Manufacturing Strategy

Whether you’re cheering on your team at the World Series or rooting for your kids in their youth soccer league, a little team spirit always makes the games more fun and interesting. And while we can yell until we lose our voices, showing our spirit is much easier than saying it and foam products are one of the best ways to let your allegiance be known.

The biggest icon of the fan accessory world is the foam finger. These have come a long way since papier mache, and it’s difficult to go to a game at any level without seeing the affirmation that your team is, in fact, number one. These are cut en masse from soft foam blocks and are often used as fundraisers or giveaways in contests because of their affordability. Today, there are multiple designs and patterns used, many tailored to individual teams. Swords, talons, bear claws, and thumbs-up are just a few of the personalized patterns fans enjoy cheering with.

Cheering all day at the game can get uncomfortable though, from the hard, molded plastic seats or cold metal bleachers. This is where foam steps in again, to make showing your fandom that much easier. In stadiums that permit them, cushioning bench pads soften hard seats, relieve pressure, and make it much easier to enjoy the whole game. The cushions pads and softens, but can also be used to show spirit. Cushions come in various colors so you can keep your team colors consistent, and logos go even further in showing pride for your team.

Before you head out to the stadium, make sure you’re well equipped to let your favorite team know that you’re on their side.

Often the first thing people consider when shopping for a mattress is the material it will be made of. This is certainly important, but shouldn’t be the first thing evaluated. The size of a mattress can play just as much of a role in your enjoyment as the materials it is made of. In nearly every case, the most basic rule of thumb is that people should get the largest bed they have the space for and can afford, but there are a handful of other factors that contribute to deciding what size bed you want, whether it’s a traditional bed, an air bed, or a memory foam mattress.

The first way to consolidate your size options is to consider if you’ll have one or two people sleeping in the bed. If you aren’t sharing a bed, you still have the full range of mattress sizes to consider. But if you do plan to share a mattress, this reduces your selection by shaving off some of the smaller sizes. It’s obvious that twin bed size dimensions won’t provide enough space for two people, but one of the mistakes new couples often make is thinking a double or full mattress offers sufficient space. Alone, a full mattress can feel spacious, offering plenty of room to spread out. But with standard widths of 54 inches, full mattresses only offer 27 inches of personal space to each person on it. Think about that; will you be able to stay comfortable sleeping in a space barely over two feet in width? Probably not. It’s suggested for most couples to use queen mattresses at the very least, to offer enough space for both people to comfortably sleep.

Families with children who like to crawl into bed with their parents first thing Saturday morning, or people with large pets who commandeer a significant amount of bed space often choose to have a king size mattress. This provides even more space for sleep, whether it’s for two people who require extra room, or to accommodate that extra addition a child or dog presents. And of course, some people who sleep alone may just want to have that much space.

More frequently, teens are using full size mattresses, instead of the traditional twin, to accommodate growing bodies. XL varieties of twin and full mattresses also exist to provide extra length for taller people, and “California” varieties of queen and king size mattresses give extra length on larger sizes as well. You can even attach headboard furniture to the bed, customizing it to your preferences. As you can see, a lot goes into picking a mattress before you even give it the test-run in the store.

Making an impression and catching the public’s eye is one of the most important aspects of marketing your business. In a world saturated with clichéd statements and gimmicks designed to draw your attention to products and services that are all flash and no substance, it takes more than fliers and web ads to get through to people.

One of the best ways to do this is with a bold and attractive business sign in front of your store. Signs establish credibility by helping to identify you as a part of the community; a part that’s invested and there to stay. Unfortunately, these can be fairly costly, when considering the materials, customization, and installation involved. To save your business’ bottom line, while still offering precision and attractiveness, turn to exterior foam signage.

Lightweight and easily customized by computer-controlled machinery, polystyrene foam signs are non-absorbent so they won’t rot from the elements, and are easily coated and painted to keep them looking pristine for years. Best of all, these foam signs can be designed to look like much more expensive materials, for a fraction of the cost. Die cut foam signs are often made with computer programs that offer unbelievable precision for bringing your business’ idea to life. Wording and logos can be created on CNC cut foam signs, and even 3-D designs or Styrofoam columns can be made by adhering multiple cut layers together. When finished and installed, foam business signs will tell your customers you’re a company of substance and give you the recognition and business you deserve.