4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JULY 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Whitestone company creates and distributes ‘Open’
signs to help promote businesses in Queens
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Venture Promotions, a custom graphics,
marketing and sign business based in
Whitestone, is creating something unique
and specifi cally tailored to their clients’
needs: a large red sign that reads “Open
for business,” as restaurants, retail stores
and offi ces reopen to the public.
Venture Promotions is owned by Dice
Garcia, who is the art director. Her husband
Ralph is the sign specialist for their
second business, Venture Promotions
& Marketing Corp., creating billboards,
banners and all types of unique custom
signs. Together, the couple is helping to
give back to businesses in Queens.
Two months ago, while driving around
Whitestone, Garcia and Ralph
didn’t know what businesses
were open or closed. Th at’s
when they decided to create a
sign that is universal for their
neighborhood to identify and
help businesses that are open.
“We distributed about 50
signs and now when you drive
around town, anyone with a red sign is
open,” Garcia said. “Th e store owners
were thrilled because we identifi ed them.
Everyone had 8 ½-by-11 white paper
signs that they did on their own desktop
and you had to get out of your car to
read them.”
Th is was the beginning of Venture
Promotion’s initiative.
“When everyone was sheltered in place
and no one knew where to go, we started
to really pay attention to what we can
do and how we can help,” Garcia said.
Aft er distributing 50 signs free of charge
to business owners in Whitestone and
Beechhurst, Garcia and Ralph reached
out to the Bayside Village Business
Improvement District (BID) to off er some
assistance to businesses.
“We communicated with the BID and
also agreed that the red signs were the
way to go,” Garcia said. “Th ey purchased
90 signs from us for a very reduced cost to
help. We believe that Bay Terrace, Bayside
and Whitestone, are all connected. We
give each other business. Our communities
need to be strong and move forward.”
Garcia then reached out to other BIDS
in Forest Hills, Jamaica, Sunnyside and
Douglaston. Additionally, the company
donated a sign to the Queens Chamber of
Commerce that reads “Queens Strong.”
Another sign was donated to the Fire
Department in Whitestone that says
“America Strong.” On July 4, a sign
was placed on Clintonville Street that
reads,“Whitestone Strong and America
Strong,” signifying unity.
In total, Venture Promotions has distributed
approximately 175 signs. Th e
company is also modifying signs for professionals
such as physicians and dentists,
who would need a sign to display for
appointments.
“Business owners have to realize that
people are not going to spend a lot of
time trying to fi gure out if they’re open or
not,” Garcia said. “We are also modifying
signs for professional physicians and dentists
because it’s by appointment. It’s not
a regular open for business, but call for
appointments sign.”
Following the successful distribution
of their signs, Garcia began creating “No
Mask, No Entry” static cling decals at no
cost for local businesses.
“Th ese are the hottest things right now
to do,” Garcia said. “Th e sign business is
in a booming state right now, and we are
going to keep evolving taking the pulse
of what’s next trying to fi gure out how to
help the businesses and patrons.”
Th ree months ago, Garcia also began
creating one-of-a-kind custom made
washable and reusable “selfi e masks” for
the cost of $25.
“When you send a selfi e, I create a mask
with the bottom half of your face and it
looks like you’re not wearing a mask,”
said Garcia, who is also the creator of the
original selfmask.com. “When people see
these masks, they love it. I always recommend
everyone should have a smile
on their face. We’re in a tough time and
Photos courtesy of Venture Promotions
I want to bring a little happiness
to help people feel more
normal and connected.”
According to Garcia, this is
an opportunity for businesses
to thrive and become better.
“At this point in time,
b u s i -
n e s s e s
have the
o p p o r -
t u n i t y
to grow
and stand
out in the
crowd,”
Garcia said.
“Th e sky is basically
the limit right
now and to just
look forward and
be thankful that we
are living in a world
that we can show
who we are, what
we do, and grow.”
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HOT SALES
8 8
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