Wide-Format & Signage
This section of WhatTheyThink focuses on emerging trends in wide-format printing. It identifies new business opportunities and provides strategic analysis of new applications, technology, and events.
Annual Sign Franchise Review 2022
Like the print franchise networks, the sign franchises struggled, like many businesses, in 2020. They have bounced back almost to 2019 levels and are seeing good growth going into 2022. Managing editor Richard Romano provides our annual sign franchise review. Read More
FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 Comes to Berlin: A Conversation with Michael Ryan
The FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 will take place from May 31 to June 3, 2022, at the Messe Berlin in Germany. The event is Europe’s leading exhibition for screen, wide-format, and textile printing. WhatTheyThink spoke with Michael Ryan, Head of Global Development & FESPA GPE, FESPA, to preview the show and some prevailing trends and applications attendees can expect to see in Berlin. Read More
ISA Sign Expo 2022: Welcome Back, My Friends…
After a three-year pandemic-induced hiatus, the ISA Sign Expo returned live in Atlanta last week—much to everyone’s delight. WhatTheyThink was at the event, which seemed less like a trade show and more like a family reunion. Read More
FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year: FASTSIGNS York (Pa.) Scores a Touchdown with Shippensburg University’s Football Facility
The winner of this year’s FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year is FASTSIGNS York (Pa.), whose major rebranding of the Shippensburg University football team’s training facility caught the judges’ eyes. Read More
ISA Rocks! Sign Expo Returns in Person with Next Week’s Atlanta Show
It’s been a long three years since the International Sign Expo was last held in person. 2021’s virtual event was a success, but there’s nothing like in-person networking, demos, educational sessions, and parties. Here’s a preview of next week’s show. Read More
Tilia Labs Enables Maximum Optimization for Wide Format Printers
The three biggest profit killers in wide format printing are waste, time, and labor. Minimizing these issues is key to running a successful printing operation. This article explores how Tilia Labs applies artificial intelligence programming to maximize optimization for wide format printers. Read More
Up with Higher Education: Finding Signage Opportunities in Academic Applications
The higher-education market can be a lucrative one for sign and graphics providers, and there is no shortage of display graphics needs. Some are obvious, others less so, but finding them can provide many new opportunities. Here are some ideas. Read More
Sign Design UX Do’s and Don’ts: Employ a Functional Graphic Approach for Positive Wayfinding User Experiences, Top Designers Advise
WhatTheyThink contributor Mark Vruno talks with designers about best practices for wayfinding and other types of signage design. Read More
Image360 Plymouth Brings Art and Experience to Health Care Facilities
Image360 Plymouth unique niche—art-based experiential graphics for health care facilities—has opened the door to some unique projects, and the center is always looking to push the boundaries. Read More
The Show Goes On: Visit the ISA International Sign Expo 2022 in May
ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson looks forward to the International Sign Expo 2022, coming to Atlanta in May. It will be the first in-person Sign Expo in two years. Read More
Meet Vehicle-Wrap Competition Host Dirk Moebes
Contributor Mark Vruno talks to Dirk Moebes, the vehicle-wrap competition organizer from Germany who has been generating excitement at industry trade shows for more than two decades. Read More
The Sign Connection—It’s About Time: Expand Your Tool Kit with E-Commerce
The growing importance of e-commerce has been difficult to miss, especially during these turbulent times. The flexibility that e-commerce enables has been key to navigating the pandemic for print businesses and their clients. This guest article, by Carrie Wood of Alliance Franchise Brands, looks at the implementation of e-commerce in the Image360, Signs By Tomorrow, and Signs Now centers. Read More
News
PrintFactory Expands to North America Amid Sustained, Rapid Growth
Webb Print & Display Invests in EFI VUTEk h3 from CMYUK
Binick Imaging Drives Post-Pandemic Growth with Double Investment from HP
Hollywood Monster Invests in an EFI VUTEk Q5r from CMYUK
Fujifilm Launches Activ Hybrid LED UV Retrofit System
Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra R2 Each Scoop a Third Design Award
Drytac Refreshes Ricoh’s Customer Experience Centre with New Look
Vertical Wall Printer Can Print Any Images on Any Surface At Any Time and Any Place
Franchisees Give FASTSIGNS UK Five Stars for Satisfaction
EFI IQ Now Available for Sign and Display Graphics Printers
Roland DG Corporation Appoints Roland DGA President and CEO Andrew Oransky to Board of Directors
Turner Signs Serves Up a Tasty Treat with Drytac Polar Street FX
Cooler Screens Partners With Place Exchange to Connect Brands With Programmatic In-store Advertising
FASTSIGNS® Recognized as a Top Franchise for Women by Franchise Business Review
Durst Group with "Production Excellence" at Fespa 2022 in Berlin
Video
Kevin Duffy on Vycom’s Recycling Program for Display Graphics
Published: May 19, 2022
Kevin Duffy, VP of Sales and Marketing for Vycom, talks about the Vycom Recycling Program, designed to take back and recycle printed and unprinted PVC and acrylic sheets, and PE materials, as well as scraps and drops from finishing and fabricating. The recovered plastic is then recycled back into Vycom’s residential and commercial products. Vycom had set up collection bins throughout the show floor at the recent ISA Sign Expo for the recycling of materials used during show demonstrations. Watch Video
Cris Pollnow Talks About IntoPrint Technologies
Published: May 12, 2022
Kelley Holmes talks to IntoPrint’s Cris Pollnow. IntoPrint sells its own branded equipment for signage, label, and envelope printing, and serves as a dealer channel for other equipment vendors, as well. EFI is their flagship vendor. IntoPrint also has a strong service team. Watch Video
ISA President Lori Anderson Opens Sign Expo 2022
Published: May 5, 2022
International Sign Association (ISA) President and CEO Lori Anderson welcomes sign and display graphics professionals to Atlanta, where the first Sign Expo in three years kicked off yesterday. Watch Video
FASTSIGNS Franchisee Talks Diversity and Inclusion
Published: April 21, 2022
Carmen Ruiz, a FASTSIGNS franchisee from Holly Hill, Fla., talks to Kelley Holmes about giving a panel discussion at the annual FASTSIGNS convention about inclusion and diversity. They also talk about an interesting project her business worked on that brought diversity and inclusion to life in her community. Watch Video
Making the Leap to Becoming a FASTSIGNS Franchisee
Published: April 19, 2022
Dan Stutzman, a FASTSIGNS franchisee from Erie, Pa., talks about the history of his company and how he converted to a FASTSIGNS business. Dan also talks about the support his business gets from the corporate side of the franchise business. Watch Video
Catching Up With a FASTSIGNS Master Franchisor from Puerto Rico
Published: April 4, 2022
José Corujo, FASTSIGNS Franchise Partner from Puerto Rico, talks to Kelley Holmes about his three centers there and 10 years of experience as a franchisee. José also discusses selling a center in the Dominican Republic as a Master Franchisor, as well as what it means to be a part of the FASTSIGNS franchise network. Watch Video
The Advantages of Being a FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Location
Published: March 28, 2022
Chuck Lobaugh, a FASTSIGNS franchise owner from Hilton Head Island, S.C., talks to WhatTheyThink's Kelley Holmes about his long history in the printing industry, why he became a co-branded FASTSIGNS location, and the advantages it gives him as a small business owner in challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch Video
Catching Up with Dayton Ohio FASTSIGNS Franchisee Larry Miller
Published: March 23, 2022
Dayton, Ohio, FASTSIGNS franchisee Larry Miller talks about being a board member, the history of his business as a FASTSIGNS conversion, and being in the "120k Pickup Club." Larry also talks about some of the fun projects he's worked on in his business. Watch Video
Wide-Format & Signage Section Editor
Richard Romano
Richard has written about graphic communication hardware and software trends for the past 25 years.
Articles by Richard Romano | Contact
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