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.
Sir Speedy Statesville Thinks Outside the Box to Help Local Community During Pandemic
Sir Speedy franchisee CJ Sudman shares insights on operating as an essential business during the pandemic and how he and his team were able to help local schools and businesses find unique solutions to acquire necessary PPE materials. Read More
Finishing Out 2021: Create Goals to Promote Fun, Positivity, and Success
Guest contributor A.J. Titus, President of Signarama, offers some tips and strategies for taking advantage of potential growth gains in the next 12 months—and how to have some fun doing it. It all starts with creating goals. Read More
Sign Code Crackdown: Post-Pandemic Life Returns Enforcement of Signage Regulations
Two recent court cases—one in Tennessee and one in Texas—have created new wrinkles in exterior sign code regulations. Meanwhile, communities are trying to apply EMC regulations to internally illuminated signs, and authorities are returning to stricter enforcement of regulations on temporary signage that had been relaxed during the pandemic. Read More
New Campaign Uses Signage to Promote Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
Bikeatoga, a non-profit organization that promotes bicycling and bicycle safety in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has launched a lawn signage campaign to help prevent vehicle-bicycle accidents. Read More
Missing the Signs—Post-Pandemic Signage Largely MIA as Everyone Returns to Normal
Navigating the post-pandemic world in the early days of the reopening could be confusing, as there was little signage that indicated a particular location’s policies regarding mask-wearing, etc. Still, some demand for post-pandemic signage remains, although the major opportunities for sign and display graphics producers were mostly fleeting. Read More
Beyond Braille: The ABCs of ADA Signage
Wayfinding and other kinds of interior graphics are good opportunities for signage and display graphics providers. However, it is essential to have an understanding of the requirements for signage to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—and how some of those requirements have changed post-COVID. Read More
Pivot! How to Strategically Pivot Your Business Amid Uncontrollable Change in Four Steps
Pandemic and other forms of uncontrollable change can be detrimental for businesses. However, to offset initial disruptions and potentially larger, more long-term implications when hit with the unexpected, leadership at organizations must act swiftly and rally their team. Guest contributor Burke Cueny, VP of Marketing for Alliance Franchise Brands, explains how multiple departments and business units can work together to overcome the crisis. Read More
Preserving the Memory of John Wayne: SpeedPro Dallas Was Declared Winner of the 2020 Project of the Year Award
SpeedPro Dallas was recently announced as the 2020 winner of the prestigious SpeedPro Project of the Year award for its masterful work on behalf of “John Wayne: An American Experience.” Read More
Sharp/NEC and Avery Dennison Team Up for New Digital Window Graphics
ActiveScene is a projection system from Sharp/NEC combined with an “active” window film from Avery Dennison that can turn any window into dynamic digital signage. Read More
Vycom Expands its PVC and Acrylic Recycling Program
Vycom (and its parent, The AZEK Company) launched its Recycling Take Back Program in 2019, accepting hard-to-recycle materials like PVC and other materials used for signage and display graphics and reusing them in decking products, diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. The company has expanded the number of recycling plants, has been adding customers, and is renewing its outreach efforts. Read More
And the Awards Go To…For this Year’s FASTSIGNS Project of the Year Award Winners, It’s All about Relationships
FASTSIGNS of Louisville (Ky.) took top honors at this year’s FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year Awards. Second place was claimed by FASTSIGNS of Martinsburg (W.V.), and third by FASTSIGNS of Puerto Rico. Let’s take a close look at this year’s winners. Read More
Blowin’ in the Wind: Banner Finishing Is About More than Aesthetics
Even moderate winds can be destructive to outdoor graphics if they have been insufficiently reinforced. And while taping, sewing, or welding banner edges may not be the sexiest finishing techniques in the world, they are important considerations when producing outdoor graphics that are designed look good as well as last. Read More
News
Roland DGA Announces Launch of New VersaUV® LEC2 S-Series UV Flatbed Printers
ARC Document Solutions Expands Fleet of Display Graphics Products to Reach New Markets
PVC-Free Kavalan Sunlight Weldable Banner Material Chosen to Deliver the Justdiggit Message
MUTOH America Welcomes Ronald Zuniga to the Team
AAG Announces the New AXYZ METALWORKER and WARDJet M-Series for Optimal Metal Cutting
Roland DGA Completes Comprehensive Online “Application Page Library”
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Announces Four Promotions
Matform Purchases Mimaki UJF-7151 Plus Direct-to-Object LED UV Flatbed Printer from CMYUK
Premier Graphics Uses Drytac Films to Bridge the Gap on Innovative Art Installation
FASTSIGNS Announces Formation of Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Mike Horsten to Join Agfa as Global Business Manager InterioJet
Agfa to Present Business-Boosting Inkjet Solutions at FESPA 2021
Mactac® Graphics Products Launches Sustainable Films Product Line
Video
Warren Werbitt Goes Printer to Printer with Vinylbomb
Published: February 24, 2021
This week, Warren talks to Chris Rodkey, President and “Expert of the Strange and Unusual” at Vinylbomb. A four-year-old printer to the trade based in Hamilton, N.J., Vinylbomb specializes in grand-format printing CNC routing, laser cutting and engraving, and fabrication. During COVID, Vinylbomb successfully started selling face shields and sneeze guards, which helped the company thrive during the pandemic. Watch Video
Warren Werbitt Goes Printer to Printer with Ace Designs’ Sheri Robertson
Published: January 6, 2021
This week, Warren talks with Sheri Robertson, VP of Awesome! for Ace Designs, a grand-format print shop serving predominantly retail and hospitality markets. The company has been using the pandemic period to reexamine and reset themselves and decide "what they want to be when they grow up.” Watch Video
Mimaki's Mike Maxwell Shares Update on Mimaki Solutions for Signs/Display Graphics
Published: December 17, 2020
Mimaki offers a broad portfolio of solutions for the sign and display graphics market. Mike Maxwell, Senior Manager–Corporate Strategic Development at Mimaki U.S., provides a look at the range of applications customers are producing, including how customers can incorporate 3D printing into the sign and display graphics businesses. Watch Video
Lori Anderson on Cancellation of ISA International Sign Expo 2020
Published: May 15, 2020
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the International Sign Association Board of Directors met this week and has voted to cancel ISA International Sign Expo 2020 re-scheduled for August 22-25. Lori Anderson, ISA President and CEO of ISA talks about decision to cancel this year's event and the scheduling of next year's Sign Expo to be held in Las Vegas during April 2021. Watch Video
From Photolabs to FASTSIGNS
Published: April 6, 2020
Todd Fitzgerald, owner of FASTSIGNS Wappingers Falls, N.Y., talks to Kelley Holmes about his journey from running several camera stores/photolabs to the sign industry. When the photo business started to change, he saw the sign business as a natural progression, and took advantage of FASTSIGNS’ Co-Brand program. Watch Video
FASTSIGNS Vero Beach and ABC Printing Co-Brand to Offer Complete Signage and Commercial Printing Services
Published: March 23, 2020
Gordon Sellers, FASTSIGNS Vero Beach, Fla., and & Chris Beals, ABC Printing, talk about the evolution of their partnership. ABC Printing was founded in 1975 as a quick printer. When Gordon opened FASTSIGNS Vero Beach, Chis became a top customer, selling signs to his customers and acquiring them from FASTSIGNS—and Gordon’s customers also needed small-format printing. As their partnership grew, they decided to take advantage of FASTSIGNS’ Co-Branding program. Watch Video
For Gaby Mullinax & Kaitlyn Mullinax-Fischer, FASTSIGNS is a Family Business
Published: March 16, 2020
Gaby Mullinax & Kaitlyn Mullinax-Fischer, Owner & Director of Business Development of FASTSIGNS of Brea and Fullerton, Calif., talk about how their franchise became a family business, and how Gaby jumped off the corporate ladder to run a FASTSIGNS franchise. They encourage young people to get involved in the FASTSIGNS business. Watch Video
Stan Gray Benefits from FASTSIGNS Veteran Program
Published: March 9, 2020
Stan Gray, owner of FASTSIGNS Torrance and Long Beach, Calif., talks about his military background and how he came to FASTSIGNS via the Veteran & First Responder Franchise Program. Gray also has a background in architecture, and his franchise specializes in ADA signage. 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
Submit news to [email protected]
© 2021 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved.