The BDSG team includes, from left to right, Shawna Smart, Carrieann Griffiths, Kody Tremblett, Christine Campbell, Kristoffer Tremblett and Kristyn Tremblett. Photos courtesy Roland DGA
By Ginny Mumm
What happens to a business when a natural disaster roars through its town? In the case of Billboard Direct Signs and Graphics (BDSG), which is based in Fort McMurray, Alta., the massive wildfies of 2016 ended up bringing the company’s employees closer together, as they knew restoring the inflow of revenue would be a whole new challenge afterwards.
In May of that year, fast-spreading fires—both within Fort McMurray and across adjacent areas—forced the evacuation of 80,000 residents and destroyed approximately 2,400 structures.
“It was unbelievable,” says Carrieann Griffiths, graphic artist for BDSG. “We weren’t given any notice when, suddenly, the flames came down the hill and our backyard was on fire.”
BDSG produced and installed all event signage for the Alberta Winter Games (AWG), which were held locally in February.
The company’s shop was spared, fortunately, but the town it served was devastated. All of BDSG’s employees pitched in, printing signage for all of the burned areas, while also helping each other find ways to move forward as their homes had to be rebuilt.
“With all of that going on, it was hard at first to keep the shop rolling,” says production manager Kristyn Tremblett.
BDSG had always relied on Roland DGA large-format inkjet printer-cutters, starting with a VersaCamm model. After the fires, the company added a 1.6-m (64-in.) wide TrueVis VG-640.
“I remember thinking how this new printer was going to help get us all the way back,” says Tremblett.
Expanding from promotional branding
BDSG has its roots in a promotional product supply business, which was founded in 1992 and continues to operate today as Billboard Direct Promotional Services (BDPS), specializing in the likes of branded apparel, bags and drinkware. The expansion into large-format digital printing of graphics began in 2006.
The two sides of the same business offer a full range of branding options for local clients, with BDSG’s crew producing banners, decals, indoor and outdoor signage, partial and full wraps for single vehicles and fleets and floor, window and wall graphics.
“We like to say our graphics are like hot sauce, because we put them on everything!” says Tremblett. “It is incredible how many different kinds of projects we can run with our various printer-cutters.”
The signage crew is a team of seven, including Griffiths, Tremblett, her sons Kody and Kristoffer (who serve as vehicle graphics technician and sign specialist, respectively), quote specialist Shawna Smart and owners Christine and Don Campbell. They and BDPS occupy approximately 790 m2 (8,500 sf) at the corner of Manning Avenue and Centennial Drive, which features a three-car bay that is perfect for accommodating vehicle graphic installations and other large jobs.
