The Back Story

By Muralismo

those of you who have been following my blog posts for a while will be aware that I spent a lot of time and energy setting up a new website complete with a Custom Mural category. I spent a lot of time AND money on the project and had only been up and running a very short while when I received a phone call that changed everything!

Long story short I had to remove my Custom Mural category which I had spent DAYS loading with all the images I had for sale and I had to instead work with a different supplier.

The good news is that a deal has been negotiated that means that I can still offer my NZ customers Custom Murals and in over 7000 designs but through my new business partner Murals Your Way not through Cadlow Mural World. HOWEVER we are their exclusive NZ distributor and it is our phone number that shows on their website when NZ customers visit it. NZ customers can contact us with any questions and queries.

Murals Your Way are simply the biggest and the best in the business and have been around a very long time. They are definitely the silver lining in the dark cloud that forced me to stop dealing with another company.

They have everything the other company has and much much more.


They quote in NZ dollars so you know exactly how much you will be paying. They ship quickly and only take a few days to make a custom mural. International shipping is an additional cost but due to their size they have negotiated a really sharp deal with their shipping provider so it is as low as possible and they DO NOT make any profit whatsoever on the shipping.

KEY benefits are:

	Your choice of over 7500 images or upload your own.
	Custom sizing to fit your wall dimensions. You can even personalize your mural.
	Choose from 3 premium materials including  SmartStick® - simply peel and stick!
	Superior in quality to wall decals, stickers and standard paper murals.
	They ship to New Zealand

Purple Playroom transformed into Baby Boy's Beachy Blue room

by Muralismo

I found this Blog post by a customer of Murals Your Way. She used their Custom mural service to great effect in this transformation of her baby son's nursery.

Murals Your way now ship to NZ and quote in NZ dollars. They provide Cadlow Mural World's phone number so that NZ customers can have a local contact for any questions or queries.

• July 15th, 2011 @ 9:53am
  My Baby Boy Beach Nursery Reveal
  First of all, if you missed my first three posts, make sure you catch up! This adventure has been a blast taking care of getting the old purple playroom into something that is more suitable for a newborn baby boy. I would first like to thank Chase for creating a campaign that allowed us three bloggers to take $2000 and budget it into the baby room.
  Now on with the show!
  Here is the room PRIOR to the makeover. It was Charlottes play room and was done in purple and hand painted murals (that I did) and of course, an abundance of toys…
  
  I have left you with many, many questions. From chair rail to murals, which route did I go? I think showing is better than telling.
  So TADA!!!!!!!!!!
  
  My Baby Boy Beach Nursery
  
  Is that a makeover or WHAT!~
  Now let me break it down for you.
  I changed the nursery first by finding the crib. Once I had a crib to center the room around, I found custom made beach bedding which set the colors and tone of where I wanted to go, which prompted a painting match. Next, I found the surfboard fan, which I was afraid would change the entire feel of the room, but has actually been a very welcome piece that keeps the room cool and brings in a wooden element.
  From there it was about incorporating some elements that would bring the room more personalization. I had this vision in my head of huge pictures the baby would see when he woke up (of family) and took some pictures and had them framed in large black and whites in the wainscoting-esque frames. Then I added open shadow box shelves and started shopping and collecting seashells and other trinkets from the local area. It was very important to me to have some artisan work from our own coastline artists, so I used the “Pensacola Pelican”, which is an icon around here, some glass pieces from the beach shops, and even a beach car that I got right at a gas station.
  Now the palm tree picture on the dresser is actually from Mexico. That was all finger painting if you can believe it!
  I also picked up items that you can’t see very well like a seashell nightlight and pewter covers for the light switches that are engraved with beach life.
  Originally I had picked up that rug randomly trying to break up some of the beige in the room and once I got it in I was unsure….I decided to keep it and feel the room out and once the mural was on the wall, I just really loved the way it all came together. Last but not least, I added a baby hamper and a small storage and sitting bench where I could put toys, stuffed animals, or right now before he can reach it, baby supplies and shoes.
  Chase
• July 6th, 2011 @ 5:20pm
  The Final Personal Touches
  The time is almost here for the big reveal! It seems as soon as I get one thing done, I have 10 more that need to be completed. You would think the awesomeness of having a nursery challenge would really make me just love to shop, but in reality its like when you are on a shopping spree and you cant bear to spend any money.
  Sometimes I walk into stores and just walk and walk and stare and go home empty handed.
  Now a few things I knew I wanted were personal touches. While I don’t have anything more than an ultrasound picture of this little one, I did want to make sure he is surrounded by family when he wakes up, so it was important for me to develop some photos of the family to display around the room. I searched through 100′s of our photos (Ok, make that 1000′s) to find some shots that were taken on the beach and had them done into 11 x 14 black and whites. Then a friend and I searched high and low for while frames and found a nearly perfect design at the craft store. No surprise there, right?
  But I really love we found the paneled white wood around the frames; take a look!
  I also spent a good 4 hours and 10 stores trying to find shadow box frames to sit nick nacks in. Of course Charlotte came along and added her own items for now, but I can assure you the painted shells won’t be staying….
  I did, however, let her add her own addition she picked up this weekend over in Florida while visiting her grandparents… Although, I’m not 100% positive why they painted a “Surfs Up” on something that says Mobile on it…we don’t have surf here!
  And last, but not least, I really wanted to show off this adorable Shark robe that I have added to the wall….practical, useful, and total decor right now.
  
  
  
• I had originally planned a beach theme, a beach theme that included soft sands, and soft walls, and white furniture, and I am still going that way. But I keep finding adorable items that end up more on the “tiki” or “surf theme” and while they both include water, they totally clash.
  Lets start with the crib.
  We finally got that crib up. Happily, the crib was the easiest thing I had to do! Even though I went with a white crib which can traditionally be thought of for a girl, I love how the lines on it are all straight across which give it more of a masculine feel. My daughters crib was all fancy and curvy, and also white, but they are so different that it still works for me and this theme.
  This crib is in Vanilla and you can see that I have laid in my starfish bedding and organic cotton sheets. My only disappointment was that as much as I liked the crib, and liked the bedding, they dont seem to go together. You cant see the lovely ruffles on the bottom of the bedding set, but they seem to make a great hiding place for the cats!
  
  
  Also, my daughter Charlotte has started to get into the game and surprised me with a few additions of her own on the walls, including this seahorse I found taped in the room today.
  I do believe I will frame it for his room from his big sister.
  
  
  Now with the walls, going from that dark purple mural to blue was quite a treat. It made my daughter cringe a bit since this was her playroom, but ultimately I do believe I achieved a beautiful wall color that is pleasant to the eye, not too soft, but also dark enough to feel like the ocean.
  My thoughts from here were to put wainscoting on the walls and really give it a finished look, but would you know after buying $200 in wainscoting and chair rail, driving it home w/ the hatch up on my truck, and dragging it up the stairs, and I thought iw as far too stark next to the white furniture?
  So of course down the stairs, back to the truck, back to the store.
  And back to square one. My new thoughts now are to perhaps get a mural. I just emailed them today to find out how long it would take to ship, but I do believe it might really finish the room behind the crib.
  Right now I am considering this “Florida Skies” mural, which I believe may compliment the color and theme of the room and also give the baby something soft to look at when he wakes up:
  
  
  If for some reason that would take a few months and I cant get it in time (can you believe the baby will be here in 12 weeks? EEK!), my back up plan is paint a stripe around the room to separate the top and bottom, so thats also still a possibility.
  I have looked at a ton of “wave” rub ons and even sayings like this one I found, but overall making a commitment has been so hard!
  
  
  One commitment I have made that I do love however is my glider. I didn’t get that with Charlotte, so I wanted to make sure I had a place to rock the baby for the middle of the night feedings. I absolutely fell in love with this Glider in this soft cream and matching ottoman, where I can rock or kick my feet up. It just feels so lush and when I sit on it I can almost imagine looking out over the Ocean.
  
  
  Come to think of it, that reminds me, I totally have to find some ocean sounds to play!
  From this point forward, what I have to do is decide between a mural or stripes, or even leaving those blue walls the way they are. I have to get in some of my left over furniture like Charlotte’s old nursery dresser and start fixing up some shelves. I also need to clean out the excess toys from the closet and figure out some real storage.
  In short…I have to do everything still!

Man Cave Murals!

By Muralismo

 I noticed when tweeting the other day that someone in America had retweeted my tweet about Man Caves. Long story short this led me to discovering a T.V show called Man Caves that had a number of Manolicious Man Caves that featured Wall Murals as part of the decor.

I have selected some photos for your viewing enjoyment. We have partnered with Murals Your Way who have over 7000 images that you can select from when ordering a CUSTOM mural.They have a new product called SmartStick which can be installed in minutes because it is Peel & Stick.
Even better it is re positional and can be moved and re used.

We also have in stock some Murals suitable for a Man Cave and hopefully these photos will give you an idea of what can be achieved with them. Some of our most popular have sold out but I am putting in a large order from America this week so we will soon have them back in stock.

Find your own Man Cave Mural HERE

A Nursery is transformed into an Underwater world

By Muralismo

Hi Everyone,

I just love it when customers send me BEFORE & AFTER shots.

A while ago I sent out a questionnaire to some of our customers and today not only was I sent a completed questionnaire but also the following photos showing how Kylie turned her young man's nursery into something really special.

But first, the questionnaire.................

Hi Juana

We've finally got our little mans wall up, it looks great!  Have attached some pics as per your email below, have also commented on your questions.

1) Why did you choose this Mural for your room?   

I wanted something out of the ordinary for my little boys room - it's just what I was after!


2) What room did you put it in?
 
My baby boys room...he's only 11months old but LOVES it already, touching all the fish etc, he can  learn a lot from it as he grows too!

3) How hard was it to put up? 

Pretty easy from my understanding

4) Did you do it yourself or did you have help? 

Had a wallpaperer do it while he was doing another job for us

5) How long did it take you? 

Only took him a couple of hours from start til finish

6) Any tips to share with our readers? Anything you would do differently? Anything you wish you'd known at the start? 

I would've liked to have known that each piece slightly overlaps the other, unfortunately you can see the raised bit underneath, doesn't look as good as it would if it was 100% flat and smooth.

7) Are you happy with the finished product?   

I would give 8/10 (only thing disappointing is the overlapping edges)

Cheers!
Kylie

                          BEFORE

                           AFTER 

Dolphins Paradise Wall Mural Wallpaper

 

How to attract customers into your shop.

By Muralismo

Times are tough right now for Retailers and it is more important than ever to do everything you can to get those customers into your shop.

 I came across this article today and want to share it with you all as more and more of my customers these days are Retailers. I hope you find it helpful.

Do shoppers walk right past your store without coming in? Do you know what attracts customers into your store? Do you know how to keep your shoppers' interest and get them to explore your merchandise? Are you using merchandising techniques to guide shoppers through your store and get them to buy? Poor merchandising not only stops potential customers from opening the door and coming in...it puts up a wall, stopping customers who come in from buying. When you understand how to avoid those pitfalls, and learn how to attract customers instead, you'll be able to keep them coming back for more. What is merchandising anyway?   Merchandising really just means selling. It's everything you do to sell your product to the consumer. When I talk about merchandising, I am referring to how you use your physical store to sell. That includes your store front, store design, lighting, store layout, furnishings or fixtures, merchandise placement, displays, signs and graphics. Many retailers struggle to put these things together in a way that works. You might think merchandising is a secret ability that some people have, and others don't. It's not. Merchandising consists of basic skills and steps that you can learn. Knowing how merchandising attracts customers takes away the guesswork. You learn what works and what doesn't. You become more confident about your business. You're able to measure your results. The purpose of this website   I began Inspire Retail Solutions because I wanted to pass on what I've learned about retail. In my work I discovered that many retailers lack confidence and knowledge about merchandising and display. They feel merchandising is the area they need to improve the most, and don't know how. If you're like them, you have great ideas & products, but struggle to attract enough customers. By passing on the knowledge I have gained from my education and 20+ years of experience, I can help you be more successful. I love making things work better. And I love teaching. I get the biggest kick in my business when I have a client that says, "I get it! Now that you've explained to me how it works, it all makes sense. I can do this!" In this website, you'll find information you can use to transform your store into one your customers will love. Where do I start?   Get started now by subscribing to the Retail Tips email newsletter. When you subscribe, you'll also get access to the free report, Attracting Customers: Steps to Getting More Customers In The Door. The report will give you some ideas you can implement in your store right away. Make sure you share the report with others on your team, so you can all work together to attract shoppers. Now, click the button to get started. From rainy Vancouver, Melanie McIntosh Inspire Retail Solutions P.S. Don't forget to explore the site, in particular, jump over to the blog to read more merchandising articles. Or check out these ones first: Why Is Retail Merchandising Important? Why You'll Never Have Time For Merchandising: 10 Daily Actions For Success The Secret Grocery Retailers Know (And You Should Too) Is Your Merchandise Plan Working Backwards?

Peel & Stick versus Traditional Wallpaper

By Muralismo ( adapted from a post by EasyWallz )

Traditional Wallpaper

We’ve all had issues with traditional wallpaper. 

1) Traditional wallpaper is not easy to install. Far from it. The glue is very messy and must be cleaned immediately. 

 

2) The services of a professional is often required for proper installation at a cost per wall of approx $400+

3) Finally, when the time comes to remove it, the real nightmare begins. Removing wallpaper without damage is difficult. Due to the glue, it is common for the dry wall to come off with the paper, causing you to have to replace it.

 

Who hasn’t dream t of redecorating (starting with the walls) without all the hassle?

Learn More

 

Peel and Stick Wall Murals offer all the advantages of traditional wallpaper without its drawbacks. They create an extraordinary look in an instant, transforming your walls to meet your desires and inspirations. 

 

Anything is possible: from the tropical beaches of the Caribbean to the icy landscapes of Antarctica, from the dense Amazon jungle to the hustle of urban cities…

Peel and Stick Wall Murals will recreate any environment of your choice onto your walls. And the icing on the cake is that you can even create your own Peel and Stick Wall Mural from your personal photos, for a truly unique result!

Discover an innovative wall decor that will not go unnoticed! A new kind of wallpaper, removable, reusable and glue-less that is bringing forward traditional wall coverings to new and exciting fronts. A perfect solution for those who don’t want to commit to one look and those who just don’t want to deal with the hassle of traditional wallpaper. 

Welcome Peel and Stick Wall Murals!

 

Which Wallpaper Mural brand should you choose?

By Muralismo

I have had a lot of interest in  our new product line and our Custom mural service but a stumbling block for some is price.

Price is important but it is also important to compare apples with apples.

Lets first look at what each brand gives you for your money and the pluses and minuses of each option.

The CHEAPEST  Wallpaper mural that we stock is the Walltastic brand.

Our supplier is in New Zealand and we can get items back into stock when they sell out within a few days.

Walltastic is a brightly coloured range designed exclusively for children

Mermaid the latest release from Walltastic

Walltastic murals can be installed by a paperhanger for $400+ or be installed by anyone who has successfully installed wallpaper before. They take around 2 hours to install.

Pluses

* They are very affordable
* They are perfect for Children
* They are great for transforming a child's bedroom or brightening a waiting room or kindergarten.
* They can be trimmed to fit most standard walls.

Minuses

* The selection is limited
* They have nothing suitable for adults or commercial use
* They are permanent like ordinary wallpaper so tenants cannot use them
* They are available in ONE size only
* They take two hours to install



Environmental Graphics is a range designed for mainly adult use.
It is our mid range priced brand.

World Map Wallpaper Mural

Our supplier is in America and when items sell out they stay sold out for months.

Environmental Graphics murals can be installed by a paperhanger for $400+ or be installed by anyone who has successfully installed wallpaper before. They take around 2 hours to install.


Pluses

* They are similar in price to ordinary wallpaper
* They can be used in Adult rooms as well as children's rooms
* Some are suitable for business use such as cafes.
* They can be trimmed to fit most standard walls.
* There is a good range of designs to choose from


Minuses

* They take two hours to install
* They are permanent like ordinary wallpaper so tenants cannot use them
* They are available in ONE size only



EasyWallz Peel & Stick Murals

EasyWallz is the most expensive brand that we stock.

Peel & Stick Blossoming Cherry trees

Easywallz is a revolutionary new product. The murals are made from a special material that can be re used over and over and customers can use either their own images or ours.

We stock ten designs ready made for those who don't want to wait for a custom order to be made and delivered.

Our manufacturer is in Canada but Custom orders can be delivered in approx two weeks.



Pluses

* They can be custom made into any size the customer requires
* The customer has a huge range of images to choose from including their own photos.
* They are suitable for both Commercial and Residential use

* They can be installed in MINUTES no skill required.
* No need to pay a Paperhanger $400+
* They can be applied to any smooth, flat surface
* They can be moved from wall to wall as they are re usable making them PERFECT for tenants or businesses that want to change their look with the seasons.

* They allow Commercial and Interior designers to order a totally unique look for their client.
* There is no International shipping charge on the Peel & Stick murals that we have in stock in 10 designs and two sizes.
* There is no extra fee for customizing a wall mural.


Minuses

* There is an international shipping charge on Custom orders. The cost depends on the size of the mural that you order and the exchange rate at the time. Expect to pay between $249-$319. An accurate quote can be obtained by filling out your requirements on our Custom Page

I hope you all found this post helpful.


Don't forget to check out our Photography competition that is currently running on Facebook. $200 is up for grabs and entering is easy.