Reade Blog

Sign installation is nothing if not varied. We had two major projects earlier this year which had similar issues – access – to overcome, but we had to do it in two very different ways. Royal Exchange, Kingston-Upon-Thames On the face of it, this looked like a straightforward job, erecting illuminated hoarding cladding to protect and promote a new housing development for one of our major clients. The brief called for a bright, illuminated design along a 200m perimeter around the Royal Exchange development in Kingston-upon-Thames. However, the main concern for us was the narrow pavement and busy road around the site, which was going to cause issues with how we could work safely. We had enough time before this project to plan properly and our client had given us a dedicated area for storing a limited amount of materials. However, it was halfway along the perimeter and we still had to get our equipment and hoarding cladding sheets to the specific work areas every day along the narrow pavement, with traffic rushing by. We came up with an innovative solution which we’ll be using on other jobs in the future. We designed a bespoke trolley that could be folded flat to fit into our vans but could be assembled and loaded with cladding sheets. It had “all terrain” wheels to cope with curbs and it worked a treat, mainly because the whole team, especially those who would have to use it, were involved in the design. Of course we had to run the design and construction past our client for health and safety reasons, but they were so delighted with our idea they promoted it within their organisation as an example of how sub-contractors can overcome problems with a bit of inventive thinking. We also instructed a traffic management company to cordon off areas of pavement every day, on a rolling basis, for us to work in. We had to be very safety conscious working by such a lot of traffic, particularly when members of the public insisted on getting around the barriers and walking along the busy road behind us. As for the design, we used built-up illuminated lettering and two recessed lightboxes so that it didn’t stick out over the pavement. The hoarding will be in place for a while, so the lightbox design allows us to update replaceable message panels easily and cost-effectively. Brunel Building, Paddington Our second project was for a hoarding around an office development at Brunel Building in London. The perimeter runs alongside the Paddington Canal. It was pretty obvious that erecting the hoarding alongside a busy waterway would be a challenge. Fortunately, we organised specialist contractors working on pontoons to put up our hoarding along 80 metres of canalside perimeter, so we didn’t have to put on the life jackets for that part. We simply manufactured the hoarding panels in our Aldershot factory. We used treated Sterling board for the client’s distinctively minimalist, unfinished plywood look. However, our challenge was to install a 64 metre section of hoarding spanning the canal on a footbridge. Cage fitters The canal is busy, so we couldn’t shut it to erect a platform to install the sheets; instead, our own hoarding fitters were suspended above the water in a cage from a crane. This needed a lot of careful health and safety planning and close coordination with the constructors because this part of the construction site was very cramped and busy. After several months, the job was completed. The self-adhesive letters and architectural drawing-inspired designs, picked out in white ultra-tack vinyl, look great and match our client’s corporate image guidelines. Access all areas? That just takes some time, planning and innovation Every job we do has its own challenges and sometimes they require a unique solution. But as far as Reade Signs are concerned, wherever there’s a hoarding to be put up, we will find a way to get a client’s message seen. If you’d like to know more about how Reade Signs can help your business get noticed, please contact us on enquiries@readesigns.com or call 01252 336000. Reade Signs – Applying Knowledge. Creating Visions. Delivering Value.

Is your site ready for the Spring crowd? With the busiest spell in the housing market fast approaching, now is an opportune time to review current site signage and hoarding. As experts in visual marketing, Reade Signs produce stunning, eye-catching signage that significantly increases the footfall, enquiries and visitors to our client’s sites. As industry leading experts in property signage, Reade Signs are the partner of choice for property developers. We have over 36 years of experience and currently work with the UK’s largest property developers amongst our impressive portfolio of clients. What do our clients love about working with Reade Signs? Well we are experts in our field and our clients know we will always deliver unbeatable service. As well as excellent communication throughout projects, Reade Signs completely manage and handle the entire build from start to finish, unburdening our clients. Key areas include: Communicating and working directly with sites, booking install slots that work best for them and avoiding clashes with other trades or site works wherever possible, causing minimal disruption. Reade Signs manages everything. This gives our clients peace of mind and allows them to focus on sales, knowing their site signage project is safe hands. Reade Signs only provides quality products that meet our stringent criteria. With our impressive in-house production facilities, we know all products are manufactured to our high standards, using approved materials. We also conduct rigorous checks so every product has been thoroughly inspected and approved before leaving the premises. This ensures Reade Signs products stand the test of time. Create and agree Risk and Method Statements (RAM’s) in advance. This organisation and process ensures safety compliance is always met before we start and whilst carrying out the install, benefiting both companies and employees as well as ensuring a smooth completion. All Reade Signs employees are fully trained and experienced, meaning they are versed in site protocol and procedures. “We invested a lot of time thinking about our next generation of marketing suites for Linden Homes, so finding the right delivery partner was a crucial step for us. Reade Signs’ experience not just in the property market, but in branding and retail knowledge made them our obvious choice. We liked many of the ideas they put forward during the tender process and incorporated these in our final specification. The short time between contract award to delivering the first installation demonstrated strong project management and flexibility on their part” – Vicky Cullen, Head of Marketing, Linden Homes Site Safety Site Health and Safety is of paramount importance to Reade Signs. We are fully accredited being Safecontractor and CQMS approved, as well as being members of the BSGA (British Sign and Graphics Association). We also have ISO 9001 and 14001 Quality and Environmental management accreditations. The importance of site signage Having worked with all of the country’s major housing developers over the past 36 years, we truly understand the importance of site presentation to potential buyers. Numerous surveys conducted independently and by housing developers conclude that the standard of signage is the top reason for improved footfall. Based on these findings, the better your signage, the better your footfall.

After a rigorous competitive tender exercise, Reade Signs were selected as the national partner for the roll out of Linden Homes’ next generation of marketing suites across the whole of England. Having vast experience in installing marketing suites for a number of prestigious housing developers meant we really understood the objectives for the new design and were able to offer many suggestions to achieve the desired results at optimal costs. And no mean feat to ensure all aspects of health and safety were considered without detriment to the sales environment. Our branding experience was also extremely useful in interpreting the clients’ brief for making the Linden Homes marque really stand out; an absolutely key consideration in today’s competitive marketplace. The client wanted the new format to be implemented as soon as possible and our challenge with this project was to get the first sites launched within 6 weeks of hearing we were the preferred supplier. The design scheme was still being finalised during this period as a result of some of the suggestions Reade Signs’ creative team made during the tender process. As well as selecting the best materials and finalising the design of bespoke furniture to both improve appearance and usability, and provide an inspiring environment for customers to select the finish of their new home. Bartons Rise, a development located in Havant, Hampshire, had an urgent need to start pre-sales from a temporary sales cabin to respond to local interest and generate further prospects before the site was ready for a full sales launch. So it was to be the first installation under the new contract but the floorplan did not fit with the newly developed brand guidelines and hence it was key that Reade Signs were able to interpret these and deliver an alternative configuration to create an inviting customer environment. Reade Signs put in place the operational plan for delivery alongside the finalisation of the design guidelines so the two elements were able to work in tandem, so not delaying the launch of any marketing suites, critical to the sales success of each Linden Homes development. Working closely with the Linden Homes’ Marketing Team, we were able to ensure the tight timescales to the first launch did not compromise their design vision in any way.Addressing the space restrictions was the first task and prioritising both the layout and the graphics that could be used. The team at Reade were able to quickly design a footprint that could be repeated in similar sized units providing the key areas for Sales Advisor working, customer greeting and a useful meeting area. The cleverly designed bespoke unit to house interior samples for customer selection was also able to be included meaning visitors could get excited about selecting their personal home interior from day one. Added to this, plenty of storage makes the interior both practical and stylish. Cabin walls present another challenge when installing graphics. To enable a big and bold approach, Reade Signs recommended an alternative material to the agreed specification for permanent installations. Clever interpretation of the guidelines meant all of the key messaging could be included despite very limited wall space. And to make life as easy as possible for the local marketing team, all aspects of Health and Safety were considered by Reade Signs meaning the layout, escape routes and all statutory signage were included as part of the package. And lastly, the co-ordination of fitting with both sales and site teams meant a smooth and easy installation with handover on time to enable a positive and well-received launch. Years of successfully working on site mean we understand the needs of Site Managers with an excellent compliance record, as well as the client needs for a successful project. The result? A fantastic example of how a development can be showcased at an early stage to the local community. The space issues do not compromise the Linden Homes brand and the overall scheme is both welcoming and professional. “We invested a lot of time thinking about our next generation of marketing suites for Linden Homes, so finding the right delivery partner was a crucial step for us. Reade Signs’ experience not just in the property developer market, but in branding and retail knowledge made them our obvious choice”. Vicky Cullen, Head of Marketing, Linden Homes Reade Signs – Applying Knowledge. Creating Visions. Delivering Value.