Using Your Entrance to Attract Customers

I was doing some online surfing the other day and I came across this great photo of the Artifacts retail shop by that was designed by Taiwanese interior designers Michelle Wei and Cheng Chia Hao. a http://retaildesignblog.net/tag/glass-doors/. They created a futuristic shopping gallery with nine rotating glass doors at the clothing store's entrance. I thought to myself "Self...that`s what I call myself when I'm asking tough questions, this is a really creative use of glass to give the store a WOW factor. It gets people to stop and take notice and it highlights the merchandise. By letting people look in the store, they know exactly what they're getting. " And that's where I realized that although they used out-of-the box thinking. There's no questioning who the star of the show is - the brand. But the objective of the entrance is to be inviting and get the customer to take the next step. If you let them see everything at the front entrance, they won't bother walking in the store. By using glass creatively and artistically you can have the best of both worlds.

Your Sign Tells Your Brand's Story

When companies are seeking to differentiate themselves in the market, they use several marketing tools to identify their brand including a logo, a tag line and marketing collateral. Whether you're a retailer or a service provider, one of the first things that your potential client sees is your sign. It is the most cost efficient marketing tool for a business just getting off the ground or a company that's rebranding its image. Small businesses need to immediately gain visibility and build brand recognition in the minds of consumers in an easy and rapid way: through the use of effective signage. By putting a company name and logo on an attractive sign made with weather-resistant materials, you'll break through the advertising clutter that each consumer is bombarded with, in some cases up to 5.000 marketing messages daily! At Castle Designer Glass, we know how to design a glass sign that will draw foot traffic to your location. Our talented glass designers will take the time to understand your products and services, identify your marketing needs and design a glass sign that will work in different lighting settings and with your interior and exterior design. According to survey results from the BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study at the University of Cincinnati, indoor and outdoor signage are the second and third most effective source of new product information. The study also goes on to mention that 50% of respondents drove past a business because they couldn't find it! Don't let this happen to you, let us design a sign that makes you standout from the pack!

Helping Out Our Community the Best We Can

I have been very lucky in life. Aside from having the love and support of my family, I own my glass art studio. I spend all day creating glass art in the shape of glass counters, glass backsplashes, glass signage, glass railings, glass wall art and glass furniture. Many of the artists that work at my studio have exhibited their work throughout Saskatchewan and Canada. But I would like to talk to you all about something very serious. There are many members of our communities that are mentally challenged. And as the old saying goes "God helps those who help themselves", some members of our society are dealing with too much and need some help. The great staff at the Sherbrooke Community Center in Saskatoon are those angels from heaven that help those that are less fortunate. Each day, they make a difference in the lives of the citizens of the Sherbrooke district in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They provide each resident with companionship, opportunities to give and receive care and seek to provide a diverse environment rich with spontaneity and variety. They support the individual community members and encourage them to develop their strengths and passions through meaningful and rewarding pursuits. We've gotten involved with the Sherbrooke Community Center in order to contribute as best we can, to their overall mission. Art therapy emerged in the middle of the 20th century that art to express emotions and concerns. We have donated our time as well as the glass in order for residents to create art that will help them heal. Not only do we feel good about what we're doing but we can help others feel good about themselves and that's the ultimate reward. If you would like to learn how you can help or donate, please visit the Sherbrooke Community Centre's website at http://www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca/

U of S Students are Learning on Castle Designer Glass

You never know where Castle Designer Glass will show up. The University of Saskatchewan, called us up a few months back to see if were interested in creating glass whiteboards for their classrooms. A little bit of history, the University of Saskatchewan was founded in 1907 and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It began its life as an agricultural school (hey, we are in the Prairies) but now boasts more than 200 academic programs and is home to The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) facility which develops DNA-enhanced immunization vaccines for both humans and animals. Some of its famous alumni include Diane Jones-Konihowski, the Canadian Pentathlete, the late Sandra Schmirler, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and fiction-writer Guy Vanderhaeghe. We were approached by the Facilities Team at the U of S because they wanted to beautify their learning backgrounds. White is OK but Castle Designer Glass is better! So we set about installing the first 10 glass whiteboards the project manager had requested. Our glass whiteboards come in two styles 1) back painting the glass white or 2) sandblasting the glass. We also frame it with some shiny hardware to make it standout. The advantage of our glass whiteboards is that they serve two purposes. They're highly functional and pleasing to the eye. I guess the thinking goes that the more students like their surroundings, the more they'll be motivated to learn. Or something like that. In any case, glass whiteboards are a whole new product line for Castle Designer Glass. For those who aren't aware of what we do, you can always take a look at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/products.html. We create a wide variety of glass products including backsplashes and countertops, dorr inserts, freestanding wall art etc... You can find some of our work in commercial installations like hotel lobbies, casino wall murals, restaurant feature walls, and many other functional and artistic designs. But with glass whiteboards we're breaking new ground, who thought that school could be this much fun.

Casinos keep it Fresh with Spectacular Art

Barry Thalden of Thalden, Boyd, Emery architects wrote a great piece in Casino Design last year about how casinos have to find new ways to keep it fresh. Based in Arizona, Thalden, Boyd Emery Architects has worked on over 400 hotels and more than 100 casinos over the last 37 years. He feels that to stay competitive and keep customers coming back for more, casinos have to innovate by following the old amusement park rule by adding one new ride a year. Customers have high expectations and they like everything that is new. He goes onto say that keeping customers on the casino floor should be the most important goal of casino design. And he's right in saying so. But even before a customer touches a slot machine or pulls up a chair at a poker table, they have to be in a good mood. Everything from the valet parking to the aesthetic beauty of the lobby to how their greeted by the staff plays just as an important role in their overall experience. At Castle Designer Glass we tend to believe that customers form their initial impressions by what they see at the entrance of the casino. All the successful casinos, such as the Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon use glass to create a focal point for visitors when they enter the casino. At Dakota Dunes they used glass to create a conic shape to commemorate water. Glass is one of the most flexible materials, helping us see what could be while serving functional purposes.

Why Your Kitchen should have a Glass Countertop

Most of our customers are redesigning their existing spaces. The kitchen is serves many purposes and in most cases is the main family gathering area. Homeowners are willing to invest a large portion of their budget. Before committing to a specific material for countertops, I’d like to explain the advantages of investing in a glass countertop for your kitchen work surface. One of the most surprising benefits of glass worktops for kitchens are their durability. When people here glass they think that all glass is fragile and hesitate to use them in their kitchens out of concern that they won’t last. However glass is an extremely strong and robust material that is ideal for use in the kitchen. It can easily withstand the spills, knocks and temperature changes that it will most likely endure. Parents with younger children know that, hygienic kitchen surfaces are a must, as little ones are known to eat their snacks straight off the worktops. Recent media reports have confirmed that counters can be breeding grounds for mould and bacteria, particularly wooden surfaces which allow germs to hide in them. Glass worktops are the best choice for kitchens. Because glass is non-porous; there is nowhere for bacteria to hide. All you have to do is wipe the countertop down with an anti-bacterial spray and you’ll have a hygienically clean worktop on which to tonight’s supper on. Glass is the best choice for homeowners that want clean surfaces that will last a lifetime.

Make Any Space Larger with Glass Railings

For new home and new condo owners it doesn't take long to realize that there living space might look and feel small, after they've moved their stuff in. One way that you can make that space seem larger, without knocking down some walls is by remodeling your space with a new staircase and/or railings. Stairways can become the focal point of any room. with elegant railings that give an additional accent to the space and clear up sight lines. And railings are a great opportunity to break from a traditional look and try something new. Modern design places an emphasis on clean lines and simple elements to create that open feel. By using steel railings with glass panels you can create a clean look and at the same time you can make a smaller room seem larger. One advantage of combining metal with glass is its ability to reflect light. At Castle Designer Glass, we can combine texture, paint, and frosting to create a design to match your unique application. Our glass panels come in a wide range of color options, styles and custom designs. Furthermore, they can be used with steel or thermoplastics railings, are maintenance free and meet all municpal building codes. Homeowners can copy the design elements used in railings and repeat in other areas of the home, such as balconies, decks or mezzanines.

Castle Designer Glass' Special Visitor

Two weeks ago, it was a typical spring day in Saskatoon. The birds were singing, the sun was peaking through the clouds and then the phone rang."Is this Castle Designer Glass" the voice at the other end said "are you the store that's carrying some of them beautiful glass art that we saw earlier in the day?"Yes is really the easiest word to say in the English language."We represent a famous local businessman/venture capitalist who has a strong interest in native art and would like to come and visit your store tomorrow" Once again, I know how to say yes. Tomorrow became the end of that day and W. Brett Wilson, the philanthropist,entrepreneur and one of the star's of CBC's Dragon's Den came an visited me at my store. Brett is a personable guy, easy to talk to in real life and he was very interested in a rod iron table that had a tree trunk base covered by beautiful glass that was created by one of our artist's. He had become enamored by our glass art earlier in the day when he was in town visiting his W.Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the the University of Saskatchewan. He just needed to have one of our glass tables after having seen one at a local coffee house. We had a great talk about the potential applications of our glass art and retail products. He felt that with the growing economy in Western Canada that our glass countertops and backsplashes wouldn't look out of place in high end retail stores. After he purchased the tree trunk table;we worked out the details to have it delivered to his Calgary home. It's not everyday that we have a Canadian celebrity walk into our store but it's a tradition that I'd like to keep up!

Castle Designer Glass Creates Saskatchewan Roughrider Art for Sports Fans

Happy Father's Day to Dad's all around the world. June is one of the best month's of the year. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming. People are walking around with great big smiles because of the nice weather. And one of the favourite past times of folks on the Prairies is about to kick off. CFL football is about to begin! Soon we'll be hearing the crashing helmets and witness the fine athletic displays put on by some extremely talented football players. The Saskatchewan Roughriders might play out of Regina but they are Saskatchewan's team. Saskatchewan has the best fans in the league. Rain, sleet or snow won't stop mailmen from delivering mail and it won't stop our Rider Nation from attending a Roughriders game. Castle Designer Glass creates tables shaped in the logo of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League! For the 100 years that the team has been in the league, Rider Pride has burned deep inside the team's loyal fans. And to do our part to keep Rider Pride alive and give the fans something to put their beverages on (football fans don't only drink beer!) we decided to create glass table tops in the logo of our and your favourite team - the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And why stop at tables, we can also create glass wall art for your wall in the basement. We are licensed by the team to create their replica logo, so fans know that they're getting the real thing. The next time that you want to give something special to that Rider fan in the family,remember Castle Designer Glass Saskatchewan Roughrider Glass table art!