can expand your marketing reach

Let’s dig into these a bit more.

1. Use Signage to Entice Customers into Exploring Hidden Areas of Your Stores

Well-placed signage in surprising locations, such as on floors, ceilings, or glass signage around corners, can draw your customers into areas of your retail store that they may not have otherwise visited.

Maximize your space by calling attention to displays in various store areas using directional signage designs like footprints or arrows on the floor, walls, or ceilings with resilient 3M Controltac signage – or visually expand your space with innovative stick-on embellishments. Options include stick-on mirror films, metallic architectural films, or personalized graphics with texture, such as the realistic wood accents Tillys added to their stores.

Read More About How Tillys Appealed to Customers

2. Use Signage to Encourage Last-Minute Impulse Buying at the Cash Wrap

As a retail expert, you already know how to drive impulse purchases through strategic product placement and sales staff training, but creative interior signage on and around your cash wrap can also help you increase those last-minute sales.

High-quality, all-surface, custom signage can do double duty as an interpretive signage solution that helps inform customers about your current sales events, limited-time deals, and bonus offers in an eye-catching, low-cost way that keeps your cash wrap looking fresh and new year-round – no old, scuffed, or out-of-date signs here!

3. Use Signage to Deliver In-Store Social Cues That Can Expand Your Marketing Reach

Whether your customers are getting ready to travel around the world or they’re planning to stay at home and decorate their own nest, full-size wall graphics can provide social cues that will help them find their perfect item and share those finds with their friends.

Replaceable, eco-friendly wall graphics and interior architectural signage can direct your customers toward the areas in your store that they’re looking for (for example, a wall mural graphic of luggage can draw their attention to luggage options in your store). By including custom-printed social media hashtags or photo-booth areas on your wall murals, you can get your customers to snap pics and develop some UGC that helps spread the word about your store.

Get Your Customers Excited About Shopping Brick-and-Mortar

These days, leading retail professionals have a lot of competition and, if the most recent Black Friday is any indication, you’ll have to work hard to keep customers shopping at your brick-and-mortar locations in the future.

And what is it that your brick-and-mortar stores offer over your online outposts? A unique brand experience that can bring the fun back into shopping.

If you’re looking for innovative interior and exterior retail signage for your nationwide locations, whether for a new store rollout, an image boost, or a new product release, the retail signage experts at NGS have got you covered.

NGS can help you develop and design signs for your locations; select the right, high-quality materials for all your signage and graphics projects; and manage all the permitting and installation for you – all on your timeline and your budget, completely hassle-free.

 

Find out more about the quality, craftsmanship, and customer service you can only get from NGS when you read the True Religion case study, available now.

Nov 26
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Shopping mall with innovative window film tinting

Innovative Retail Window Tinting

By Retail, Signs, Window Film No Comments

Right now is the season for shopping, and that means your potential customers are on the lookout this very minute for great deals, exciting gift ideas, and a reason to treat themselves to something special. Of course, your retail location is perfectly poised to offer all those benefits to shoppers… but first, you have to get those potential customers in your door.

Here’s an idea to attract those holiday shoppers: use innovative, commercial decorative window film! Not sure what we’re talking about? Well, rest assured ‘cause the film, tinting, and graphics experts at NGS have got you covered.

These are the top 5 retail window tinting innovations that your store can use to boost business this holiday season and beyond.

1. Smart Film

If this is your first time hearing about smart film, you’re in for a treat! Smart film can be applied directly to your glass storefront or internal glass displays to intrigue potential customers. Why is it an eye catcher? Because it uses cutting-edge technology to switch your glass from clear to opaque with the tap of a button, allowing you to provide tantalizingly brief glimpses into your location.

2. View Control Films

Want to get your customers talking about your store? Hire an interior commercial décor package contractor to install innovative View Control film on your displays. Then sit back and watch as shoppers circle your displays to see your glass’s transparency change depending on their viewing angle. This high-tech retail glass film option is so cool it’ll make your store the next hottest destination.

3. Color Changing Film

Nothing turns heads quite like 3M DICHROIC film, which constantly changes the color of your store’s glass and windows to create an endlessly mesmerizing, beautiful display. You’ve never seen anything quite like this before – and neither have your potential customers. Your store will be the talk of the town.

4. Graphic Film

You already know that retail signage displays are extremely effective at getting customers to recognize your location and your brand (we can help with that), but you may not know how much you can do with creative interior signage too. Using “stick-anywhere” solutions like 3M Envision or 3M Controltac, you can attract shoppers into key areas of your store with glass film that also sticks on your floors, your walls, your ceilings – and anywhere else you need it.

5. Decorative Interior Film

Suggest a feeling of ultra-modern luxury and space with carefully placed decorative interior film solutions that help divide up your store, without making any areas seem cramped. Using a combination of unique 3M Fasara designs and highly reflective 3M Mirror Film, the nation’s best decorative window film installation companies can help you deliver the satisfying shopping experience your customers crave.

It Takes More Than Outdoor Retail Signage to Get Shoppers in Your Store

Outdoor retail signage is important for when your existing customers are looking for your nearest location, but when you want to attract the attention of new, potential customers, you’ll need to give them a reason to look up from their smartphones.

Catch — and keep — their attention with:

  • A smart-film-powered peek-a-boo unveiling of your store’s displays
  • Now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t transformational display cases
  • A shimmering, shifting all-hours color display on your building
  • Surprising graphics locations, which entice shoppers into every nook and cranny of your store
  • Luxurious, ultra-modern interior film décor that leaves ample space for your inventory

That’s Only the Beginning…

Think you (or your customers) have seen it all? Think again. When you work with a nationally respected glass film company specializing in retail solutions, you’ll gain insight into the vision of a retail glass film expert who knows what it takes to make your store stand out.

As the #1 Commercial Window Film Company in the U.S. and one of the nation’s top retail signage companies, NGS can help you discover your full range of options for eye-catching, gorgeous storefronts, displays, and interiors that will get the whole city talking.

 

View the NGS retail gallery, so you can start planning your store’s redesign.

 

Jun 11
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Indoor business signs

How Indoor Business Signs Can Help Grow Your Business

By Government, Hospitality, Retail, Signs No Comments

As the leader of a successful business, you’re already well aware of the many benefits that good outdoor signage can bring to your company. However, you may not be aware of the advantages of utilizing indoor business signs.

It doesn’t matter what field or industry you’re in; indoor business signage can offer great returns for all types of organizations across multiple industries.

Get ideas for your indoor signage project with today’s article.

How Do Various Industries Utilize Indoor Business Signs?

Also known as “graphic signs” (because they’re typically custom printed graphics that you stick on your interior walls, floors, doors, and ceilings), indoor business signs are an innovative approach businesses can use to communicate with clients, customers, and employees.

Below are just a few examples of how indoor business signs can benefit various industries. If you don’t see your industry on the list, you may be surprised by how versatile indoor business signage can be. Contact the signage experts at NGS to learn the latest, most creative, revenue-building ways that others in your industry are using graphic signs.

  • Hospitality

Today’s hotels face ever-increasing competition from online brokerages like Airbnb, and that means your path to growth lies in showcasing the amenities you offer that could never be matched by the limitations of an Airbnb host. However, you’ll want to ensure that your outstanding amenities are intrinsically linked to your brand.

Custom indoor business signage can help because it will reinforce your brand name and signature hotel aesthetic every time your guests look around your lobbies, hallways, elevators, rooms, and entertainment areas. With this constant reinforcement, your guests’ memories (and photos!) will reflect your brand at every turn – because your indoor business signage will also be there reflecting your brand at every turn.

  • Retail

All retail business leaders understand the concept and advantage of curb appeal, but only the savviest of retail managers and facilities planners know that, these days, curb appeal must extend well beyond the curb. Indoor business signage brings that same concept indoors.

If you’re counting on foot traffic, you expect your customers to stop at a few stores before and after they stop into your location. That means you’ll need to highlight your branding and direct customers toward prime areas in your store immediately when they walk in. Clear indoor graphic signs can help with that.

Planned and installed properly, eye-catching indoor signage can draw customers deeper into your store, enticing them to fully engage and interact with your brand and products. This also helps to increase the amount of time they spend at your location, thereby increasing purchasing likelihood.

  • Government

Government buildings typically house numerous departments, offices, and officials. Wayfinding through this labyrinth of corridors and doorways can be impossible without the proper business signage. Even an open office floorplan can be challenging to navigate without indoor signs, as the General Services Administration (GSA) discovered.

By utilizing the NGS team’s comprehensive consultation services and full product line of best-of-breed solutions, including 3M indoor graphics, you can help direct your employees and visitors around your government building with professionally designed, efficient, cost-effective indoor signs.

Best of all, NGS is a GSA contract holder licensed to provide both materials and installation services, which makes NGS the fastest, easiest procurement choice for your large or small government project. (GSA contract number: GS-07F-152CA.)

Make Indoor Business Signage Work for You

Indoor business signs, like all business tools, can be immensely beneficial and can lead to great growth. However, to take advantage of the full range of signage benefits, you’ll need to consult with professionals that can design the most efficient setup for your specific building and business.

But beware!

You don’t want to trust your new indoor signage project to any old Joe Shmoe who says they can install signs. The process of crafting and installing indoor signage takes experience and know-how – which means you’ll want to work with true professionals who have a successful history of indoor sign design and installation.

 

Learn more about your options for indoor business signs from NGS and see all the ways we can help make your business grow.