When it comes to spending, the buyer always has the power. Buyers have the right to spend their money wherever they see fit. Every single business in existence, whether it’s large or local, wants the buyers’ money. The most common way to get that money is to have the lowest prices on the market. A smart buyer will shop at a large company because they know they are getting the best price. On the other hand, an educated buyer might shop at a local business instead. Why? Because the educated buyer understands the dangers of big box corporations.

A Product of American Small Business

Many of you know that big corporations push smaller, local businesses out of town. This means that Larry’s Tools, a local store in an urban area, will have no chance to compete if a Lowe’s shows up one day. Though sad for Larry, this is not exactly a sin. It’s capitalism. What is a sin, however, is from where most of these companies get their products and the means they are willing to stoop in order to secure their low prices.

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A Rare GREAT Political Ad

Late summer is normally a beautiful thing. There’s crisp and cool air all around, football returning to the tube, and hunting season right around the corner. It seems sometimes that late summer is perfect in almost every way, that is, until you get your first political phone call. Sadly, political advertising is something that everyone suffers through—it’s a necessary evil of democracy. Although political advertising isn’t really detestable by nature, politicians often allow themselves to descend to a level of wretched filth that truly makes it overwhelming, annoying, and unbearable . So here are my top 5 reasons to hate political advertising.

5. Dear Congressmen: No one reads your dull door hangers…Kathy so-and-so is reforming the schools? Oh joy unbounded!

4. Negative advertising. I thought elections were about who is the best candidate, not whose closet has the most skeletons.

3. Thanks for calling! Completely sincere prerecorded phone calls are as precious to me as gym socks.

2. The excess. Barack Obama spent $750 million on his 08 presidential campaign. Is that not a bit much?

1. Because so many of the ads are flat out lies – like the last ten seconds of this juicy failure

My name is Jeff Herrmann , and I approve this message

Ocean Boulevard Never Looked So Good

Some common things are easy to ignore: cigarette butts, laundry, hippies; and some common things are hard to ignore: mosquitoes, door to door salesmen, the flu. Today’s featured plaque is one our most produced signs and as you can see–its tough to ignore.

The four square corners enclose the plaques’ lettering and numbering with attractive vertical and horizontal lines. Underneath the jumbo numbers is lettering in the Craftsman font (which as you can see is very unique). This bestseller is available in all of our lustrous finishes, but I personally like the copper and silver-nickel finishes the best. When I first saw this plaque it was no wonder why it’s one of our top products–it looks very good.

Dirty Boots? Wet Shoes? Grimy Galoshes?!

A Musical Way To Keep the Floors Clean

Ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump. You listen in exasperation as someone tromps across your clean floors in their muddy, wet boots. Or maybe your children have just come in for some hot chocolate after shoveling, but their wet shoes are draining quite nicely onto your kitchen floor. Or maybe you’re holding a dinner party and the skies open up just as your guests are arriving. As you greet your guests, you cringe at the thought of cleaning all of your floors.

A Please Remove Your Shoes sign solves all of these problems while also giving your mudroom or entryway a beautiful new sign. We have more than 10 styles to choose from, including the rugged Mini Snow Capped Mountains and the Swirls Design. If you already have an address plaque from us, coordinate your signage by matching this sign with your others. For example, we have a Swirls Theme that complements Art Nouveau and Craftsman-style homes. Or maybe you’re more of a bird person and want a Mini Phrase Pelican Plaque.

Let people know that you want to keep your floors clean. But have a sense of style about it. And remember, our signs are safe for all conditions.

All our signs are made from American Materials and Labor.

Hello good people of the Internet! My name is Jeffrey Herrmann and I have been given the reins of this blog. Let me introduce myself with a little personal information. I am 23 years old and I love five things on this earth (outside of family and friends of course!)
1.    The Red Hot Chili Peppers. New album soon!
2.    The Green Bay Packers.
3.    My guitar.
4.    StarCraft 2. Did you know gamers can earn up to $86k for one tournament?
5.    French Fries…just like everyone else.

So that’s me in a nutshell: I love my music, I love my sports, and I love food. But enough about me, lets talk about the future of this blog!

I will focus primarily on the craft of sign making, and informing readers about what’s happening in the world of Atlas Signs and Plaques. Whether we’re creating innovative styles, fresh fonts, or brilliant new finishes—if it’s happening for us, then we will write about it. But we won’t limit ourselves to talking shop all day. Instead, we will also write about cultural events, history, opinions, sports, international politics (maybe), movies, etc. In short, if something is worth writing about then we’re going to write it. Except the weather…unless its really, really interesting (for once). Wish me luck everybody, this is the beginning of a fun ride!