Portable restrooms often attract attention, especially at special events. Through the years, many PROs have capitalized on this fact and added creative touches to some of their units to attract attention at an event. From painted units to affixing posters, balloons and holiday lights to the equipment, these creative ideas make your company more a part of the event and increase name recognition in your market. We will address this topic in the first question.
The second question, similar to the first, deals with publicizing your company name and contact information on all your equipment. All too often PROs merely place their company logo on the door and potential customers can only get this essential information by looking directly at the door from a short distance away. Larger wall decals on the three walls increase visibility and name recognition. We will also discuss affixing your company logo and contact information on all your rental equipment.
Question: We have seen photos of your company’s painted units on your website and in various articles throughout the years. Could you explain how to go about doing this? What other ideas for decorating units do you have from your years in the business?
Answer: We first heard about painted units from fellow operators at a Portable Sanitation Association International convention many years ago. The idea was to provide unique units that would allow customers to further promote a festive atmosphere at their special events. At the same time, our company would be afforded name recognition in the community.
We chose units with flat sides and minimal indentations, providing an ideal surface for painting. Upon recommendation from a friend, we approached a local high school art teacher who was enthralled with the idea. Her classes produced the designs for several units and presented them to us for approval. Each class then worked on its own unique unit over time. We ended up with a dozen painted units. At the teacher’s suggestion, a local body shop sealed each unit with a clear protectant to preserve these portable restroom works of art.
We then created a brochure and included pictures on our website. The arts and crafts shows were by far the most frequent customers, but chamber of commerce and corporate events were soon requesting these units as well. Other artists and art teachers then inquired about creating units. We agreed to let them participate in this program and began a royalty program so that they could be active participants in marketing these units. Today, some 12-15 years later, these units are still popular and profitable.
Care needs to be taken with these special units. The painted units were stored inside our warehouse for protection from the weather. Special care must be taken when the units are being strapped down as the buckles cannot be thrown over the units as is normally the case. The straps must be gently placed over the units to avoid chipping the paint. Every few years, the painted units are touched up by an artist and resealed.
If the demand for units is at a premium in your company and you cannot designate “permanent” painted units, consider “temporary” painted units. We have seen PROs who will use paper sheets to cover the walls of a unit with a separate sheet covering the door and have paintings, pictures, advertisements, or decorations attached. At the end of the event, remove the paper and your unit is ready for the next rental.
Other ideas include wrapping the units in holiday lights, attaching balloons to the roofs of units, and affixing small decorations on the outside walls. Be creative when given the chance as it will set your company apart from your competition.
One note, and this leads to the second question for this month, is to always display your logo and contact information on your equipment. Our painted units had our large company wall decal with phone number and website prominently displayed on the inside back wall above the tank to greet the users as they entered.
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Question: We have been told we should consider adding wall decals to the outside of our units. Others have suggested adding decals to our sinks and our two restroom trailers. What are your thoughts and suggestions?
Answer: Years of experience and interaction with fellow PROs have convinced us that units can be effective billboards to advertise a company.
Door decals do not allow for the general public to identify your units as they pass them on job sites, view them from a distance at special events or see many units on trailers driving down the road. Name recognition is vital in any business.
In addition to company name, phone number and website, many PROs also add QR codes to their decals allowing customers to use their phones to scan and easily access information about your company.
Do not neglect your other rental equipment in terms of decals and advertising your company. Door decals fit quite well on most hand-wash stations and hand sanitizing stands. Holding tanks can accommodate either the larger wall decals or door decals.
Restroom trailers present an interesting dilemma in terms of decal usage. Many large upscale and corporate events do not want massive advertising on restroom trailers. Some events add their own removable signage to the trailers.
The consensus among most PROs and trailer manufacturers is to place company decals on the front of the trailer near the hitch and on the back of the trailer near the tag at a minimum to identify your property. Having a decal on the utility door that opens to the power box, water valve, and storage area is strongly recommended so that in the event of any problem or question, your company information is readily available. If the customer wants all decals hidden, a color-coordinated magnetic sheet is an excellent alternative to physically removing company decals.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Set your company apart from your competition. Professional service and quality products are your keys to success. Use creative methods to further enhance your name recognition. Whether it is painted units or decorated units, always have your company decals on all your equipment so that prospective customers can easily reach you and your name will spread in your community.
