Inspiration

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

Thorough Graphics prepares to celebrate 40 years as a locally owned business.

by Kate Savage | photos courtesy Thorough Graphics

“Being in the right place at the right time and going with a good thing when you’ve got it going” has had a lot to do with the business success story of Thorough Graphics and husband and wife owners, John and Ann Cox.

John worked his way through college at a local Lexington sign company. In 1982, with that experience and his BA from the UK College of Fine Arts under his belt, he struck out on his own and started Thorough Graphics at the age of 23. He married Ann a year later and – after meeting with a marriage counselor to discuss the pros and cons of working together – they became business partners as well. “We still absolutely make decisions together. It wouldn’t work if we didn’t,” said John. “Compromise is the key.”

The now-closed sign company where John worked while in college specialized in signage for the horse industry. This became his ongoing focus with Thorough Graphics and provided a unique market niche that has since allowed him to cater to a local industry with a built-in constant and recurring demand. John’s mother and brother worked for Blood-Horse Magazine, so they were connected to the thoroughbred industry. But it was a phone call from the editor of BloodHorse while John and Ann were on honeymoon that was to decide their business direction moving forward. This pivotal call resulted in an order to make plaques for every horse, jockey and trainer ever inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs; to this day, this is a standing order they continue to fulfill – over 900 plaques later.

The majority of their work is with the thoroughbred horse sales that take place here at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland, sales that take place here at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland, but also with those in Saratoga, Baltimore, Ocala and but also with those in Saratoga, Baltimore, Ocala and Miami. “The main stuff for the horse sales involves pedigree signs that go on the stall doors of every horse sold at public auction. We make about 10,000 of these every year,” said John. Thorough Graphics is able to make just about any kind of sign but they have chosen not to get involved in any that are electrical. The team makes individual letters, bronze plaques, directional signs, main entry identifi cation, vehicle lettering and more. However, working with the thoroughbred industry is what they prefer and “when horse sales are going on – July-January – we have to turn down everything else except for the horse stuff,” said John. With his degree in Studio Art, John serves as the designer, which is his favorite part of the sign business. “With all the technology today, it seems anyone can buy a machine that cuts letters, and voila, you’re in the sign business,” said John. “But technology only goes so far. You can make a perfectly ‘bad’ sign that has perfect lettering, but without the design, it’s still just a bad sign,” he emphasized. His own work has been recognized with numerous awards, including fi rst place in a national sign design competition sponsored by Signs of the Times Magazine. When he started out in 1982, John used to hand-paint everything. Today’s technology means there’s no longer really any need to use a brush, although John readily really any need to use a brush, although John readily admits some things still need to be painted by hand, such admits some things still need to be painted by hand, such as jockey lawn statues. With digital plotters and printers, as jockey lawn statues. With digital plotters and printers, a computerized router, fairly sophisticated software and a full wood workshop, the actual work of sign fabrication has been revolutionized. But, as with any small business, there are many other hats to be worn, and so in addition to working as the designer and painter, John reckons he’s now an adept salesman, carpenter, installer, bookkeeper, and receptionist. He gets some relief from the accounting responsibilities as this is his wife Ann’s role as Vice President of the company.

When time allows, John and Ann love to travel, and Sanibel Island is one of their favorite place to visit. In spite of being in the business of making new signs – or maybe because of – they have developed a love for vintage signs and over the years have collected more than 100 antique signs that they have at their shop on Sandersville Road.

After a healthy, long career in the sign business, John thinks he’s still got another 7-8 good years in him. “We like what we do and enjoy the horse people we deal with on a daily basis,” he explained. So now, with a big 40-year milestone fast approaching this May, they plan to celebrate with an open house to thank all the customers who have supported them over these past years… and to let them know they aren’t ready to retire from the race just yet. •

The Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day Event Rides Again!

courtesy Ivy Johnson • photos by Tim Delgado and Rob Bolson

April 28th - May 1st

Get ready for the “Best Weekend All Year!” This April will mark the first time in 3 years that spectators will be able to come experience the exhilaration of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ and the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in person. Now is the time to order tickets to guarantee that you can be a part of the country’s premier equestrian event! The Land Rover Kentucky is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses competing at the highest level and offers fun for the whole family! Join the excitement at the Kentucky Horse Park over the last weekend of April - enjoy shopping at the 175+ sponsors and vendors onsite, delight in the delicious food and beverage offerings (Tito’s Handmade Vodka returns as the Official Vodka, along with Blade & Bow as the Official Bourbon!), and participate in the inaugural Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Foundation for the Horse for your chance to win a brand-new two-horse trailer from 4-Star Trailers. This year’s event is April 28th through May 1st. There is truly something for everyone to experience and love at the “Best Weekend All Year!” Get your tickets now at kentuckythreedayevent.com. See you there!