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What did it… used2bee

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What did it… used2bee

Monthly Archives: December 2013

New Recycled Shop Sign: Finished!

13 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by used2bee in Events, Projects

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bee, christmas, fairtrade, green, inspiring, organic, pallets, pine, recycled, shop, sign

“WOW! What a Difference a Day Makes!”

20131213-185424.jpgIts amazing what difference a day can make…. I mean once i had spent the last 3 months planning, cutting, planing, sanding, painting, designing and agonising over the details!

The preparation and crafting that went into this project was long, but to most people, except my wife and a few friends, it all happened in one day! That day was Thursday 12th December 2013.
We went from an ordinary looking shop that people pass by to one that inspires interest, sparks imagination, and creates excitement. Its best feature for me was Joannes idea: to make the ‘Bee Logo’ wobble in the wind by attaching it to a bed spring!

The morning began when we ripped down the old sign20131213-190828.jpg

“was plain,uninspiring, and almost invisible”

We have been in this shop since 2004: at that time we needed an office as our recycling services business was expanding and we didnt need to court passing trade as customers came to us over the phone. We had a corporate sign: it was simple and boring, so when the business changed last year we quickly drew up plans to re-focus our business on retail and make a dramatic change!
Away with a sign that was plain, uninspiring and almost invisible and in would come one that would inspire, and exite!

The sign is made up of 51 cut planks recycled from old pallets, 9 carved letters and logo recycled from old pine furniture, 8 recycled wire stand-off brackets, and a rusty bedspring.

20131213-205901.jpg20131213-210325.jpg
Once the old sign was ripped down to reveal the Tongue and Groove cladding beneath, it was necessary to gloss the timber to help protect from the harsh south westerly weather. We had to use a quick drying one coat paint to give us more time to complete the job in one day.
Taking a starting point at the joint between the front facia and its return over the door, we worked away from this to the far edges for a balanced appearance. Each plank had to be cut down to 550mm to line up with the window frame, and the bare end sealed with varnish. Each piece has different properties of width, shading and grain, so the overall effect when these are mixed is superb.

Years ago i had recycled some industrial fencing wire that I had now used to make the 8 stand-off brackets, lucky that i had kept it! These had to fit each letter exactly so as to make them appear to float and be resistant to the strong winds. These have been coated with Hammerite to protect against rust.

The overall effect is enhanced now that we have also decorated the outside walls of the shop in a tasty Mint Green. This complements the Chocholate Brown, and Rich Berry colours that we use in our shop to promote the Recycled , Organic, and Fairtrade products in the shop (notice the food related thread there!).

PLEASE COME TO VISIT OUR SHOP and share your views!

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New Recycled Shop Sign

01 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by used2bee in Projects

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Tags

ready for christmas, recycled pallets, recycled shop sign, solar panel lights, solar powered light kits, wooden sign

Will I Get The New Shop Sign Finished By Christmas?

Yesterday, we sorted the christmas tree, put up decorations, stocked christmas displays, and set up sparkly LED low energy lights ready for the start of advent that began today. This included a recycled green christmas tree from St Lukes Hospice charity shop in Torquay, which we are delighted with! The slimline 6ft tree is now decorated with handmade, recycled decorations and also some magical Fairtrade crafts from Indonesia – but more about this later though!

the wood quality is a suprise!

I have been working on the boards that make up the main facia that the lettering is to be mounted on. The boards are recycled from scrap pallets, but contain lots of good grade softwood timber and some hardwoods too!
The wood quality is a surprise and i have noticed whilst preparing and preserving the timber that I do get great results once the roughness is removed. The best final results are going to be from a mixture of the pine softwoods as they have really attractive grain patterns. 20131130-152631.jpg

The current sign is a PVC honeycombe board with vinyl lettering, which was ok when we were into waste management but has got to go now we are focussed on retail. The new sign will consist of 51 made to measure, recycled timber boards. Each board is only 600mm long and they are to set side-by-side to cover a span of 3.5meters above the shopfront section and another 700mm on the return section, above our entrance. There will be a slight gap between each to allow water to drain off, as i want to prevent a build up of moisture where i can.
20131130-150749.jpgSanding the boards smooth

this will say as much about the quality of the products inside!

The 51 boards are all cut and sanded smooth with 180 grade paper then treated with a purple coloured preservative that represents the shops colour for Fairtrade products. Once dried it is finished to 320 grade paper so that when the varnish is applied it will be as smooth as possible to resist the weather. I think its vital to have a very high quality finish as this will say as much about the quality of the products inside!
Treated Boards Drying20131130-151058.jpg

So far i have 33 boards ready to fit, another 10 needing another coat of varnish, but 8 have only the preservative applied. As each board needs at least 3 coats, this is done over 6 days to allow drying time.
Whilst these are drying though, i have been researching a new supplier for the Solar Powered Lighting Display that will be used to light the sign. This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate a new range of products that we want sell. Recently we have been asked by Boat Owners, Gardeners, and Campers for cheap Solar Lighting Kits who have a need for a quick and easy set up to use away from home. Of course, Solar Power will be free to once you have bought the kit!
20131130-155319.jpg

Only 24 days to christmas now, So i am realising i am quickly running out of time!

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