LFP - Large-Format-Printing

FASTSIGNS 2012 MetamorphoSIGN Winner Spotlight: The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Tuesday 04. June 2013 - The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS), located in Menands, NY, is the oldest and largest animal protection agency in New York's Capital region. Caring for and providing shelter for lost, abused and unwanted animals since 1887, their animal care facility receives an average of 6,000 animals each year.

In order to carry out the work that they are able to do for animals, MHHS relies on donations to fund their efforts and volunteers to carry out their mission.
In need of updated signs and graphics with their new logo, Brad Shear, Executive Director for MHHS entered the nonprofit organization into the 2012 FASTSIGNS MetamorphoSIGN contest.
The Challenge
The humane society received the most votes within the nonprofit category for the 2012 MetamorphoSIGN contest. As the winner of that category, MHHS met with FASTSIGNS of Colonie and owner James Pritchard to discuss their visual communications challenges and objectives.
Like most nonprofit organizations, MHHS uses their donations to provide services in their community and, in their case, for thousands of animals in need. As they grew in size and service, their existing signs and graphics were unable to keep up. In honor of their 125th anniversary, the MHHS updated their logo but were unable to change it on their signage.
One of the biggest ways that the humane society encourages adoptions for its animals is through offsite events. With limited resources for their marketing efforts, MHHS was also in need of an attention-getting and well-organized presence for its adoption, education and fundraising events.
The Solution
FASTSIGNS did a site survey to review the signs and graphics that were in place at the MHHS facility, and identify opportunities where their visual communications could be improved.
One of the first items addressed was the old, outdated exterior signs. By updating them to be brighter and showcase the refreshed MHHS logo, the signs are more eye-catching for passersby. The site signs on the main buildings were also replaced and updated, and the admissions building finally had a sign installed to direct volunteers where to go. Next, FASTSIGNS updated the interior wayfinding plaques and added large dimensional letters to the admissions waiting area, letting visitors know they are “Welcome”.
To make sure that MHHS makes the best impression possible when hosting or participating in educational sessions and adoption events, FASTSIGNS put together a traveling event package consisting of two tabletop throws with their new logo, teardrops flags with photography of their animals, an A-frame sign, custom-designed banner stands, matching aprons for volunteers and a literature rack for their brochures.
The Results
Once the makeover was complete, the MHHS finally had signs and graphics that better represented this historic and hardworking organization. First time visitors and volunteers are better able to find their way to and around the facility, and when at one of their many offsite events, MHHS is able to focus less on marketing themselves and more on finding homes for the animals they serve.
“The best example of how the event signage has helped us was at a recent, large adoption event,” said Brad Shear, Executive Director. “One day a year, a local car dealership takes all the cars out of their showroom and allows about 15 shelters and rescue groups to bring in animals for adoption. Everyone has about the same amount of space and many have table covers with a logo. We were the only ones with 11-foot high teardrop signs, so we were by far the most noticeable. The event lasted for five hours and almost all of our adoptions were done in the first three.”