It has long been stated that “location, location, location” is vital to the success of many – if not most – businesses. This is equally true for a professional sign shop that is newly established or in early growth phases, in particular, for those that offer digital print, cut vinyl, architectural signage, and vehicle graphics products as a mainstay - vs. electrical sign manufacturing.

The Sign Biz, Inc. independent research and advisory body provides research on a range of economic, demographic and environmental issues affecting the welfare of entrepreneurs, in particular those in the sign industry. Its role, expressed most simply, is to help business owners and future entrepreneurs make better decisions, in the long-term interest of the sign industry.

To this end, we are sharing some proprietary information that has fostered above-average growth and revenues of the Sign Biz Network, a chain of sign companies established with the benefit of Sign Biz, Inc.’s intellectual property. The benchmark study which launched later research and refinements to the data is a project initiated with the Direct Marketing Agency at a cost of over $100,000. This white paper excerpts valuable data to answer many questions regarding site selection for non-electric sign manufacturing enterprises.

The research identifies the primary factors which drive the most successful start-ups and growing sign companies as defined above. While substantial documentation and research supports these findings, this is by no means an exhaustive analysis of every factor that contributes to the model for a viable and successful sign manufacturer.
 
Why are we sharing this information? Because it is clear that too many entrepreneurs are opening sign shops in locations very unfavorable to the business, and as a consequence, are suffering unnecessarily. In some cases, this site selection mistake was due simply to lack of knowledge. In other cases, uninformed business opportunity providers have encouraged the entrepreneur to start up their business in an industrial location. This led to the demise of 35 businesses in one sign chain, within a three-year period, and still the misinformation persists.
We are here to set the record straight with sound market research and survey results. No entrepreneur should fall victim to poor site selection.

The posts of this blog are designed to have a positive impact in our industry. The following findings are based on a national business survey and business cases studies assessing the impact of location on sign shop performance. Available at no charge from the School of Sign Arts website for sign professionals. Just Visit SOSA’s SHOP  and add to cart to instantly receive your valuable White Paper via email.