February 1st, 2012 by admin
Everyone wants to make an entrance, but in many cases having a successful business means attracting paying customers to walk through your door. Displaying the address and name of your business isn’t always enough. In order to attract customers, you need to capture their attention and draw them in with a welcoming entrance that is easily spotted by arriving customers. Parasol Awnings’ experts can take any entrance and make it a grand one.
Rout Center for Women at The MED - Memphis, TN
The MED wanted a welcoming entrance for their expecting mothers. When patients arrive for one of the biggest days of their lives, The MED wants them to be protected from the elements without taking away from the authenticity of the signs and logo of the building.
This canopy beautifully covers the entrance and the color is neutral in order to blend more with the building, featuring lovely lines that create architectural interest.
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches - Memphis, TN
Jimmy John’s is a perfect example of making the awning work for your business. With so many sandwich shops in the marketplace, Jimmy John’s wanted customers to know about its delivery services and catering.
The restaurant uses this awning to not only brand their entrance but also advertise multiple services, giving them an advantage in the marketplace.
Casa Mexicana, Olive Branch, MS
Casa Mexicana is located in a large parking lot with the front entrance behind the restaurant. Their large patio was competing for their customers’ attention and leading people away from the front entrance.
A front entrance with a large canopy ensured that customers knew where to enter. The beautifully constructed canopy will also serve in sheltering customers from the weather.
Our experts are always ready to help and have years of custom design experience to create the right solution for you. For more information, pictures and building specifications, go to www.parasolawnings.com.
Tags: affordable, awning, building solutions, canopy, entrance, exterior facelift, outdoor dining, Parasol Awnings, parking lot, patio
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December 7th, 2011 by admin
Football season is a highly anticipated time of the year for many schools. When The Memphis University School called Parasol Awnings for help expanding the Owls’ press box, Parasol was ready to tackle the issue. Adding a stationary canopy to the designated area on the roof gave the school a covered area for their visiting coaches and cameras. The solution gives those underneath the canopy protection from the elements allowing for more professionally filmed games and makes available another VIP room in the press box. The canopy with its sturdy support system added to the aesthetics of this beautiful, fairly new stadium and provided a place to showcase the school name. Parasol had previously installed canvas banners on each end of the stadium featuring the school logo.
Parasol Awnings can create a winning combination for your school too. To see more examples of our work, go to www.parasolawnings.com.
Tags: architect, canopies, canvas banners, exterior facelift, Parasol Awnings, preservation, stadium, weather protection
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October 11th, 2011 by admin
Here’s something that will catch the eye. Aluminum sunshades are one of our newest products and we’re very pleased to be offering them. Not only are they known for their durability and functionality, they will definitely give any building an architectural “wow” factor, providing a fresh and modern look.
The primary purpose of a sunshade is to control the amount of direct sunlight through your building’s windows, so where you install them matters. Southern, eastern, and western exposures of you building will derive benefits from solar shading. The southern exposure is the easiest to shade, as the sun exposure is the greatest in that direction, which is why shading this area will provide the greatest energy savings.
Occupants, however, will appreciate any reduction in morning sun glare (eastern exposure) and afternoon sun glare (western exposure). These exposure can generate significant energy saving as well. Northern exposures do not require solar shading, but in order to foster uniformity and balance in the building’s appearance, it’s highly advisable that you include shades there as well.
Should you have any questions about which types of awnings would fit your style and needs, please don’t hesitate to call us at 901-368-4477.
-Michael Folk, President of Parasol Awnings
Tags: Add new tag, aluminum sunshades, awnings, durability, energy savings, exterior, functionality, Parasol Awnings, solar shading, sun glare, weather protection
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September 30th, 2011 by admin
You didn’t think all awnings had to look the same, did you?
Louvered Sunshades are an attractive means to obstruct undesired sun and heat gain without sacrificing a natural flow of light into your building. While they are most commonly used as a kind of “shelf” placed above windows, louvered sunshades can also be mounted vertically in front of windows. Numerous blade shapes, blade spacing, and trim profiles allow for plenty of options to design your shades to suit your project requirements. The options are never-ending…
How’s this for year-round functionality and style? Shaded sun in the summer will keep cooling costs down, while full sun in the winter (because the sun is lower that time of year) will allow you to take advantage of every bit of sunlight. It’s a creative solution that gets the job done without forcing you to give up your sense of fashion or natural light!
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for friendly, professional advice on discovering the correct shades for you and your building at 901-368-4477.
Tags: awnings, blade shapes, building solutions, cooling costs, creative solution, heat gain, louvered, louvered shades, Parasol Awnings, sun glare
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June 9th, 2011 by admin
Whether you’re in pursuit of long-lasting durability or environmental friendliness, standing seam awnings are an excellent choice.
It’s perfectly reasonable to expect your standing seam awning to last 20 to 40 years. Plus, metal awnings are non-combustible, strong and energy efficient.
Steel is 100% recyclable. The most recycled metal on earth, steel can be reused indefinitely without compromising its quality, durability, or strength.
Like an actor type-cast in a specific type of role, standing seam awnings are often pigeon-holed as the ideal awning for clean, straight lines.
At Parasol Awnings, we’re happy to shatter that stereotype with gently curving awnings. The curve in the awning mirrors the curves of the logo. It also stands out from its more linear, straight-edged neighbors.
Michael Folk,
Presiden, Parasol Awnings
Tags: curving awnings, energy conservation, energy efficient, energy savings, environment friendly, long-lasting, metal awnings, non-combustible, Parasol Awnings, standing seam
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May 24th, 2011 by admin
Adding additional dining space to a restaurant isn’t cheap, but it is a great way to increase revenue. If your bar or restaurant can handle more customers with the existing bar or kitchen, consider a canopy to convert parking space into outdoor dining.
When Fresh Slices moved into this Bartlett strip mall, its rapidly growing clientele inspired the owners to expand. The owners received special permission to annex some of the parking area to create an outdoor dining area. Then they contacted Parasol for a custom awning that would be attractive and durable.
The canopy protects diners from rain and sun. A drop shade combines with the potted shrubs to provide a screen between the dining area and the parking lot.
And if you think canopies cannot make outdoor spaces upscale, check out the one we did for Spindini on Main Street in Memphis. This raised deck is covered with a secure, all-weather canopy. Drop curtains screen out late afternoon sun. Spindini’s deck is a favorite for upscale, downtown dining and special events.
Sometimes restaurants add a solarium for extra dining space, but customers are reluctant to use it in the summer months. Parasol customized this canopy for McDonald’s, to keep the in-door area cool for kids and adults.
Michael Folk
President, Parasol Awnings
Tags: awning, outdoor dining, Parasol Awnings, parking lot, patio, restaurant, restaurant patio
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April 29th, 2011 by admin
If you’re a downtown merchant looking to jazz up your property’s exterior with new awnings, but you’re strapped for cash, don’t lose heart. There may be funding sources in the form of grants or low-interest loans available.
Check with your local merchants association to make sure you’re not missing a funding opportunity. Check to see if your town has a Main Street program and how it works.
Also check with community banks. They sometimes have low-interest loans for exterior facelifts as part of their community outreach.
Ask your local Chamber about funding sources. They may know of loan or grant programs that may apply to your project.
Track down the preservation architects active in your area. They often know about more obscure funding sources.
If you rent your retail area rather than own, talk to the property owner about sharing the cost. Property owners know how hard it is to find and keep good tenants, so they may be willing to share in the cost of the awnings.
Michael Folk
President, Parasol Awnings
Tags: affordable, architects, awnings, community, downtown, exterior, exterior facelift, main street, Main Street program, Parasol Awnings, preservation, property
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March 22nd, 2011 by admin
It’s not uncommon to see smokers huddled around a building’s entrance and exit. As uncomfortable as it is for the smoker, it’s worse for the person who is entering or exiting the building to have to pass through a cloud of smoke.
Many companies wrestle with wanting to provide a smoke free entrance, but not wanting to make their smoking employees outcasts or break the budget.
New materials are making it cost affordable for awning manufacturers to provide comfortable, weather resistant smoking areas. Clear plastic panels on the sides of a smoking shelter let light in and protect smokers from the elements. The panels can be removed during the warmer months for better ventilation.
Safety is also a concern. Employers don’t want their employees walking into a “blind” shelter where they may not be able to see who is inside.
If your employees who smoke are hacked off about their smoking conditions, talk to your local awning company. They may have an excellent and affordable solution.
Michael Folk
President, Parasol Awnings
Tags: awnings, Parasol Awnings, smoke free entrance, smokers, smoking areas, smoking employees
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January 21st, 2011 by admin
Most retail businesses have to keep the retail experience fresh if they want to maintain customer loyalty. It’s easy for customers to grow tired with what is old and look for something that’s new and shiny.
The challenge for retailers with physical locations grows tougher as they go head to head with online stores. Last year Cyber Monday sales totaled more than $1 billion dollars and are expected to continue to increase.
The point is, if you expect a consumer to get in the car and drive to your location, you’re going to have to give them a pleasant experience when they get there. That means something attractive inside and out.
Awnings are a great, affordable way to update a retail exterior. Adding awnings over doors and shop windows can transform a dreary exterior, signaling there’s something fresh and exciting inside.
If your location already has awnings, it’s even more economical. You can change your colors and, literally, change your stripes. Keeping the awning’s frame but updating the fabric and finishing style can infuse your exterior with a new energy that will get customers’ attention.
If you’re scrambling to capture more of a shrinking marketplace, shake it up with a facelift that includes awnings.
Michael Folk
President, Parasol Awnings
Tags: affordable, awnings, customer service, exterior, marketplace, online stores, retail
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December 28th, 2010 by admin
If you’re an architect, taking time away from work to earn CE credits for re-certification may be inconvenient. Parasol Awnings has an easy solution. We offer a one-hour, AIA-approved CE course on awnings delivered at your business over lunch.
Parasol Awnings was instrumental in developing the curriculum and content that is now used nationwide. It’s always a pleasure to spend time with local architects and teach this course.
If you are interested in hosting this class at your firm, please contact me at Michael@parasolawnings.com.
Michael Folk
President, Parasol Awnings
Tags: AIA-approved, architect, CE course, lunch, Parasol Awnings
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