The cat was at the very top of a 35ish-foot-tree that is DENSE. You couldn’t see past the first branch if you stand under the tree and look up…
Sign Biz has been serving up innovation, connections, and education with a passionate commitment since 1989. We support a network of 200 sign companies in six countries. The organization offers education services, consulting to sign shops, and public relations and marketing services for industry stakeholders. LobbyPOP is a division of Sign Biz Inc. and offers to-the-trade only dynamic sign products, services and support.
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Our Season’s Greetings
The gift of music is here! We want to brighten your snow days and silent nights with curated holiday music! The entire Sign Biz team wishes you a sparkling Christmas, a warm Hanukkah, and a Feliz Navidad!
Biggest Conference, Best Education, Most Fun!
The ELATED Convention is Coming!
About Jeff
- Computer Science degree from University of California Berkeley
- Runs 3 companies, a speaking company, booking agency, and a commercial insurance agency.
- Addressed 40 industries from 4 different continents
- 2 published books – The Authentic Workplace and The Key to the New You
- 2 TEDx appearances
- Focuses on workplace topics such as leadership, management and recruitment
- Runs an international team spanning several continents
About Wanda
Wanda is an International Speaker, Coach, Corporate Trainer and the author of Follow Up Savvy and Follow Up Sales Strategies.
She earns rave reviews from corporate clients, associations, and entrepreneur groups nationwide.
Praise for Wanda
NAWBO Memphis
“Wanda Allen spoke at our NAWBO Memphis meeting. I received nothing but positive feedback from our members. Her follow-up practical sales tips entertained and engaged our audience. She presented common sense skills for not just those in direct sales, but for anyone selling the benefits of their business.”
Elizabeth Tate
Programs & Events Director
2023 Sign Biz Year in Review
Join us as we celebrate another year of progress! Looking back at we have accomplished, here’s our Recap “By the Numbers!”
2023 Convention Reaches High!
Every Session Elevates Understanding
The 2023 Sign Biz Convention lived up to its name, it was “AMPED!” Sign Biz Members from all over the country gathered in Las Vegas last month to learn, network, and connect with each other. The event was packed with inspiring speakers, informative workshops, and opportunities to make new friends and business connections.
Attendees were treated to a lineup of inspiring speakers, featuring industry experts, thought leaders, and some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Sign Biz Network. The main event began with opening remarks and address from the president of Sign Biz, Inc., Teresa M. Young (pictured left). She welcomed the newest Members of the Network, and delivered the first workshop, Flash Course: Marketing Budgets. This revealed the new 2023 marketing budget figures for manufacturing, B2B, and service companies. The final numbers included what percent of revenue both traditional and digital tactics should have for support of sign shops.
James Carpentier, AICP
Following the morning session, a full workshop was delivered by James Carpentier, AICP, Director, State & Local Government for the International Sign Association. He presented, “Variances: Pathways to Approval,” a much-anticipated deep dive into the variance process, what to expect, and what the approval body really wants. The insights were priceless!
Luncheon Keynote Address
An eye-opening luncheon keynote was delivered by Whitney Klinkenborg, Marketing Director, Gemini — an intriguing and fact-filled review of the new generation of buyers and hires. Her presentation, The Generation Map, was extremely well received, especially coming from someone who represents the new workforce!
AMPED New Products!
The annual AMPED New Products Session was a hit! This General Session gave attendees the inside scoop on emerging tech, such as CompanyCam’s app for job site control; new versatile backlist kiosk through Glantz; and authoritative tech specs presented by Orafol that puts engineer grade reflective in the dustbin, sponsored by Fellers.
New videos were shown about the ever-popular Van Ladder bucket trucks and new accessories; and finally, Mark Rugen, foremost expert trainer for SAi’s Flexi was “piped in” via video! All workshop videos will be coming to the School of Sign Arts video library, aka exhibit hall over the coming months.
The POWOWs!
Members also had the chance to participate in POWOW events, special roundtable workshops on a variety of topics, such as sales strategies; a dive into Corebridge software moderated by Sign Biz Member, Cory McKnight with two locations using the POS system; new media for vehicle wraps guided by 3M’s Dana Halberg; tools and production aids were handed out and discussed at a table with Dave Haan of sponsor, JDS Sign Supply; and exterior sign installation experts weighed in on a table moderated by Jim Troe and Dave Peterson of Van Ladder.
REACH! New for 2023!
The big closing general session entitled “REACH” gave attendees bold new pathways for growth. Presenters included Jay Nolan, Sign Biz Member and co-owner of Kentucky Sign Center; Brett Wright, Founder of NextLED with STAX (a new Member fave EMC provider); Chuck Schonert, G7 Expert Trainer with Idealliance provided the path to certification and new business; and Dana Halberg introduced an opportunity to draw business with gorgeous architectural finishes for indoor and outdoor use by getting on the DiNoc installer locator service.
In addition to the educational sessions, the convention also offered plenty of opportunities for networking and socializing. Attendees had the chance to greet old friends and meet new industry professionals, learn about each other’s businesses, and exchange ideas. They also had the chance to participate in a variety of social events, such as a “Walkabout” at the ISA Expo, hosted luncheon, and a closing Gala party.
A Great Day! Gala to Follow!
The Gala story is here online – and you don’t want to miss the photo gallery! The photo here is a sneak peek of what is in store… Read more about the award winners, the new Milestones and more in our Gala Recap!
The 2023 Entrepreneurs’ Convention was a great success! Attendees came away with a renewed sense of excitement and passion for their businesses. They are already looking forward to next year’s convention!
A Night to Celebrate at Annual Awards Gala!
BIG, Like the 1980s!
The 2023 Sign Biz Gala Dinner was a night to celebrate the success of entrepreneurs, makers and salespeople alike. The event was held at the refreshing Tropicana Resort Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a ballroom decorated with disco balloons, feathers, and glitz to match the 80s theme. The night included the ever-popular team events. Many guests arrived in themed attire and the atmosphere was electric with excitement!
The evening began with a cocktail reception, where guests mingled and enjoyed drinks and appetizers. Dinner followed with a choice of entrees, and a variety of other delicious dishes. The Tropicana staff were very attentive, and even donned some festive gear!
After dinner, it was time for the awards ceremony!
Honors and Awards
The gala dinner awards ceremony was held to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs, makers and salespeople.
First up were the astonishing SCOYAs, Sales Consultant of the Year Awards. The awards were presented by Sign Biz president, Teresa M. Young in the following sales achievement categories:
- New Rising Star went to Brent Sexton of the Sign Brothers (Athens, GA), for an average monthly sales volume of $65,746!
- Stellar Sales Star was awarded to Alex Akins from the Sign Brothers, for average monthly sales volume of $90,010 and a top month of $407,169 in October last year.
- Top Sales Consultant of the Year was bestowed upon Phillip Henry, also from the Sign Brothers, for his remarkable average monthly sales of $217,100 and a peak month of $990,370 in August last year!
The Gala attendees were astounded and delighted to hear of these remarkable achievements- everyone wants some of the Sign Brothers secret sauce! Beautiful, framed awards were a testament to their hard work and dedication.
THE iMAK AWARDS!
Following the SCOYAs were the iMAK awards! These prestigious awards are for all “back of the shop” employees in the Sign Biz Network. Awards are designed to honor individuals in the following three categories: Rock Star Installer, Pro Print Artist and Sharpest Fabricator. For 2023, one Rock Star Installer was honored, and two individuals were tied for Sharpest Fabricator.
The Winners, from L to R:
ROCK STAR INSTALLER: This award went to Julio Pedrueza, Lead Installer at GrandMark Signs LLC (Lenexa, KS). Of the 300 installations he completed by the time the honorees were selected, only two necessitated a follow-up trip!
SHARPEST FABRICATOR: This distinguished award went to Mandee Vittetoe, Production Supervisor at Kentucky Sign Center (London, KY). She more than doubled the throughput of orders and manages the finishing staff in the production department.
SHARPEST FABRICATOR (In a tie): Also honored in this category was Osvaldo “Os” Cortes, Lead Fabricator at GrandMark Signs. His employer, Joe Tindall, commended Os as being the best of the best, with an upbeat attitude and hard worker. “He has been a game-changer for GrandMark Signs, and everyone loves working with him.”
New Milestones Achieved
The Sign Biz Convention evening Gala is an opportunity to recognize noteworthy achievement of all types. The next portion of the program presents awards to those who have achieved new sales milestones. The revenue per capita continues to exceed that of all sign franchises, with one in eight shops achieving $1Million in annual sales or greater.
The first category is for the Century Club award, for those achieving $100,000 in a single month for the first time. Honors went to Sholom Hochman, owner of Sign Here in New Jersey.
The new inductees into the Half-Million-Dollar Milestone Club were Greg and Mary Bullock, owners of Sign & Design Depot (North Fort Myers, Florida). This award was highlighted by Young as being especially hard-earned and rewarding to bestow: The Bullocks had survived more than their share of hurricanes, Covid battles, cancer and surgeries. And still they were able to achieve a new sales milestone for 2022, with over $500K in sales last year.
The next award was for the $750K Club for those achieving $750,000 in annual sales for the first time. This year, Jim Bianco, Sign Pro (Edina, MN) took the honors!
And the Biggest Yet!
Young introduced the Million-Dollar-Milestone Club awards by first presenting the list of 36 past honorees. The first 2023 inductee for annual sales of $1Million were Jay and Claudia Nolan, Kentucky Sign Center (London, KY), pictured right.
Also receiving the Million Dollar Milestone Award was Sholom Hochman, on the heels of his Century Club award earlier in the evening!
But Wait, There's More!
Guests were treated to some more Milestone Awards, lofty goals achieved by Sign Biz Members over the past year. First, Cory McKnight, owner of The Sign Center (Boise, ID), was honored for achieving $1.5Million in annual sales for the first time!
And there were two more very exciting Milestone inductees: Lauran Wang, Mustang Signs (Kennewick, WA) achieved $4Million in annual sales in 2022! And not to be outdone, The Sign Brothers, Justin & Michael Seibert also achieved the $4Million in annual sales!
Fun & Games!
The gala dinner, fully hosted bar, and stellar awards had Members in high spirits. They were ready to let loose and have some fun! The annual Gala winds up the night with “the games” and this year was no exception. Teams were created and found the content of prop bags aligned with the 80s theme. Each team had costumes, a team “dance” and a lip-sync performance.
Pat and Stefanie Dacy (pictured) showed up with their own “costumes” – the clothes they actually wore in 1980s! Some convention sponsors became judges, enjoying their role and receiving lighthearted bribes. They were laughing and cheering as the contestants performed.
The competition was fierce, and the contestants gave it their all. There were mullets, leg warmers, and neon spandex galore.
The dance moves were over-the-top, and the lip-syncing was spot-on. Video coming soon to YouTube.com/signbiznetwork!
In the end, there could only be one winning team, but all of the contestants were winners in their own way.
The party contest was a great way to end the gala dinner. It was a chance for entrepreneurs and employees to let loose and have some fun. It was also a chance for them to bond with each other and make some new friends.
The event and awards were hosted by Sign Biz, Inc. The organization’s mission is to help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and build successful businesses.
Everyone is already looking forward to next year’s convention!
In Memoriam: Lee Futch
Lee opened his business, Signs On Time, in Carlsbad, CA in 1990. His love of serving customers was exceeded only by his love for golfing and for his wife, Carolyn Woods-Futch and his children.
Passion & Perseverance Raise a Shop from Ashes
Passion & Perseverance Raise a Sign Shop from the Ashes. Today, they are new Members of the Sign Biz Network!
Voice, Values, Design: A Beginner’s Guide to Branding
By Ed Carter at ablefutures.org
Branding is often the divider between a successful business and a middling one, and yet it’s still a commonly overlooked aspect of the work process by many entrepreneurs. Much of the reason for this comes down to a misunderstanding of what branding is and how to manage it consistently. In this first-look guide, Sign Biz explores its definitions, the way it can affect consumer interactions, and how to begin implementation.
In a sentence, branding is the identity of your business in the minds of the consumer. It is both critical for your business’s long-term success and challenging to get right. Developing a solid brand requires commitment, planning, and diligent work.
The question, then, is how can we shape and mold this identity in a way that is favorable for the company and, ultimately, its bottom line? For generations, brands have achieved this with the best creative talent. A few hundred highly-skilled copywriters, graphic designers, and marketing managers working in sync can sculpt a brand identity that is unmistakable in the mind of the consumer.
This creative team will attack three key components: voice, values, and design.
Your brand’s values are the guiding principles. It helps if you and your team also believe and abide by these values – often, companies will suggest they stand for one thing and then, internally, do something else. Your brand values will endear you to different sets of consumers, as well as affect business decisions and PR activity.
Your brand’s voice alludes to the way your brand speaks to its customers/clients through marketing and in all external-facing, company-related media. It should be built to reflect your key demographics and to help drive internal company OKRs (objectives and key results). This means that you have a set tone of writing and a specific lexicon that your writers will draw upon. If you are a B2B financial consultancy, this is more likely to be formal, jargonistic, and direct. If you are a consumer-facing teenage makeup brand, you may opt for something more casual and laissez-faire.
As the consumer’s first touchpoint, the design of your brand is arguably its most important component. Modern consumers will form a perception of your company immediately based on the colors you use, the shape of your typography, and the style of your logo. This is why it’s crucial to know exactly who you’re targeting, their preferences, their spending habits and to craft aesthetics around this data.
It’s important to note that all three branding components feed off one another. Ideally, your brand values should affect the way your company looks, and occasionally the way your company looks can feed back on the way it sounds or the things it purports to believe.
If you’re on a shoestring or you’re confident enough in your own artistic sensibilities, it’s also possible to do much of the legwork on your own. For example, you can sketch out and provide examples of logos you like, then ask your local sign shop designer to build a logo for you. The shop professionals know good design, effective logotypes. You could also try following one of the many online guides to craft your own brand voice — employing it across social media and on your company site.
Once you have the foundations of branding in place, you’ll often find that the next steps (to do with marketing, sales, customer service, etc.) reveal themselves. For now, your main priority should be to craft a truly unique, personal identity that resonates with clients/customers and to stick with it consistently.
Credits: Photo Top- Pexels, Eva Bronzini
Reunion Gala Delights!
Sign Biz convention attendees gathered in May, and a Gala was the icing on the cake!
2022 CONVENTION A PERFECT 10!
Surprise services, free classes, bid portals, networking and 30th Anniversary Dinner Party kept attendees energized and delighted!
New Dealership Gives Members More
Press Release
New Dealer Agreement Sparked by Supply Chain Disruptions
Dana Point, CA, December 13, 2021 – Royal Sovereign International, a New Jersey-based manufacturing company focused on laminator technologies, has entered into a dealer agreement with Sign Biz, Inc., an international sign industry developer. Together with Royal Sovereign, they will continue to expand the distribution of the Royal Sovereign product line into the Sign Biz Network under a special agreement.
“The choice of a new laminator manufacturing partner was driven by a common challenge faced today: Too little supply to meet demand. Necessity opened the door – we wanted another laminator to add to our offerings, and supply chain issues made us look hard at the potential players in the marketplace today,” explains Teresa M. Young, President/CEO of Sign Biz, Inc.
Royal Sovereign wound up on the short list. The fact that they have over 700 National Bell and Howell service network techs if installation or training is needed is a big plus, and a rarity in the laminator market. “The RS commitment to using only the best components to ensure reliability, stability, and high performance sealed the deal for us,” adds Young.
Sign Biz is an established provider of quality products and services for digital sign shops and through the dealer agreement with RSI, Sign Biz can now offer another solution for Sign Biz professionals at an extraordinary price point. Sign Biz Members can learn more or order one of the many types of laminators manufactured by Royal Sovereign by contacting Sign Biz, Inc.
About Sign Biz® Inc.
Sign Biz®, Inc., founder of a worldwide chain of independently-owned digital sign & graphics businesses, provides research, education, technical support and hands-on training to digital sign and graphics industry professionals. Consulting, project management and ongoing education programs and publications have supported professionalism in the sign industry for more than three decades.
Sign Biz, Inc. 24681 La Plaza, Suite 270 ~ Dana Point ~ California ~ 92629 Phone: (800) 633-5580
About Royal Sovereign International
Royal Sovereign is an international manufacturer and marketing organization. Their Graphics division product categories include wide format floor and table-top laminators, banner welder, electric trimmers, dye sublimation transfer calendars, roll film and laminating and trimmer accessories. From their foundation in 1986, they have expanded into six continents around the world and enjoy brand recognition with some of the nation’s largest distributors.
Way to Grow, Malaya Signs!
On September 1, 2021, Malaya Signs officially acquired Rudnick Electric Signs. Together, they will now be…
July Podcast with Teresa M. Young
Listen to the podcast in this SoundCloud interview by Graphics Pro Magazine. Sponsored by Graphics Pro Expo.
