For their new facility, they turned to Signs.com for a custom-cut vinyl wall decal for their main entrance, as well as cut vinyl lettering that they’ve used for various messaging at their studio.

Tell us about yourself:
My name is RJ Milford, and I’m the owner and founder of Peak Level Performance and The Peak Studio in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a seaside community located just south of Jacksonville.

What does your company do?
Peak Level Performance was founded as a platform for affordable fitness, no matter the person’s age or ability level. We started with our app to provide users new exciting daily workouts every week to keep them constantly challenged, whether they’re at home or at the gym. We’ve loved keeping our subscribers on their toes every week!

In 2020, we expanded with our first physical location – The Peak Studio – in Ponte Vedra. Here, we’re able to work one-on-one with our clients in our private fitness studio. Our team also travels to host fitness classes for neighborhood communities, schools, and country clubs.

Our mission is to help others live sustainable, healthy lives. We’re currently working with organizations to provide our app to their associates as an affordable fitness resource.

Where did the idea of your company come from?
Watching the health of loved ones deteriorate as they aged was an eye opener for myself and Holly Crotty, our co-owner. We wanted to create a program that was affordable, easy to do at home, and suitable for individuals of all ages. With this in mind, we founded Peak Level Performance as a mobile application providing new workouts every week to help promote an active lifestyle and healthy habits. From the mobile app, Peak grew and opened its first Peak Studio location in Ponte Vedra, Florida, to help individuals in person.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I have committed the past 10 years to developing my knowledge of the golf swing, my understanding of golf technologies, and completing certifications with the PGA, TPI, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a way to more fully comprehend how the body moves and reacts throughout the swing. I’m passionate about helping players excel at their game of golf through instruction and fitness.

No Gym Rats Here

What sets you apart from your competition?
Our coaches at The Peak Studio prioritize the comfort, health, and safety of our clients. We’re fully private and booked by appointment – we fully sanitize the space after each session, so clients can relax and enjoy working out in a clean, worry-free environment.

How do you market your business?
We utilize Google for promotions and updates. Plus, customers can follow and like us on Facebook and Instagram.

How do you “wow” your customers?
Our customers enjoy personalized service when they train with us. They won’t walk into a crowded gym and feel overwhelmed by all the “gym rats.” Instead, they work one-on-one in a private fitness studio where it’s just them and their coach.

What are one or two strategies for gaining customers that you have been successful with?
Our partnership with Golf Etc. Ponte Vedra has grown our client base at The Peak Studio specifically for our Golf Fitness Training Programs. We’ve been able to train both junior and adult clients with programs that provide the flexibility, balance, and strength to excel their golf game.

How do you compete with competitors that are bigger than you?
We focus on our “why” – what gives us our direction in life – and we give our all to our clients. We also are sure to promote the specific strengths and expertise of our coaches.

Remember the ‘Why’

What’s one of the biggest challenges you have had with your business – how did you overcome it?
One of our biggest challenges thus far was opening one week prior to the COVID-19 shutdowns. We took that time to focus on our app and to improve the service our members receive by adding new bonus workouts and streamlining the service.

If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
We wouldn’t change a thing! Things have been challenging at times, but looking back, we have been able to make a positive impact on so many lives. This is what drives us to keep pushing forward!

What is the one thing you would do over and over, and recommend that everyone else do as well?
Shortly after we started, we wrote out the reasons we do what we do. When things get challenging, we look back at that and remember our “why.” I would encourage others to write out their “why” so that they can come back to it when things seem blurry, or they feel there’s too much to handle.

Is there a particular book that you would recommend our community read? Why?
The Code. the Evaluation. the Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human Being, by Jocko Willink. He writes about being purposeful with your life, making a plan for success, and staying on your path. These are all things we try to implement into fitness programs. We try to be purposeful and understand our client’s reason for wanting to change. We create a progressive fitness program for success. Finally, we work to help keep our client on their path and grow them into the person they want to be.

Just the Beginning

Can you speak to your growth to this point? Why you think it will continue?
Seeing our clients come train, progress through difficult workouts, truly put their bodies to a challenge, and leave with big smiles on their faces – this all lets us know that this is just the beginning for Peak Level Performance at The Peak Studio. We love our journey thus far and we’re very excited to see what the future holds!

Where can you be found on the internet?

On the internet at www.peaklevelperformance.com; on Facebook at beginyourclimb; on Instagram at www.instagram.com/beginyourclimb/.

Small Business Success Story: Peak Level Performance

Factors to Consider

Location

Where is the vinyl lettering applied? Glass, painted wall surface, metal, and plastic surfaces are common placement sites. Your location will affect how you remove your lettering. If you’ve got vinyl on a glass surface, you won’t have to worry as much about denting, scratching, or marring the glass. However, if you’re removing your vinyl lettering from an interior wall, make sure that if you need to use an adhesive remover it’s safe for your surface. If the vinyl lettering is on a painted wall, be sure to move slowly and follow the steps below to ensure minimal damage.

Elements

Along with location comes weather elements. For example, if you are trying to remove vinyl lettering that has been on the outside of a glass door for a long period of time, the vinyl might have become brittle and could be a bit more difficult to remove. This is where a heat gun and adhesive remover can come in handy. For interior surfaces that don’t see much sun, removal can be easier and require less equipment.

Age

If your lettering has been there for a while, it might break into pieces when you remove it. This might take you some more time and effort, while lettering that hasn’t been there for long can sometimes be removed quickly and easily in one piece with little to no residue left behind. 

Now that you’ve assessed your vinyl lettering, get your supplies ready.

What you’ll need:

• Plastic chisel or credit card
• Warm, soapy water
• Heat gun or blow dryer
• Adhesive solvent

Step 1: Get under an edge

This is where your credit card or plastic chisel comes in. Use your card or chisel to get underneath the vinyl lettering so you’ve got a corner or edge to hold on to. Be careful to keep your card at an angle, as you can potentially dent or damage softer surfaces like painted drywall. You’ll want to take extra caution with sensitive surfaces. Consider how easy it is to dent the wall, even with your fingernail. For older painted surfaces, you can even peel up the paint, so assess first before you potentially ruin the wall during removal. 

Step 2: Slow peel

Once you’ve got enough of the vinyl peeled up with your card, grab it with your fingers or some tweezers. Peel back the vinyl with slow, even pressure. If removing from a softer surface, such as painted drywall, you may want to apply pressure to the wall around the vinyl while removing to offer additional support. This can help prevent the paint from peeling. Depending on the condition of the vinyl, you could have some tearing, and if so, try the next step.

Step 3: Heat (If necessary)

It’s not always necessary, but applying just a little heat can make the process much quicker and easier. Using a heat gun or a hairdryer, heat your vinyl lettering enough to make it warm and somewhat malleable. This will loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove the vinyl. 

Step 4: Remove any leftover residue

There are many different kinds of surfaces and adhesives used in vinyl lettering, and this will affect whether or not you have residue leftover after you’ve removed all the vinyl. Depending on the type of adhesive, you can use friction, warm soapy water, or a stronger solvent. We recommend starting with friction. Sometimes the residue will come off by simply rubbing it with your finger. If that doesn’t work, move on to soapy water or a stronger substance.

Following these steps will make removing vinyl lettering a breeze. Be sure to take care, and don’t rush the process. A slow and even pull will remove much better than a strong fast pull. Make sure your surface is clean and dry before applying any other vinyl lettering. You can find more information about application here.

How to Remove Vinyl Lettering

Regardless of your decal, there are a couple of general rules to follow:

• For best results, Installation should be in temperatures above 50°F(10°C) and below 90°F(32°C)
• You should always clean the application surface before applying the decal—remove all dirt, dust, grease, etc.
• When applying, begin in one corner/side and work your way out from there. Don’t place the decal all at once as this can lead to large air bubbles
• Use a squeegee to get rid of small/minor air bubbles—it is normal to have small air bubbles following installation, most of them will work their way out after 24 hours.
• Place the (removed) backing as a liner between the squeegee and the decal to prevent scratch marks from the squeegee.
• You can use a dry erase marker (on applicable surfaces) or masking tape to ensure better positioning and more accuracy when applying your decal.

Generally speaking, there are two different install methods: wet and dry. It is important to determine whether your decal is wet or dry install, as the installation processes are very different. Check out this table to see whether your signs.com decal is a dry or wet install:

Dry Install

First and foremost, clean the surface where the decal will be applied. Be sure to remove any grime, dirt, grease, dust, or anything that will prevent the decal from fully sticking. Depending on the surface, you may want to use a damp washcloth, glass cleaner, or other common household materials to clean the surface. Make sure the surface is completely dry before beginning the application process.

Remove the backing. When removing the backing, it is better to remove part of it and begin applying the decal to the surface as opposed to removing the backing all at once, especially for larger decals. This will make it easier to manage the decal and make sure that it is applied smoothly. **For vinyl lettering, it is important to note that you will first position and then remove the backing.

Position your decal how you want it. Use a level if necessary. Tip: Apply a strip of masking tape to the top of your decal and use that to properly position the decal and hold it in place. You can create a ‘hinge’ with the masking tape allowing you to lift the decal prior to removing the backing.

Apply pressure. Start in one spot (usually a corner or top) and begin applying pressure using your hand or a squeegee, gradually working your way across the entire decal. Go slow, making sure to remove any excess air bubbles.

Finishing touches. Once you’ve reached this point, use a squeegee to remove any minor air bubbles and remove all backing. You can now use the backing as a protective barrier between to protect your decal from scratches while using a squeegee. This step may include cutting off extra materials (especially for perforated decals). If you used masking tape to position your decal, you can remove that here as well.

Wet Install

First and foremost, clean the surface where the decal will be applied. Be sure to remove any grime, dirt, grease, dust, or anything that will prevent the decal from fully sticking. Depending on the surface, you may want to use a damp washcloth, glass cleaner, or other common household materials to clean the surface. Dry the application surface before moving onto the next step.

Create application solution by adding 3 drops of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. Mix it together and put in a spray bottle.

Remove the backing. Unlike dry decals, you can remove all of the backing at once.

Spray surface and back of the decal with the application solution. Be sure to generously apply the application solution (do not submerge or soak the decal as too much liquid can ruin the decal). This will make it easier to move the decal around to the desired position on the application surface.

Position your decal how you want it. Use a level if necessary. Tip: Apply a strip of masking tape to the top of your decal and use that to properly position the decal and hold it in place. You can create a ‘hinge’ with the masking tape allowing you to lift the decal prior to removing the backing.

Apply pressure. Start in the middle of your decal and begin applying pressure using your hand or a squeegee, gradually working your way across the entire decal. Go slow, making sure to remove all of the application solution between the decal and the surface. As the solution is removed, the decal will begin to stick. For best results, we recommend that you use a squeegee.

Finishing touches. Once you’ve reached this point, use a squeegee to remove any minor air bubbles and/or application solution—use a paper towel to completely dry the decal/surface.

It is important to note that these are general installation instructions and are not perfect for every product. We recommend checking the installation instructions for your specific product before installing.

For a more visual set of instructions, check out the videos below:

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How to Apply Decals

Types of Decals

First, let’s talk about the different types of decals. There are various types of decals: window decals, car/vehicle decals, vinyl lettering, and permanent decals just to name a few. Window decals and vinyl lettering are often removed by just peeling away from the surface and washing the residue with a damp and soapy cloth. Vehicle decals and permanent decals are often more difficult to remove and require more work.

As mentioned above, some decals can’t be removed without leaving permanent damage. An example of this is a permanent decal that has been applied to a fragile surface such as a painted wall. A permanent decal is meant to be permanent and should only be applied on surfaces where it is meant to stay. Permanent decals will remove paint, cement, wallpaper, and just about whatever else they’re attached to.

Surface

Second is the surface to which the decal is applied. Decals are the easiest to remove from windows and other hard and smooth surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastic. Decals can often be easily removed from cars and other vehicles without damaging the paint. Vinyl lettering, which often has a low adhesive compared to other decals, is the easiest to remove regardless of surface. As a result, they are often applied to more delicate surfaces such as wallpaper and painted surfaces.

Time

Third is the amount of time the decal has been applied on the surface. It goes without saying that the longer a decal is applied to a surface, the harder it is to remove. Decals that were recently applied can often be peeled away. Whereas decals that have been applied for over a year can require more work. When a decal is left for a long period of time on a surface the adhesive will cure and harden making a firm bond between the paper or vinyl of the decal and the surface.

With the exception of permanent decals, the following steps can be used to remove just about any decal:

1. Peel the decal

   Before anything else, try peeling away the decal with your fingers and/or a plastic credit card. A credit card can be used by wedging it between the decal and the surface and continuing to slide it between the two. Slight, consistent pressure with a back and forth motion will often prove effective. Avoid using a razor or sharp edge as it can damage the surface. Oftentimes decals can simply be peeled away without tearing, making your job much easier. If this is the case, skip to step 3

2. Heat up the decal

   If the decal constantly tears or is too stuck to remove with your fingers and/or keeps tearing, use a blow dryer to heat up the decal. The heat from the blow dryer will help loosen the adhesive making it less sticky. If you don’t have a blow dryer, you may use hot water (Assuming the surface won’t be damaged with water). Refrain from using a heat gun as it can damage the paint or surface. Once heated, the decal may be more easily removed.

3. Remove the residue

   Once the decal is removed, there will probably be some residue left from the adhesive. Some residue can be removed with a damp, soapy cloth and others may require a removing agent such as rubbing alcohol or Goo Gone. Simply dampen a cloth with the removing agent and begin by gently rubbing away at the residue, increasing pressure as needed.

4. Wash the surface

   The fourth and final step is to clean the surface with a damp cloth and dry it, removing any excess residue or dirt.

Following these steps should allow you to remove just about any decal. When buying your decals and installing them, it is important to take into consideration the three factors we talked about above. If you plan on removing your sticker in the near future, avoid decals that are more permanent in nature, and/or apply them to surfaces where they will be easier to remove. You might also consider non-adhesive decals such as window clings, which can be removed and reused without any residue. Looking to buy a decal, but not sure which one? Check out this blog post to find out which decal is right for you.

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How to Remove a Decal

Clear Window Decals
Clear window decals are signs with the design printed directly onto a sheet of clear material called Window Deco. They are printed as one piece of material, meaning that during installation the sign will be adhered to the window as one piece. Since the design is printed on the clear material, each individual letter or image does not adhere to the window separately.

If you are unsure what parts of the decal will be printed clear and what parts will be printed in color, take a look at your design in our design tool. Clear is indicated by the gray and white checkered area on our site. If you want any part of your sign to be clear, that background must be visible on your proof. To get that checkered area, simply go to the color panel and select “Clear” while you have your whole sign (or the object you want clear) selected. If you have uploaded a JPG file to the site with a white background, we will print the white of that background. If you want that to be clear instead, please upload a PNG with transparency. If you need help, please fill out our free design request form.

Because of the fact that there is still clear material on the sign, the sign is known as “optically clear”, meaning the the clear material isn’t visible unless you’re up close to the sign.

Clear window decals can be used both on the inside of the window (readable from the outside) or on the outside of the window.  The type of application of the window decal depends on where the adhesive will be. For using the decal on the inside of the window, be sure the option for “Inside Glass” is selected. This will ensure that the adhesive is on the front of the decal, making it installable on the inside of the window, readable from the outside.

With proper placement and care our clear window decals will last for three or more years in an interior application. For an exterior application, depending on the amount of exposure to the elements and other considerations the lifespan is one or more years.

Vinyl Lettering

While very similar in appearance, vinyl lettering has a much different production process than clear window decals. Vinyl lettering is a special adhesive vinyl that is cut directly from a piece of colored material. Unlike clear window decals which are printed to the exact color you need, the material for vinyl lettering only is available in certain colors. Because of this, we are only able to cut vinyl lettering in the fonts and art provided on our website. At this time we cannot cut logos, different fonts, or special designs from the vinyl lettering. For signs with logos or complicated design elements, please order a clear window decal.

Because these letters are not printed, they are able to be adhered individually to the window without the clear background that comes with the clear window decals. All of our vinyl lettering comes pre-spaced with a masking transfer tape over the top that allows for easy installation. Simply install the sign as one piece, then remove the tape. Your sign will look exactly as you see it pictured on our design tool. In other words, you will not need to place or adhere each individual letter to your preferred surface!

In using clear window decals, the signs are printed and therefore can be printed with any color. When using vinyl lettering, each different color has to be individually cut out using complicated machinery. Because of this, having more than one color of lettering in your design does increase the cost of the sign slightly, a problem that does not happen when ordering a clear window decal.

In addition, pricing for the vinyl lettering depends on the size and complexity of the lettering used. Pricing for clear window decals only depends on the size of the material and quantity ordered.

Just like clear window decals, the vinyl lettering can be placed on the inside or the outside of a door or window. For using the decal on the inside of the window, be sure the option for “Inside Glass” is selected. This will ensure that the adhesive is on the front of the lettering, making it installable on the inside of the window, readable from the outside.

Our vinyl letters will last 8-10 years with proper care and placement. This will of course vary some with the placement (inside lettering vs. outside or vehicle lettering), climate, etc.

The Choice is Yours

Clear window decals or vinyl cut lettering, what works best for your needs? If you’re still window shopping which one to choose, here’s a quick summary of each product and a video that outlines what is covered in this post:

Clear Window Decals

• Great for logos and images
• Printed on a single sheet of material
• Customizable/upload your own design
• 3+ year lifespan

Cut Vinyl Lettering

• Great for lettering and numbers
• Not printed but cut from colored material
• No clear background/cut to shape
• Currently unable to do logos
• Easy to swap out letters/numbers
• 8-10 year lifespan

Of course, we want to ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for! If you have any questions regarding vinyl lettering or clear window decals, give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to help in any way that we can. We also offer free design services to get your sign looking as professional as possible.

Signage 101 – Vinyl Lettering vs Clear Window Decals