EDITOR’S COLUMN

EDITOR’S COLUMN BY JEFF WOOTEN

An Optimal Outlook Q3 o ers encouraging signs...if they’re noticed.

Iknow our magazine has made it quite a ISA released its recent Sign Industry point to sign makers and graphics pro- Quarterly Economic Report (which asviders over the past six-or-so months sesses printing and electrical/digital sign (which, from an emotional angle, feel suppliers and electric/digital and architecmore like six-or-so “years”) that social tural signage markets) sponsored by the distancing floor graphics are items that National Association of Sign Supply Discan be offered and provided to their busi- tributors and developed in partnership ness clients for implementation. with IHS Markit. It found that the U.S.

I’m not certain how the experience has economy was expected to come “roaring been in your area, but here in my neck of back” with a 33 percent GDP gain in the the woods, I’m starting to feel maybe we third quarter (https://bit.ly/2TgiHBK). The should have provided this information to report notes that IHS has improved its the general public as well, particularly if outlook for sign industry markets in 2020 recent visits to a nearby grocery store are with some sectors of the economy expectany type of small sample indication. ing a “stronger rebound.”

There were times I seriously had to However by the time you’re reading dodge traffic and look down to make sure this, the growth was projected to fade to the wayfinding graphics weren’t gaslight- 3.7 percent. Reasons cited for this Q4 ing me. However I did notice that some downturn are the waning of catch-up of these floor directionals either didn’t spending, the dissipation of fiscal support, stand out enough or just weren’t as myri- and increasing COVID-19 infections. ad in number. (Then again, maybe some The stark reality is that, according to people are just going to people, regardless experts, we’re probably not going to expeof what’s being posted.) rience a traditional recovery or true return

If you provide these types of products of confidence until an effective treatment and you’re finding this a potential prob- or vaccine arrives. It’s going to be like the lem in your encounters, this could be an “up one wave, down another” gag from opportunity to get even more involved in the classic Tweety & green-faced Sylvesthe design process or to point out how ter cartoon. So here’s hoping you experiquantity and quality should not be mutu- enced a successful Q3 and will continue ally exclusive. to rebound in Q4…and that floor graph-

Speaking of signs someone may have ics will become a little more heeded. missed, what sign maker would have ever thought that social distancing floor graphics were going be a thing back in the first quarter of the year, much less still going strong here in the fourth quarter? JEFF WOOTEN

Another sign you may have missed: Editor, jwooten@sbpub.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com/ Bakhtiar Zein.

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 reschedules.

NOVEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER 12-13: SEGD Branded Environments 2020 is the virtual event for the design of brand-centric customer experiences. According to SEGD, integrating meaningful brand experiences into places and spaces provides the highest branding return on investment to owners and their users. (segd.org)

MARCH 2021

MARCH 23-25: LabelExpo/Brand Print Americas 2021 is rescheduled to commence at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois . (brandprint-americas.com)

APRIL 2021

APRIL 7-9: The International Sign Association’s ISA International Sign Expo will be returning to a to-be-announced venue in Las Vegas, Nevada. (signexpo.org)

MAY 2021

MAY 16-20: 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 during the citywide NYCxDesign Week. (lightfair.com)

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)