The wistful yearning to return to a magical moment from your youth.
In recent years, there has been a sad trend of kid-centric places disappearing from public life. From the beloved McDonald’s Playplaces of the 80s and 90s to local ice cream shops and arcades, these spaces filled with fun characters, friendly mascots, play areas, and bright colors have been replaced with more mature establishments.
Places for Kids
Mascots for Kids
This grey washing of our public spaces may result in a generation that could be devoid of fun nostalgia as they look back on the places they visited in their youth. But what if we could bring back this sense of nostalgia; bring back color, bring back fun?
The Benefits of Fun Places for Kids
Millennials’ memories of play places in their childhood will influence how they view your business today. With decor aimed at children, parents will seek to take their children to your location to recreate those magical memories. While McDonald’s attempted to shift its focus away from children to avoid criticism for selling unhealthy food to them, many other companies that can embrace their child-friendly image. Examples include community libraries, children’s ministries, family hair salons, pediatric dental clinics, and mall play areas, which can enhance their appeal to families by incorporating child-focused decor.
Fun places for kids not only create a sense of nostalgia but also provide other benefits to both children and adults. These include increased physical activity, improved social skills and confidence, and strengthened bonds between parent/caregiver and child.
Creating Kid-Centric Spaces with Theming & Bright Colors
To create these much-needed kid-centric spaces, businesses should look at introducing theming, colors, and mascot characters into their establishments.
You can turn any business into a kid-friendly space with:
Games and activities like tablets, play boards, slides, and more!
Creating Memories
Noah’s Ark Children’s Ministry Reception Area
Bayou Play Area
Kid-friendly Hair Salon
Insect Mall Play Area
Even small changes can make a big difference – something as simple as introducing bright colors or adding a character can create an instant connection with kids while still appealing to adults.
Mushroom Library Reading Area
Compare those examples to what happened to Mcdonald’s. Great for adults, but not inviting for the imagination of children.
I don’t remember kids asking to take the fun away and replace it with beige.
By creating kid-friendly environments that are inviting, businesses will be able to capture the hearts (and wallets) of parents while also giving kids their own special place to hang out and have fun.
Become a Place of Nostalgia
While it’s true that many kid-centric places have disappeared from our lives over the past few decades, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to bring them back. By introducing theming and color into our commercial spaces – big or small – we can recapture some of the fun nostalgia of childhood for the new generation while providing significant benefits for all involved.
It’s time to bring back the fun!
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With the lasting effects of the pandemic on the tourism industry, it is more important than ever to find ways to attract visitors to your town. However, competing with big cities and their many venues of entertainment can make it difficult to keep up.
But what if there was a way to draw in tourists and locals alike? What if you could create something that would make people want to seek out your town? What if you could get on the map?
There is a way, and that is by creating and promoting a roadside attraction! Have you seen the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation? If you have, then you remember Chevy Chase promising his family that they will soon see the world’s second-largest ball of twine. The movie is fiction, but roadside attractions like that are real and do in fact increase tourism.
By having a roadside attraction within your town, you are creating a focal point for your town’s marketing efforts. A roadside attraction can create buzz around your city, improve your online platform’s performance, develop your town’s economy, and solidify your town’s identity amongst the people.
4 Reasons Why You Should Have a Roadside Attraction in Your Town
1. Attractions Create Buzz and Conversations That Increase Tourism
Having a roadside attraction gives a reason for tourists to not miss your town.
With tourists already on the road and wanting to venture through the country, a roadside attraction can be another destination they’ll add to the list of places to stop. How often can one say they’ve seen a 40ft gorilla, a giant pierogi, or the “World’s Largest Wagon Wheel and Pick Axe”? These are just a few examples of large-scale landmarks that can be found across America.
Hearing about these unique landmarks can create buzz and entice tourists to stop by your town. Not to mention that you are providing your tourists with a unique conversation starter that they can share with family, friends, or even other travelers on their journey. This word of mouth can create organic traffic for travelers to come to visit your town, and once they do, you’ll be able to showcase the local businesses and culture that your town is known for.
By having a roadside attraction, you are also giving opportunity for your town’s economy to grow, more on that later.
Bonus Tip: Get Listed in Directories
There are directories, from Wikipedia to travel websites, that list must-see attractions, including those places with “The World’s Largest” sculptures that make it easy for travelers to plan road trips. Making sure your community is listed on these directories is an easy way to get attention.
2. Attractions Create an Organic Social Media Tool for Your Town
Nowadays, posting on social media is key to growing awareness for anything, whether it be businesses, people, cities, or towns. Having a unique landmark that can only be found in your area can provide a memorable photo opportunity for tourists to use and post on social media. This in turn can become an organic way for your town to market itself and grow its online presence. You can even encourage visitors to use a hashtag to help keep track of any photos posted on social media.
Think of the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building. You most likely didn’t have to google where you can find those landmarks because their symbol is so closely tied to that city. Especially with today’s social media climate, all it takes is one photo of your attraction to go viral and draw the attention of potential visitors.
If you’re really eager about how to maximize the photo potential of your roadside attraction, you can provide fun, personalized photos of your tourists when they come to visit your location – think of photos that they provide at theme parks, national parks, and gift shops.
3. Attractions Help Develop Your Town’s Economy
As mentioned earlier, having a roadside attraction can help boost your town’s economy. An influx of tourism means an influx of money into your local economy.
A landmark acts as a stepping stone for your town. Drawing people into your community helps to share the spotlight from the attraction to local businesses. Hidden gems can be found in many communities and having an attraction can help uncover them. Travelers will be spending money on food, lodging, souvenirs, and attractions while they visit your town.
Check out this great example of photo op bench characters. This pair of dating dinosaurs in downtown Drumheller, Alberta (known as Gus and his girlfriend to locals) are located at 2 separate bus stops on opposite ends of the street, prompting visitors to take a stroll through the main street and see all the other stores and restaurants along the way.
Beyond increasing the activity at local businesses, the attraction itself can create job opportunities for local residents, from management and maintenance to customer service and sales positions.
If you want to take your town’s development one step further, you can provide memorabilia based around your landmark. Think of keychains, magnets, t-shirts, hats, and more. The possibilities are endless. Your landmark will be a feature that can’t be found anywhere else, tourists will love to take a little memento back home or to give to a loved one.
The world’s largest dinosaur has been an iconic feature of Alberta since 1999.
Seeing this landmark not only in its main location but throughout your town can help build and solidify your town’s identity.
4. Attractions Solidify Your Town’s Identity and BoostsCommunity Pride
We’ve talked a lot about the marketing and economic potential that having a roadside attraction can provide, but a roadside attraction can also benefit the individual members of your community as well. This is because your landmark can become a unifying symbol that represents your town.
It’s easy for people living in small towns or rural areas to feel disconnected from the rest of the world; having a unique piece of art or landmark can give them something tangible that they can point to with pride and say “This is ours!” As word spreads about your town’s one-of-a-kind creation, more and more locals may flock to check it out as well —especially if it’s free!
The local 4H club posing with their community’s attraction.
Even pets can get in on the action.
You may be worried about how to decide on a piece for your town, a simple solution would be to provide a public survey of what your citizens want to be represented with and go with the majority. Having a brand new attraction for your town can help jumpstart excitement within the community and become a talking point for social events and gatherings.
Are You Ready to Boost Your Tourism Power with a Roadside Attraction?
Roadside attractions have been around for decades but have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to attract tourists from near and far. Investing in one could potentially bring numerous benefits to your town including increased tourism, economic development, social media growth, and community pride.
Why not give people a reason to seek you out? Give them an adventure by creating a giant sculpture or artwork as a roadside attraction!
Having unique roadside attractions and landmarks can be a simple solution to support your town’s marketing efforts, but how does one decide what to create as their main piece? After all, with the investment going into this project, you want to make sure it’s not only a unique piece that stands out but one that resonates with your community.
Luckily, there are lots of different types of attractions to pick from to help inspire your decision. From giant sculptures to highlighting natural wonders, this list can help show the benefits of each type and make you one step closer to getting your town on the map.
Let’s check out the varying types of attractions that your town may be interested in creating.
1. Giant Statues and Sculptures
Giant, larger-than-life statues can be an eye-catching and noticeable choice to attract tourists to visit your community. These sculptures can be anything from animals to people to plants and objects that are related to or can be found within your community.
Giant pines cones at the center of a town.
Creating a giant sculpture that represents your community can enhance its identity and provide a focal point for its values. Whether your town has a strong connection to an industry such as mining or forestry, local flora & fauna, cultural heritage, or historical figure, a sculpture that embodies these elements can promote local pride and draw visitors to explore your town’s unique character.
For example, imagine creating a larger-than-life sculpture of the majestic Bald Eagle, which is the national bird of the United States and can be found in many states. This iconic bird of prey symbolizes freedom, strength, and independence, making it a perfect inspiration for a landmark sculpture that embodies a town’s spirit. The landmark sculpture could be designed to be educational as well. Visitors could learn about the history and significance of the Bald Eagle, as well as the importance of preserving its habitat and the natural environment.
Large, exterior walrus sculpture.
They are a great boost for local businesses as well. For example, dinosaurs have become a beloved symbol that captures our fascination with prehistoric times, and are an obvious choice for a giant landmark owing to their larger-than-life stature. Any region that is rich in prehistoric features can leverage this popular attraction by installing a giant dinosaur landmark that is sure to captivate tourists, leading them to explore local museums, fossil shops, and dino-themed restaurants.
Having a giant version of an item you least expect can be a unique way to entice travelers to take a rest stop in your town. A simple “Have you seen the giant potato peeler?” can be an easy and simple conversation starter that can lead back to you and your community.
Overall, a giant sculpture that represents the local community can be an excellent way to amplify and grow the town’s identity while serving as a focal point for the community’s values and history. By highlighting the unique aspects of the town or region, it can also help to attract visitors who are interested in learning more about the area’s culture, heritage, and industry.
2. Natural Wonders
Naturally occurring roadside attractions can be a fascinating sight for travelers and tourists alike. These attractions are often created by natural forces over thousands or even millions of years, and can provide a glimpse into the history and geology of the surrounding area.
Some of the most popular naturally occurring roadside attractions include giant redwood trees, impressive rock formations, and stunning waterfalls. These natural wonders can provide a unique and memorable experience for visitors, and can even inspire a sense of awe and wonder.
The Grand Canyon
Perhaps you have a natural wonder close to your community and you want to emphasize its importance in a more interactive way. Having a 3D sculpture that pays homage to your natural surrounding can be a great way to provide the bigger picture in a single space. This can make for great photo ops for family and friends when they come to visit your location.
3. Historical Sites
Many roadside attractions are dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of a particular area or topic. These attractions can range from small, local museums to larger historical sites that draw visitors from across the country. Some examples of these types of attractions include historic battlefields, pioneer settlements, and museums that focus on local industries or cultural traditions.
The World’s Largest Wagon Wheel and Pick Axe is located in the Fort Assiniboine National Historic Site.
Similar to natural wonders, using giant sculptures can help emphasize the meaning behind historical sites and build on the importance of that site. Oftentimes, historical sites utilize past images to showcase the events of that era. These photos can often be small or only provide a small portion of the actual event.
Using a large-scale sculpture can help immerse your visitors to see the intensity of the many details that history may have. Perhaps your location is next to a well-known historic battle, you could use large-scale sculptures to create a 3D landscape of what that battle may have entailed. Maybe your historical site involves a prominent figure that made a difference within your community or within history, having a large-scale sculpture of that figure can help focus the importance of that historical person.
All these ideas give your visitors a unique and memorable experience that they’ll be able to share with future visitors for years to come.
4. Museums and Curiosities
Museums can be historical in nature, but can also focus on science, art, or just a day of discovery.
Hollywood Wax Museum featuring the World’s Largest Gorilla at 40ft tall.
If your business is out of the ordinary and takes its guests through a journey outside of the box of regular life, using a roadside attraction can be a great way to gauge curiosity towards your business. Museums, optical illusion exhibits, science centers, and other outside-the-box businesses can benefit from outside-the-box attractions. An upscale exterior design can entice or give visitors a hint at what your business is all about.
A great example of this is the business WonderWorks, in which its building is literally flipped on its head.
Wonderworks Museum with entertainment center focused on science exhibits.
WonderWorks is an indoor amusement park that combines both education and entertainment through its exhibits. Having a unique exterior design both turns heads and causes curiosity as to what hidden treasures that building may contain. WonderWorks also knows that its exterior generates curiosity and that they’ve gone “big” to build a story about its unique origin. By doing this, they build on the customer experience and branding for its company.
5. Amusement Parks and Activities
Many roadside attractions include rides and games, such as go-karts, mini golf, and bumper boats.
Offering a small activity like a mini-golf course is a good way to encourage travelers to take a break and relax for a bit. It can even increase the length of time that tourists stay in the town. Instead of just passing through, they may choose to spend a night to play and to explore the other attractions in the town.
Sculpted open-mouthed hippo character for outdoor mini golf course.
6. Art Installations or Murals
Art installations and murals can be a unique way to create both a sense of community and create engagement from visitors. Having a large-scale art piece along a busy roadway can quickly enhance what your town or city is all about and give a focal point for guests to see and instantly relate to. These pieces can also showcase multiple aspects of your town and flow together into one captivating piece that can educate your visitors.
Have you heard of Graffiti Alley in Toronto, Canada? This unique section within the Greater Toronto Area stretches 1000 feet and showcases large-scale graffiti pieces that have become an iconic photo opportunity for models and photographers. These sets of murals also help encapsulate the alley’s history and curiosity about how the piece came to be.
On top of this, it has created an organic focus point for tourists to visit and venture into closeby businesses. The alley can be found within the heart of the GTA and closeby to Queens Street West which has local cafes, restaurants, and stores.
Although graffiti may not be the art style that you’d prefer for your community, a large-scale art piece designed to represent your town can create opportunities to highlight your location.
What Attraction is Right for You?
Whether it’s a statue of an iconic figure, an out-of-the-ordinary exterior design, or a large-scale art piece for photo ops, having a unique roadside attraction can be to drive visitors to learn more about your community. These six different ideas will help you start the conversation and jumpstart your ideas.
Regardless of what your community decides to go with, creating an iconic landmark can become a unique staple of your community piece for years to come.
Want some more inspiration for promoting your town or business?
In the world of dental marketing, creativity can be a game-changer, and today, we’re excited to delve into a captivating case study that showcases the ingenious use of a mascot to promote a pediatric dental office.
Discover how a dentist’s decision to introduce a cheerful and memorable character transformed their practice’s image and brought about remarkable results.
Case Study: See a Successful Mascot in Action
One of our clients, Dr. Bill Martin of Martin Kids Dental and Orthodontics, has been utilizing his mascot in amazing ways! We want to show off some of the successful ways he has used his mascot characters in his office and around his community.
Drawing inspiration from the local bayou wildlife, along with the well-known football team in the area, Martin Kids Dental has three charming characters for kids to fall in love with. A turtle, alligator, and frog (Phineas the Frog is Dr. Martin’s personal favorite).
First, the IDS team altered his existing “M” logo, adding in these 3 special mascot characters.
The Martin team successfully uses their interior decor all over their website and social media. Check out these photos of patients from their Facebook feed with freshly applied braces and those who have finally had them taken off. The “Wired” and “Wireless” signs are a great touch!
Dr. Martin even created a costume version of his main gator character – Martin (or Marty) the Gator. This huggable, loveable, portable mascot gets around town.
Marty shows up in all their team group shots – he is one of the crew after all!
Marty has been touring around schools, helping teach kids about good dental hygiene.
And he gets to attend family events and expos. This friendly mascot makes Dr. Martin’s table approachable for kids. If kids go, parents will follow, and the Martin team gets their chance to do their health and sales pitch.
Dr. Martin is getting great mileage out of his mascot. He is known around town for his characters.
When I go around town and say “Hi, I’m Bill Martin, the Orthodontist at Martin Kids” the first thing they say is “Oh my gosh, that’s the alligator that comes out of the building.” We’ve since had people stopping by and taking pictures, it’s great.
Bring Your Mascot to Life with IDS
Uncertain about how to initiate the process of crafting a mascot for your workplace? Reach out to Imagination Design Studios (IDS) and our Creative Consultants will be thrilled to assist you. IDS is your key to turning your office atmosphere from ordinary to an enchanting patient experience. Our skilled design team at IDS can design a mascot for your organization by crafting logos and seamlessly integrating it into the overall theme of your physical office environment.
Our business friend Street Characters has helped make some of our designs come to life in the form of mascot costumes.
Check out these other resources on how to use a mascot to promote your office:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was created to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
HIPAA was created many years before social platforms became the omnipresent media giant it is today. As a result, there are no specific rules outlining social media use. Rather, you can apply the general rules around the protection of PHI (patient health information).
Healthcare organizations must implement a HIPAA social media policy to reduce the risk of violations. The HIPAA Privacy Rule prohibits the disclosure of PHI on social media networks without the express consent of patients.
So if you want to utilize social media in your marketing, that’s what you need to worry about – acquiring consent.
The easiest way to gain consent is by including a ‘Media Consent Form’ with your patient onboarding paperwork – either printed or as a digital file. Patients and their families are already mentally prepped to fill out paperwork when dealing with health and dental visits, so this won’t be an inconvenience to them at all.
Why worry about getting consent to post photos of your patients?
One of the best ways to show off your dental practice is by posting patient results on your website, office bulletin board, and social platforms (both photos of teeth and photos of patients having a good experience in your care) so having a media consent form is critical to marketing your practice. And it’s just good practice. Some parents are sensitive about sharing their children online, and some encourage it!
The time for a consent form is when your business wants to share photos as well, such as celebrating a cavity-free prize winner, sharing funny photos of a family posing with your photo op character, or showing off the successful results of a dental treatment plan on a young patient.
A consent form should include:
your organization’s name to show who is using the photos and videos
the name and signature of the parent or guardian
the date to show when consent was granted – a timeline of when the use of photos and videos begins
purpose of the authorization – description of how the media will be used – social media, website, promo videos
the ability of the parent to revoke consent at a future date
This signed agreement, with clear indications of how the information will be used, must remain on file.
Here is a sample of what a consent form will look like:
We have included all this information in a media consent form for children and one for adults:
This blog is not legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by using our contract template. If you have a specific problem and need legal advice, contact a licensed attorney. Consult your legal team or HIPAA Privacy Officerabout HIPAA and your social media policies.
Other tips to help you stay HIPAA compliant when using social media include:
Have a dedicated social media coordinator who is educated in HIPAA compliance. There are numerous educational programs to help your staff get HIPAA compliant. It is better to have someone who is aware of the rule surrounding HIPAA and who is able to check the consent form before posting or commenting on social. Having control over content is the first step to avoiding violations.
Consult your legal or compliance team to verify that your content does not violate HIPAA and aligns with your brand’s social media use policy. Additionally, work with them to establish a communication protocol for corresponding with patients and their families over social media.
Make sure your staff keeps PHI off their personal social media accounts. It is a good idea to train your entire staff in HIPAA compliance to make sure they do not make a mistake in their personal use of social platforms.
Review environmental photographs and videos to ensure there is no PHI in the background such as a patient’s name on an x-ray, charts, or computer screens.
Ask permission to share photos and testimonials posted on a patient’s own social media page, just to be safe.
More HIPAA resources that will help keep you informed:
Are you interested in bayou themed decor for your child-friendly business? The swampy marshlands of Louisiana and the subtropical Everglades of Florida are inspiring landscapes indeed! From crawfish to alligators and cypress trees to cattails, the bayou is mysterious and whimsical with an exciting cast of characters and scenery – so it’s no surprise it’s been one of our most popular themes over the years!
Let’s review some highlights from these amazing offices. The swamp never looked so good!
Bring the Bayou Inside
Reception Desks That Welcome Your Clients to the Bayou
Reception desks are one of our more popular items to theme – it’s your guests’ first contact with your business once they are inside the doors, so it better stand out and set the mood for their visit.
The bayou offers many different landscapes – floating along a creek, diving below the water’s surface, or partying in the tree tops.
Why not pay homage to the brass bands and musical roots of the area. Bust out yourtuba, trombone, trumpets, and bass drum. From jazz to blues to marching bands, spread some musical culture to the children visiting your space.
Drifting on the bayou being serenaded by sweet banjo music sounds like a wonderful way to spend the evening.
Historical sights like the tricorn hat and sailing ships make for a rich backdrop in this bayou themed office.
There’s plenty to see on the riverside – cattails, pelicans, and babbling brooks.
This whole office is submerged below the water. Did you know that while they are more famously found in the everglades of Florida, manatees do migrate all the way to the waterways of Louisiana? These round and friendly creatures are a great addition to any river themed office.
Twilight is a magical time on the bayou. Sunsets and fireflies create a calming atmosphere. In the desk below, the jar in the hands of the otters contains twinkling lights to mimic these twinkling bug butts.
Bayou Seating to Add Style to Your Waiting Room
Log benches big enough to fit the whole family, along with child-sized mossy stools make for some cozy seating. Our medical grade vinyl is very durable and able to stand up to the excitement of the children who will be using them.
Seating is also a great place to add a photo op for your guests to pose with…
Friendly Photo Ops Featuring Some Familiar Creatures
The wetlands of Louisiana have more adorable animals than you may have realized! And those critters make for charming photo op characters. Add in a logo or a sign for kids to hold while you pose, and you have a winning combination.
Children can sit beside a sweet mother fox and her baby while they wait for their appointment along with you. Situated in a medical clinic’s waiting room, the little fox has a broken leg. This helps children visiting for their own bumps and bruises feel more comfortable as they connect with the space.
Now, photo op characters don’t have to be sitting at all. Stand-alone characters can provide a different level of interaction as children ham it up for the camera.
When paired with a vibrant mural wall, fun characters and standout seating immerses guests further into the wetlands. The scenes can tell stories and add richness to your decor.
Silhouette murals add an atmospheric look to the marshy landscape. Fireflies glow against the cypress trees and Spanish moss in this purple landscape mural.
This darkened playroom with a floor-projected game system benefits from the moody twilight murals.
Treatment rooms and open bays are perfect places for murals. Space is limited for 3D sculptures, so 2D decor really makes the spaces pop.
Long murals really show off the expansive landscape filled with creeks and shacks.
Smaller murals can pack a lot of punch as well. A main character surrounded by a bayou landscape transforms a room.
Turn a regular door into something special. This cheeky outhouse mural is sure to get some laughs.
Murals are for more than just decor! I Spy murals include picture find games that can keep guests, young and old, occupied with a fun activity. Little hidden items are dispersed throughout the scene. A list tells guests exactly what to look for.
Window murals are a great way to bring the theming outside. The decals placed on windows are double-sided so viewers get a peek at the scene whether they are inside for a treatment or just passing by the building. They can even be used to create some privacy.
Now if you don’t have windows, don’t fret. Faux windows let the landscape look into your office with funny vignettes of animals and activities. The wood frames can match your existing decor or window molding for extra detail.
There’s Plenty of Games and Activities in the Marshlands
From play boards to tablet games to slides, the bayou has fun activities for all ages.
As we mentioned previously, I Spy games hidden in wall murals are a great way to pass the time. Who doesn’t love going through a Where’s Waldo book? This is just like that, but for your walls. You can even add in items related to your industry, such as toothbrushes, band aids, library books, or art supplies.
“I Spy With My Little Eye” picture find game graphic.
A favorite is the tree play structure with a slide. Physical activity is a great way to occupy kids while they wait.
Private playrooms in a waiting area are a great way to create a space for kids to hang out, while adults get their own space to relax. Video games and wall-mounted playboards will keep their brains engaged and free of appointment anxiety.
Hollowed out tree play fort for kids.
Rocky underwater fort for kids.
Speaking of video games, there’s so many options. Gaming tablets can be built into 3D game towers, 3D wall decor, or hung directly on the wall.
Theater spaces are another great distraction tool. Add some seating and a TV to keep young ones occupied watching the latest movie. Like this drive-in theater, or should we say paddle-in theater…
Signs and Wayfinding
Wayfinding is spatial problem-solving – the problem is helping your guest find their way around your facility. Welcome signs, bathroom signs, and directional sign will help everyone navigate your space.
Don’t Forget Your Ceilings!
Ceilings are often neglected, other than a fancy light fixture, but they are prime real estate for something magical.
In this example, alligators and waterfowl float along the waterways of the bayou? Ceiling decor is a great use of space, especially in dental offices, where patients will spend a lot of time looking up at the ceiling.
A hungry alligator after a tasty goose.
Brushing Mirrors Shaped like Charming Bayou Characters
It’s not all fun and games in the bayou – brushing mirrors help with an important task that must be learned by young patients visiting the dentist!
One of our most tongue-in-cheek creations is the hillbilly mirror frame. This gap-tooth character is sure to get some chuckles.
Alligators are a classic critter from the swampy rivers of the South. And their teeth could certainly use a brush!
External Bayou Office Decor
Landmark Characters are a Billboard for Your Location
Advertise your building in a spectacular way using big characters to draw the eye. We call these types of characters ‘Landmarks’ because they become directional landmarks for people in the towns and cities in which they are installed.
This fun design is literally exploding out of the wall with a turtle, frog, and alligator. It has become a landmark for the locals in this city.
When I go around town and you say “Hi, I’m Bill Martin, the Orthodontist at Martin Kids” the first thing they say is “Oh my gosh, that’s the alligator that comes out of the building.” We’ve since had people stopping by and taking pictures, it’s great. In fact, they’ve said that anything out in this area they will tell their friends where it is in relation to the alligator coming out of the wall.
– Dr. Bill Martin
We love an external photo op, and these grinning gators and friendly manatees are a great way to greet your patients! This 2-story statue grabs attention from the nearby road.
Exterior Murals for Your Windows
Window advertising is a classic way of drawing the eye, but these cute scenes will draw in families walking past in a whole new way. Exterior window decals transform a plain, boring window into a fantastical landscape. These double-sided murals look great on the inside and the outside. Spark curiosity about what’s inside your building.
Ready to float down the bayou? Our Creative Consultants are excited to amaze you with some options for your space!
Want to take a closer look at more bayou themed offices? Check out these two projects below:
Dental Support Organizations (DSO) and Dental Group Practices are built by hard-working professionals who have established reliable partnerships to grow their business nationwide. They own and operate anywhere from 10 to 1000 dental practices.
Resourcefulness and efficiency are at the core of these organizations’ models – providing management and marketing support so location staff can focus on doing what they do best – providing quality care for their patients. With the combined knowledge and skills of everyone involved, this creates a well-oiled, efficient business.
Is this you? If so, it’s time to ask “What can I do to ensure success?”
Read along to uncover the added benefits of running a DSO or Group Practice, plus the new opportunities for the future of your operations with a secret ingredient that has proven to increase the success of dental offices – themed office decor.
What is IDS Theming?
IDS theming is the transformation of a mundane space into a magical place.
We specialize in the conceptualization, design, and creation of playful murals, engaging 3D decor, and interactive gaming for pediatric medical environments.
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Many young patients experience high anxiety and stress when faced with dental and medical procedures. Themed healthcare offices can prevent and reduce patient anxiety, help create client satisfaction, secure returning clientele, and grow your business.
DSO locations and Group Practices reap the rewards of these benefits at a heightened level. Because they have multiple locations at once working under the same mentality of communicating dependable brand values and the promise of providing an exceptional patient experience through the deployment of consistent decor across the board. When people like what they see, their trust in your business is reinforced.
While you are noodling about your wildest theming dreams, continue reading to unveil in greater detail just how it can work for an organization.
Create Consistent Brand Recognition Amongst Your Locations
Your brand is your “thing”. To have a strong brand you need to establish that “thing” you are known for and create a consistent experience for your clients location-wide. By eliminating the mundane and clinical stereotype of what a medical environment should look like, you are creating a stand-out brand for your business. That “thing” patients and parents will know you for is being fun & welcoming plus your endeavor to go above and beyond for their patient experience.
Before you came here, you already knew what you wanted your patients to think about you – that you care about providing them with the best of the best – the best care, treatment, and experience. Theming can help you create a consistent experience across your organization’s landscape.
Dr. Joe Yale, owner of an IDS themed office says it best,
“I believe that our theme provides a visual manifestation of how committed we are to giving the best level of customer service and the best experience a child could have. It’s all about the people, the patients, and parents that we take care of.“
Take this multi-location dental and ortho office as an example. The same reception desk, murals, and welcoming whale are found at each location. These familiar features make a friendly environment for patients, no matter which location they go to.
By taking the anxiety out of appointments with whimsical distractions, you’ll get parents talking – on social media, at family gatherings, and with their friends over coffee.
From Dr. Alexandra Jensen,
“We live in an age where the big thing online is the review it’s the facebook ads it, it’s the facebook mommy’s and just hearing word of mouth. That being said, I think the theme of the office gives parents something to talk about.”
And here’s how the process went for themed multi-office owner and CEO, Jennifer Kreidler-Moss,
“IDS delivered exactly what we wanted. They took our grand ideas and turned them into cohesive themes suitable for our spaces and our budget. We loved customizing the small details and they walked us through the process every step of the way.“
Each of her 11 locations has a different child-friendly sitting corner with fun seating and a branded photo op character.
Supercharge Your Marketing Plan and Make Your Building Your Biggest Advertising Asset
Speaking of photo ops, theming is a great way to add extra flair to your marketing materials and social media feeds.
Dentist and owner, Dr. Michael Lateiner has seen it with his own eyes,
“Patients come into the office and are immediately comfortable and the parents can’t stop taking pictures. They made my office the talk of the town!!!“
Photo ops, from characters to head holes to surfing waves, are a great way to get organic advertising for your business. Sharing photo ops with happy clients increase social media engagement. It also adds the benefit of ‘social proof’, the idea that consumers will adapt their behavior according to what other people are doing, and potential clients will see your business as trustworthy.
The most successful photo op is a mascot that represents your business. The dental market is now more competitive than ever, and you need to use all resources available to stand out from the crowd. Mascots are memorable, helping your brand become more recognizable. A branded mascot can increase a company’s profit and emotional connection with customers by up to 40.9%.
One of our most successful partners has created an entire magical world surrounding their mascots. Every location has a familiar face to greet visitors.
Exterior Landmarkcharacters make a business’s exterior stand out visually to people passing by. They draw attention, stir conversation, and become a part of the community’s vernacular. “Turn right at the giant octopus” will become a common phrase heard around town.
Landmark characters completely changed the way owner Sheryl Wright saw her building,
“As a result of the theming, marketing has definitely improved. Even if patients cannot remember the name of the clinic, they know where we are and that our clinic is the fun place for kids to come play while they are waiting for their appointment.Telling patients it is the clinic with the octopus is an easy visual landmark to help them find us. This has helped get new patients through the doors.”
Themed interior decor is a game-changer for creating marketing campaigns that stand out amongst the mass of dental reminder postcards and facebook ads. Featuring photos of your interiors with all the amenities you have to offer will get you noticed amongst the noise.
For Dr. Scott Savel, owner of 3 themed IDS offices, the horizon for future success is endless,
“We found that theming has been instrumental in our success. By making the investment, it sets us apart. Especially in pediatrics, we walk into an area and we’re a category-killer in that area. We’re definitely planning on opening multiple offices and using theming for all of them.“
Ultimately, when you have successfully established brand recognition within your clientele, they know who you are, what you do, and the level of service you provide – all the things they need to know to trust your organization which will help you grow your business.
Sensitivity to Ownership Changes
When you acquire an established practice, there are going to be existing patients and families that are connected and loyal to the previous provider.
With this in mind, as the buyer, you must be mindful of these existing clients’ feelings and find ways to communicate that the change in ownership will only make the place they know and love even better.
Change Can be Good
By joining up with a DSO, dental offices become infused with the latest in staff training, more efficient billing & insurance management, and access to modern technology. But those beneficial improvements might not be obvious to the average customer.
Decor upgrades to your space can be visual cues for patients to recognize this promise to improve their experience and help build their trust in your brand and services. By signaling your willingness to go above and beyond for the comfort of your young patients in ways the previous owners did not, you can help build those new relationships and create loyal customers.
Repeatability Makes Adding Unique Decor Easy
What we do over here at IDS is create original environments for our clients. With our team, you can develop a custom package of repeatable and on-brand decor for all of your locations.
From the initial design concepts, a Group Practice or DSO corporation is making an original, customized investment in their business. This investment is one that is unique to their brand but can be flexible in its conceptualization and execution so core design elements can be re-deployed across multiple locations.
We’ll be candid, there is a cost to the theming process. However, savings on economies can be amplified by theming all offices with the same foundational essentials – a mascot, desk cladding, repeatable wall murals, and more. Once design, brand, and execution are established, there is no starting from scratch when expanding to new locations.
For example, this carnival themed DSO has the same balloon-riding monkey photo op in each location.
Once the design is complete, we can adjust for size, position, and ceiling height in each location. We have installed 6 locations already, with 3 more locations getting themed this year, and more planned for the future.
The ROI From IDS Theming
Like we said, theming is a big investment, but it is an investment in your future success. The payback is unbeatable and our clients have experienced the difference themed decor makes in their businesses.
Even the independent dentists we work with have achieved so much success after theming they are able to open a 2nd, 3rd, or even a 7th or 8th office with the profits achieved from their first themed office.
From Dr. Bill Martin,
“At first when I got into this I said to myself wow, this is a lot of money. But when I look at the benefits of it, it really is a marketing tool because you don’t have to put up a billboard when you have an office like this. I think undeniably this is the best marketing tool you can possibly use.“
Check out the video below to hear what they had to say:
What’s Next for Your Business?
As previously mentioned, resourcefulness and efficiency are at the core of these organizations’ models. What’s next is asking if your offices are currently working for you in the best way possible to amplify your marketing and business success.
Theming helps add another level of resourcefulness and efficiency to your current business model by working to magnify and engage the added benefits you hold from running a DSO. Are you ready to take the leap?
Interested in learning more? Check out these related resources on themed environments and their benefits:
Our team got together with Dr. Alexandra Jensen, a partner and dentist at Clermont Pediatric Dentistry in Florida. Dr. Jensen holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and received her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
The IDS team installed safari theming throughout the Clermont clinic back in 2014 – Dr. Jensen joined the office straight out of school, missing the foundational theming process, but was excited to find herself starting her career in a thrilling new workplace. Follow along as we ask about her experience working in this environment and uncover how IDS theming has helped her business over the years.
IDS: Why did you decide to add theming to the space?
Dr. Jensen: I was not a part of the decision to theme as I had not yet joined the practice, but I will say that it definitely played a role in terms of my decision to join the practice. I came to visit the office and opened up the front door and it was just like a theme park.
IDS: In your opinion why was a Safari theme chosen?
Dr. Jensen: We work with a pediatric population and have kiddos all the time who bring in stuffed animals – elephants, monkeys, zebras, anything you can imagine. I think coming in and seeing real-life sizes of animals that match the stuffed animals that they have is super cool for the kids.
IDS: How do you think theming has helped the practice thrive?
Dr. Jensen: I think our theming has given our practice a name. In the community, we are known for what we do because of the theme of our office. It has become our brand.
For example, we are known as Dr. Julie and Dr. Alexandra at Clermont Pediatric Dentistry, but we are also known as the “Elephant Dentist” or the “Animal Dentist”. All of that came to be from and through IDS.
I’ve been at the practice for 7 years now and any communication that I’ve had with the IDS team has been wonderful – they are informative, on time, very fast, and organized. It’s been no small feat to make sure that our office is organized and set up to the nines in regards to everything that we need to do, and they made it happen.
IDS: You mention kids sometimes bring in a plushy toy from time to time and are wowed by the real-life versions in your office. How do you think that patients may be more relaxed than in traditional pediatric offices?
Dr. Jensen: I would say the big things that stick out in our office are the animals coming out of the ceiling, the wall, or the monkey coming out of the glass. These animals help make light of any situation.
As a dentist, the dental office is not a scary place for me, but as a patient, it’s a place where at a young age or even during their teenage years, they come in and think what are you going to do to me not for me. However, I like to think that if I was their age and I walked into an office with a monkey bursting through the glass I would start to laugh and feel eased about the situation.
I feel that there is a lot of power in laughter and smiles, and when kids see these characters it brings that fear down because it puts a smile on their faces that is so big.
IDS: How would you describe the reactions of patients when they come to this place for the first time? Are there any specific instances that stick out to you?
Dr. Jensen: I would say the most memorable interactions that I’ve had have been with patients that have come in super anxious and worried about an appointment – some tears may have been involved. But they are able to walk into the office and see the theming, and it’s something that is common ground for them to take their mind off their worries and talk to the people in the office about. Something along the lines of “I saw the monkey in the glass!” or “I sat with the elephant and took a picture with him!”
It’s a matter of these patients remembering the characters that are in the office. I know in particular when we do restorative appointments, we have stuffed animals for support in the back, and some kiddos come in and can name these stuffies and our characters!
You know, I joke during consults with parents saying, “You know, it’s not Disney World but we try to make it as fun as possible.” Having theming most definitely helps with that.
IDS: Are you gaining new patients as a response to the theming?
Dr. Jensen: We live in an age where the big thing online is the review, it’s the Facebook ads, it’s the Facebook mommies, and just hearing word of mouth. That being said, I think the theme of the office gives parents something to talk about when they come to our office – what their children loved and enjoyed.
Parents can also tell their kids more than they are going to the dentist. They can tell them they are going to the place with the elephant, that they are going to watch a movie, and that they are going to have such a good time! So I think the theme itself just fosters that warm inviting environment.
IDS: Do you think there is something to be said about the return of current customers and their satisfaction level as well as gaining new customers? I say this because we live in an area adjacent to theme parks that are very historically very exciting.
Dr. Jensen: I would say we definitely live in an area where children are used to having a theme park in their area. We have Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld, and Lego Land and kids love visiting them. I feel like being able to theme the office in a similar way where they can come and see the animals, hold a stuffed animal during a restorative procedure, or sit in a chair and look at the kiddos on the wall on a safari tour gives them a trigger in their mind to say that this is fun, familiar and is different than I expected it to be.
Like I said before, we are not Disney or Universal, but we are a place that can be fun! It is a place where kids can find components in the office to find interest in, whether it be the elephant or the bamboo on the wall or the games – it is something memorable to them.
Kids have an amazing memory and a way of processing things in a way that adults don’t. When patients come into the office, they can find something fun that imprints on their little brains and it is something to remember and associate the dentist with. I’d much rather have a child associate a big elephant with the dentist, rather than something that is challenging like having a tooth extracted. So I think theming in that respect is very important. Our environment gives them an opportunity to make an association that is positive and familiar with doing something that they enjoy doing outside the dental office, like visiting a theme park.
IDS: What have you seen from the staff that is a response to the theming?
Dr. Jensen: I love working here truly – it is a very well put together office. We know every other dental office tries to stay clean and organized, but I feel like having properly placed theming in an office that is kept up to date and clean gives us that edge where every day is fun and interesting.
Every room is a bit different and in those rooms, there’s something for me to find joy in and put a smile on my face.
Like I said, we work in a dental office, and sometimes that is not considered the most fun environment because of what we are doing – we are extracting teeth, fixing teeth, and cleaning teeth. But we make it fun because we consider our staff our family and by theming the office this way it makes it feel more familiar and like home.
IDS: What is your favorite themed character or area in the office?
Dr. Jensen: I love the monkey in the glass because I feel like it sparks the imagination side of every patient. They want to know how the monkey got there and if it really broke the glass. It’s so fun to see the little wheels in their heads just turning and seeing them facing the reality of, “oh my goodness there’s a monkey there!”
IDS: How do you think the quality of the theming has stood the test of time?
Dr. Jensen: I think it is amazing. To be honest with you, it is something that from day one, until now that I haven’t seen a lot of change or wear and tear happen to. You are going to have a lot of wear on tables and chairs that patients, parents, and staff are going to sit on. But the theming itself has been amazingly resilient, and any concern that we’ve had with the theming has been corrected immediately.
And may I add, that the concerns have not been because of the failure of IDS. It has been something where a patient has hung on the elephant and we needed to fix a part. So overall, it’s been amazingly resilient in keeping its color and design and making the office beautiful.
IDS: Do you think there are any previous issues that the theming has helped solve. What are the main advantages?
Dr. Jensen: I think our theming brings the office to the next level. It gives the office the opportunity to imprint on our patients, as well as show the parents we care about the surroundings and environment that we are treating their kids in.
Walking in and seeing white walls in a pediatric office is something that is going to seem generic and hospital-like, and this can be scary for patients. Walking into a themed office gives patients the opportunity to enjoy the time in our space and feel comfortable in it.
They can sit and wait for their appointment, take in the scenery, watch a movie, hang out with the elephant, or play a game and this fills the void between them and their upcoming appointment.
IDS: How have you used the safari theme to continue your branding efforts beyond your space?
Dr. Jensen: Right now, Dr. Julie drives what we like to call the pediatric dental mobile. It is a car that IDS helped us outfit with a little horn on the roof that looks like it’s coming from a rhino squished inside.
Branding wise this car has been big in terms of the community. When you see the vehicle driving around it is always “Oh my goodness it’s Dr. Julie my dentist!” or “It’s the Elephant Dentist!” so the car is definitely something that has transitioned our theme from the office out into the community.
We can have an ad anywhere online or even on a billboard, but it’s not going to be the same as driving on the road next to the dentist or seeing the car out in the community.
We are talking about possibly doing two separate vehicles, one for her, and one for myself. We’ve been in contact with IDS and it’s going to be exciting to see where that is going to go next and spark some more discussion in the community.
IDS: What do you think are the most important benefits overall to theming a space?
Dr. Jensen: I think theming a space makes it more like home. Theming this office as a safari makes Clermont Pediatric Dentistry home for its staff members who we consider our family, and it makes it home for our patients who we also consider part of the family.
I also think it gives us a physical touch of the identity we have created in terms of communicating our goals to the community – that we provide quality dental care from the heart. And we are showing our patients this by making our space a warm and welcoming environment.
IDS: What has your experience personally been when working with IDS?
Dr. Jensen: IDS has been wonderful. Every communication that I have had in terms of emails, I get an almost immediate response which is wonderful. We live in a day and age where it is sometimes hard to get in contact with any business or individuals because we have busy schedules and I will say that every contact I have made email-wise has been phenomenal. They are organized, on time, and answers every question dotting their I’s and crossing the T’s.
IDS: Would you recommend working with IDS?
Dr. Jensen: I would recommend working with IDS to others. If for no other reason, it is just so fun to see.
Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience. Or download our inspiring look book and start imagining the possibilities in your office.
Travel back to the Land Before Time when you walk through your office doors. With dinosaur themed decor you can embark on a pre-historic adventure with a wooly mammoth, a triceratops, or maybe a brontosaurus!
Adding dinosaur themed decor to your space will add action, adventure, and mystery to your medical or dental office, childcare center, hotel play area, or any kid-oriented environment that you want to elevate for your visitor experience.
Let’s take a look back on some past Imagination Design Studios dino themed projects to get some creative juices flowing on how we can transform your everyday space into a primordial world of wonder.
Wow Your Clients With Dino-Mite Exterior Showstoppers
A head-turning exterior landscape is a sure way to wow everyone who passes by. Intrigue all ages with an extraordinary sculpture that signals you are a destination that promises an unforgettably unique experience if they walk through your doors.
Also, an exterior showstopper makes your real estate work for you. An IDS rooftop landmark is a perfect way to let your building advertise for you 24/7!
Check out this cute brushing dino! But don’t mistake cute for little, this ginormous dino spans across the length of this practice’s roof and it turns heads from miles away, stirring up curiosity all throughout the local community.
This brontosaurus and sabretooth tiger act as attention-grabbing exterior Landmarks above the carved rocky signage on the outside of this medical clinic. Kids know this is a fun place to go for a check-up.
Realistic dinosaurs are fun for all ages, like the raptor created for this orthodontic office.
Welcoming Dinosaur Reception Desk Decor
Once inside, the adventure for your young visitors can really begin. Capture your guests’ attention the moment they walk through the front door by bringing your theme to the reception desk.
As parents are occupied with the check-in process, children can plan an excavation excursion and examine these uncovered dino bones that have been carefully sculpted and textured to encourage exploration and spark imagination.
This jungle hut reception has been overrun with some pretty cool dinos! Be sure to give the curious brontosaurus hanging out on the bridge a wave on the way inside.
Even a small desk can get a WOW upgrade that will draw visitors straight to it. Big or small, this check-in desk with ancient dinosaur bones makes for a beautiful decor piece. You can even throw an archeologist into the mix…
Immerse Yourself in the Adventure with Themed Bench Seating
From your reception desk to your waiting areas, the dinosaur theming can travel with your guests in a number of great decor products. Seating is an integral part of any lobby, waiting area, or lounge.
Carved seating that mimics the rocky hoodoos of ancient landscapes sets the scene for a dinosaur adventure.
Add a character to any seating area and your bench also doubles as a perfect photo-op to snap a ‘share-worthy’ moment for parents to keep and share with others. This will help you to promote your brand and what your location has to offer.
Let’s look at even more ways you can integrate photo ops into your space…
Pose with a Prehistoric Photo Op
Stand up characters are a fun photo op for kids and their families to pose beside. They can even be moved around your space or brought along to trade shows or public events.
Photo ops are great for the exterior of your building as well. They’ll draw in people passing by and spark curiosity about your business.
These two adorable dinos are all dolled up and waiting for their date to arrive – little do they know they’re waiting for each other on opposite ends of the street. Who’s going to tell them?
Dinosaur Themed Murals to Transport Your Walls to the Past
For the spaces that aren’t big enough for you to fit a life-size sculpted t-rex, a thrilling mural designed and illustrated by our artists can leave a lasting impression.
Time-traveling dino adventure anyone?
This Dino Tours mural incorporates gaming tablets (seen on the side of the vehicle) into the illustrated design.
Dinosaur divider walls separating the children’s play area from the adult sitting area are a fun way to add color, excitement, and organization to a space.
Our clients love mural additions as they are a visual way to keep children stimulated, encourage them to get lost in their imaginations, and make their own fun.
Speaking of organization, let’s check in on a few play areas that give kids a place to play, make a mess, and have fun in a dedicated area just for them.
Jurassic Play Areas Are Fun for All Ages
Creating special places just for children within your office space is a great way to make kids feel special. A private game area made for kids will make them well extra welcomed into your practice.
Did you know dinosaurs make great friends? This colossal creature invites its little guests into an aquatic cavern – a private play area where kids can unwind and parents can rest knowing that they are safe in a child-friendly environment.
Take a closer look – inside this sea cave an engaging gaming system has been built into the wall to entertain kids of all ages.
Theater Spaces for Entrainment and Education
The whole gang will show up for a movie in your hoodoo-filled dino themed theater area.
Kids can watch their favorite movie with all their favorite dino-pals while waiting for their approaching appointment. Local children’s groups, scouts, and tours can come in for educational presentations as well.
Our charming characters get into the movie too. Popcorn and 3D glasses abound in a cozy theater made for kids!
Signs and Wayfinding to Help Guests Find Their Way To and Through Your Jurassic Park
Signs have two benefits – as eye-catching marketing on the exterior of your building as you saw before in our Landmarks section, and as helpful wayfinding to lead your guests around the inside of your building.
Let’s look at what you can do to the inside of your space. Add an eye catching sign like this in your space to ensure your practice stands out as being family-friendly and fun.
These cuties below are sure to bring a smile to your clients’ faces the second they catch a glimpse.
Ready to set out on a Jurassic journey of your own? Our Creative Consultants are excited to amaze you with some prehistoric options for your space! In the words of Dr. Henry Wu from Jurassic Park, “You didn’t ask for reality; you asked for more teeth!”
Want to take a closer look at some dinosaur themed offices? Check out these two projects below:
You know that little saying… don’t judge a book by its cover? What if I told you that is exactly what you want your customers to do.
In other words, when your guests pull up to your business you want them to be impressed with your building and have a good idea of how you operate on the inside. Follow along as we discuss how bringing a little imagination and personality to the exterior of your building can have a beneficial impact on the business that comes through your doors.
What Does the Exterior Look of Your Business Say to Guests?
In our recent blog What Does Your Reception and Lobby Say to Guests, we noted that it only takes seven seconds for a person to make a first impression. Seven seconds is just enough time for a person to decide whether they are going to turn into your parking lot or not.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
– Oscar Wilde
Make sure your guests are wowed from moment one with something that makes them take a deep breath and think, “I am in the right place.”
What Do You Want Your Visitors to Know About You?
What attracts visitors to your destination? Is it your signature dish, prehistoric fossils & minerals, a new science exhibit, or top-notch scuba tours? Similarly, why are you as a business owner excited to have guests join you in your space?
You can give visitors the answers to these questions by designing the exterior of your location to visually represent who you are, and make them feel assured they are in the right place when they arrive.
Before you embark on the journey of designing your dream exterior, start by asking yourself the following questions:
How do I want my brand to be visually represented?
What assumptions do I want people to make when they arrive at my business?
What are my target audience’s interests?
Attract Attention with Landmark Characters to Top Your Building
Turn heads from miles away and make people think “I have to go there.”
External business landmarks – a tried and true advertising technique that works for your business 24 hours a day.
Your business’s exterior is the first interaction guests have with your company. Let it be your silent salesperson and speak on your behalf for all the moments you are not around. Let it intrigue passersby. You are a one-of-a-kind business, give people the idea that what you are doing through your doors is different and exciting.
This legendary landmark makes it obvious that this location is committed to the promise of fun. A strong impression like this sticks like glue – who forgets an octopus with a snorkel practically inviting you inside for a scuba-filled adventure.
Check out these keepers of the animal kingdom. Visitors will be curious as to what other playful safari animals they may encounter as they wander through this attraction.
“There’s only one thing that can leave a footprint that size…” Feast your eyes on the world’s largest gorilla gripping the Empire State Building in its clutches.
Ready for a white water rafting adventure? This wild landmark doubles as a photo op for these kids who have hopped on for the ride!
Looking for some radical waves to surf? Give this dude some fin for riding that gnarly wave over the edge of this business rooftop.
Fans of fossils and dinosaurs will spot this friendly dino from miles away as it spans over the entirety of this building’s roof.
Yehaaaaaw! This educational facility promises a farmyard full of fun to all the guests who walk through the doors!
This is a landmark of… a landmark! The Hollywood Wax Museum displays stars of the past in the style of Mount Rushmore.
Grab attention and let the word of your unique exterior spread far and wide. Exterior theming will attract new visitors and get the community talking about you. “Turn left at the giant octopus” will become a common phrase. People won’t be able to help but come by and check you out.
Advertise with Themed Cladding for Your Building Exterior
Take it one step further than a sculpture on your roof – cover your whole building in an eye-catching display!
Theming the entire exterior of your business will have car breaks screeching and kids and adults alike screaming “stop the car!”
Turn your space from mundane to magical and hit people with the curiosity bug. They will have a hard time staying away from your space wondering what is behind your remarkable doors.
This wonderful upsidedown museum is sure to draw attention. What do you think has happened to the inside? Should we explore?
Do you dare enter the Castle of Chaos? The themed cladding on this building radiates mystery and the promise of a thrill.
The Hollywood Wax Museum is the home of the stars!
When guests pull up to MagiQuest, they know they are in for an adventure. Which magical door should they try first?
Become a Shareworthy Business With Themed Photo Ops
Whether you operate a healthcare facility, hospitality venue, or tourism destination, it’s critical that your clients leave happy and are excited to come back. And if you’ve done it just right, they will be happy to share with others the great experience they’ve had in your space.
Give your guest something to share by showcasing visually interesting moments they can easily capture and post on social media. But what could these significant opportunities be for your business? Well, what is the first thing you do when you are looking to visit a new place? Do you check prices, read reviews, or do you scan the photos? Our guess is photos first.
Picture this… the first photos of your business that come up on Google are customers posing with your one-of-a-kind photo op. They are beaming in these photos because they’ve just had a wonderful time in your space.
Check out a selection of photo ops created by the IDS team over the years. These 3D characters continue to stop visitors in their tracks to snap a memory to this day.
Hollywood Wax has a heart-stopping photo op where families can pose with King Kong himself.
Those with a sweet tooth can pretend to be the founders of a famous chocolate shop in this peek-through photo op display.
Fans of trains can hammer in the final golden railway spike on their adventure through the olden days.
Visitors to the famous dinosaur town of Drumheller, Alberta can pose with a raptor come to life!
Have a blast at the local science center! Guests can explore the stars while pretending to be an astronaut.
Sports fan? A mascot that’s always ready for a close-up is the perfect photo op outside of a stadium.
Including your logo in the shot is a must! Your guests will be advertising for you when they share their photos with others.
This anime-inspired mecha dragon gets all the kids excited for a new adventure.
Seasonal photo ops are another great way to entice visitors with fun photos. An entire Christmas display may not work for your business, but a Santa who’s always ready for a photo will draw in kids and adults for a quick shot.
This “selfie Santa” lets you put your phone in Santa’s hand for the perfect photo.
As we said, when you’ve done it just right, the content your guests capture interacting with your space and something like a photo op will easily showcase how the experience at your location made them feel – #happywecame! That’s the real power of visual content and why social approval remains the most powerful way to influence business results.
Speaking of which, check out how exterior theming can supercharge your return on investment (ROI)…
Supercharge Your ROI with Exterior Theming
Let me give you a little scenario…
There are two businesses in the same industry and each owner wants to work on boosting their ROI. Both business owners have committed to a similar budget over the next 5 years to achieve this goal.
Business A has committed to dedicating that money primarily to social media advertising initiatives. Whereas Business B has dedicated these funds solely to investing in theming of the exterior of their business – Business B’s theming included an addition of a marvelous photo op character.
Business A has undoubtedly seen an increase in business deriving directly from their marketing efforts. However, Business B’s upfront investment in theming has cut their need to spend on marketing entirely. Why? Because their customers have begun marketing for them.
People love sharing their experiences on social media. Business B’s photo-op in front of their storefront gave their guests the perfect opportunity to do so. On top of that, people cannot help but talk. Business B’s visitors continue to share the word that there is a magical photo op attraction in their community. This has people far and wide talking about and seeking out Business B’s attraction.
What theming investment has afforded for Business B is years of free marketing collateral for a one-time investment. Whereas business A will inevitably have to continue contributing to their marketing initiatives to keep seeing the results they are seeing. But because they will need to continue making significant contributions to see similar results they will have to ask… is this sustainable?
“I think undeniably this is the best marketing tool you can possibly use – you know, you don’t have to put up a billboard when you have a business like this.”
– Dr. Bill Martin, IDS theming client
Encourage your guests to look, point, and judge a book by its cover. Reel them in with the story your exterior tells. You are mysterious, you offer relaxation, or you can provide ultimate fun. A first impression lasts forever, so catch their attention and keep it.
Want some more inspiration for promoting your town or business?
