On the signage side of things, Steven has installed a window decal from Signs.com to ensure customers and passersby are quickly aware of the brewery’s standard operating hours.

Tell us about yourself
I’m Steven Pribek, and I am the owner and brewer for Urban Harvest Brewing Company (UHBC). I started as a homebrewer for a number of years, developing a collection of recipes that were brewed over and over. With a passion for the brewing process, I began to explore the dream of one day opening a brewery. After a few years of research, writing a business plan, and a longer-than-expected search for our current home, I opened UHBC in the great city of Milwaukee in April 2016.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I raced mountain bikes for about 10 years.

What does your company do?
Urban Harvest Brewing Company is a nanobrewery with a taproom located in the city’s most historic and diverse neighborhood. All of our beers are brewed onsite with our two-barrel system. We offer 11 year-round beers and we mix in seasonals and limited-release taps throughout the year. You can only purchase our products in-house because the demand and small capacity of our system limits us from distribution at this point.

Where did the idea of your company come from?
On a visit to Golden City Brewery in Colorado during a mountain biking trip. I absolutely loved the idea of a small, local, neighborhood brewery. As I mentioned earlier, I had been home-brewing for several years prior, and that’s where I first said, “I want to open a brewery!”

A Little Bit of Something for Everybody

What sets you apart from your competition?
Not being as large as some of the other local breweries, I feel we are able to provide a more personal experience for people who visit our taproom. We try to take the time and get to know our customers – from members of our “mug club” to first-timers and out-of-town visitors. On the beer side, we focus on drinkability and crisp, clean “go-to” brews. Of our 11 year-round beers we offer a wide selection: four IPAs, some malt-forward selections, a few on the lighter, easy drinking side, and some more traditional styles. There’s a little bit of something for everybody. In addition, our rotational/seasonal beers are very popular, and we’d definitely add them to our year-round selections if we had more tap space.

How do you market your business?
A lot of what we do is by word of mouth, and I’d like to think that the beers sell themselves. Facebook is pretty much a go-to for us when it comes to sharing information about events, beer releases, merch sales, etc. We have a great website, but we’re limited in the things that we can change on it. Facebook allows us to share things on the fly and it’s obviously used by a lot of people. When time allows, and it makes sense, I will post on Facebook and Twitter. I wish I had a person to just take care of our social media, but small business equals small staff, so my hours to focus on social media are limited.

How do you “wow” your customers?
It starts with our beautiful taproom that features Cream City brick – a light, yellow-colored brick synonymous with Milwaukee and found in many of its historical buildings. Once you step through the door, you find an inviting space that you can relax in with family and friends. But the biggest part of our “wow” factor comes from the amazing staff I’m so lucky to have. The genuine effort that they provide to our customers is priceless for UHBC. Not only are they developing relationships with returning customers, but they also serve as short-term ambassadors to the city while sharing info about other breweries and must-see locales for out-of-towners.

What are one or two strategies for gaining customers that you have been successful with?
Be who you are. Be genuine and passionate about what you do. Keep a clean facility and try to make your customers as comfortable as possible.

How do you compete with competitors that are bigger than you?
We don’t look at it as competition. Much of our industry is based around the fact that people like variety. We see a good percentage of customers who are visiting multiple breweries either through the course of a day or across several days. Each brewery has their own unique way of how they operate and the feel of their taprooms or facilities. As I noted earlier, we try to offer a diverse menu of beers for people to choose from, but also keep some new, exciting options rotating in throughout the year.

Battling COVID-19, Focusing on the Future

What is one of the biggest challenges you have had with your business – how did you overcome it?
The size of our brewing system limits our production capabilities. We’re in the process of searching for an off-site production facility that we can put a larger system in to allow for distribution. 

And, of course, COVID-19 has presented challenges. The first thing we did in that regard was order two can seamers, allowing us to offer our brews in 32-oz. and 16-oz. “crowlers” – aluminum-can versions of our usual growlers. With our taproom shut down and being limited to curbside pickup, we recognized that there would be a limit to the number of glass growlers people would be willing to collect. And even though it limited our sales options, we chose to not take growlers back for refill as the safest way to operate.

When weather allowed, we opened up our sidewalk patio – with social distancing and table-occupancy maximums in place. As we look to colder temps and re-opening our taproom, we’re purchasing air-purification units and two ionization units to be used in conjunction with our existing furnaces. As we did with our outdoor space, we’ll space tables to reduce our capacity, there will be no service at the bar, and ordering will be done from each table using bar codes. There’s more, of course, but those are just a few of the steps we’ve taken to keep our business going while battling COVID.

If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing. There are some aspects of operations that are difficult and less than efficient, but I like to focus on the future. Improve when and where you can, and things will work out.

What is the one thing you would do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Take the time to step back, take a breath, enjoy and appreciate the good things in life, and realize how lucky you are.

Is there a book that you recommend our community should read?
Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide: It features writeups for 200 Wisconsin breweries, providing information and fun facts for each location, including “stumbling distance” and additional suggestions for things to do and places to visit near each brewery. Also, most breweries have an offer or discount to redeem when you have the book signed. 

Smart Growth

Can you speak to your growth to this point and why you think it will continue?
We’ve been pretty conservative financially up to this point, which puts in a good position for smart growth. UHBC will grow in steps that will be made as we assess where we are – and where we look to expand.

Where can you be found on the internet?
On our UHBC website: www.urbanharvestbrewing.com/ and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanharvestbrewingco. Also, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UrbanHarvestBC

Small Business Success Story: Urban Harvest Brewing Company

To add to its customer experience, Darden’s Delights has invested in an array of signage products, including: a vinyl banner; window clings; window decals; an aluminum sign; and 1,000 stickers.

Tell us about yourself:
I’m David Glass, the COO of Darden’s Delights, an Atlanta-based pie company. Born north of the Mason-Dixon line, I grew up in Atlanta, and attended the University of Georgia where I studied finance. I handle a majority of the “behind the scenes” duties here: logistics, operations, PR, etc. I’ve been married for almost 20 years to my wife Betsy, who is CEO of our company – as well as CPO, chief pie officer. And we have two daughters, Darden (15 years old) and Anna (13).

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
After college, I spent seven years in professional baseball as an umpire in the minor leagues, traveling all over the country.

What does your company do?
Darden’s Delights manufactures and distributes various sized pies in the Southeast, and we ship all over the country. We have sweet as well as savory pies, with most of them made from family recipes. Our company tagline is “Pies with Purpose” because we believe that entrepreneurship is the best way to create opportunity, prosperity, and community membership for the disability community.

Where did the idea of your company come from?
It all started during the 2009 Spring Fling at the Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool. We volunteered to bake some pies for the event. Although we were prepared with plenty of delicious fudge pies to go around, we weren’t prepared for the fantastic feedback we got on the pies themselves! We sold out of pies that day, and still had people asking for more. So, we decided to give them exactly what they wanted. Two years later – after getting the recipe just right – we launched Darden’s Delights!

Darden’s Delights is named for our daughter, Darden, who was born with Down syndrome, and the Darden family (Betsy’s mother’s family name). In everything we do, we believe in challenging conventional thought by building a thriving business to enhance opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. We give back a “slice” of our revenue to other organizations and ideas that support our purpose. 

Providing a Unique Pie Experience

What sets you apart from your competition?
Belief in the community and their desire to support a for-profit business model for those with developmental disabilities. Another thing that sets us apart is that a majority of our pies are made from family recipes. We try to be unique with pricing, flavors, variety, and our pie names – Dangerously Delicious Fudge Pie, Get in my Belly Gooey Pie, Perfectly Pumpkinlicious Pie, and others. We started with one flavor and now have approximately 25 pies in different sizes. We focus on making quality products, all handmade.

How do you market your business?
Word of mouth, social media, pop-up markets, and more.

How do you “wow” your customers?
Our product is high quality, and our cost is reasonable, relative to other direct and indirect competitors. Packaging is key – each of our pies is wrapped as an attractive gift with ribbon and an enclosure of what Darden’s Delights is all about in every box. So customers have a very unique experience when buying, gifting, and eating their pies. We do a lot of gift and seasonal shipping and for corporate orders – for clients, sales reps, and others.

What are one or two strategies for gaining customers that you have been successful with?
Email marketing has been successful for us, but we’ve also garnered customers by speaking to groups. A few years ago, I was asked to speak to a Sunday school class on Darden’s Delights. I shared some helpful perspectives from challenging events and the lessons learned, spanning many years – from umpiring to disabilities and how these experiences eventually led to Darden’s Delights. My main focus was on community, opportunity, and approaching adversity as an advantage. This part of the business has grown, and there have been more requests to speak to other groups and audiences. Sharing our message typically leads to entertaining and hopefully helping people, plus more business.

How do you compete with competitors that are bigger than you?
We try to be as unique as possible, and provide a value-added experience. The experience focuses on a shared belief in the community and a desire to support a for-profit business model for those with developmental disabilities. The Darden’s Delights brand is distinctive – from our logo and purpose, to our packaging and our pies. I think the customer experience provides more of a connection to people. We’re a family-run local business and we enjoy interacting with our customers.

Being Patient with Solutions

What is one of the biggest challenges you have had with your business? How did you overcome it?
Crawling up the learning curve in an industry we knew nothing about was challenging – but we figured it all out by being consistent day after day. Another factor in our success was by being fiscally conservative without taking on debt.

If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Be more defined with the end in mind. We started with an idea and $50, and didn’t really think about what Darden’s Delights would look like in 10 or 20 years. We currently have a growing business that we would like to scale – but it’s difficult to balance increased manufacturing with more sales/branding. Early on, we should have made an effort to focus on one more than the other. This feels like a decision that’s on the horizon for us.

What is the one thing you would do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Stick with it – don’t try to get around a problem or obstacle. Be patient with solutions.

Is there one book that you might recommend our community should read?
Start with Why, by Simon Sinek. When you find the real reason or belief in your efforts behind a business, it feels a lot less like work. You tend to attract people and customers that believe in what you are doing.

Year-Round Growth

Can you speak to your growth to this point – and why you think it will continue?
It has been almost 10 years since we started. We used to really focus on the last quarter of the year. Now, though, growth is year-round and has good momentum. Every year we grow, and we’ve gained many loyal and repeat customers.

Where can you be found on the internet?

Via our website, at www.dardensdelights.com.

Also, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter.

Small Business Success Story: Darden’s Delights

If you’re asking what’s the difference between decals and stickers, you’re probably looking to buy one. The trick is figuring out which one is right for you. Decals and stickers are very similar. Oftentimes, they are used interchangeably. Decals, stickers, and labels are all comprised of two layers: a paper backing and an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is placed on the paper backing (usually some form of wax paper or something equivalent) and the design is printed on the front of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer can be made of a number of materials including vinyl, paper, and aluminum.

When it comes to buying decals, stickers, or something else like labels, there are a number of things to consider: intended use, size/quantity, application surface/location, and lifespan. Check out the table at the bottom of this post for a comprehensive guide to figure out which sticker/decal is right for you.

Intended Use

Decals, labels, and stickers share many of the same qualities, but the key differences lie in their intended use. Typically stickers are used for logos and illustrations. Labels are used for more informative purposes such as product packaging. And decals are used for decoration or advertising purposes on floors, windows, walls, vehicles, etc..

Size/Quantity

Stickers and labels are usually smaller in nature and applied to smaller products such as laptops, water bottles, and other product packaging. Decals, on the other hand, are usually larger and applied to things such as walls, windows, floors, and vehicles.

Because of their size, decals are usually ordered in smaller quantities. A business might order one wall decal for their wall and/or one window decal for their window. Stickers are ordered in quantities of one to many. Businesses may want to buy stickers with their company’s logo to hand out to employees or customers. Because of their intended use, labels are sold in rolls and come in large quantities. Check out our Roll Labels for more information.

Application Surface/Location

As mentioned above, decals are great for walls, windows, and floors. With that said, there are a number of different types of decals. A decal that goes on the floor is different than a decal that would go on a wall and both of those are different than a decal that would go on a window. If you’re looking for a decal/sticker that can be used outdoors and is more permanent, check out our permanent decals.

Stickers are typically used for small format advertising. They are typically applied to smooth surfaces and can be easily removed. If you’re looking for something that’s easy to install, stickers are perfect. People like to decorate their laptops, notebooks, and water bottles in stickers.

Labels are primarily used on product packaging: jars, cans, bags, bottles, etc. They come in rolls making them quick and easy to install on numerous items.

Lifespan

Another important factor to consider is lifespan. Decals last the longest, followed by stickers, and then labels. If you are looking for something that will last over a year, you will want to go with some type of decal. If you’re looking for something that is small and quick and easy to install, you’ll want to go with a sticker or label.

Decals, Stickers, and Labels

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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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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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