IN THE INDUSTRY

ISA INTERNATIONAL

SIGN EXPO 2021 VIRTUAL RECAP

Alexandria, Virginia—The ISA International Sign Expo transformed into an online experience this past April 7-9. This year’s ISA Sign Expo® 2021 – Virtual event offered up over seventy education sessions, seventy-plus interactive virtual booths, and plenty of opportunities for networking over the three-day period.

The all-virtual experience brought more than 7,500 attendees—a figure that blew past the projections and industry averages for these types of events.“People were skeptical that any virtual event could come close to replicating the excitement of an in-person [Expo], but those who participated told us we came pretty darn close,” says ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson. “In fact, more than 2,000 [people] signed up after the event began. While some of those were probably people who procrastinated, I believe others got an email or heard from a colleague how valuable they were finding the event.

“One attendee said he ‘took an idea he learned in one of the peer groups and connected that to something that he heard in a Women Leading the Industry (WLI) education session and has already pulled his team together to see if they can make this change in his company.” (https://bit.ly/3s9RsYs)

In all, some seventy-five suppliers and manufacturers were present on the Expo floor, and most reported a tremendous level of engagement from signs, graphics, print, and visual communications companies who were ready to buy and invest.

Other notable highlights of ISA Sign Expo 2021 – Virtual included:

Game Changer Session. Futurist Sheryl Connelly shared her thoughts on the factors that will affect the future and your business. Connelly pointed out that a company’s strengths aren’t owned by them—they are determined by the market, which can be fickle. “The only way to predict the future is to create it,” she urged.

When looking to add people to your company, Connelly said to focus on diversity, multidisciplinary candidates, and passionate/creative types. In fact, according to a paper from Michigan State University, Nobel Prize-winning scientists are 2.85 times more likely than the average scientist to have an artistic or

crafty hobby. (https://bit.ly/3g9tlH0)

Titan Talk with Harry Patz. ISA President Lori Anderson sat down with Harry Patz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display Division, Samsung, to discuss the lessons he learned from the pandemic. “Leadership is very important during this time,” he said. “Hire people for strong leadership qualities, as good leaders will be remembered through this.” (https://bit.ly/3g9tlH0)

Titan Talk with Matt Shay. Anderson also chatted with Matt Shay, president & CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF). Shay said any processes that have eased friction in consumers’ lives—curbside pickup, online ordering, improvements in customer service etc.— are here to stay long after the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has affected branding and the way retailers speak to consumers,” he said. “Many businesses acquired new customers during the pandemic and, as a result, have had to rethink their approaches to storytelling and branding.”

Shay went on to say that, as people may be reluctant to return to “normal” right away, health and safety signage will continue to be in use. He also said retail businesses are rethinking real estate. “Some businesses are partnering with other businesses for stores within stores. Some are turning them into distribution centers, etc,” he said. “This all creates opportunities for the signage market.” (https://bit.ly/3a6uL0Y)

Next year’s ISA International Sign Expo is scheduled for May 2022.

DIRECT-VIEW LED GREETS GUESTS

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK— Indeed®, the most popular job-search Web site in the U.S., recently added a narrow pixel pitch LED video wall to the reception area of its Seattle location, capturing the attention of anyone walking through the lobby. Commercial integrator Ford AV installed this new direct-view BRILLIANT™ LED built by SNA Displays.

“The video content is agile, displaying the Indeed logo with amazing background graphics as well as moving video with custom content that can be programmed to change, so it displays content when it would be the most impactful,” says Ford AV Project Engineer Daniel Muraida.

The three-foot-eight-inch-tall LED screen stretches seventeen feet and was wall-mounted behind a large reception desk on the thirtyeighth floor of Qualtrics Tower, a thirty-eight-story building just a few blocks from Seattle’s iconic waterfront and Pike Place Market.

“Indeed incorporates a large amount of AV technology throughout their facilities,” said Wes Akin, account manager for Ford AV. “It is important for their employees, clients, and visitors to see it in use. That is why a large, direct-view LED display is used to welcome each person who walks into the lobby, easily competing with full daylight streaming from surrounding glass windows.”

IN THE INDUSTRY

DESIGN-A-BUS-WRAP ART CONTEST WINNER

PAINESVILLE, OHIO—Olivia Indre, a senior at Mentor High School in Lake County, Ohio, won first prize for her design idea themed “For a Greener Future” that was submitted to the recent Laketran Design-a-BusWrap Student Art Contest co-sponsored by Avery Dennison® Graphics Solutions along with the county’s public transit agency, Laketran.

The contest was open to middle school, high school, and college students from Lake County or students enrolled in a Lake County school, art school, or homeschooled during the 2020-2021 school year. Contestants were encouraged to highlight the contest’s “Lake County Pride” theme using their artwork to promote public transit or one or more features of Lake County. A total of seventyseven student artists submitted entries.

Indre’s winning design was featured as a wrap on a full-size, thirty-five-foot local bus in Lake County, Ohio scheduled to run for six months. Avery Dennison donated its premium MPI 1105 Easy Apply™ RS wrapping film, clear overlaminate DOL 1360Z for added durability, V4000 beaded reflective film, and MPI 2528 50/50 perforated film for the window graphics. Akron, Ohiobased Repros Color donated its services to print and install the graphics.

“We had a unique opportunity to wrap a bus before it retires from service later in 2021,” Laketran Spokesperson Julia Schick explained. “We were excited to... allow all these talented student artists to have the experience of designing a bus wrap. Due to its success, the contest will now be held annually.”

Daralyn Baldogo, senior marketing communications specialist at Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, says they were pleased to sponsor this program. “Our whole team got involved in the project, including serving on the judges panel,” she said. “We also appreciated the opportunity to increase awareness of the creative possibilities of vinyl graphics among art students, arts programs, and art instructors. As Olivia’s wrapped bus illustrates, vinyl film can be a powerful, engaging medium, commercially and artistically.”

Repros Senior Account Manager Anthony LaGuardia was impressed with Indre’s well-designed graphics. “It worked out perfectly for us to get creative with Avery Dennison’s reflective vinyl film. It really made the graphic ‘pop,’” he said.

FASTSIGNS PROPELS FRANCHISING FORWARD

CARROLTON, TEXAS—To better represent the expansion of services following the acquisition of NerdsToGo, FASTSIGNS International. Inc., franchisor of the FASTSIGNS® sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, has formed Propelled Brands (propelledbrands. com) as the corporate umbrella under which both brands and future brands will operate.

“We are thrilled to officially unveil Propelled Brands as the umbrella under which we will operate and grow a portfolio of service-oriented franchise brands,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands and chair of the International Franchise Association. “We look forward to amazing opportunities ahead, in addition to the continued growth for our existing franchisees and our team members. Propelled Brands marks a key milestone for us as we lay the foundation to expand our portfolio of brands.”

Propelled Brands will focus on service-oriented franchises and help each brand in its portfolio to confidently navigate forward based on their unique position, momentum, and purpose. Propelled Brands will advance the strategic path for each brand and will offer support and guidance to every franchisee to help them maximize success.