Sign Builder September 2022 by Sign Builder Illustrated

SEPTEMBER 2022 | S IGN S HOP.COMTHE H OW-TO MAGAZINE SIGN BUILDER ILLUS T RA T ED LARGE FORMAT: WALL & VEHICLE GR APHIC S SIGN PRICING: THE D ISCOVERY PROCESS A NAT URAL SC UL PT SIGN: IDENTITY

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2022 VOL. 36 NO. 326 signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 1 SMooseheadPhoto:Coverigns. EDITOR’S COLUMN Every sign maker has their own story, and Editor Jeff Wooten details the role this plays at SBI/ NSSA NE Sign Conference & Expo. IN THE INDUSTRY A large format printing company produces and installs graphics for a sitcom’s experiential event in Toronto, and a global investment company acquires Watchfire Signs. SIGN SHOW The newest products and services from sign manufacturers. SBI MARKETPLACE Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade. SBI OPERATIONS Jeff Wooten provides shop details about how print company 702 Graphics of Las Vegas keeps driving their momentum forward. 101646 HOW-TO COLUMNS DEPARTMENTS

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE & EXPO SHOW GUIDE Previewing

Renewing a restoration company’s fleet of vehicles. GOING TO THE WALL

By Maura Keller Hammond Lumber Company By Ashley Bray By Jeff Wooten

LUMBERING: A SCULPT

702 Graphics succeeds with large format graphics. 3428 FEATURES 28 428 DISCOVERING THE PROCESS By Joe Arenella Improve your discovery and increase your profits. THE TIMES ARE A-CHANGIN’! By David Hickey Planners try to adapt for the future. 44 20 8 38

orders a new custom landmark HDU sign. FLEET RESTORATION

IDEA

SBI/NSSA this

month’s happenings at the SBI/NSSA Northeast Conference & Expo in Providence, Rhode Island.

2 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com September 2022, Vol. 36, No. 326 Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation Subscriptions:EXECUTIVE402-346-4740OFFICES 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 jwooten@sbpub.com212-620-7244ManagingEditor Ashley Bray Contributingabray@sbpub.com212-620-7220Writers Joe Arenella, David Hickey, Maura Keller ART Art Director Nicole D’Antona Graphic Designer Hillary PRODUCTIOColemanN Corporate Production Director Mary CIRCUConyersLATION Circulation Director Jo Ann Binz joann@qcs1989.com ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager David Harkey dharkey@sbpub.com212-620-7223 Sign Builder Illustrated is published monthly. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. To purchase PDF ﬁles of cover and layouts or hard copy reprints, please call Gary Lynch at 212-620-7247 or e-mail glynch@sbpub.com. SBI®

Y ears ago, an area radio sta tion during the morning drive hours had a bit that was in spired by one of the DJs notic ing people in their cars and wondering why they were there and where they were going. The DJ would randomly pick someone out of the phone book (remember those, kids?) and call them out of the blue to find out their “story” and see if they could share an interest ing fact about their life. I guess social media has taken away some of the mystery behind people’s lives; it definitely made this radio bit antiquated. But that segment always fas cinated me—and still does. To this day, I still find myself wondering, “What’s interesting about the person driving the car next to me or the person wandering the store aisles? What’s their story?” I used to ponder what I’d bring up if my phone number was picked. I’d probably panic and start yapping about interacting with family members throughout my life who were born in the nineteenth, twentieth, and twentyfirst centuries. I know, I know—snooze. When I interview sign shops for fea tures, I always dig a little more into their story and try to find out a little about why they started their shop or why they got into this industry or what qualities they feel made them appropriate for the jobs at hand—whether or not all these details make the finished version. I don’t like generalities about groups What’s Your Story?

Not all sign shops are the same.

AGENDA Note: All events listed below are subject to change. Please check show sites for the most up-todate

The key takeaway is not all sign shops act the same. Some are big; some are small. Some are full-service; some are specialists. Some worry about a reces sion; some try to find a twenty-fifth hour in the day to finish projects on time.

4 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com

JEFF WOOTEN Editor, JEFF WOOTEN

NOVEMBER 2022 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 Convention Center with Live Design International (LDI) and XLIVE. (digitalsignageexperience.com) of people. Sure this magazine is pre dominately read by sign makers and print providers, but not everyone in this industry approaches projects the same. It’s like that old proverbial phrase, “Well if everyone was the same, this would be a very boring place” (a phrase that, yes, was delivered to me as a child from one of my grandparents born in the nine teenth century—unsnooze!).

I’m really very excited about our panels at this month’s SBI/NSSA Northeast Con ference & Expo—one focusing on solu tions to challenges shops are facing and the other detailing how shop spaces are laid out to improve workﬂow. We’re speaking with sign shops directly, and I hope every one is inspired by the ideas being presented at both panels. (Note: If you’d like to be a member on one of these panels, there’s still time. Just email me at jwooten@sbpub.com.)

jwooten@sbpub.com EDITOR’S COLUMN BY

We also will have designated spots for networking, and I encourage attendees to meet their fellow professionals and even ﬁnd out their “story.”

SEPTEMBERinformation.2022SEPTEMBER19-21: SBI/NSSA Northeast Conference & Expo will take place at the RI Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. (signshop.com/nssa) SEPTEMBER 23-24: Sign and graphics companies all across Canada can’t wait to get together in-person at the Sign Association of Canada (SAC)’s Sign Expo Canada event in Mississauga, Ontario. (sac-ace.ca/sign-expo-canada)

OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 13: SEGD Branded Environments 2022 taking place in New York City is the in-person event that is purely focused 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 event at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (printingunited.com) OCTOBER 20: The seventh-annual NCCCO Foundation Industry Forum on Personnel Qualiﬁcations is scheduled to be held in-person in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as via Zoom. (ncccofoundation.org/industry-forum)

KhairilX.Shutterstock.com/MohdPhoto:

6 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com IN THE INDUSTRY

ORONTO, CANADA—Ontar io-based large format print ing company Global Printing Enterprises was there for the Toronto edition of the FRIENDS™ Experience where they recently used Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 polymeric PVC film to produce a series of colorful graphics for this event. Created by Warner Bros. and Superfly X – A Brand Experience company, the FRIENDS Experience is an interactive celebration of the iconic TV show. Thou sands of fans of the hit U.S. sitcom are de scending on theYorkdale Shopping Centre to enjoy a number of experiences—includ ing the opportunity to visit replica sets of the main characters’ apartments and view official show memorabilia.

To help promote the event, Superfly X reached out to Global Printing Enterprises to print a range of graphics and hoardings at Yorkdale Mall, an Oxford Propertiesmanaged company. These were installed over the Canada Day Weekend (July 1-4) at the centre square of Yorkdale Shopping Centre to draw the attention of passers-by. The eye-catching entrance graphics replicated the famous picture frame in stalled around the door fisheye in one of the apartments on the show. Other graph ics installed outside of the event venue in cluded wayfinding signage and large QR codes that fans could scan to book tickets instantly, as well as famous quotes and phrases from the show.

In total, the graphics covered an area of more than 15,000 square feet but took the team at Global Printing Enterprises, working in partnership with installation specialist Install Nation, just five days to print and install (all without the need to “pivot,” for those familiar with the sitcom). Global Printing Enterprises opted for Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 as the ma terial for all of the event graphics. “The base wall had been painted over vinyl graphics, creating a difficult surface to adhere any type of graphics film to,” said Global Printing Enterprises Presi dent Carlo Toscano. “In consultation

FOR FRIENDS EY E-CATCHING GRAPHICS SPEC I AL E VENT

signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 7

“Then came the challenge—using laser levels, the team at Install Nation installed with precision all the components you see on top of the already installed panels. It’s a longer process, but when done properly and with highly skilled installers it makes for a clean and symmetrical image.” (Note: Toscano added that the flexibility of Dry tac ReTac Smooth 150, in particular the ability to install the film quickly and for it to remain affixed with the ability for re movability, was essential in the project.)

Toscano added that the client was im pressed with not only the quality of print and installation but also the solution to use multiple layers. “[Doing so] offered a costeffective way to introduce new graphics and elements as required,” he said.

ANVILLE, I LLINOIS— Global alternative invest ment firm H.I.G. Capital announces that one of its affiliates has completed the acquisition of Watchfire Signs, LLC, a leading man ufacturer of premium digital signage. H.I.G. Capital is partnering with the current management team to pro vide capital and resources to support Watchfire’s growing position across multiple segments of the digital dis play industry, including indoor and outdoor LED signage, digital bill boards, and video scoreboards. Watchfire’s strong brand reputation and expansive customer network have allowed them to establish an installed base of over 65,000 LED“Wedisplays.areexcited to leverage H.I.G.’s considerable experience investing in outdoor advertising companies to accelerate our own growth initia tives,” said Watchfire CEO Steve“WeHarriott.lookforward to supporting Steve and the rest of his executive team as they continue to lead [Watchfire Signs] through its next exciting phase of expansion,” added Ryan Kaplan, managing director at H.I.G. with Dennis LeBlanc from Drytac, we decided to use an old school multi-layer installation technique. When you look at the wall in its entirety, it looks as if we printed the background and graphics at the same time, when in reality, the back black and purple were applied ﬁrst.

H.I.G. RES WATCH FI RE SIG NS D

CAP I TAL ACQU I

Global Printing Enterprises ended up printing all the graphics for the FRIENDS Experience on their HP Latex 3100, which meant that the company was able to utilize dual-roll printing for maximum printing speeds. “Especially for this indoor project, the use of HP inks was essential in providing a safe environment for everyone inside the mall,” said Toscano.

LED MODULES/TUBES/STRIPS

ROUTERS

CNC

8 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com SIGN SHOW

Tormach Inc., Introduces a Valuable Addition to its 24R CNC Router

The new Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) for the Tormach, Inc., 24R CNC router features an ISO20 ATC Spindle with a 10-tool rack and an automatic lifting dust shoe (which allows users to check the router’s cutting action while the machine is running and leading into a cut). The ATC is integrated into Tormach’s award-winning PathPilot CNC controller. Ideal for premium woodworkers and sign makers, the 24R is designed to accurately cut a wide variety of materials including woods, plastics, aluminum, and more. With an advanced control, a rigid cast-iron bed, a welded steel stand, a water-cooled chiller, an integrated vacuum table, and a more-than-two-by-four-foot work envelope, the 24R is the perfect choice for 2D and 3D cutting needs. The ATC also features repeatable tool lengths (which provide faster tool changes). Liquid-cooled spindle specs include: 1.5 kW, 10,00024,000 rpm, ISO20 spindle taper, integrated power drawbar, integrated PDB (Power Draw Bar) open sensor, and a positive air pressure spindle nose seal. As with all Tormach products, customers will receive free remote technical support for the 24R ATC via email, phone, and video chat. tormach.com/our-story

You Can Expect More from Your Low-cost Channel Letter Lighting Solution SloanLED proudly announces the extension of its VL4 value series of channel letter lighting solutions. VL4 shatters expectations with its prism lens technology for an ultra-wide radiation pattern and an impressive light output of up to 195 lumens per foot (High Output 7200 K). VL4 also features a lifetime rating of over 54,000 hours and a peel-n-stick, perforated, one-piece release tape liner that reduces installation time by up to 30 percent. Designed to cover the full range of sign and display applications, VL4 Standard, Mini, and High Output (HO) now offer the complete selection of White color temperatures (7200 K, 6500 K, 5000 K, 4000 K, 3000 K), as well as Red, Green, and Blue in Mini and HO sizes. The new HO colors replace the existing Standard colors and deliver twice the light output without sacrificing perfor mance and long-term reliability. At the same time, Mini Red, Green, and Blue allow the use of color in shallow applications where full-size modules won’t fit. sloanled.com

ENGRAVERSLASER CO2 Laser Lenses Improve PerformanceEtching Laser Research Optics has intro duced a full line specificareCOfield-replacementOEM-compatible,of2laserlensesthatofferedwithfocal lengths to make sharper cuts with fewer passes. Laser Research CO2 Lenses are offered in 0.5-inch- to 1.5-inchdiameter sizes with focal lengths from 1 inch to 25 inches in 0.5-inch increments. Permitting users to optimize their laser etching lasers, these field-replacement lenses con form to ISO-10110 specifications. Featuring 40-20 scratchdig surface quality and less than 0.2 percent absorption values to keep them cooler, Laser Research CO2 Lenses are ideally suited for use in Epilog®, Kern®, Trotec®, Universal®, and Vytek® lasers combined with the Rack Star fixture system for holding glass and aluminum products. Laser Research CO2 Lenses are priced according to size and quantity, while price quotations are available upon request. laserresearch.net

Come visit us at the SBI/NSSA Northeast Conference & Expo from September 19-21, 2022. Booth #411 From the dip switches* who brought you dip switches. *Legal wouldn’t let us use the other word. Tetra® LT - the first economical 24V LED system that meets your essential channel letter needs. • Available in three different sizes (Deep, Medium, and Shallow) and four CCTs (7100K, 6500K, 5000K, and 4100K). • Load up to 120 feet or 240 modules of 24V Tetra® LT Shallow per 100W power supply using our new and improved GLX2 and Ti-10 power supplies. • UL Wet Rated and IP66 The Tetra® Ti-10 is our first LED power supply built to last a decade. The 10 in its name stands for the standard 10year warranty, the first in the signage industry. Tetra® Ti-10 is compatible with all 24V Tetra® products and matches their 10-year warranty when used together. Tetra® Ti-10 24V 100W Power Supply Tetra® LT 24V Performance. Everyday Value. © 2022 Current Lighting Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved. GE is a trademark of the General Electric Company and is used under license. gecurrent.com/signage1.888.694.3533

SignTracker.Arenella,Joeart:andPhotosAll

10 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com HOW TO PRICING | BY JOE ARENELLA

Improve your discovery and increase your proﬁts. the Process

Discovering

fter twenty-plus years in the sign business, I’ve learned that what clients think they want is almost never what they really need. In fact, the key to suc cessful sales is in the discovery stage of a sign project and not in the delivery.

A few years back, my shop did a project for a client in a twenty-plus-story building in downtown Austin, Texas. During the initial interview, the client said they want ed their logo displayed with a huge set of channel letters to be seen blocks away. After researching the relevant municipal codes, we discovered the city would allow the client two signs on the building, rather than one, because the customer occupied the majority of the building’s ofﬁce space. We quickly called the client, and our project went from one sign to two; a $75K job morphed into a $125K job, just like that. If we had just given the client what they thought they wanted—a single sign—we would have missed out on a greatThinkopportunity.ofthediscovery stage as the re search stage—a combination of what the client really wants and what the client can actually have. I love the discovery stage of the proj ect. This is where all opportunities are uncovered, requiring both expertise and creativity.Properdiscovery also allows your shop to ﬁx two major issues at once: commod ity pricing and “know it all” clients.

#1. Commodity pricing: Clients who view signs as a commodity and just an other business expense will be driven by price and price alone. This view leads to price wars with the competition and missed opportunities for both you and the client. #2. “Know It All” clients: Some cli ents come into a project with a number of wrong assumptions about how signs work, how the process unfolds, and how a quality sign can promote their brand. Projects driven by wrong assumptions result in strained relationships and ulti mately, a sign no one is happy with.

There are two critical ways your shop can address these issues in the discov ery stage. Listen to Your Client Find out what your client really needs. During the initial interview, take time to listen to and understand the client’s goals—both the customer base they hope to reach and what message they want to convey. Be thorough with your questions. Think outside the box. If the client is building an apartment complex, is it important for the brand to be on every sign or just the main entry sign? If you are wrapping a ﬂeet of trucks, how do you communicate their services effectively at seventy miles per hour?

PRICING | BY JOE ARENELLA

CONVERTCO-BRAND Convert or Co-Brand Your Business! Benefits of Becoming a FASTSIGNS Franchisee: • Scaled royalty programs • FASTSTART training on efficient procedures • Buying power with vendors • Respected and recognized brand • State-of-the-art technology and training programs • Effective local and national marketing Benefits of Co-Branding: • Our layouts fit into as little as 400 sq. ft. of your existing business • It increases your average transaction with new products • It offers a competitive advantage in your area • Your business can grow with the help of our experienced support Visit Us At Booth #308 $15,000 DOWN CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS SPACE SBI NSSA CONFERENCENORTHEAST&EXPO

Woods, plastics, aluminum, and stainless steels - diverse sign materials that demand premium cutting tools to achieve the best Trustresults.LMT Onsrud to meet your exacting standards! LMT On s rud LP 1081 S. Northpoint B lv d Wau k egan , IL 60 085 Phon e 8 00 23 4 1 560 T HE B ES T SIG NS DEMAND LM T ONSRU D Vis it ww w. onsrud . co m fo r more inf o rmatio n 800-234-1560

Once you thoroughly understand the client’s goals and budget, do your re search. Know what the property owner and municipal codes permit and perform detailed site surveys to ensure technical details are correct. Then go back to your client. Be upfront with pricing and poten signs comprise roughly 10 percent of the total project cost, so don’t be afraid to ask for a deposit for this work. Believe it or not, clients will appreci ate your transparency, even those whose initial motives seemed price-driven (all a price-driven client really wants is to make the best investment possible). They will be more likely to trust your expertise and eventually choose your shop over a competitor solely focused on a quick sale.

12 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com HOW TO PRICING | BY JOE ARENELLA

Educate Your Client Most clients have no idea what goes into making a sign or what type of sign is best for their business. It is your job to un coverClientsthat.often come to you with a host

23 1 of 3 2 of 3 3 of 3 Monument Sign Lighting Layout Keystone Technologies Lighting Layout 2750 Morris Road Lansdale, PA 19446 Email: LightingLayouts@keystonetech.com

Conclusion

Joe Arenella founded two sign shops before launching SignTracker, a software program that helps sign shop owners track their jobs, quote more consistently, and provide their team a birds-eye view into what’s going on in the shop.

ATR-45N with 3’ x 5’ Aluminum Platform 1,000 lbs Material Handler. The ATR is offered in a 41, 45, 52, and 58 and all can be built on a Non-CDL truck

HOW TO PRICING | BY JOE ARENELLA responsibility to educate the client—to explain how a client’s brand, colors, and messaging will translate into an effective sign and what it takes to deliver signage. A knowledgeable discussion will build client trust, which means less friction, better relationships, and the potential for repeat business.

Plus I am convinced that actively engaging with your clients in the dis covery stage brings the added beneﬁt of changing your shop’s company culture for the better. viding your team with the opportunity to become a celebrated part of your cus tomers’ success story, which is a more motivating goal than simply making a sign and slapping it on the wall. Oh, and remember that sign project that went from one sign to two? It turns out that they were so pleased with our discovery that they asked for a reference to a reliable vendor to do wall“Wecoverings.dothat too!” I answered (yet an other opportunity to educate the client). Our shop eventually partnered with a few vendors and sold that client $200K worth of digitally printed wall graphics.

The relationship lasted years, resulting in further projects from New York City to San GrantedFrancisco.notall prospective clients will choose your shop again and again.

In sum, learning to approach sales via the discovery stage might feel a bit daunting at ﬁrst but will prove worth it as you will build a better client base and create more proﬁtable job opportu nities.

in stock. Call for details. Stamm ATR-45N with 3’ x 5’ Aluminum Platform,1,000 lbs Material Handler Mounted on a 19,500 GVWR Isuzu. Powered by the VanAir PowerFlex unit With Over 45 years of experience Stamm Manufacturing’s Heavy Duty Aerial Lifts, have been meeting all your tough Aerial lifts needs. A wide variety of optional features gives Stamm Aerial lifts the ability to customize your aerial equipment needs to your speciﬁc requirements. Resolve your aerial lift needs today and put Stamm’s muscle to work!! 4850 Orange Avenue • Fort Pierce, Fl 34947 • (772) 461-6056 Main Plant • 1-800-226-5056 in Florida (772) 464-2716 fax • www.stamm-mfg.com • Email: teddy@stamm-mfg.com Financing Available

ATR-45 2 man platform boom –Custom built to your speciﬁcations. We have trucks and booms

O ne doesn’t have to look too far to see how technology has changed the face of cit ies. Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft now share space at many airports with taxicabs. Com munities have grappled with regulat ing Airbnb as it has brought commerce intoJustneighborhoods.recently,California announced plans to test a digital license plate, which displays the car tags when the vehicle is in motion. When the car is stopped, the license can display any sort of message—perhaps even advertising. How will this be regulated compared to, say, vehicle wraps? Who knows? Voice-activated technology already is in our homes. Current statistics show that 41 percent of adults use voice search at least once per day. So it isn’t too much of a stretch to en vision a day when we expect our signs to be voice-activated. This might be ex

Planners try to adapt for the future. The Times are A-Changin’! tremely useful in wayfinding, when a person in need of caffeine asks the sign for the nearest coffee shop or enters a building and asks a directory for the dentist’s office. Along the way, planners and other local community officials will continue to be challenged as our industry and technology changes. Not that long ago, electronic message centers used incandescent bulbs to dis play time, temperature, and maybe gas prices. Now they use the latest in LED technologies and have the potential to host full-blown video. These sorts of changes can prove frustrating to local officials, who must attempt to write codes that are flex ible enough to respond to technology innovations. Communities may tweak codes, but significant overhauls don’t happen very often—and technology can bypass them. That is why we are now seeing a

Signs.WatchfirePhotos:

HOW TOW DIGITAL SIGNAGE | BY DAVID HICKEY

16 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com

ChannelBender® Series Automated Channel Letter Solutions sign.sdsautomation.com 303-710-8125 The equipment of choice for nearly every major sign manufacturer in America. STAND APART FROM YOUR COMPETITION…WE DO.

The ISA’s “Night-time Brightness Level Recommendations for OnPremise Electronic Message Cen ters” provides guidance to help com munities understand how to properly regulate these signs and includes sample legislative language. It also helps them know how to measure sign brightness, ensuring that every one is abiding by the rules.

David Hickey is vice president of Gov ernment Affairs at the International Sign Association. He can be reached at David.Hickey@signs.org.

18 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com lot of communities throughout the United States working on revising codes to allow electronic message centers. Communities that already have recognized them may be easing restrictions.Thereare a couple of reasons for this: Businesses and community groups see the value in this type of signage; and International Sign As sociation-produced research helps guide the way.

To date, more than 200 communi ties and several states have adopted these recommendations in whole or in Itpart.isjust one way that ISA is pro viding a resource that builds a bridge to this important group.

As technology continues to grow and change, it is important that we continue to stay ahead of the changes and to help communities navigate theseISAchanges.works closely with the Sign Research Foundation (SRF) to de velop projects that help communities understand the importance of our in dustry’s products, the technological changes, and how to navigate them.

ISA and SRF also produce research that helps you understand how these changes in technology may impact your company and the industry. We team up to provide education for planners and local ofﬁcials through out the Changecountry.canbe hard to get a handle on. But when we work together, we can help reduce some of the bumps that change inevitably brings.

Learn how to increase your sign shop’s sales and profits through strong business management, improving operational efficiency, and expanding product offerings. SBI and NSSA have collaborated to create a program designed to help both sign shop owners and employees navigate a rapidly changing industry landscape, an unstable economic outlook, and the influx of non-sign companies offering signage services. A large exhibit hall will showcase digital and flatbed printers, laminators, CNC routers, engravers, LED Displays, channel letter benders, service trucks and many more— everything you need to serve existing clients and attract new clients. Prepare Your Sign Shop for Success Learn More www.signshop.com/nssa EXHIBIT SALES: David Harkey T: 973.563.0109 E: dharkey@sbpub.com EVENT INQUIRIES: conferences@sbpub.com ASSOCIATION INQUIRIES: Tricia Smack • tricia.smack@nssasign.org September 19-21, 2022 Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI

• Spend time building your business instead of just working in it. • Streamline your workflow by maximizing your shop layout and production methods. • Learn how to combat the labor shortage with better hiring and employee retention practices. • Expand your profits with proven sales strategies and methods to break into new markets. • Walk away armed with all the tools you need to become a better business owner. TOP 5 REASONS TO ATTEND: Hiring the forEmployeesRightYourShop Stephanie Poyant Director of Sales Operations Poyant Signs Building a InstallationBetterTeam Rob Kennedy Chief Operating Officer Lauretano Sign Group SPEAKERS INCLUDE: VIEW OUR EXHIBITORS AT www.signshop.com/nssa Best Job Pricing Practices Yaron Lew Executive Vice President Lauretano Sign Group 4.2.1.3.5.

September 19-21, 2022 Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI

8:00am Conference Check-in | Co ee & Networking

10:15am Sponsor Talk Sponsor talks will highlight practical ways in which products and services will help your business.

Yaron Lew, Executive Vice President, Lauretano Sign Group (LSG)

11:45am Best Job Pricing Practices

1:15pm Hiring the Right Employees for Your Shop

Raymond Brayton, President & Chief Operating O cer, Barlo Signs More panelists to be announced

Moderator: Je Wooten, Editor, Sign Builder Illustrated

3:00pm Co ee Break & Networking

This session will look at the various methods of identifying sign and graphic opportunities that can help grow your business, as well as provide advice for setting up and managing your equipment and inventory to make sure you are able to satisfy the needs of this increasing customer base.

The price is right at this numbers-crunching session that provides details about pricing practices that will help you gain the monetary edge you need to attract customers and successfully compete against other shops that are bidding for the same projects.

When bringing on employees to your shop, should you hire based on experience or potential? What employee qualities should you keep in mind?

Rob Kennedy, Chief Operating O cer, Lauretano Sign Group

10:30am Co ee Break & Networking

Stephanie Poyant, Director of Sales Operations, Poyant Signs Kyle Furtado, Production Supervisor, Poyant Signs

Je Wooten, Editor, Sign Builder Illustrated

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 – HALL C REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE NOW AT https://www.signshop.com/nssa/attend/

9:00am Keynote: How to Make Your Business Plan a Living Document

8:45am Opening Comments

11:00am Panel: The Best Solutions for Your Shop’s Biggest Challenges

A select group of shop owners will pinpoint the biggest challenges they’ve encountered and discuss the solutions they’ve implemented in their shop and out at the job site to address these obstacles in this insightful, conversational-style presentation.

David Fellman, Author, Sign Sales DNA Project

1:45pm Rules of Engagement: A Guide to Better Communication—and Better Relationships! Engagement is a magic word in business. You want employees who are engaged with you and not just showing up every day and working for a paycheck but understanding and working with you toward your goals. You want customers who are equally engaged, which helps you to maximize the value of each customer relationship. Finally, you want suppliers who are true partners, not just people/companies who sell you things. This fast-moving session will help you to understand the Rules of Engagement in the modern marketplace.

Lawrence A. Girouard, CEO, The Business Avionix Company

David Fellman, Author, Sign Sales DNA Project

How can you get more proactive in getting the word out about potential careers at your company? This highly informative session will provide quali ed answers to your human resources needs.

Welcome to the SBI / NSSA Northeast Sign Conference & Expo, as we preview what attendees will learn about over the two-day period.

Bruce Walker, Director, Wide Format Tech, Central Paper

All companies have valuable information concerning their products, customers, margins, and competition; but painfully, few model this information to help them identify ways to enhance pro ts and identify growth opportunities. In fact, only a small percentage of companies have a strategic plan, or market penetration plan, which is ever executed. Our call-to-action kick-o session will cover essential information related to this topic that will help sign shop owners grow their businesses and empower their employees to reach their fullest potential. It’s a win/win for employees, customers, and business owners.

12:15pm Luncheon & Networking

9:45am Get Noticed and Increase Your Customer Base

3:15pm Five Principles to Consistent Sales Success Whether it’s your full-time job or just one of the many hats you wear as an owner, you are a salesperson. The question: Are you functioning at your best in that role every day? It’s easy to get sidetracked and to develop bad habits and even bad attitudes. This session will help you to reboot your focus through Five Guiding Principles.

2:30pm Building a Better Installation Team Whether you’re looking to transition away from using a third-party source or trying to improve your existing group, this session will provide advice about how to put together the best team of installers at your shop that can rise to the task at hand safely and e ectively.

& Networking

10:45am Pricing Workshop: Bring Your P&L

Remarks

Want to take the guess work out of your pricing? This comprehensive workshop will demonstrate how to e ectively price your custom signage for optimum pro tability using your time-tested nancial statements.

William Galligan, Founder, Way nder Collaborative

Tuesday, September 20 9am to 5pm Wednesday, September 21 9am to 2pm

& Networking 6:30pm Conference Day One Ends SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 – Hall

It is important that you know your value when it comes to sign design and that you are upfront with your customers about the process. But what is an hour of conceptual design work worth and how do you charge appropriately for it? How do you protect your designs from clients shopping them out to competitors? Our “design” with this session is to artfully increase awareness of this part of the production process and to make sure you hold customers accountable for it.

11:30am Mental Health: Finding Work/Life Balance

12:15pm Closing Comments: Putting It All into Practice — Next Steps to Success Our recap of the educational sessions and how you can put the advice presented into practice closes out the conference.

Bruce Walker, NSSA Director and Director of Wide Format, Central MatthewPaperMans eld, NSSA Director and Account Manager, Tubelight Chris Flejtuch, NSSA Treasurer and President, Quality Quick Signs

CONFERENCE AGENDA EXPO HOURS

Conference Check-in

The Small Business Administration’s Rhode Island District O ce will present an information-packed session as they walk you through resources available to help your small business needs, including: Free expert business counseling, nancing programs to help start and grow your business, wealth management and retirement planning, local programs to help you save, and more! Matthew Spoehr, Lead Economic Development Specialist, Rhode Island District O ce of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Day Reception C 8:00am | ee 8:30am Opening 8:45am Panel: How to Maximize Your Shop Layout

Raymond Brayton, President & Chief Operating O cer, Barlo Signs More panelists to be announced

Erika Cannon, Clinical Supervisor, Thrive Behavioral Health

Come hear from NSSA Board members about how you can ensure success for your sign shop in the coming year and beyond.

Moderator: Ashley Bray, Managing Editor, Sign Builder Illustrated 9:15am Valuing Your Sign Designs

4:45pm

Our conversational panel will speak with shop owners about the ergonomic, investment, and work ow solutions they’ve implemented that can give you ideas for improving your own shop's e ciency.

John Hackley, CEO, Oculus Business Solutions

9:30am to 10:30am Preparing Your Sign Shop for Success

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 – On the Exhibit Floor

Mike Leary, NSSA Director and President, Sundance Sign & Design

10:15am Co ee Break & Networking

One Closing Comments 5:00pm Cocktail

As minutes on the shop oor stretch to hours and days turn to weeks, it can be easy to get lost in the workload and take your stress home with you. But remember that mental health is an important part of the production process. This helpful session will work overtime to provide tips on helping you nd the right balance between work and home, whether you’re an employee or an owner.

We’re serious—bring your 2021 year-end P&L to get the most out of this workshop. Learn how important your COGS is and how to e ectively incorporate it into your costing sheets. Walk away with the tools you need to change the way you price jobs.

9:45am Production: Finish Projects on Time and on Budget

12:25pm Conference Adjourns — Time to Visit the Exhibit Hall!

4:00pm Resources to Help Your Small Business Start, Grow, and Succeed

Most shop managers recognize the importance of having the right production oor layout system in place to be able to complete projects on time and within a client’s budget to meet their expectations, but few really bene t from the results that can be gained when the right system is put in place—one that sets clear priorities for everyone and a methodology that maximizes work ow and reduces waste. This session will explore how shops can utilize the Lean 5S program to accomplish this objective.

Paul Tripp, President, Classic Signs, Inc.

Elliott Equipment Booth 302 Elliott Equipment is the premier manufacturer of truck-mounted aerial work platforms. Elliott o ers equipment with working heights from 48 to 140 feet. Optional material handling to 14,000lbs and O ce in the Sky accessories are available on all models. Elliott also o ers non-cdl products, working height to 87 feet. www.elliottequip.com

www.elrodllc.com

JDS Sign Supply Booth 102 Find the products you need with the customer service you deserve at JDS Sign Supply. Print vinyl, cut vinyl, banner material and stands, sign tools and tapes, stand-o s and frames, acrylic and corrugated plastic sheet stock. $99 free freight. Same day shipping on orders placed by 4pm. www.jdssignsupply.com

Epilog Laser Booth 415 Epilog Laser is the leading designer and manufacturer of laser engraving, cutting, and marking systems. Used throughout the signage industry, Epilog’s powerful, user-friendly systems let you create vibrant signage at the touch of a button. Available in a variety of sizes, our USA-made systems can meet all your application requirements. www.epiloglaser.com

BikBoom Trucks Booth 101 “Your One Stop Boom Truck Dealership” Sales, Parts & Service. Family owned and operated for over 30 years, Bik has installed over 3,000 Truck Mounted Boom Unloaders serving a wide variety of industries such as precast concrete, building supply, tree care, oil eld, sign installation, foundation contractors, etc. www.bikboomtrucks.com

SILVER Central Paper Booth 402 Central Paper is a family-owned and operated distributor of fine papers, specializing in Wide Format Sales and Service. Stop by to demo cutting-edge printers, learn how they apply to your business, and more. We’re the biggest Wide Format supplier in New England, and look forward to helping you grow your business! www.centralpaperonline.com

Davis Marketing Booth 315 Davis Marketing Associates, Inc. are Manufacturers’ Sales Representatives o ering product solutions and services from best-in-class manufacturers including Plaskolite, SloanLED, Excellart, IPS Weld-On, Jain Americas and Magnum Magnetics. We cater to the Graphic and Electrical markets providing expertise, product support, and consultation. www.davismarketinginc.com

GE Current, a Daintree company Booth 411 Current’s Tetra LED signage lighting o ers best-in-class performance, e ciency, and value across channel letter, cabinet sign, and border lighting applications. Visit us to learn more about the Tetra Ti-10, the rst 10-year complete system warranty in signage lighting, or Tetra LT, a 24V system with unbeatable value. www.gecurrent.com

September 19-21, 2022 Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI GOLD Advantage Innovations Booth 207 Advantage Innovations is quickly becoming the industry-leader in national installer services for graphics, signage, window lm, and retail xture installation. Whether you have one project or a nationwide rollout, our team specializes in graphic installation that creates “Wow” experiences every time. www.advantageinnovations.com

G2G Lighting Booth 422 Proud to be eco-friendly and committed to providing top-of-the-line lighting, while making our world brighter and greener. We are dedicated to delivering less harmful lighting solutions and promoting a greener Earth. We pride ourselves on high quality, exceptional performance and striking impressions. Offering a healthier and more radiant lifestyle, a brighter and greener future is here. www.g2glighting.com

FASTSIGNS International Booth 308 FASTSIGNS is a leading national visual ideas company that creates a wide variety of comprehensive sign and graphics solutions. It’s time to Make Your Statement. www.fastsigns.com

The Sherwin Williams Company Booth 304 Color. Speed. Service. At Sherwin-Williams, our dedicated local facilities and world-class coatings technologies are a winning combination that expertly covers your entire sign nishing process, delivering high-quality nished products, and improving e ciency and productivity in your shop. industrial.sherwin-williams.com/na/us/en/general-industrial.html

Elrod Engineering Booth 523 Elrod Engineering has been focused on the sign industry since 1983. We have a depth of experience and level of understanding of the special needs of the sign industry that is unique. Our projects range from multi-sign packages for a single store to structural design for renovated marquees on historic theaters and even college athletic scoreboard systems. We have you covered from the ground up!

BRONZE AkzoNobel Booth 316 For over 70 years, Grip-Gard has been setting the standard in color and protection. Manufacturer of the Grip-Gard BC and Grip-Gard EFx-LV systems. AkzoNobel Grip-Gard o ers complete basecoat, single stage, and translucent sign industry coating solutions for the full-service sign shop. Over 50,000 color formulas including thousands of corporate program colors. All of our sign products are lead-free and NESHAP 6H compliant. With the AkzoNobel name, you know these products will be the highest quality and most durable. www.grip-gard.com

ITNH specializes in wide format inkjet printing for many printing applications. We are your experts for printing on vinyl, rigid substrates and fabric! We o er best-in-class atbed and roll printers, cutters and accessories. www.itnh.com

MMG represents high quality sign substrate manufacturers who supply PVC Foam, Polycarbonate, Palboard, corrugated Polypro and Coextruded Polyethylene sheets. Drop your business card for a chance to win a Cornhole set! www.martinomarketing.com/sign-and-graphics

Gemini is a wholesale manufacturer of solutions that identify, direct, and protect the world. For over 55 years, Gemini has been an industry leader producing made-to-order dimensional signage, plates, plaques, and cast bronze memorials. Gemini is a second-generation, family-owned business headquartered in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, with production facilities throughout North America.

Tubelite (Established 1925) and Denco Sales (Established 1953) joined forces in January 2021 to create a nationwide footprint to better serve their customers coast to coast. We are proud to represent the nest products and manufacturers in the Sign, Screen Printing and Digital Imaging industries today. 18 locations nationwide. We now o er a line of high-performance window lms for automotive, residential and commercial applications as well as solar, outdoor lighting and dye sublimation equipment and supplies. www.tubelite.com

EXPO HALL

www.skylineproducts.com Sullaway Engineering Booth 401 Sullaway Engineering Inc. is a full-service national structural engineering rm specializing in stamped structural engineered drawings for permitting in the sign, awning, canopy and tension fabric engineering industries.

Mimaki Booth 321 Mimaki has been pioneering the development of digital printing and cutting products in the US for over 20 years, o ering innovative total work ow solutions for the Sign Graphics, Textile & Apparel, Industrial Printing, and 3D markets. Visit us at booth #321 to see our UCJV300-75 and other products. www.mimakiusa.com

Martino Marketing Booth 307

Skyline Products helps convenience and fuel retailers di erentiate themselves and increase visits through electronic LED and scroll signs. Exclusive technologies provide superior feedback and brightness control. Signs feature full-bodied digits, advanced energy e ciency, and militarygrade durability. PriceAdvantage software allows fuel marketers to execute fuel pricing strategies quickly and accurately by reducing manual processes.

Michael F. Sullaway, PE, holds licenses in 49 states and we have a liate engineers in Canada. Capabilities include: engineering design, large frame analysis, structural framing, prototype engineering, shop drawings and drafting, and preliminary engineering. For estimates, please send PDFs and details to projectmanager@sullawayeng.com. www.sullawayeng.com

Indy Imaging Booth 418 Indy Imaging Inc. is a full-service wholesale printing company that helps sign shops across the country. We specialize in custom signage and can print your graphics onto fabric, vinyl, decals and many rigid materials for you to display on vehicles, buildings, windows, billboards or backlit signage. www.indyimaging.com

Gemini Booth 318

Optec Displays Booth 129

For over 35 years, Optec has been an innovator and leader in LED display technology. We design and manufacture super-brilliant, high-performance LED products for every application ranging from super- ne pitch indoor spectaculars to vibrant, dynamic outdoor billboards. Come see Optec displays in action at booth 129! www.optec.com

Skyline Products Booth 408

Tubelite Denco Booth 416

geminimade.com Identity Group Booth 208 Manufacturer of quality hotel signs, ADA signs, and retail store signs! Suppliers for way nding signage, corporate sign solutions, and wholesale signage. www.IdentityGroup.com

ThinkSign Booth 135 Unlike resellers, we control design, production, and support of every component of every sign. End-to-end is peace of mind – a shield against parts obsolescence, ensuring the highest level of performance and consistency. ThinkSIGN’s superior sourcing and rst-party everything is an unbeatable value to our partners and their bottom lines. www.thinksign.com/wemanufacture

ITNH Booth 216

SignComp Booth 108

Fabric & Banner Tensioning Frames / Channel Letter Raceways / Vandal Systems AND MUCH MORE! Available in full lengths & pre-cut ready to assemble kits. www.signcomp.com Stamm Manufacturing Booth 133 Stamm Manufacturing is a family-owned business for 54 years. We are a leader in aerial lift equipment and take Pride in our Custom trucks that we Manufacture for the Sign Industry. Come see us at Booth 133 www.stamm-mfg.com Steel Art Booth 311 We are exclusively Wholesale to the Trade since 1952. Architectural Graphics, 3D and otherwise. www.steelartco.com Tomasko & Associates Booth 410 Tomasko & Associates represents High Quality Product Manufacturers. Come by our booth to see the latest products from: Allanson Lighting— LED illumination products, Sign Ballasts, Neon Transformers, Sockets. QHF Coatings—Architectural Sign Coatings for all sign painting applications. MultiPanel UK—Widest range of Aluminum Composite Panels. Aluminum Extrusion Pro les—Let us source the right extrusion pro les for your needs. www. tomaskoandassociates.com Vantage LED Booth 134 We’re an all-around LED Sign design house delivering revolutionary digital advertising solutions that focuses on Doing Di erent...Better! www.vantageled.com Watch re Signs Booth 107 Headquartered in Danville, IL, Watch re LED signs are known for their legendary quality and reliability. Our products include indoor and outdoor LED Displays, xed digit and video scoreboards, gas price signs and digital billboards. Stop by and see a demonstration of our high resolution outdoor and indoor displays! www.watch resigns.com Yorston & Associates Booths 201 + 202 Manufacturers' Representative exclusive for the sign industry o ering solutions for every job including extrusion, lighting, adhesives, EMCs, equipment, and more! In our booths, we will be o ering live demonstrations of miter saws, STAX, manual cutters, and RGB. www.yorstonandassociates.com REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE NOW AT https://www.signshop.com/nssa/attend/

www.ascentequipment.com

409

SignComp Aluminum Framing Solutions Interior & Exterior applications / Illuminated & non-illuminated / Post & Panel

“Master

NEPCO Products Booth 215 Nepco has been serving the sign, graphics, and awning industry since 1928. We provide only the highest quality sign and awning products at the most reasonable prices in the industry. The Nepco sales sta is thoroughly knowledgeable in all facets of the sign and awning and is prepared to assist our customers wherever possible. www.nepcosignsupply.com

Quality Media & Laminating Booth 322 Quality Media specializes in providing solutions for wide format printing, finishing and display. We offer printable media to laminates, adhesive and equipment. We are a Mimaki printer dealer and sell Kala Laminators. Stop by our booth to see a demonstration on the waste free Kala Mistral 1650 Dual Feed Laminator. www.qmls.com

115

Established in 1960, Garston Sign Supply is a family-owned, full-service sign, screen, and digital supplier well known for our top-quality products and dedicated customer service. We are proud to have served the New England market for over 60 years. Be sure to stop by booth #312 for the Shaper origin demo!

www.garston.com

Ascent Equipment Booth CNC channel letters bending equipment and trim machine (letters without trim, reverse/halo without welding and aluminum trim). Fiber laser welders for aluminum and stainless-steel 3D printers for channel letters. CO2 and ber laser cutters. Come and see samples and demonstrations of the 3D printer.

September 19-21, 2022 Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI Altec Booth 136 Stop by to see our newest sign crane, the LS49, or discuss purchasing, rentals, nance, service or auctioning your equipment. www.altec.com

Garston Sign Supplies Booth 312

www.dcbates.com

DC Bates Booth DC Bates Equipment specializes in the up tting of trucks with personnel lifts, bucket trucks and hydraulic cranes. Hydraulic Up tters”

Visit the expo hall on September 20 & 21 for hands-on product demonstrations, innovative ideas, and extensive networking. Expo Hours Tuesday, September 20 9am to 5pm Wednesday, September 21 9am to 2pm Our Exhibitors & Sponsors Register for Expo Passes Online: www.signshop.com/nssa/attend Innovation in Light

Moosehead Signs designed and handcrafted a new identity sign featuring local natural elements and a two-story log cabin for a building materials supplier.

LUMBERING

A SCULPT IDEA

Hammond Lumber Company orders a new custom landmark sign. MAURA KELLER

Signs.MooseheadPhotos:All

F or more than seventy years and three generations, the Stade family has been creating memo rable and impactful signage for companies and businesses dotting the EastLocatedCoast. in the Moosehead Lake area of Maine, Harold Stade estab lished this sign-making legacy after serving in the 82nd Airborne during WWII. He started painting signs and even attended the New York City Trade School for sign painting, ﬁne lettering, and showcard artistry. Harold earned his reputation as a sign painter in northern New Jersey until 1965 when he moved with his wife, Betty, and their children to the Moosehead Lake area where he con tinued lettering until he was ninety yearsHarold’sold. son, Tom, followed in his father’s footsteps, honing his sign skills and eventually owning a commercial sign shop in northern New Jersey. In 1997, Tom moved back to Maine and eventually relocated to the Moosehead Lake area in 2008 where he continues his father’s legacy by op erating Moosehead Signs, a shop that

IDENTITY SIGN BY

28 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com

The Design Comes Together Recently Hammond Lumber Com pany, a lumber and building materials retailer with twenty-one locations in Maine, turned to Moosehead Signs to create a one-of-a-kind, three-dimen sional identity sign sculpted out of high-density urethane (HDU) for their Greenville, Maine store.

•

“Hammond Lumber Company con tacted us because of the sign we did years earlier for Indian Hill Trading Post,” says Tom. ( Note: See “ Signing at the Trading Post,” July 2013.)

The Moosehead Signs team used a real moose antler as guidance for the carving and coloring of that part of the sign. In addition, the client requested that one of their log homes be incorpo rated into the sign’s design.

“Hammond Lumber Company wanted sort of a landmark for their sign,” says Tom Stade. “They wanted a sign of a similar character to an earlier sign made for another company in the area and also something to mirror the beauty of the Moosehead Lake area.”

“I spend quite a bit of time sketch ing out concepts and then recreating rough designs in the graphics soft ware,” says Tom.

For the new Hammond Lumber Company sign, the renderings were created in CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite and submitted to the customer via email for review and approvals.

Today Harold’s dedicated spirit rings true through his son and grand son’s ongoing efforts in dedicating themselves to delivering superior qual ity and creative hand craftsmanship in every sign they create.

In order to create the Hammond Lumber Company sign, the following tools were used:

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signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 29 specializes in ﬁnely crafted signage and lettering, alongside his son, Micah.

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The Stades pride themselves on tak ing the time needed to design and cre ate handmade signs that reﬂect a qual ity image for each client’s business.

Although Moosehead Signs embrac es the classic hand-carved and handcreated components that have earned them a solid reputation in the indus try, they also embrace state-of-the-art technology that creates a quality prod uct as their signs come to fruition.

•

For that sign, Moosehead Signs crafted all the sign components for it out of multiple sizes and thicknesses of HDU and featured a variety of ele ments, including logs, a canoe, a loon, a chickadee, and water.

•

• Gerber 408 Saber CNC router; Chisels; A grinder featuring a variety of attachments; Custom jigs, patterns & templates; Graphtec 7200 plotter; Graco FinishPro HVLP 9.5 ProComp sprayer; Hand routers;

Solving Lumbering Challenges Designing, creating, and modifying a sign of this caliber comes with its fair share of challenges.

As Tom explains, this particular sign was made mostly of a variety of 10# to 30# DUNA-USA CORAFOAM® HDU with a welded aluminum framework for structural support.

30 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com • SkilsawSPT70V-1116-5/16-inch circular saw; • Vulcan OmniPro 220 welder; • Delta 28-203 14-inch band saw; • Delta Model 10 contractor saw; • Sun Joe 18-inch chainsaw; and • A variety of carving tools.

For instance, according to the team, their shop setup is not exactly ideal for doing some of the bigger signs that they find themselves tackling.

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

‘We would love to have more room,” says Tom. “There were many challeng es throughout this job, but the biggest was our limited space. We had to de sign the sign in a way that we could keep it mobile in the shop while we were building and working on it— hence the two-piece design.”

As he further explains, the sign’s lower and upper portions were de signed to precisely join each other dur ing the installation process.

“We used T6 Aluminum for the cat tail reeds cut out on the CNC and then hand-hammered into a V-grove tem plate to shape them,” he says. “These were assembled with Gorilla ® Glue products, and they were finished with Behr Premium Plus Exterior paints, as well as a digital print.”

Another challenging aspect was carving the dimensional upper por tion. This was done out of large blocks of 10# DUNA-USA sign foam. “The process of removing what doesn’t be long and leaving the final product was quite time-consuming,” says Tom. Other challenges included installing the conduit and lighting through the sign, figuring out how to best incor porate a lifting system for installation, lifting and moving the heavy material, making sure the joint between two pieces was very smooth and unnotice able, and juggling things around to complete both signs in the Moosehead Signs shop.

Carving the antlers for the moose was a collaborative effort between fa ther and son. “Between Micah and I, we have a great eye for things, along with good (Left) Micah Stade uses a grinder to smooth down some of the CORAFOAM HDU; (Right, Top) The finished moose was successfully replicated using wildlife photos; (Right, Bottom) Thomas Stade works on preparing the antlers for painting.

Client Focused. Results Driven. Dedicated to quality and reliability DISPLAY S, INC. Innovation in Light TM A 1700 S. De Soto Place Ontario, CA 91761 USA W www.optec.comP 800.876.1668 800.876.1668 For over 35 years, Optec has been an innovator and leader in LED display technology. Our LED products have limitless application potential. We specialize in over 20 market segments including, but not limited to, retail and restaurant, corporate, entertainment, hospitality and casino, billboard and marquee, education and government, transportation, and worship. If Digital is a part of your business, we can help you be more competitive within the market.

(

Following this, Tom used an eigh teen-inch electric chainsaw to make plunge cuts, as Micah guided the angle of the saw from his perspective along the side. “We’d have to kind of de scribe it like doing Rubik’s Cube with a chainsaw,” says Tom.

“At the lumberyard’s main gate, for the installation, we used a logging truck with a grappler hook along with an aerial work platform,” explains Tom. “The sign was bolted to the ex isting posts. For the main road sign, we had the log truck with a scissor lift. This sign was made with a cage inside the framework to just slip down onto the existing posts and the second (top piece) sat on top using pre-embedded one-and-a-half-inch steel pipe that slipped into a pre-drilled hole on the top section, in order to align the two pieces properly. We secured it with Go rilla Glue construction adhesive.”

32 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com hand skills,” says Tom. “Micah also has an engineering mind. He took photos of a real antler from all sides, scaled the photos into our software, and pounced contours of each side to the actual size.

According to Tom, “Overall we like the challenges, and hand carving is al ways enjoyable for us.”

“Micah then sprayed black paint into the pounce holes for each pattern on its corresponding side of the HDU block.”

Left)

A Natural Iconic Sign

“The response has been very posi tive, and we are thankful for the com pliments,” says Tom. “The customer told us, ‘I think the sign will become iconic for Greenville.’”

The T6 aluminum reeds were welded together and attached via Gorilla Glue to hold up to winds; (Top, Right) Cut out letters and backings for them; (Bottom, Right) Tom Stade applies paint to one of the carved sign pieces.

Another challenge was creating and securing the T6 aluminum reeds and stems to the sign. “Wind in the Mooseh ead Lake area can be quite strong, so we ended up welding the reeds together and attaching them with Extreme Go rilla Glue, as well as some mechanical fasteners, to connect the hand-carved HDU cattails,” says Tom.

In addition to helping further build the Hammond Lumber brand in the area, the sign also celebrates the region’s highlights and beauty.

Following the sign’s creation, the Moosehead Signs team turned their attention to the installation process. In fact, there were two signs installed— one at the lumberyard’s main gate and one by the main road. This meant that the last challenge for the Stades was ﬁguring out how to lift both signs for transport and installation.

34 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com FEATURE NAME

“We were looking for something that we didn’t have to do much of the leg work on,” says Corey Kraus, owner of Kraus Restoration, in a video for Wrap mate. “I was really hoping for a company that would just listen to what I had to say and convert that into a graphic that we were looking for and transpose that onto a vehicle.“Iwanted to be able to depend on a company that was going to take care of that for Wrapmate,me.” a nationwide vehicle wrap ping company that designs, produces, and then pairs businesses and individuals with wrap installers, was happy to take on theWrapmateproject.

CMO Javier Lozano, Jr., says the company’s business model is per fect for busy companies like Kraus Res toration, “It creates efficiencies for the company because now the fleet manager or the business owner doesn’t have to manage three different projects on top of their job—they can talk to one company that’s going to handle their entire graph ics, all of the design, all of the installation/ coordination, and all that fleet manager has to do is drop the vehicle off at the specifiedWrapmatelocation.”customers start by using a vehicle wrap calculator that provides a quote based on the vehicle and desired wrapFromcoverage.there, Wrapmate has the cus tomer fill out an intake form to gather more information—including the vehi cle’s VIN number, pictures of the vehicle to catch any existing imperfections or de cals/wraps that need to be removed, and design details like logos. If the customer doesn’t have a logo, Wrapmate will even design one for an extra fee.

Renewing a restoration company’s fleet of vehicles.

When Kraus Restoration started look ing for someone to wrap its growing ﬂeet of vehicles—which includes Ford Transit vans and Kia Souls with more vehicles on the way—they happened upon Wrapmate in an Instagram ad.

VEHICLE GRAPHICS BY ASHLEY BRAY FLEET

RESTO

“That intake form helps us alleviate the pain from both sides,” says Lozano, Jr. “It gives us a starting point.” Next Wrapmate will have a conver sation with the client about their vision for the wrap—color schemes, stand-out details, etc. Using the Adobe Creative Suite—with heavy use of Adobe Illustra tor and Adobe Photoshop—Wrapmate gets to work on designing the wrap. They will create a mock up on the vehicle to Wraps.KeystonePhotos: R AT I ON

K raus Restoration is a restoration contractor based in New Jersey that specializes in recovering resi dential and commercial property that has suffered from water, ﬁre, smoke, or mold damage.

“I highly recommend putting a QR code on the wrap because everyone is now accustomed to scanning QR codes,” continues Lozano, Jr., who says the codes can go directly to a phone number or even a website that can include more in formation than you can ﬁt on the wrap.

Once the design is approved, Wrap mate works with a company that does all of the printing for them to help maintain consistency across factors like color. For the Kraus Restoration job, the wrap was printed on 3M™ Controltac™ Graph ic Film with Comply™ v3 Adhesive IJ180CV3. A 3M™ Scotchcal™ Gloss Overlaminate 8518 was applied. The wrap was then shipped to a Wrap mate installer located near Kraus Restora tion—Keystone Graphics in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, which specializes in vehicle wraps, privacy ﬁlms, architectural ﬁlms, wall murals, and retail graphics.

Finally,network.some installers reach out to The wraps on the Kia Souls in the fleet include a dynamic graphic of water in motion.

“Our installers know exactly how to install that wrap because we give them exact instructions on how each section is going to be placed on that van, truck, car, or whatever the vehicle is,” explains Lo zano, Jr. “It makes it very seamless.” Wrapmate builds out its network of in stallers in a number of ways. Sometimes it reaches out to installers, especially if it likes their Wrapmatework.also has a collaborative re lationship with 3M, and the vinyl com pany has recommended and encouraged its certiﬁed installers to join the Wrap mate

signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 35 show the customer, who then has up to three rounds of revisions on the proposed wrap

For the Kraus Restoration fleet project, Wrapmate put together a design featur ing the brand’s colors of blue, white, and black. A dynamic graphic of water in mo tion is also included on the Kia Souls in the fleet. Large symbols representing fire, water, and mold run along the side of the vehicles, along with the words “water,” “mold,” “fire,” and “smoke,” to make it clear what the company does. The wrap also includes the company’s contact in formation—its Instagram handle, phone number, and website address. “We try to make the wrap do two things—one, cover the brand in so far as it stands out so it has pop, it has great color, it has something that draws atten tion,” says Lozano, Jr. “And then two, make sure it has a very simple call to ac tion. Sometimes that call to action can literally be just a phone number and then a QR code. Other times it can be a web site. We try to keep the call to actions very simple and not use graphics that are dif ficult to read.

“Thedesign.customer is in control,” says Lo zano, Jr. “They can experience the entire process of making sure they’re putting together the best wrap for their brand to stand out from the crowd and promote their business 24/7/365.”

Trotec Laser USA

Kraus Restoration dropped off its ﬂeet vehicles at Keystone Wraps to be wrapped in phases since it’s a 24/7 busi ness and couldn’t afford to have all of its vehicles off the road at once.

Mulreaney says each wrap took about one day to complete. “We are always

For Keystone Wraps, the ease of the process was one reason they decided to join Wrapmate. “Wrapmate offers a seamless process for the client, and as a result, we found we could work eas ily with their team,” says Patrick Mul reaney, owner of Keystone Wraps, who is a 3M Preferred Installer and has over ﬁfteen years of experience in the indus try. “Their wrap designs are well thought out and appeal to the installer as the body lines of the vehicle are taken into account when creating each design. So not only will it look great on paper, but it will look just as good in real life when installed.”

36 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com Wrapmate on their own and are then interviewed for eligibility. (Note: Inter ested installers can sign up at wrapmate. com/pro“[Installers].) want to join the network because it’s another way for them to add some revenue into their business. At the end of the day, these installers are moti vated to want to be in our network be cause they don’t have to go acquire the customer. They don’t have to design the actual vehicle wrap. They just have to in stall,” explains Lozano, Jr. “We’re giving them a customer that is actually ready to move forward.”

Wrapmate.Photos: Visit us in booth #N611

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Kraus Restoration’s new fleet graphics help them generate inquiries and leads. this code

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It’s also a form of advertising that is al ways“There’s“on.” no other more cost-effective and cost-efﬁcient way of marketing your business than a vehicle wrap right now,” says Lozano, Jr. “A vehicle wrap in a town can get as much as 70,000 impres sions in a day—and that’s literally pen nies on the dollar.”

signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 37 sure to take the extra time to mock up the graphics onto the vehicle prior to in stallation to be sure both the driver and passenger sides are placed the same and follow the same body lines of the vehi cle,” he says. “This helps to ensure both sides are symmetrical and sets us up for consistency across all of the vehicles in theKrausfleet.”Restoration is already reaping the benefits of its newly wrapped fleet.

“Showing up to a job site now with our vans just looks professional, it feels right,” said Kraus, in a Wrapmate video. “A customer who sees us when we pull up knows who we are.” Lozano, Jr., says it’s this branding awareness that’s one of the main beneﬁts of a company using ﬂeet graphics. “When they’re sitting in front of a customer’s house, for instance, other neighbors are going to be seeing that brand,” he says. “From a marketing standpoint, it helps them generate inquiries and leads.”

When the Langs took over the opera tions of RC Racing Decals, they inher ited a sole Roland DG SOLJET. The family knew they were going to need a bigger selection of equipment on their production ﬂoor. They have since add ed a second SOLJET, an AJ1000i, a GX-640 64-inch cutter, and a TrueVIS VG2-540 54-inch printer/cutter. “The TrueVIS VG2 was especially attractive because of its available color conﬁgura tions,” says Brennan. “We are happy to have the Light Black ink option, as well as the wider gamut overall. We currently run it with an eight-color inkset that in cludes CMYK, as well as Light Black, Green, Orange, and White.”

38 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com

PRINTIN G BY JEFF WOOTEN WALL

In addition to catering to locally owned and operated businesses, being in Las Ve gas allows 702 Graphics a unique oppor tunity to work with some of the biggest brands in the world. “We’ve had the plea sure of working with brands like Skull Candy, Enterprise, Honest Company, and Century Link,” states Rachel Lang. “We also work closely with locally owned businesses like Sunburst Shutters, Best Mattress, and Freed’s Bakery, known for the Food Network TV show Vegas Cakes.

The company offers design, print, and installation services to businesses in Las Vegas, but they also expand their reach by providing assistance to some companies nationwide by printing and shipping graphics to them and sourcing installers to perform installations.

(Note: See “SBI Operations” on page 44 for more details about this.)

Dan Lang and his son Brennan have operated 702 Graphics in Las Vegas, Nevada, since 2008. The company was founded as RC Racing Decals back in 1992 by Rick Cobb, son of legendary rac er Dick Cobb. When Rick moved back to North Carolina, the Langs purchased the assets of the business and rebranded it as 702 Graphics. Today Brennan and his wife, Rachel, are working to maintain 702 Graphics as a successful family-owned and operated business for years to come.

702 Graphics ﬁnds that color con sistency across multiple platforms of printing is crucial when it comes to branding. They utilize their printers, Pantone® systems, and various media

W hen it comes to suc cessful print jobs, 702 Graphics of Las Vegas, Nevada has their clients covered! This full-service, large format printing shop not only specializes in ﬂeet graphics, retail graphics, and wall murals, but they also provide interior and exterior signage, banners, trade show displays, and other graphics.

“Everybody knows that Las Vegas doesn’t do anything small. We’ve also had the opportunity to work on fun yet challenging projects such as wrapping the ‘World’s Largest Margarita’ and a ten-foot-tall promotional cup for Rais ing Canes and the Las Vegas Raiders.”

Graphics.702Photos:All GOINGTOTHE

702 Graphics succeeds with large format graphics.

Wall murals have proven to be a pop ular specialty for 702 Graphics. They have designed, printed, and installed wall murals for a few different restau rants located on the Las Vegas Strip.

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Brennancustomers.saysthat most of the requests they receive concerning vehicle graphics are for partially or fully digitally printed vehicle wraps that promote the company and their “Recentlybrand.wehad a large fleet of twen ty-eight-foot box trucks that needed to be wrapped on a very tight deadline. Because of the color consistency between our Ro land DG printers, we were able to use both printers simultaneously to service the entire fleet,” he remarks. “The print consistency allowed us to get the box trucks in and out in time to meet our client’s deadline, while providing a high-quality final product.”

On this project, instead of a standard wall mural, 702 Graphics created four-byeight-foot digitally printed PVC panels mounted with stainless steel standoffs. proﬁles to ensure color consistency for their

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signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 39

However the biggest challenge they face when designing and printing graph ics for branding purposes is receiving proper artwork files for company logos. “When we ask for a vector copy of a logo, we usually receive a saved image from a Web page,” says Rachel. “We work with our customers to source the correct files but often find ourselves recreating their logo in a vector format.”

Another challenge they can encounter is the desired image not ﬁtting the actual size of the wall. “When this happens, our graphic designer team utilizes Pho toshop to add or subtract to the image

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702 Graphics frequently receives wall mural requests for new constructions and renovations of multi-family residen tial properties. “Most of the wall murals that we do for the multi-family residen tial properties are in their leasing ofﬁce, clubhouse, or ﬁtness center,” explains Rachel, noting that one of the most unique and challenging murals they’ve ever done was printing and installing a 50-by-35-foot mural on a ceiling in the clubhouse of a new multi-family resi dentialWhenproperty.itcomes to designing wall graphics, 702 Graphics likes to use ei ther landscape photography images or geometric patterns.

702 Graphics has ever done was printing and installing a mural on a ceiling in the clubhouse of a new multi-family residential property.

Even though Rachel says that “any thing goes” for wall murals, the company likes to use imagery that is designed to do one of two things—(1.) immediately grab your attention or (2.) subtly complement other design elements in the room.

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Rachel says the biggest challenge re lated to artwork for wall murals is clients sending them low-resolution images to use. “We always try to direct [them] to ﬁnd high-quality images off stock photo Websites,” she says.

One of the most challenging murals

40 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com murals to our customers because they are more customizable and faster to install than traditional wall coverings,” states Rachel, “not to mention that they truly transform the space!”

LANDSCAPECHANGINGNAVIGATEwww.signshop.com/resourcesASIGN SBI’s new webinar series—On the Floor—is your compass to all the challenges sign shops face. Our series provides actionable steps to help your sign shop thrive amidst the expanding digital signage landscape and everyday operational challenges. How-to Webinars and Resources for the Sign Industry

42 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com MARKETPLACE FOR ADVERTISING OPTIONS CONTACT: GARY LYNCH (212-620-7247)glynch@sbpub.com For MAC and Windows! WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED Sign Builder Illustrated’s newsletters keep you up-to-date with timely news, industry trends and “how-to” articles on every aspect of the sign industry. Graphics. Dimensional. Lighting. Digital. Installation. Operations. SUBSCRIBE TO SBI NEWSLETTERS: www.signshop.com/newsletters VISIT Sign Builder Illustrated@SBIMagfb.com/SBIMag SBI_VisitSignShopAd_Options.indd 3 12/13/16 3:22 PM

signshop.com September 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated 43 Your Direct Source for Products & Services Get access to vital product and service information from manufacturers and distributors by visiting www.signbuilderdirectory.com. COMPANY URL PAGE Ascent CoastalEquipmentEnterprises/Precision Board Duxbury Systems Inc. Elliott VytekUniversalTormach,SloanLEDLaserKernEpilogCOMPANIESWilkieWatchfireTrotecThinkSignStammSouthernSinaLiteSigns365.comSDSSBI/NSSASAiOptecMUTOHLMTKeystoneJohnsonGEFASTSIGNSEquipmentCurrentGyfordPlasticsTechnologiesOnsrudLPDisplaysAutomationStudWeldMfg.LaserInc.SignsMfg.INSIGNSHOWLaserLaserSystemsResearchOpticsInc.LaserSystems 20-21C2404233183119371312313917C415181453619C38888888www.vy-tek.comwww.ulsinc.comwww.tormach.comwww.sloanled.comwww.laserresearch.netwww.kernlasers.comwww.epiloglaser.comwww.wilkiemfg.comgo.watchfiresigns.comwww.troteclaser.comwww.thinksign.comwww.stamm-mfg.comwww.studweld.comwww.sinalite.comwww.signs365.comwww.sdsautomation.comwww.signshop.com/NSSAwww.thinksai.comwww.optec.comwww.MUTOH.comwww.onsrud.comwww.KeystoneTech.comwww.jpplus.comwww.standoffsystems.comwww.gecurrent.comwww.fastsigns.comwww.elliottequip.comwww.duxburysystems.comwww.PrecisionBoard.comwww.ascentequipment.com SIGN BUILDER’S BUYER’SGUIDE

“We also have an install bay in the back of the shop which is just big enough to ﬁt a ﬁfty-two-foot semitruckBrennantrailer.says that the one thing that sets 702 Graphics apart from their competitors in the Las Vegas market is that they are a family-owned and oper ated small business.

Family Rules 702 Graphics keeps driving

K eeping momentum going for a successful business is always important—and, as you know, doing so can be quite challeng ing. Impressively large format specialists 702 Graphics of Las Vegas (“Writing on the Wall,” page 40) continues to main tain the quality their clients have come to expect from them while operating with fewer employees than they’ve had in the past. They’ve had as many as ten employees at once; today their work staff includes four full-time employees and one part-time installer. ( Note: Their team consists of designers, installers, and operational staff.) Co-owner Brennan Lang points out that everyone at the print business is all-hands-on-deck. “Everyone pitches in to help!” he says. “It’s not uncommon for our designers to be installing too. We’ve found that providing designers with installation experience helps them be more conscious of design choices that make the install process smoother and provide a better ﬁnished product.

“We’re extremely proud of the work we do, and we look forward to many more years in the industry.”

“When you walk in the front door, you walk straight into our design, printing, and production room,” explains Bren nan. “We’ve had multiple office con figurations, and we’ve found that it is important for our customers to be able to come directly into our print room and see the work being done firsthand. their momentum.

“Our operational staff runs the dayto-day business, ﬁnances, and custom er relations, but you’ll also see them in the back of the shop installing from time to time.” This all-for-one approach is greatly beneﬁtted by the unique open work space layout they use at the shop.

44 Sign Builder Illustrated September 2022 signshop.com SBI OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT BY JEFF WOOTEN

Graphics.702Photos:AllSign Builder Illustrated Magazine ( Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 21614709) (USPS#0015-805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564; Agreement #40612608; IMEX Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada) is pub lished monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, 1809 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Omaha, NE. Pricing, Qualified individual working in the sign industry may request a free subscription. Non-qualified subscriptions Print version, Digital version, Both Print & Digital versions: 1 year US/Canada/Mexico $50.00; foreign $99.00. Single Copies are $15.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid for in U.S. funds only. Prices are subject to change. COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2022. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission. For reprint information, contact: Gary Lynch, Publisher (212) 620-7247 or Forglynch@sbpub.com.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. 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.

“From concept to project comple tion and everything in between, we work directly with our customers ev ery step of the way,” he says. “We’re passionate about the industry and take pride in every single job—no matter how big or small. Each client gets the same level of professionalism and cus tomer service, regardless of whether they are brand new or an existing cli ent. We also pride ourselves on using the very best equipment and materials, which is why we use Roland DG print ers and cutters paired with 3M vinyl and“Evenlaminate.”though we’re a small shop, we still produce the same volume as larger shops,” adds Co-owner Rachel Lang. “We have worked hard to build our reputation and know that being a family business has contributed to this goal. Our highly skilled team provides the creativity and talent, and our print ers and cutters provide the quality out put to keep our shop humming.

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