Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 52
outlook for the immediate future,
though it should be pointed out that
a plurality of respondents felt the
single greatest threat to the industry
was price competition and diminishing profit margins."
EVERYONE'S DOING IT
Odds are, your shop is producing
banners. In his 2017 State of the
Industry Report (See ST, July 2017,
p. 42-48), managing editor Mark
Kissling reported that 86.1% of the
180 survey respondents sold banners. An interesting aspect of the
survey is that 159 respondents (97%
of respondents) reported using vinyl
in 39% of their commercial signs.
In addition, 128 or 80.5% of respondents use in-house digital printing to
52
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
OCTOBER 2017
produce 41% of their signs, and 114
or 71.7% of respondents contract for
wholesale digital imaging for 17% of
their signs. My experience in visiting signshops aligns with Kissling's
survey because digital signmaking
comprises too many diverse client
demands for an average shop to have
machines to handle; thus, outsourcing close to 20% of the orders isn't
unusual. Kissling, in his article, wrote,
"Our 2017 survey indicates a positive
present condition and an even rosier
THE "WHICH?" QUESTION
Which is the better, more profitable
option: digital-printing banners
in-house or subcontracting them?
The answer is both, with the weight
on ordering if you're new at it. (I once
asked a signmaker when he knew
it was time to quit ordering digital
prints and buy a print machine.
"When you get damned annoyed at
your print supplier," he said.)
Like UNC-Chapel Hill's Clark, if
you own digital printing or even
fabric production gear, you'll still
want to outsource some work, e.g.,
unique ink requirement orders or
such difficult-to-build items as multipaneled tradeshow signage that
requires complex patterning, sewing
and closures. The good news is that
several digital print machine manufacturers have aligned with suppliers
who offer machines and equipment
for patterning, cutting and sewing
fabric signs.
ST columnists Chris and Kathi
Morrison recently noted that banners
are an absolute staple of the sign
industry. They said you can paint,
screenprint, apply cut vinyl lettering
to or digitally print banners on
practically any flexible media, and
that eco-solvent and UV-cure printer
manufacturers offer various print
machines that are designed to either
print directly to fabric or dye-sublimation transfer paper (See ST, August
2017, p. 48). The Morrisons noted
that typical banners - think fire
department fish-fry banners strung
on nylon cord - cost less to produce,
are fast to turn around and should
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - October 2017
Signs of the Times - October 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Vehicles + Vinyl
Design Matters
Nuts + Bolts
Vital Signs
Can You Make That in Neon?
Fabricating Bannerisms
Strictly Electric: It’s Good to Bb King
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Signs of the Times - October 2017
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 26
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Design Matters
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 32
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Vital Signs
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 42
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Can You Make That in Neon?
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 46
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 48
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Fabricating Bannerisms
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 52
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 54
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Strictly Electric: It’s Good to Bb King
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 58
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 62
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 64
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 70
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 83
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 84
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 85
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 86
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 87
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 88
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 89
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 90
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 91
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 92
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 93
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - 94
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - October 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_blackbook_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201201
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com