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SIGN SHOW

SIGN SHOW

BY JEFF WOOTEN

Attacking the Panic Attack

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Dealing with stress and anxiety in the shop.

First things first, I have to start off with an apology. In last month’s print issue, we credited the wrong company for our cover featuring the Gibson faux-neon blade sign. The actual company responsible for this cover image was Albrecht Sign Company, a regional sign company based in Fridley, Minnesota. Sign Builder Illustrated would like to apologize for this unintentional error on our part.

Secondly I wanted to broach a topic that I think unfortunately goes unaddressed too often—mental wellbeing. Sure we do stories about how signs are sold and built, but I feel we are dropping the ball when it comes to helping both owners and employees deal with stress, anxiety, pressure, burnout, and other mental health issues.

It’s been about a year now since the pandemic drastically altered how businesses are run and the types of signage they produce. With the rollout of more vaccines and increasing chatter about “light at the end of the tunnel” and “getting closer to the goal posts,” hopefully this means brighter days ahead. But what’s left in its wake? How is it going to be addressed? It’s an issue I don’t think is going away soon.

Even with sign shops and graphics providers deemed “essential” early on, hard decisions still had to be made thanks to regular clients and markets being sidelined. Owners had to draft emergency business continuity plans, reshuffle production and employee schedules, and make layoff/furlough decisions thanks to reduced sales. Employees had to deal with possible reduced hours and wages, proper sanitization for themselves and shop equipment, social distancing, and other precautions. And everyone had thoughts of maybe losing loved ones (even more tragically for those that did).

At some point, it has to take a toll emotionally and/or mentally (no matter how strong an individual you are). I believe one ingredient in being able to successfully run or operate a shop is good mental health, regardless of how insurance companies appear to think otherwise.

So yes, we’ve published lots of stories on our signshop.com Web site and in our magazine (some in this very issue, in fact) showing how sign shops have recalculated and succeeded at staying open during the pandemic crisis. But mental health shouldn’t be glossed over, and it’s something I’d like to address more closely over the coming months with advice to help some, if not many, of you cope effectively.

I want to hear from you on ideas and techniques you’ve implemented to help with any anxiety, depression, or stress, and other readers going through anything similar will as well. Stay sound!

Photo: Shutterstock/Billion Photos.

AGENDA

Note: Due to COVID-19 concerns, all events listed below are subject to change. Please check each show’s Web site for any cancellations or reschedulings that may have taken place after press time.

APRIL 2021

APRIL 7-9:

The International Sign Association wil be going online this year with ISA Sign Expo 2021 — Virtual, an event that will allow a broader segment of the industry to participate in the show. (signexpo.org/Virtual2021)

JUNE 2021

JUNE 8-10:

LabelExpo Americas 2021 is rescheduled to commence at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. (labelexpo-americas.com)

JULY 2021

JULY 21-24:

The Mid-South Sign Association’s SignConnexion event will be occurring at the Ross Bridge Golf Resort in Birmingham, Alabama. (midsouthsign.org)

OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 6-8:

PRINTING United Alliance, which brings together the largest and most diverse audience in the printing industry, will be taking place in Orlando, Florida. (printingunited.com)

OCTOBER 25-29:

The 2021 LightFair architectural and commercial lighting conference and tradeshow, which will be incorporating new safety protocols and specific mitigration measures, will be occurring at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, New York. (lightfair.com)

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