Sign Builder October 2022

By David Hickey A BUSINESS STRUCTURE

By Jim Hingst

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Editor Wooten THE INDUSTRY versity,

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

By Jeff Wooten

Producing By Jeff Wooten

By Alethea Jadick OVER OPINIONS

DIGITAL BROADCAST

October 2022, Vol. 36, No. 327

Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation Subscriptions: 402-346-4740

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Group Publisher

Gary Lynch

1809 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102

O ce: 212-620-7247; Cell 646-637-5206

EDITORIAL Editor

Je Wooten

323 Clifton Street, Suite #7, Greenville, NC 27858 212-620-7244 jwooten@sbpub.com

Managing Editor Ashley Bray 212-620-7220 abray@sbpub.com

Contributing Writers

Chris Biscuitti, David Hickey, Jim Hingst, Alethea Jadick

ART Art Director Nicole D’Antona Graphic Designer Hillary Coleman

PRODUCTION Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers

CIRCULATION Circulation Director Jo Ann Binz joann@qcs1989.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Sales Manager

David Harkey 212-620-7223 dharkey@sbpub.com glynch@sbpub.com.

EDITOR’S COLUMN

BY JEFF WOOTEN

Back in the Future

Tomorrow’s solutions for today’s employees.

Let’s be internally honest with our selves for a moment: Every gen eration has its own version of the “walking ten miles to school in the snow back in the day” hardship tale to share with those who are younger.

Still I admit to having a lot of trouble envisioning how this “old folks” saying will evolve decades from now, when to day’s “younger” generation is passing along character-building advice to their kids and/or grandkids. Everything is al ready instantaneous and on-demand as it is. Maybe their Star Trek-style transport ers will beam them off a few feet instead of millimeters at the work site?

By the time you’re reading this, Friday, October 7 may have already passed. This is (or was) the date for ISA’s latest Sign MFG Day, an annual event that takes place every first Friday of October. Shops and manufacturers open their doors to school students and show them how proj ects are made and highlight the possible careers they can pursue there.

Are you ready for a bit of generation al gap shocker? The oldest Millennial whippersnappers are now hitting forty, so when addressing the youth entering the workforce, emphasis now shifts to ward Generation Z—members who have grown up exclusively on social media and digital content. (“Back in my day, I used to have 100 Mbps of speed and dealt with it!”)

While the younger generation is al ways a boon for our industry’s future,

I do hear grumbles every now and then from sign makers either bemoaning a trend of Quiet Quitting™ or the lack of ambition to learn even more for their job. While recruitment is important, em ployee retention is just as essential.

No matter the era, I think there are still some evergreen solutions. Are apprentice ships and mentoring a part of your sign shop’s long-term goals? Do you have re lationships with vocational schools? Do you encourage younger employees to venture out of their safe zone and learn more about what they can do? (Of course, change is also a constant in life, so maybe you need to rethink how to keep your younger employees engaged.) I’m inter ested to hear your thoughts on this and what you’re doing about it.

Speaking of continuing education, I want to remind you that expanded ver sions of our features and columns are also available to access at signshop.com, so please be sure to continue the SBI experience by checking those out. We have additional details about a lot of the projects showcased in our issues, as well as even more photos and (in some cas es) action-oriented videos that will give you a further idea on how these projects were put together and installed.

AGENDA

Note: All events listed below are to check show sites for the most up-todate

OCTOBER 2022

OCTOBER 13: Environments taking place in New York City, the in-person event on brand experiences that transform engagement within public spaces—from retail to sports venues. (segd.org)

OCTOBER 19-21:

PRINTING United Expo, the most dynamic and comprehensive printing event in the world, returns as an in-person experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

OCTOBER 20: The seventh-annual NCCCO Foundation’s Industry Forum on Personnel Qualifications is scheduled to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as via Zoom. (ncccofoundation.org/industry-forum)

NOVEMBER 2022

JEFF WOOTEN Editor, jwooten@sbpub.com

APRIL 2023

APRIL 12-14

NOVEMBER 1-4: the latest product and custom vehicle trends at the tradeonly SEMA Show taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. digitalsignageexperience.com)

NOVEMBER 17-19: Digital Signage Experience 2022, connecting the digital signage community with buyers and sellers and produced by Questex, will be co-located at the Las Vegas Con vention Center with Live Design International (LDI) and XLIVE. digitalsignageexperience.com)

ISA International Sign Expo 2023 is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration opens this fall. signexpo.org

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Phovoir.

IN THE

HIG -IMPACT UPGRADE FOR CLEMSON STADIUM

Clemson,

South Carolina— Owner’s Representative and AV Con sultant Anthony James Part ners (AJP), which specializes in large-scale technology design, announced the completion of nearly $20 million in cutting-edge technology improvements to Clemson University’s iconic Memo rial Stadium. AJP worked alongside the teams at Clemson, LS3P and Brasfield & Gorrie to help deliver Phase I of a $65-million renovation that focused on audio and video technology upgrades all in time for the Tigers’ home opener on September 10.

One of the most notable upgrades

is the massive new LED scoreboard in Death Valley’s East end zone. With al most 7,112 square feet of 10mm, HDRcapable LED, the beautiful new video board is nearly five times the size of the former board and boasts approximately 6.7 million pixels to produce the high est resolution of any screen in collegiate sports today. Clad with perforated metal, the scoreboard is internally illuminated with LED lighting that gives the struc ture an amazing visual aesthetic at both daytime and nighttime.

A highly advanced, new point-source audio system is designed for serious acoustical impact in every seat and turns

up the fan experience even more. The new scoreboard houses some of the most powerful speaker technology available in the industry, specifically the Adamson loudspeaker system, a staple for North America’s largest touring acts.

Two new auxiliary displays in the West end zone and hundreds of feet of LED ribbon boards have been installed in the north, south, and west sections.

To highlight Clemson’s proud history and tradition, stadium signage has been updated and replaced, including the Ring of Honor. Also, with the help of a customdesigned lift system, Clemson’s iconic ti ger (with fiery red eyes and moving tail)

can rise from the top of the scoreboard, to ensure to ensure gameday traditions are never forgotten.

The project also includes backlit seals of each of the branches of the military. The video board’s height and re-shaped entry will allow for 365-day connections with campus and the adjacent Scroll of Honor Memorial.

“Memorial Stadium is an iconic venue with a deep history dating back to 1942, and we have loyal fans that take our tradi tions very seriously. It was imperative that any renovations being made to the stadi um are state-of-the-art yet don’t stray too far from our roots,” said Eric Sabin, As

sociate Athletic Director-Capital Projects at Clemson University.

“We’ve been a proud member of the Clemson family for many years and have enjoyed being a part of so many great projects together,” said Michael Rowe, CEO and one of the founding Principals of Anthony James Partners. “We’ve de voted a tremendous amount of time and attention to ensure that Clemson fans will get to experience next-generation tech nology for Memorial Stadium without losing the history or tradition associated with the facility and the University itself.

“The detail that went into every new ele ment of the scoreboard was exceptional.”

BUTTERFLY

“E FFECT” IN ACTION

CHI C AGO, I LLINOIS—

According to Railway Age magazine, Canadian Pacific Railroad, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, railcar lessor GATX Corporation, the Monterrey (Mexico) Metropolitan Rotary Club, and the North American Supply Chain Organization teamed to launch the Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour, whose raised funds will be used to plant 60,000 Oyamel fir trees at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Michoacán, Mexico to help reestab lish this butterfly population.

A special graphic and crowdfunding QR code is featured on the side of the “Monarch Mariposa Boxcar,” prepared by the GATX shop in Hearne, Texas. Starting this fall, the boxcar will stop at events across North America to help raise awareness.

“GATX was thrilled to help pro duce a custom-designed boxcar to celebrate and raise awareness of the journey of the monarch butterfly, in addition to making a financial contribution to support the 60,000 Tree Challenge,” said Robert C. Lyons, president and CEO of GATX. “We are proud to join forces on this innovative envi ronmental initiative.”

WALL GRAPHICS GAS MONKEY GARAGE

SANDSTON, VIRGINIA—Television viewers may already be famil iar with the famous Gas Mon key Garage located in Dallas, Texas, thanks to the facility being the home base location of Fast N’ Loud , an automotive reality series that aired on the Discovery Channel from 2012 to 2020. Episodes of the television pro gram followed Richard Rawlings, pro prietor of Gas Monkey Garage, and his team as they restored tired and rundown cars.

While the Fast N’ Loud television series ended two years ago, Gas Mon key Garage continued motoring along, operating as a working garage that serves both the local community and clients from further afield throughout the United States. Rawlings also runs a hugely successful YouTube chan nel that showcases the team’s work at Gas Monkey Garage. Impressively this channel has accumulated more than 950,000 subscribers from all across the world.

So when the crew at Gas Monkey Garage decided that it was time to overhaul the look of their building, the business approached Texas-based large

format graphics business SkinzWraps to produce large-scale wall graphics showcasing its new logo.

This professional match actually ap pears to have been made in automotive heaven as SkinzWraps specializes in not only wall coverings and murals but also vehicle graphics.

SkinzWraps elected to use Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 matte material for this particular job. The company print ed the logo, as well as its own brand ing and that of Drytac, onto the media using its Epson SureColor SC-S80600. The knowledgeable, experienced, and award-winning SkinzWraps team then installed the graphics on location at the Gas Monkey Garage.

“We were approached by Richard Rawlings and Gas Monkey Garage to produce a set of striking and impact ful graphics to show off the garage’s logo alongside its new sponsors Gorilla Pro and Drytac,” said C.J. Reichwein, president of SkinzWraps. “Working with Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 matte film and our Epson printer allowed us to achieve exactly this.

“Everyone was absolutely thrilled with the final application!”

COREL R EBRANDS AT A LLUDO

OTTAWA, ONTARI O— Corel has undergone a full rebrand, including a new name—Alludo. Leveraging a thirtyfive-plus-year history, Alludo (pro nounced “ah-LOO-dough”) is behind award-winning, globally recognized brands including Parallels, CorelDRAW, MindManager, and WinZip. This rebranding is part of Alludo’s com mitment to reimagining the future of work—not just where people work but also how, when, and even why they work.

“This is a watershed moment for us,” said Christa Quarles, CEO of Alludo ( alludo.com ). “We’re rei magining the way the world works by not just writing a new chapter, but a whole new playbook. This new playbook reimagines what work feels like—for our customers and ourselves. We believe in work ing better and living better, and we want our solutions to deliver just that, boldly and intentionally. That’s why we’ve decided it is time for a new brand.”

The name Alludo represents a cohesive identity and is a nod to the company’s purpose: to empower “all you do.” With this purpose in mind, the company will continue to focus on growth— organically and through mergers and acquisitions.

SIGN SHOW

BANNERS/MATERIAL/ EQUIPMENT

Fisher Textiles’ New Printable, Black-Back Fabric Media is Nirvana Plus

Fisher Textiles is pleased to introduce GF4030 Nirvana Plus, an enhanced, printable, soft signage, black-back fabric developed to significantly decrease smoke exhaustion during the transfer process. Nirvana Plus features 30 percent more fabric on the face than other printable black-back media. The additional fabric increases vibrancy of printed colors and absorbs heat during paper transfer. GF4030 Nirvana Plus is a two-in-one solution for printable fabric with a built-in liner and a finished back, providing cost savings in material and labor. It is ideal for hanging banners and retractable banner stands because of its printability and finished coated backside. Other uses include frontlit SEG and pillowcase fabric displays with no liner. Flameretardant GF4030 Nirvana Plus weighs 9.5 ounces and is stocked 126 inches wide. A 5-meter-wide treated version of this fabric, DD9930 Nirvana Plus, will be available soon for direct and UV-curable printing. fishertextiles.com

DIGITAL SIGNS/EMCS/VIDEO DISPLAYS

Watchfire Adds Tournament Scoring to Ignite Sports Sports facilities hosting tournaments now can score up to four events simultaneously and display the matches on a single videoboard with new enhancements to Ignite Sports, Watchfire Signs’ powerful scoring, entertainment, and edit ing software for video scoreboards. In addition to the new tournament scoring feature, Watchfire has added other enhancements to Ignite Sports—including enhanced tablet scoring with a new, intuitive interface; advance wrestling timing; HD video support for high-resolution video; and integrated design tools (such as rulers and snap-to guides). Ignite Sports scores and times numerous sports, including football, soccer, basketball, and softball. It is packaged with Watchfire sports displays and available with training and support. watchfiresigns.com/score

FABRICS/SOFT SIGNAGE

Go from Recycled Bottles to New HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric

The popular and versatile HP Removable Adhesive Fabric now comes in a version made with recycled water bottles and coating materials. Specifically 100 percent of the total PET resin in this product is made from recycled water bottles, helping to reduce plastic pollution. Introducing HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric—with the same remarkable, repositionable adhesive that can be mounted to indoor or outdoor surfaces without leaving a residue but now available to the growing market of ecoconscious consumers. HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric is slip resistant for floor graphics, is REACH compli ant, and is compatible with HP large format water-based ink technologies. The fabric comes on a three-inch core with a two-inch adapter and can be contour cut and applied without stretching. “There’s a real need in the market for recycled print media, and we want to do our part in the effort to reduce plastic pollution and conserve natural resources,” says Kara Work, BMG product development director for HP Large Format Printing Materials. “HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric is an innovative solution for self-adhesive signage, decor, and graphic applications!” HPLFMedia.com

SIGN SHOW

DIGITAL PRINTING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES

Spectrophotometer Color Management Tool Accurately Measures

Color for SureColor Wide Format Printers

Designed to give SureColor® wide format customers a tool to accurately measure color, the SD-10 is the first Epson-built spectrophotometer and is an easy-to-use and full-featured color measuring device. The SD-10 is a compact, batterypowered device that can be used stand-alone via the built-in LCD display or wirelessly connected to a smartphone through the mobile app to make critical color decisions on-the-go. Allowing users to elevate their color with a simple color management tool, the SD-10 is ideal for print shops, designers, and salespeople to capture, reproduce, and confirm colors with confidence. Measuring colors accurately, consistently, and quickly, the SD-10 is easy to use and easy to carry, and its embedded battery allows for measurements to be taken virtually anywhere, anytime. The SD-10 features market-leading technology, including industry-standard measurement modes (M0, M1e, M2) and Epson’s advanced micro-electrome chanical system (MEMS) technology, used to construct devices with sub-micron precision. Accuracy on textured surfaces is achieved via a large 7.6mm aperture, and 360-degree LED illumination reduces shadows and irregularities to increase accuracy of color measurements. A built-in LCD display makes standalone operation possible, allowing for quick viewing of a measured color’s L*a*b* value. Additionally the last two colors are always being compared, and the delta-E value is displayed. The Epson Spectrometer mobile app allows users to wire lessly connect to mobile devices where they can build custom color libraries, find similar PANTONE® colors, and compare measured colors. The app can be used to see where a color stands in comparison to your printer’s ICC profile. epson.com/proimaging.com

SIGN SHOW

SIGN MEDIA

KAVALAN Adds Three Original Products to Its Portfolio

TAYA Groups announces the launch of three brand-new products in the Kavalan range, as it prepares to deliver PVC-free material options to a wider range of businesses. As Kavalan expands geographically through its fast-growing distribution network, the extended range of PVC-free products will make it possible for many more businesses to embrace more sustainable wide format banner materials. Spiderweb 300 L!ner is the first PVC-free mesh liner available on the market. As a complementary product to Kavalan Spiderweb PVC-free mesh banner material, Spiderweb 300 L!ner will allow for a more versatile application of the mate rial across businesses. As well as being an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC mesh, this liner is also lighter and can help businesses overcome challenges associated with printing using Latex technology. Sunlight Weldable Basic delivers an advanta geous point of entry for companies looking to expand their offering with PVC-free materials. This basic, non-fire-retardant option to Kavalan’s flagship PVC-free product Sunlight Weldable is a cost-effective channel for businesses making their first move away from PVC. Sunlight ZeRo is the first product in the Kavalan range to be fully biodegradable. Biodegradable materials are a landmark inno vation in wide format materials, considering the amount that ends its life in landfill. goforkavalan.com

HOW TO

Facts Over Opinions

The acts of solving subjective sign codes.

It should have been a no-brainer for Smart Signs located near Pittsburgh— replace an auto dealer’s dilapidated sign for one with a cool retro feel.

But when the city’s code officer re turned the drawing, it included a big “X” over the digital display that was to be part of the sign.

In the end, the story had a happy end ing. However it is indicative of one of the biggest challenges facing sign companies across the country—meeting unreason able codes or interpretations.

The International Sign Association (ISA) does this work every day to help sign companies share facts that prove persuasive. It means that companies like Smart Signs got a “head turning” sign in a new market.

“For a small business in the sign in dustry, business is tough as it is,” said Brandon Meyer, owner of Smart Signs. “When you have an opportunity like this and the customer is saying, ‘I’m

not going to give you money unless I know we’re allowed to do this,’ how are we supposed to absorb that legal cost to hire an attorney, or expect our cus tomer to, when we don’t even know if it’s going to be allowed?

“Having ISA behind us gave us that confidence to get through this obstacle and provide that sign and solution for the customer.”

Anyone thinking these are quick and seamless processes would be incorrect. Meyer encountered a codes officer who was stubborn in her denial of the permit.

“We asked the zoning officer if she would tell us in the code where those weren’t allowed,” said Meyer. “She pointed to the code that said, ‘no flash ing signs are allowed.’

“I said, ‘Good news. This sign isn’t go ing to flash at all.’ Then she went silent.”

Another entreaty, this time from the sales professional on Meyer’s team, brought the same result. “She said, Signs.

CODES & REGULATIONS BY DAVID HICKEY

The retro-inspired auto sign in question.

HOW TO

CODES BY DAVID HICKEY

‘We just don’t want these signs in our town,’” he said.

This response came despite the fact that one had just been approved in the same zoning district for the local Chamber of Commerce.

As a member of the Northeast States Sign Association, and therefore an ISA member, Meyer knew where to turn. He had worked with ISA on a similar challenge in Pittsburgh. A local law firm had a digital sign that could no lon ger be repaired. Because the code had changed along with technology, Meyer had to pursue a variance, and ISA was able to successfully coach him through the process.

This one took a little more work. Kenny Peskin, director of industry pro grams at ISA, dug into the township’s code and state code. He drafted a letter detailing what the city’s code said and how it stacked up against state law.

Peskin also noted how the city’s code allowed time and temperature displays without a permit. These time and tem perature displays also could include “any nonprofit public service messages.”

Needless to say, the city was dan gerously close to disallowing a sign based on the content of its message, something that the 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert Supreme Court ruling prohibited.

Thankfully Meyer was able to use the letter Peskin had drafted to persuade the town’s solicitor that he didn’t want this fight. “Sure enough, he talked some sense into them, and they changed their tune,” said Meyer.

The sign took five months from ini tial application to installation. But it was meaningful and not just for Meyer’s sign company (which was expanding into a new territory in central Pennsylvania). It meant a lot to the sales rep, too, who was1 9/15/22 4:12 PM

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CODES & REGULATIONS BY DAVID HICKEY

new on the job and hand landed what would be a significant sale. “To be told ‘no’ based on an opinion was disheart ening to him,” said Meyer.

But it meant the most to the auto dealer. In the midst of a transition to a third generation of ownership, the new owner was able to put his stamp on the business while paying homage to the founder. That was the basis of the retro sign, which mimicked one that the new owner’s grandfather initially installed for the business decades prior.

The sign, Meyer said, is a “head turn er.” Most importantly, the customer loves it. The digital display allows the auto dealer to communicate its specials and services to potential customers.

“Our customers are looking for ways to market themselves to the masses,” said Meyer. “On-premise signage re

them. When they have so many cars and services they offer, how are they supposed to communicate that unless you want to be on a ladder everyday changing letters?”

a sense of confidence that we had the experience and knowledge of the ISA advocacy team behind us and that they also had other codes and court cases to reference when we were presenting that letter.

“It really was based on facts and not just opinion.”

According to Meyer, having ISA’s backing and expertise was invaluable to helping the deal come together. “It makes you feel not alone when you’re

You’ve probably had experiences like Meyer’s, where an obvious no-brainer turned into a codes nightmare. The ISA has a page on its website that is dedicated to local code issues ( signs. org/signcodehelp ), and the Sign Research Foundation ( signresearch.org ) has a number of publications that can make persuasive arguments to your local of ficials or can help them develop reason able sign codes in the first place.

David Harkey is vice president of Govern

IT MAKES YOU FEEL NOT ALONE WHEN FACING THESE CHALLENGES IN THE MARKETPLACE.

Choosing a Business Structure

Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, or Corporation?

Choosing the right business structure is an important first step when starting a company.

It affects your taxes, your ex posure to liability, and your relationship with partners. In the case of corporations, it also affects the amount of paperwork you are required to fill out.

Business structures fall into four basic categories: Sole Proprietorship; Partner ship; Limited Liability Company (LLC); and Corporation.

Both Sole Proprietorships and Part nerships are designated as informal busi ness structures. Both are “pass-through entities,” which means that the profits pass through the business to the indi viduals. Rather than taxing the business for their profits and then taxing the indi viduals on their wages from the business,

Sole Proprietors and Partners only pay taxes once on their personal tax returns.

LLCs and Corporations, on the other hand, are classified as formal business structures. That means that these struc tures exist legally separately from their owners. It also means that these business es are subject to state and federal regula tions in order to preserve their legal status.

Formal business structures, such as an LLC or Corporation, protect your personal assets in the event that you are sued or default on a loan. A formal structure also imbues your company with an aura of credibility.

Is a Lawyer Necessary?

You don’t need a lawyer to set up an LLC or a Corporation. If you have all the time in the world, you can research

the particulars involved in setting up your business and filing. Filing can eas ily be done online.

The reason that you should have a lawyer is that they are professionals. It’s what they do for a living. They have the experience to do things the right way and to do the job quickly. If you don’t do things the right way, you may need a lawyer at some time in the future if you mess things up. It’s your decision—pay the lawyer now or pay later.

One important area where an attor ney can help you is in deciding on LLC taxation. Do you want to be taxed as 1. Sole Proprietorship or Partnership; 2. An S-Corporation; or 3. A C-Corporation?

Generally taxation as a C-Corp for a small business is unrealistic. Large

Photo:

organizations may select this option if you intend to reinvest a significant portion of your profits in equipment or property or you have many investors.

The disadvantage of a C-Corp is double taxation. The Corporation is taxed and then you, as an owner, and your employees are taxed.

If you are starting a new company, first consult your attorney and CPA before deciding on your business structure (i.e., Sole Proprietorship, LLC, Corporation). The legal struc ture that you select will impact your personal liability and affect how you will be taxed.

An attorney can help you avoid po tential liability exposure and also help in obtaining any necessary business permits. What’s more, by reviewing and analyzing all of the different types of contracts you are involved in (such as leases and contracts with your busi ness partners), an attorney can protect your interests.

Sole Proprietorship

As a sole proprietor, you are “the king of me.” You and your business are one and the same. It is the easiest way to start a business.

That can be a good thing and, at other times, not so good. You rake in all of the profits, but you are on the hook for all of the debts. What’s worse, you are personally liable if you default on a loan or are sued.

The good news is that, if you open your shop as the only owner, you are a sole proprietor. You will, however, need to obtain any applicable state and local licenses and permits. You may also be required to file for a DBA (Do ing Business As) with your County re corder if you operate your shop under any name other than yours.

Starting a Sole Proprietorship is easy and inexpensive. Compared to other business entities, taxes are lower. What’s more, you are your own boss with no one to answer to.

There are some downsides. You are personally responsible for all of your

business liabilities. As a sole propri etor, you may also have more difficulty getting a commercial loan.

Running your shop as a Sole Propri etorship provides you with many ad vantages that other business structures do not have. You have fewer govern ment regulations. Your tax obligations may also be lower (because you are only taxed at the personal level).

However, as a Sole Proprietorship, you are self-employed and incur the self-employment tax of 15.3 percent, along with applicable federal and state income taxes.

You are personally liable for all of your shop’s debt. What’s more, if your business is sued and a judgment goes against your company, you are person ally liable and could lose your home or other assets.

General rule of thumb: If you are starting out in business or your shop is earning less than $40,000, you should operate your business as a Sole Proprietorship.

If you have significant personal as sets, you should form an LLC before you start your business to protect these assets. A single-member LLC is taxed as a Sole Proprietorship and incurs the full 15.3 percent self-employment tax.

More than half of the businesses in the United States are Sole Propri etorships. You don’t need much more to get started than the tools of your trade. If you don’t employ anyone, you don’t need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You don’t even need a separate business bank account. In fact, you will unlikely get a business account without an EIN. You simply file taxes using a Schedule C tax form.

The problem that Sole Proprietor ships face is that, because the line be tween personal expenses and business expenses is often blurred, the IRS is more likely to audit you versus operat ing as a more formal business structure. When you face an audit, there is a high probability that you will lose and end

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BUSINESS BY JIM HINGST

up paying more in taxes and penalties.

If that isn’t bad enough, as a Sole Pro prietorship, it is easy for someone to sue you. That puts all of your personal assets at risk. That may not bother you in the first place, if you are dirt poor and have nothing to lose. However a tenacious and vindictive litigant can pursue you to the ends of the earth to your dying day. Even after you lose everything you own, he can garnish your wages.

In the event that you pass away, as a Sole Proprietorship your business dies with you. That can be a problem for your family if they want to sell the business.

It is also more difficult for a Sole Proprietorship to obtain a business loan than operating your business us ing a more formal business structure, such as an LLC.

General Partnership

When forming a Partnership, you should, at the very least, have a written Partner ship agreement. Never ever form a Part nership on a handshake, even when the partner is a friend or a family member.

A Partnership agreement is a con tract between you and your business partners. The value of a Partnership agreement is that it avoids possible disputes. When it comes to money, dis putes are common. What’s more, as the saying goes, there is no such thing as friends when it comes to money.

Some areas that a detailed writ ten agreement should include are:

* The nature of your business;

* Capital contributions of each partner;

* Distribution of profits and losses;

* How members withdraw from the partnership; and

* Dissolution of the partnership.

A lawyer can help you structure an agreement and address all of the pos sible pitfalls that you can encounter when going into business with some one else. The fact is that Partnerships rarely work for a variety of reasons.

A better alternative to a general Part nership is a multi-member LLC. This

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business structure not only delivers all of the benefits of a formal general Part nership agreement but also provides personal asset protection and flexibil ity in how your company is taxed.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Among small businesses, an LLC is the most popular business entity. Not only does it protect your personal assets, it also provides tax benefits (such as passthrough taxation).

When profits pass directly through to the owners, the owners, not the busi ness, are taxed. By comparison, busi nesses that are set up as C-Corporations are taxed twice. First, the profits that the company makes are taxed. Then anything paid to the members is taxed again. Of course, an LLC can choose to be taxed as a C-Corporation, which makes no sense for most businesses.

You can realize tax benefits as the sole member of an LLC, if you select to be taxed as an S-Corp. If your shop makes a profit of $100,000, you can pay yourself half as wages and half as dividends. If all of the profits are passed through to your personal tax statement, the normal self-

employment tax is about $15,000. The self-employment tax of 15.3 percent covers 12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare. You must also pay federal and state income tax.

On the other hand, as an S-Corp, if you pay yourself a reasonable salary of $50,000, you can reduce the self-em ployment tax by 50 percent.

If this sounds like bookkeeping fi nagling, keep in mind that the IRS is more likely to audit you when filing as an S-Corp. For this reason, con sult a lawyer or a CPA when selecting how your LLC should be taxed. If the IRS deems that $50,000 is not a rea sonable salary and some of what you paid yourself as dividends should be reclassified as wages, you could face tax penalties.

LLCs with multiple shareholders are actually not that different from a singleowner LLC.

When an owner of an LLC filing as an S-Corp performs tasks within the business, he must be treated as an employee. He must receive reasonable compensation for his work. In addition to payroll deductions for Social Security and Medicare, federal

and state taxes must also be withheld.

With respect to other employees, the owner must contribute half of their em ployment taxes and all of his own. In part tax savings are realized from the money paid to shareholders, which is not subject to employment taxes. Another tax ben efit is that unlike a C-Corp, LLCs, and S-Corps do not incur corporate taxes, be cause they are pass-through entities.

If you are a one-man shop, set up as a single-member LLC, so you can segregate business finances from personal finances. This permits you to write off business-re lated expenses (office supplies. travel and entertainment costs, etc.).

For tax purposes, you may need to file any number of tax forms that were not required when filing as a sole proprietor. This can be complicated. For this reason, consult your CPA or tax professional.

Conclusion

For most companies, forming your com pany as an LLC is your best option. (Note: To learn more about Corporations, read the expanded version of this article on signshop.com)

Whatever choice you make, make sure to take the following steps:

Do your homework. Read as much as you can about the advantages and disad vantages of the various business structures.

Contact your Secretary of State’s office. As part of your research, find out the regulations, forms, and procedures nec essary to form a business in your state.

Discuss the di erent business structure options with your attorney and CPA or tax professional.

Do all of your planning before you open for business. Remember that proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

Next month, I will venture further into this subject with details about oper ating agreements, and choosing a statu tory agent.

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Marlon Lopez

DISPLAYS

BY JEFF WOOTEN

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

Ahigh school in Aurora, Illinois recently wanted to initiate a culture change at its campus and replace a long-standing mural that featured a more Hollywoodcentric view of Native Americans with one presenting a more representative culture who actually lived where the school is located.

The end-result is a forty-five-foot-long mural display aptly named “On This Potawatomi Land…” and featuring re alistic imagery and iconography related to the Potawatomi tribe in the area. You can even call this endeavor an exhibit as it also includes backlit panels in front of

the mural and custom-designed pedestals that give the viewer more detailed infor mation about the peoples who lived in the area centuries ago.

Digicom Imaging, Inc., of nearby Plain field, was in charge of designing, fabricat ing, and installing this particular exhibit for the high school—and for good reason. This full-service sign company has been in business for twenty-plus years now, and they have a highly regarded reputation in the area for creating signage that captures (and exceeds) a client’s vision.

Owner Ryan Loft says that his com pany prides itself in tackling projects that extend past their comfort zone. They

have the equipment and knowledge to create many types of displays—from large murals to backlit panels illuminated with LEDs. (Note: If they don’t have the tools needed in-house for certain signage, they will also partner with other vendors for that fabrication process.)

Digicom Imaging already enjoys a rela tionship with the school district, design ing and building signage of all kinds for many of their campuses, so they were an ideal fit for this project. Loft says that they view getting approvals from administra tors as a partnership. “We might bounce some numbers off of them and describe what this amount could include,” he ex

Photos: Digicom Imaging, Inc.

Producing displays honoring an area’s Native American culture.

plains, “and we go back and forth until what the client envisions and what we will charge blend together.”

The company began with a site survey, which Loft stresses is always an impor tant step to any successful project. They always cover most of the bases (taking exact measurements, understanding the various substrates they will be working with, etc.) to make sure they don’t end up with any surprises along the way. “How ever, as any sign shop will tell you, sur prises are, in most cases, part of the job,” says Loft. “We just try to deal with them, come up with solutions, keep everyone informed, and move on.”

This ended up being a very challenging and intensive project for Digicom Imag ing, because of its scope. They ended up designing all aspects of the display, and they even created a new crest for them.

The initial phase involved plenty of legwork on the part of the sign shop. “We first had to do a lot of research

into the First Peoples who settled on the land where the school is now lo cated,” details Loft. “We contacted museums and scoured the Internet for documents. We spoke with members of the Potawatomi tribe and tried to get a sense of who these people were, where they came from, and what happened to them over the centuries. It was truly a mind-expanding quest.”

The images used in this display came for a variety of sources. “Online services such as Shutterstock and Getty Images provide a multitude of images that can be purchased and used commercially,” ex plains Loft. “If we can’t find images using those services, we sometimes reach out to book publishers in an effort to obtain im ages that might serve us well in a project.

“Once we have an image in mind, we take a look at the resolution and see if it might work for our project.”

Digicom Imaging then uses tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator to manipu

late the image in such a way to make it useful for their purposes. “After any ma nipulation, we always test a portion of the image at the size it will eventually end up being, using our printers to make sure it will meet the quality criteria we expect,” says Loft.

Lots of engineering went into this proj ect. Digicom Imaging figures that they used every machine and device in its shop for it—everything from their large flatbed printer to their 3D printer.

The company started by producing a diorama of their vision for this project via a 3D printer to show school administra tors what the final piece would look like.

Twelve panels for the mural were pro duced on an HP 365 printer. The com pany printed the panels on 3M 8624 vi nyl and used a 2-mil cast matte laminate to protect the image.

Meanwhile the backlit portion of the display was created with a gentle curve to coincide with the flow of the river. “It

was no small feat to create a freestanding display that measures twenty-eight-feetlong-by-four-feet-tall where the panels needed to be slid into channels that were CNC-routed into the wood,” he states.

Digicom Imaging needed a wood that would stand up to any moisture that might be present on the floor. “Since facilities routinely clean and wax the floor, we wanted something that could hold up in that environment,” says Loft,

noting that they also wanted this struc ture to be solid.

With these requirements in mind, the shop used 2-inch-by-10-inch-by-8-foot pressure-treated pine.

Their next challenge involved hav ing to CNC-route this wood in the shape of a gentle curve as well as plac ing slots in the boards to accommodate four-by-seven-foot Lexan panels being slid into them. “We had to use special

router bits to cut the 1-1/2-inch-thick pressure-treated wood and a special hold-down system so the lumber would not move when routing,” explains Loft. “At the same time, we needed a system that could join the pieces of cut lumber together so there would be no appar ent seam, as well as a post system that could join the upper and lower sections of the twenty-eight-foot-long rail so, when we slid the Lexan panels in place,

The freestanding wood display with slide-in Lexan panels features a gentle curve in it.

they wouldn’t bind.

“We wanted the panels to be able to be removed, if the school ever wanted to change out the images in the future.”

In an effort to add some “pop” and “depth” to the display, Digicom Imag ing opted to backlight them with LED.

Digicom Imaging always planned on printing the Lexan panels on their flatbed printer. Since they wanted it to illuminate well with the LED com

ponents, they used the second-surface application to give them a little added density. “While we could have print ed them on PVC or white Lexan, the choice to make them backlit was a good one, since they almost looked 3D when lit,” says Loft.

The LED modules are located only three inches away from the prints, so the sign shop backed up the printed im age with some translucent vinyl to re

duce any hot spots that might be caused by the LEDs’ close proximity. “Actually everything worked out exactly as we had planned,” confirms Loft. “The im ages looked stunning!”

They used a low-intensity LED source typically used for under-cab inet lighting because they didn’t want the panels to be too bright and either take away from the mural behind it or make it a possible distraction within the

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Each of the display pieces features realistic imagery associated with the Potawatomi tribe.

school. “We didn’t want it to look like you were walking through an airport,” comments Loft.

The front-standing pedestals were formulated from photos that Digicom Imaging saw on various web sites, but Loft admits that even the images they came across didn’t quite have what they were looking for on this project. “Some were too large, and some were too small,” he says invoking Goldilocks, “and some of them just didn’t have the right mix of a modern feel and a ‘wow’ factor.”

The sign company ended up cre ating these pedestals out of laser-cut acrylic, powder-coated aluminum, and steel, as well as an integral frame that surrounded the art and text that had been printed on their flatbed printer.

They brought back their 3D printer to fabricate the black plas tic connectors used on the acrylic pedestals holding the two pieces of acrylic together at the corners, as well as to produce black plastic caps that hide the bolts used to secure the pedestals to the floor.

The 14-by-45-foot mural took two days for the shop to install, while the 4-by-28-foot front panel display took five days to install. Part of this was due to staining and poly-coating the wood prior to the installation. “It was also a process to get all the wood sec tions to fit together without a notice able seam,” remarks Loft.

Since the structure itself was free standing, it had to be secured with concrete embedded bolts, sixteen aluminum posts, and a matching top section that had to be a mirror image of the bottom section. Eight panels had to slide into the routed slots without binding. “It took a little extra sanding, but in the end, everything worked well,” says Loft.

This project has been a boon for the community and gener ated plenty of exposure. The local newspaper even featured it on their front page. “And the students at the school have a sense of pride, in regards to learning about the ori gin of the school’s name as well as the first people who settled on this land,” concludes Loft.

OUTDOOR

IT’S INSTALLER TI ME!

BY JEFF WOOTEN

Giant graphics are installed atop a Milwaukee building.

“Once the material was in position, we had to lock it in quick,” says Adam Brown, president of Sign Effectz, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wis consin. “We didn’t want this big ‘kite’ just floating around up there.”

Brown is referencing two new roof top 40-by-40-foot, 300-pound sign face graphics his shop installed this past Au gust in downtown Milwaukee. This pro ject scope also included a massive struc ture to support two monster graphics.

The building owner asked the custom sign manufacturer to switch out a rooftop rotating sign used by a previous client that had stopped operating with stunning new graphics for his new leasee, Miller Brewing

Company. The two graphics were printed on eighteen-ounce Panaflex material— one features their logo (“It’s Miller Time”) and the other a promotional photo.

The previous sign structure was de signed and erected in 1967, which meant a very detailed structural analysis at the beginning. The only part of the previous sign remaining is a twenty-foot-tall, triplewalled steel pole structure, part of the su per structure that is still in place. “Word on the site was that there was somewhere around 100,000 pounds worth of steel supporting this beast,” says Brown.

Using this steel pole structure as sup port, Sign Effectz ended up engineering and fabricating eight five-foot-tall-byfour-foot-wide-by-forty-foot-long sections

out of select steel angle iron. When the top frame was welded together, it also served as the vehicle to host the 600 pounds of graphics panels on the top.

A unique engineering feat during its build was incorporating a triangulated series of ladders, jack lines, and catwalks inside the framework. These would al low workers to later access the top of the structure safely.

Sign Effectz hired Ideal Crane Service with a 550-ton mobile crane and a 325foot reach, along with a man basket, to get the job done. It took an entire city block to get the positioning and angle just right.

Wind speeds played an important role in not only the lift of the framework and install of the Panaflex faces but also what days and times they could get this done. Fifteen-miles-per-hour wind was the threshold, so Sign Effectz used a subscrip tion-based app intended for flying drones that forecasted and monitored the weather and wind speeds at a 294-foot elevation over a seven-day period. “It turns out

A series of ladders, jack lines, and catwalks inside the framework allowed the installers, geared with harnesses and fall protection, access to the top of the framework structure.

11pm to 4am was the sweet spot with re gards to optimal wind speeds,” says Brown.

With wind speed times calculated, Sign Effectz next needed to address how to make sure the steel framework and rolled graphics were successfully hoisted atop the roof. Because of his position and latenight visibility, the ground-based crane operator was not going to have a clear line of sight and needed direction.

The solution: Designating three team members at various locations communi cating with the crane operator via Blue tooth headsets and cellphones. Two were on the roof and one was on a parking ga rage adjacent to the building. One would take over when the other’s aerial line of sight ended. “It was a sort of ‘leap frog’ style of communication, ensuring they al ways knew where the lift was and how it was reacting to conditions,” says Brown.

About 1,500 feet of taglines and rope were used to hoist the steel sections in place one at a time, using a similar “leap frog” approach to the lifting process.

“Half of them sleeved entirely over the pole,” says Brown. “We had to bolt togeth er the remaining top four sections in the sky, which made alignment a little more difficult, [and] only using tag lines, drift pins, and hardware to secure in place.”

Another challenge was the fire hazard below the signs. The elevator operating room featured a lot of oil and grease from the previous rotating mechanism, which

meant welding and torching were out until it could be sealed and isolated from the potential fire hazard. As the new sign was not going to rotate any longer, all the pipe and pivot bearing materials had to be removed.

Sign Effectz used reciprocating saws and special carbide blades to prep the pole structure and eliminate the potential of sparks or flames. They also assigned somebody to be on “fire watch” inside the room at all times. They filled any openings created from the removed rotat ing parts with fire-rated expanding foam and covered everything with fire blankets as another level of protection to isolate the fire-sensitive area.

The graphics were next hoisted in place with the final top frame. Then workers at the top of the assembled spaceframe struc ture rolled the massive graphic downward off its edge. “It was like a 300-pound sail or flag dropping down,” says Brown.

Brown compares it to preparing a para chute for deployment. “It had to be folded just right so it wouldn’t tangle up or get jammed in a bundle when unfurled,” he explains, “or we’d have to drop it all down to the roof and start over.”

The Panaflex graphics were installed

using a ratchet-and-rod system. “The vi nyl has a pocket in it all the way around the perimeter,” says Brown. “We slid fiberglass rods into the pockets, quickly ratcheted it in place to ensure it was se cure, then worked out the wrinkles.”

This was the first time most of Brown’s installers had worked in a high-rise envi ronment like this, so he had to develop an entire site safety plan for the job that included daily safety meetings, inspection of gear, and fall recovery plans. He also had to ensure all the proper fall protection and fall recovery gear was in place. Daily meetings kept team members on point and from potentially becoming compla cent in the high-elevation environment.

(Note: There was no railing or barrier on the roof to protect from falling.)

The fall recovery plan came with three options to rescue any workers that might fall during the installation (man basket and crane rescue, a recovery ladder over the edge of the sign, and repelling gear to access anyone unconscious). Fortunately none these options were needed.

“They all took it seriously and did a phenomenal job. They all understood the risk involved and were super-perfecto. I’m incredibly proud of them!” says Brown.

Two graphics were printed onto eighteen-ounce Panaflex material. One graphic features the Miller Lite logo, while the other (pictured) showcases a promotional product shot. To see more photos and videos related to this project, visit www.signshop.com.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE

BY ALETHEA JADICK Broadcast

hen the National Asso ciation of Broadcasters (NAB) decided to build its new headquarters on a high-traffic corner on Washington D.C.’s South Capitol Street, the premier trade association for broadcasters seized upon the opportunity to make a strong statement about the key role of televi sion, radio, and new media in TwentyFirst Century America.

Supporting its mission of advocacy, ed ucation, and innovation, NAB integrated more than 200 cutting-edge displays

from LG Business Solutions in nearly every space—including a 22-foot-wideby-20-foot-tall 2mm pixel pitch LG LED Signage curved video wall in the firstfloor lobby that’s visible from the street.

According to NAB Vice President Mi chael Tow, the new headquarters loca tion—closer to Capitol Hill and in the heart of the hot new business and en tertainment area anchored by Nationals Park—was chosen to “plant the flag” for heightened visibility of the broadcast in dustry among policymakers, members, and other stakeholders.

LG Business Solutions with technology solutions provider Diversified and audio visual consultant Miller, Beam and Pa ganelli helped NAB create a headquarters that Tow said sends a message that they represent an industry that is on the cut ting edge across the board—from public policy to programming to technology.

“As a facility promoting the broadcast industry to policymakers and the public, we saw a need to have a large format dis play in the main lobby acting as a land mark for the community that says ‘those are the broadcasters,’” he said. “With so

A curved video wall in the first-floor lobby is visible from the street.

broadcasting; encourages content and technology innovation; and spotlights the important and unique ways stations serve their communities. While all of this and more are highlighted in the first-floor lobby’s video wall, even more specialized displays adorning NAB’s corporate lobby upstairs deliver content in unique and compelling ways.

After stepping out of the elevator into the tenth-floor lobby, guests and col leagues are greeted by technology they likely have never seen before: a transpar ent LG OLED video wall that allows viewers to literally see through video mes saging and TV content to the extraordi nary view of the nation’s capital.

much car and foot traffic passing by the building’s lobby windows on a daily basis, we recognized that a large curved LED Signage wall makes a powerful statement that NAB and the broadcast industry are focused on the future and utilizing the

most innovative technologies available.”

As the voice for the nation’s radio and television broadcasters, NAB advances the interests of its members in federal government, industry, and public affairs; improves the quality and profitability of

The 2-by-3 panel video wall, which comprises six 55-inch transparent OLED panels for a total screen size of 144 inch es measured diagonally, has the capabil ity to display live TV programming and NAB messaging as one large image or as six separate screens running different content simultaneously. The video wall is

flanked by vertically mounted, eighty-sixinch LG Ultra-Stretch displays that make an excellent canvas for meeting informa tion, company updates, and other inter nal communications.

“The transparent LG OLED video wall is the kind of technology the phrase ‘show-stopper’ is meant for,” said Mi chael Burnstein, vice president of Di versified. “We knew it could provide the types of eye-catching digital experiences we envisioned to highlight the headquar ters while remaining cognizant of our budget and needs.”

NAB occupies six floors in total. On floors five through nine, visitors and em ployees are greeted by a sixty-five-inch 4K Ultra HD (UHD) display showing NAB messaging when they exit the elevator.

Nearly every area and room contains digital displays, including ten executive offices and twelve team rooms that each house a forty-three-inch LCD display and a CEO Team Room that includes the same sixty-five-inch 4K UHD model lo

cated at each floor’s elevator bank. Five conference rooms contain 65–inch 4K UHD displays, the Gordon H. Smith Conference Center (named for Sen. Smith, former NAB President & CEO) goes big with an 86-inch 4K UHD dis play, and the fifth-floor boardroom fea tures a 98-inch 4K UHD LED display.

In addition to the LED Signage and transparent OLED video walls, the tenth floor NAB Hall of Fame video wall com posed of five ultra-narrow-bezel fifty-fiveinch 4K UHD LED displays arranged in a 5-by-1 configuration, shows highlights from the colorful history of broadcasting.

The Multi-Purpose Room is also on the tenth floor, in which another LG LED Signage video wall provides a be zel-free 1.8mm pixel pitch UHD display that’s 32-feet-wide-by-6-feet tall.

NAB’s fitness center utilizes two fiftyfive-inch LCD displays, and the Cafe on the ninth floor features nine fiftyfive-inch UHD LED monitors. The IT Counter-Intelligence Center has three

forty-nine-inch LCD displays.

Yet another video wall is located in the fifth-floor Technology Showcase, using four 55-inch 0.44mm bezel monitors to create a 2-by-2 video wall.

With all the cutting-edge displays found at the new headquarters, NAB and LG also plan to use the space as a showcase for businesses in the Washington Metro area looking for new technologies.

“From an architectural standpoint, we wanted to merge the interior tech nology with the building’s excellent views of the Capitol, as well as create public visibility from outside the build ing,” said John Paganelli, principal at Miller, Beam and Paganelli.

The technology at NAB’s new head quarters is leaps and bounds beyond what was used for decades at its previous building. Even more importantly, it aids the organization in their mission to con nect with district citizenry and meaning fully affect broadcasting legislation for years to come.

Coastal Enterprises

Duxbury Systems Inc. EdgeLight LLC/EdgeMax LLC Epilog Laser

Gyford Laminators Inc. Mimaki USA

MUTOH Rowmark

SAi

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SinaLite Southern Stud Weld Stamm Mfg. Stimpson Company Inc. ThinkSign Trotec Laser Inc.

Ultraflex Watchfire Signs Wilkie Mfg. YardSignsReseller.com IN SIGN SHOW

www.aplazer.com www.PrecisionBoard.com www.duxburysystems.com www.edgelightcom www.epiloglaser.com www.standoffsystems.com www.laminatorsinc.com www.mimakiusa.com www.MUTOH.com www.rowmark.com www.thinksai.com www.sdsautomation.com www.shopbottools.com www.signs365.com www.sinalite.com www.studweld.com www.stamm-mfg.com ww. stimpson.com www.thinksign.com www.troteclaser.com www.ultraflexx.com go.watchfiresigns.com www.wilkiemfg.com www.yardsignsresellers.com

www.epson.com www.fishertextiles.com www.HPLFMedia.com www.goforkavalan.com www.watchfiresigns.com

SBI OPERATIONS

DIGITAL PRINTING BY CHRIS BISCUITTI

for even more items they need now that business is picking up.”

When asked about the evolution of the printing industry over the past thirty-eight years, Dave says, “Digital printing, wide format, and the inter net are the three biggest differences. We can do so much with in-house digital and wide format printing, which is a huge benefit for our turn around times.”

As for online competition, Dave says, “We get a good amount of people who come in asking us to clean up incorrect projects that someone else did online. When we fix orders like these, it helps us keep our reputation as the ‘go-to’ lo cal printer, and it leads many of them to use us from the first step the next time around. This helps us build and main tain our reputation, and generates more good will and referrals.”

When Cathie Loudon pur chased her Minuteman Press franchise in East Northport, Long Island in 1984, her son Dave was fifteen-yearsold. “I fondly remember working in the shop during my high school years, and then I started full-time in the family business [four years ago,” says Dave.

While the printing industry has cer tainly changed in the thirty-eight years since the Loudon family first joined the Minuteman Press family, there are still a few common threads that remain in effect today.

“I have always believed in providing a personal touch as well as outstand ing customer service,” says Dave. “If we can deliver high-quality products on time and make sure we are there for our clients whenever they need us, we

have seen, for nearly forty years, how that will generate positive referrals for our business.”

This customer-facing approach and proactive outreach helped Dave’s busi ness hold steady during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and operate as an essential business. Then, as more busi nesses ramped up their production and promotion of goods and services, Dave and his team were able to achieve 66 percent sales growth in 2021 over 2020. Today Minuteman Press in East North port is on pace for another record sales year in 2022, including record monthly sales in April of 2022.

“There were clients that we reached out to who asked us to fulfill orders for essential items during the pandemic,” says Dave. “Some of these clients are now asking us to fulfill bigger orders

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For Subscriptions, & address changes, Please call (402) 346-4740, Fax (847) 291-4816, e-mail signbuilder@omeda.com, or write to: Sign Builder Illustrated, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, PO Box 239, Lincolnshire IL 60069-0239 USA.

Dave has two pieces of advice for other business owners: “First, remember that customer service is one of your most powerful forms of relationship-building, and, in its own way, marketing.

“Secondly it’s important to remind people about the tangibility and viabil ity of print. Simply put, print makes an impact. Whether it’s signage, restaurant menus, or postcards with QR codes, print has the ability to draw people to your business, both in person and online.”

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 239, Lincolnshire IL 60069-0239 USA.

Instructional information provided in this magazine should only be performed by skilled crafts people with the proper equipment. The publisher and authors of information provided herein advise all readers to exercise care when engaging in any of the how-to-activities published in the magazine. Further, the publisher and authors assume no liability for damages or injuries resulting from projects contained herein.

Customer service is one of your most powerful forms of relationship-building and marketing.