That unexpected trade show call. The pop-up promotion that lands in your inbox 48 hours before doors open. The emergency product launch that nobody foresaw.
Sound familiar?
Speed is winning in business right now. The fastest to respond to these unexpected opportunities are the ones who scoop up the business. Those that drop the ball on their marketing materials at the last second…
Surrender the win.
Let’s break down how you can succeed on rush deadlines with foam board signs.
- Why Speed is Winning in Business
- Custom Foam Board Signs: What Every Rush Marketer Needs to Know
- The 5 Step Process to Nail Every Rush Sign Order
- Don’t let these common mistakes blow your rush deadlines
Why Speed is Winning in Business
Business agility has been talked about for a while.
But 2024 is when it really goes from corporate buzzword to table-stakes requirement.
The annual 2024 Business Agility Report — analysed from data taken across 300 organisations — showed that high performing businesses view agility as a core priority. Something embedded into the way they do business every day. Not a one-off project here and there.
What does that mean?
Showing up. On time. Every time. Even when the timeline is ridiculous.
But… most businesses aren’t designed for speed. Long vendor lead times. Slow design approvals. Marketing material lead times that take weeks, not days. When a rush project lands on your desk:
They panic.
The business that delivers at the last-minute are the ones who have already built long-term vendor relationships, locked down battle-tested processes, and have the materials needed to respond at hand before the deadline even comes.
This preparation is the difference between swooping in and taking the business — or sitting on the sidelines while someone else does.
Custom Foam Board Signs: What Every Rush Marketer Needs to Know
If you need it yesterday — custom foam board signs are what you need.
They’re light, professional, affordable, and quick. Custom foam board signage has always been print-friendly for rush jobs — but 24 hour foam board printing means signs can go from approved PDF to picked up off your doorstep in less than 24 hours.
That kind of turnaround opens up a world of possibilities for businesses that need to show up fast.
Trade show booths, retail pop-ups, corporate presentations. You name it. Custom foam board signs will work. They’ll look good. They won’t break the bank. And best of all, they can be had on rush deadlines.
When you need to show up — fast. Custom foam board signs are waiting.
Custom foam board signage is the go-to material for agile businesses.
The data backs it up.
Americans are 8 times more likely to walk into a store because of signage. More than half of those folks go on to make a purchase because a sign said “hello” at just the right moment.
80% of brands cite signage as driving sales growth, with some industries reporting increases up to 33%.
Turns out — when the right sign walks into the room at the right time… it converts.
Foam board signage makes that possible. Even at the last minute.
The 5 Step Process to Nail Every Rush Sign Order
Going rush doesn’t need to be stressful. Follow this step process every time:
Step 1 — Finalise your message.
Don’t touch that design software until you know what you want the sign to say. ONE main message. ONE call to action. It cannot be stressed enough when it comes to rushing.
Make it easy for your customers to know what you want them to do. Got it?
Step 2 — Choose a pre-made design template.
Pro communicators have a library of templates they can pull from at a moment’s notice. When the rush deadline arises, they pick the template that best suits their needs and plug in the new information. Boom. Ready to submit.
Step 3 — Select the size that suits your space.
Popular custom foam board signage sizes include 18″x24″, 24″x36″, and 48″x96″. Each has different use cases depending on if you’re looking to prop signage up on a table, lean against a wall, or hang in a frame. Get this part wrong and you’ll have a sign that doesn’t work in your space at all.
Step 4 — Order in the morning.
Rush print orders have cut-off times. The earlier you place your order, the more buffer you have for same-day or overnight printing. Placing that order at 4pm is taking a big risk with your deadline.
Step 5 — Prep how you’ll display the sign ahead of time.
Knowing what your sign will look like is one thing. Having it sitting on your desk when it arrives with nowhere to go is a problem. Buy foam board easels, stands, or adhesive hanging strips to keep stocked at all times. That way there are ZERO display surprises on show day.
Repeat. Rinse. Rocket ship.
Don’t let these common design mistakes blow your rush deadlines
When on a crunch timeline — little mistakes can be the difference between meeting your deadline or throwing expensive money down the drain. Avoid these common errors during rush projects:
- Communicating too much. They say less is more, and it’s true when designing effective custom foam board signs. Nobody has time to read a sales pitch at the point of sale. One simple message. Quick read. Boom.
- Sending the wrong file types. Most rush printers can only accept print-ready files. That means PDF or AI at a MINIMUM 300 DPI. Sending a low-quality jpeg will delay your order and eat away at your deadline.
- Forgetting about bleed and margins. Most printers require a 0.125 bleed on ALL sides of your file. Without it, your sign will have white or uneven edges after cutting. Double check with your printer what file specs they need BEFORE you submit.
- Working with the wrong vendor. Does your print shop REALLY have same-day or 24 hour printing capabilities? Don’t take their word for it. Get rush production times confirmed in writing ahead of placing your order.
- Not having a backup plan. Things go wrong. Files get corrupted. Orders get delayed. Having a backup plan can save the day. Don’t leave room for error. Always have a plan B ready to execute.
All of these mistakes can be avoided by taking a few minutes to prepare ahead of the rush deadline.
Ready Faster. Shows Up Stronger.
When a business shows up late, opportunities are lost. Clients go elsewhere. Money flies out the window.
Businesses that win at rush deadlines aren’t lucky. They prepare for it.
Building solid vendor partnerships, refining processes, and having materials on-hand that can be produced quickly — like custom foam board signs — and used for anything.
Final Thoughts:
Speed is now table stakes in business. Expecting marketing campaigns to be ready at a moment’s notice is just part of operating in today’s fast-paced marketplace.
Custom foam board signage is one of the easiest materials to prepare for rush projects.
It’s affordable. There are guaranteed same-day and 24 hour printing options available. And should the unthinkable happen — a digital version of the sign can always be rolled out while waiting.
Follow this 5 step process. Avoid the mistakes. And next time a rush deadline comes around — breeze right through it.