Category: Operations

In 2025, from coast to coast, the sign industry came together in classrooms, trade shows and shop floors to share ideas, sharpen skills and celebrate progress. For me, it was a year defined by the power of people—proof that no matter how much technology changes, this industry will always thrive on relationships, mentorship and collaboration. […]

The post A Year of Connection appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

The sign industry is evolving rapidly—shorter lead times, rising labor costs, talent shortages, and increasingly complex project demands have placed unprecedented pressure on sign companies nationwide. In response, author, consultant, and Sign Shop Mastermind Alliance founder John S. Hackley, ASBC, has released Sign Shop CEO Playbook, a highly practical guide designed at helping shops transform […]

The post Sign Shop CEO Playbook: A Modern Operating System for the Next Generation of Sign Companies appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

For a small company, Signage Details has made a remarkably loud entrance into the signage world. In a trade long anchored by craft and experience, it’s rare to see a home-grown startup push both design innovation and data science forward at the same time—but that’s exactly what this young team is doing.  What started as […]

The post The Detail Revolution appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has heralded a groundbreaking transformation for businesses across every imaginable sector, from small startups to multinational corporations. This is far more than a fleeting trend; AI stands as a powerful catalyst, fundamentally altering the way businesses operate, reshaping customer expectations, and redefining competitive landscapes. Organizations that hesitate to integrate […]

The post AI By Your Side appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

Liz and I get questions from new members in the Behind the Signs Facebook Community as part of the sign-up process; the wealth of knowledge there blows me away! (Please feel free to post questions in the community anytime). Recently, one question from Ryan W. really stood out. He asked simply, “How can I be […]

The post How To Be Better appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

Most company executives and managers think they are providing exceptional service to their customers. They see the key ingredients are speed, courtesy, respect, a personal touch combined with technology and great products at great prices. While those things are important, they fall short of providing extraordinary customer service. There is something else your employees should […]

The post Empowerment: A Critical Element of Extraordinary Customer Service appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

When it comes to creating a Lean and profitable sign manufacturing business, few concepts are as frequently misunderstood as the idea of “flow.” Many managers become fixated on capacity, pondering how much equipment they can acquire, how many employees they can onboard, or how many hours they can cram into the production schedule. However, it’s […]

The post “It’s All About The Flow, Baby!” appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

The sign business is a specialized field that has only gotten more demanding as technology and customer needs evolve. The dazzling new printer that does everything except deliver the sign will never be able to propose a project with just a few vague words from a client or offer solutions to convert a dissatisfied customer […]

The post Building The Dream Team appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

Over the last two years of running Make it Happen training events across the U.S. and Canada, it has been my privilege to meet unique owners and team members at many sign shops. Each quarter, I hope to showcase their story, infuse inspiration and a give huge THANK YOU to them for pulling back the […]

The post Finding Your Niche Is Key appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.

It’s truly astonishing to see how many sign shop owners of well-established businesses, despite boasting the latest and most advanced equipment, cutting-edge software and highly skilled and experienced staff, continue to approach me in search of solutions for ongoing production challenges. These issues often manifest as diminishing profit margins, unstable cash flow, missed delivery deadlines […]

The post The Productivity Playbook appeared first on Sign Builder Illustrated, The How-To Sign Industry Magazine.