How to save a sign sale
We had a call the other day from a frustrated user who had lost a sale. The customer, who had a nearby business,… Read More
Articles
Cover photo: Tiki Room – Ray Kinman
In Ray Kinman’s shop, the sound of a 3-D sign coming together is not the high-pitched whine of the CNC router but rather… Read More
More idea-packed secondary signs
A few weeks ago, in “Secondary signs that deliver the message,” we shared almost two dozen secondary signs by Rob Cooper, Koh Tao,… Read More
Cover photo: Flood Gate Vineyard – Jim Lago
In the late 1970s, the wine industry began to explode in Northern California’s Sonoma Valley. Jim and Tami Lago moved their sign business… Read More
Mark Cheyne: Still sandblasting, still painting
For many sign makers, seeing a sandblasted sign was a turning point in their work and their business. It was for Mark Chenye,… Read More
Cover photo: Corazon Verde – Carlos Sánchez Acevedo
In a resort area like Cancun, Mexico, an interesting sign is essential for the tourist-related businesses that line the streets. The gift shops,… Read More
Lessons learned from 50-plus years in the sign business
I’ve bought and sold sign companies several times. They were small shops—never anything major. I have some thoughts on doing that, but we’ll… Read More
Cover photo: RA Auto Refinishing – Greg Scott
Ever catch yourself wondering, “What could I do on this sign design to keep it from being just another ordinary sign?” Good news:… Read More
Secondary signs that deliver the message
Primary signs—storefronts and freestanding signs—get a lot of attention in SignCraft, but many businesses also depend on smaller secondary signs to tell their… Read More
Cover photo: Chikaming Police – Doyle Rogers
Conservative estimates are that there are about 400,000 police vehicles nationwide—which is why you see so many of them on the… Read More
Through the eyes of a sign shop employee
I’ve hired a few people over the years, briefly as shop owner, several as production manager, but the vast majority of my 41… Read More
Cover photo: The Office – Tim Beyer
Succeeding (or even surviving!) in the sign business in a small town is challenging. The mindset of the market is different than in… Read More
What do others get to letter a semi cab?
Most sign shops do their share of basic, one-color truck lettering projects—just a company name and phone number in a pleasing layout. The… Read More
Rebuilding a customer’s logo
Often a customer comes in for a new sign or vehicle graphics but brings a logo that is showing its age or just… Read More
Cover photo: The Works – Peter Poanessa
Among all the flat sign panels along the street, a curved sign face really stands out. To take advantage of this, Peter Poanessa… Read More
1976: Wood signs of Aspen revisited
A 1976 trip from the Oklahoma flatlands to Colorado’s mountain towns resulted in a treasure trove of inspiration. I burned through dozens of… Read More
Cover photo: R.A. Guy Contracting – Brian Schofield
Years ago, Brian Schofield and Karin Levin decided they wanted to avoid one of the pitfalls that plagues many sign businesses: Failure… Read More
Seelander and Swanson changed the course of sign design
One of the most influential sign companies in Chicago-style sign design was Seelander and Swanson. Created by a partnership of J. Marshall Seelander… Read More
Cover photo: All Points Towing – Lane Walker
As clear coats on vehicles became more impervious and lead was removed from lettering enamel, many sign painters began to experience problems with… Read More
Cover photo: Burgers, Wings & Things – Greg Scott
You don’t have to scroll very far down Greg Scott’s Facebook page before you realize that this is not your ordinary sign… Read More
