International guild launches for signmakers and print providers

by all | 14 February 2013 8:30 am

The International Sign & Printmakers Guild (ISPG) is a newly formed organization that is designed to help small sign and print shops across North America benefit from increased buying power.

ISPG’s founding sponsor is signmaking software developer SA International (SAi), formerly Scanvec Amiable, while its first platinum-level sponsor is large-format printer vendor Mutoh America. To find out more about the guild and its objectives, we spoke with Mark Blundell (pictured), SAi’s CEO.

Q: What trends have motivated the formation of ISPG?

In periodic focus groups, representatives of sign shops and wide-format print businesses concur their fundamental challenge is to continually bring business through the door. This has been coupled with rising costs, an increasingly competitive landscape and the need to meet near-impossible customer deadlines. Even during a favourable economic climate, it remains an extremely tough ride for those at the ‘sharp end’ of the sign and print business.

One of the fundamental objectives of the guild will be to drive new business to relatively small sign and print providers with effective, tangible support.

Q: How will it work?

The guild is a member-led organization, designed to help sign and print providers grow their business and reduce costs. Membership is free to any sign or wide-format print shop until April 7, 2013.

Basically, the model works a bit like that of Florists’ Transworld Delivery (FTD). We will promote a custom signmaking service to the general public via www.sign.com[2], a dedicated online portal where they can choose their desired design template, wording, artwork, etc.

Upon receipt of an order, the website will route it to the closest 10 local guild members to pick up the job, if they like it, and fulfil the order.

Compared to other similar models in the market, where sign production is centralized in one location before shipping to customers who might be a thousand miles away, this system is quicker, more efficient, less open to issues like damage in transit and less complicated in the eventuality of returns, because it routes locally.

Q: What are the advantages for members?

Each successful member has the potential for direct business with their customer in the future, while also enjoying the possibility to negotiate incremental services, like installations, accessories and de-installation.

Given around 80 per cent of this business is repeat or referral, by bringing business to the door of its members, the guild initiative meets head-on the issue of maintaining workflow and ensuring a constant level of production.

More information about the guild and membership is available at www.signprintguild.org[3].

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/international-guild-launches-for-signmakers-and-print-providers/

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