As unique as they come

by carly_mchugh | 23 March 2022 9:24 am

By Courtney Bachar

Business partners Roy and John Druce established Unique Media Solutions (UMS) in December 2006 with one simple principle in mind: build the very best company for clients of all types and sectors who require compelling graphics to transform their brand. UMS strives to take average business graphics and turn them into cutting-edge, dynamic branding concepts designed with the sole purpose to stand out. And it worked. The company experienced tremendous growth in a very short period of time. To better serve its clients, UMS moved to a new facility in September 2015. This larger location enabled the shop to expand its current product line and purchase state-of-the-art equipment to service their ever-growing client list. In May 2017, Dean Smalley took over ownership and parlayed his experience in the transportation industry into an even more nimble company that understands the importance of delivering quality product and service in a timely, efficient manner. Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to Smalley, who continuously emphasizes his philosophy of creating and nurturing long-term partnerships with all his clients. “At UMS, we believe in exceeding our client’s expectations,” he said.

[2]Sign Media Canada (SMC): What makes your company unique?

Dean Smalley (DS): What makes our company unique besides our name is that we are a one-stop-shop. We have in-house designers, production teams, and installers who all work together to provide the ultimate solutions for our clients. We have also established a national and international network of highly skilled installers to service our clients throughout North America. 

SMC: How large is the facility?

DS: Several years ago, we expanded into a new 743-m² (8000-sf) location in Whitby, Ont. This central location supports our four primary departments consisting of administration, design, production, and sales. Collectively, we are “The Team.”

SMC: What type of signage does your shop primarily install? 

DS: We mainly installed decals and full wraps on corporate vehicles. Due to client confidence and satisfaction in our work, we expanded into a vast number of areas, such as interior and exterior graphics, including window, floor, and wall graphics; signage, including pylon signs, backlit storefront signs, wayward signs, A-frame signs, banners, and lawn signs; as well as small-format projects such as stationery and business promotional items. We also frequently wrap and decal recreational vehicles and equipment.

SMC: What type of projects have you been working on recently?

DS: Recently we had the opportunity to collaborate with the Town of Whitby and Auto Guardian in the first-of-its-kind autonomous vehicles project. Our role was to design, produce and install a truly unique wrap for these two vehicles. We are currently partnered with the Town of Aurora in a downtown beautification project where we will be working with a local artist to wrap a 15-m (50-ft.) wall in the heart of Aurora.

SMC: How much of the sign installation process is handled in-house?

DS: Currently, the majority of all local installations are handled in-house whereas all non-local installations are performed by hand-picked, highly trained, certified installers.

SMC: What tools/equipment do you currently use to complete your projects?

DS: It largely depends on the project. The production of our graphics are produced on several OKI M64 and Mimaki JV 150-160 printers, while lamination is performed on Seal 62 Base laminator and others. We utilize a Summo cutter to perform the intricate cuts for our decals and labels.

SMC: What does your planning process involve?

DS: The process begins with a meeting with our client to get a thorough understanding of their goals and objectives of their project. Measurements will be taken and all the data is analyzed by our team to formulate strategic options designed to achieve our client’s vision. Once the design is approved by the client, it is prepped for the production department to produce the graphics. After passing our rigorous quality control inspection, our installers work their magic and install the graphics. Throughout the process, our clients are kept current on the status of their project.

SMC: How is technology changing your business?

DS: Technology is constantly evolving in our industry and it is vital to stay current. Nowhere is this more evident than in the material options available. Where there used to be one main manufacturer of materials, there are now several producing extremely high-quality products. It is imperative to constantly communicate with our suppliers and material reps to keep up-to-date.

SMC: What is the key to staying successful in this industry?

DS: The key to staying successful in this industry is honesty, providing a high-quality product at a reasonable price, and always, always, always focusing on the best interest of our clients.

SMC: What are the future plans for your business?

DS: Unique Media Solutions looks forward to a bright future assisting clients to fulfill their goals. We plan to constantly grow and expand our services. Currently, 85 per cent of our growth is attributed to referrals. Recently, we have implemented a strategic marketing strategy to expand and educate potential clients on how we may assist them while continuing to communicate regularly with our current client base. In the past, our focus was primarily vehicle wraps and decals, whereas now we also focus on small-format printing, promotional materials, and various forms of signage.  We have also specialized in customizing wall, window, and floor graphics.  

SMC: How has COVID-19 affected your business? How did the shop cope?

DS: COVID-19 has impacted us as it has our entire industry. We originally pivoted to mass-producing COVID signage to assist local businesses. Resulting from the challenges arising from our client’s struggles in purchasing vehicles to replenish their corporate fleets, our team has taken this opportunity to reorganize and implement new procedures to enhance our efficiencies in servicing our clients. We have worked diligently to enhance our communication and relationships with our existing clientele. 

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/as-unique-as-they-come/

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