Corrie Siegel took the reins at the Museum of Neon Art on April 1, just as the pandemic was beginning. She steered the museum through those uncertain months, creating virtual visits and new ways for patrons to explore neon. In this episode, Cor

A Pandemic Pivot with Mars Bravo, Signs From Mars

Aug 24th, 2020 11m 44s

Mars Bravo launched Signs From Mars just months before the pandemic started with a focus on signs for her contacts in the music industry. Learn about her pivot, how she attracts new customers and how she's made the challenge of 2020 work for he

Neon in Cuba (and beyond) with Adolfo Nodal of Habana Light Neon + Signs

Aug 14th, 2020 11m 56s

Adolfo Nodal of Habana Light Neon + Signs talks about donating his time to restore historic neon in Cuba and Los Angeles, where he sees neon in the future and modern "neon punks" who are reinvigorating interest in this art form.Support the show

Recruitment Lessons from the Construction Industry with Eric Larsen

Jul 28th, 2020 11m 55s

Wagner Sign's Eric Larsen discusses his two recent columns in Signs of the Times, his commitment to educating the next generation of signmakers, and what he's learned by talking with construction industry folks about how they attract, educate a

2020 Makers of Tomorrow: Part II

Jul 21st, 2020 9m 37s

Signs of the Times Associate Editor Grant Freking talks with Chelsea Lindsey of Precision Signs (Garner, NC) and Phillip Yu of Gamut Media (Fullerton, CA) about the challenges their sign and graphics businesses have faced during the current hea

2020 Makers of Tomorrow: Part I

Jul 16th, 2020 16m 31s

2020 Makers of Tomorrow River Prince of Prince Sign Company (Ellisville, MS) and Simon Nussbaum of Green Dot Sign (Saint Paul, MN) join Signs of the Times Associate Editor Grant Freking for a chat about running their sign businesses during COVI

Workforce Development with ISA's Alison Kent

Jul 9th, 2020 11m 38s

ISA Workforce Development Director Alison Kent responds to a recent article by signmaker Eric Larsen discussing the need to attract a new generation to the sign industry. She details the certification and other opportunities available through I

2020 Signshop Competition with Mark Kissling, Signs of the Times

Jun 22nd, 2020 10m 13s

Mark Kissling, managing editor of Signs of the Times, discusses the best way of increasing your odds of winning in the 2020 Signshop Competition, how to enter and his top tips for success. Plus, learn Mark's go-to fast food lunch.Support the sh

Sign Industry Update with Grant Freking, Signs of the Times

Apr 9th, 2020 9m 19s

Signs of the Times Associate Editor Grant Freking discusses his upcoming feature on the state of the sign industry post COVID-19, including his interviews with industry association leaders, sign companies and leading manufacturers.Support the s

Social Media Success with Jeremy Vanderkraats, Signs by Van

Mar 27th, 2020 11m 40s

Jeremy Vanderkraats is the owner/operator of Signs by Van, a custom signshop in Salinas, CA.Support the show (http://signsofthetimes.com)

Why did ISA reschedule?

Mar 11th, 2020 8m 57s

ISA President Lori Anderson discusses today's decision to postpone the 2020 ISA Sign Expo to August of this year, including vendor and attendee feedback and responds to Signs of the Times' audience and staff member questions. For ongoing covera

Sustainability and the Sign Industry with Simon Nussbaum, Green Dot Sign

Mar 10th, 2020 12m 1s

Simon Nussbaum is a 2020 Signs of the Times Maker of Tomorrow. In this episode, he discusses easy sustainability "wins" for signmakers, why he chose to take his business down a sustainable path, and his top alternatives to traditional signmakin

Planners (Still) Don't Hate You with Wendy Moeller, Compass Point Planning

Feb 15th, 2020 12m 35s

Wendy Moeller is a community planner and the founder of Compass Point Planning in Blue Ash, Ohio. Her work focuses on writing and rewriting zoning for signage, among other specialties. She is also a national board member for the American Planni

Mobile Signmaking + How to Slow Down with Tim Tibbetts, RIWraps

Jan 31st, 2020 9m 55s

Tim Tibbetts is a mobile signmaker who does lettering on the fly and has reinvented himself to meet industry demands, and wrote to us to share his thoughts about slowing down based on Robin Donovan's recent column on life in French Polynesia. H

Learning as You Go with Dale Salamacha, Media 1/Wrap This

Jan 25th, 2020 11m 10s

Dale Salamacha never attended college, but before he could legally drink, he was making and selling signs. Today, the fast-thinking, fast-talking Floridian is not only a popular Signs of the Times columnist, but also the president of Media 1/Wr

Neon Bending in Japan with Kody Shafer, Neon Spectacular: Japan

Jan 17th, 2020 9m 52s

Kody Shafer is a neon bender currently living and working in Osaka, Japan. A former employee of Yoshi's Neon Studio, he is currently working on a book that will document neon's growth and evolution in Japan. Shafer raised money to leave his job

Four Decades at a National Sign Co. with Kevin Stotmeister, Federal Heath

Dec 19th, 2019 13m 27s

As he winds down a 39-year career with Federal Heath Sign Co., CEO Kevin Stotmeister reflects on the state of the industry, challenges signmakers face and opportunities for years to come. (Best wishes on your next chapter, Kevin! Thanks for you

SGIA Becomes Printing United

Oct 15th, 2019 10m 10s

Ray Weiss, director of digital print programs for SGIA, discusses the association's newly rebranded tradeshow, Printing United, and how signmakers can take advantage of all it has to offer. Support the show (http://signsofthetimes.com)

Hosting Students in Your Shop with Mathew Pratt, Ramsay Signs

Oct 4th, 2019 9m 12s

On Sign Manufacturing Day, Ramsay Signs production manager Mathew Pratt talks hosting local students for shop tours, why tours are a good use of your time and what current employees get out of kids in the shop. Support the show (http://signsoft

Working ON (not IN) your business with Teresa Young, Sign Biz

Sep 28th, 2019 13m 26s

Teresa Young, president and CEO of Sign Biz and the brains behind LobbyPop.com, the School of Sign Arts and more discusses when to hire your first employee, marketing basics and what makes today's sign industry different (read: more competitive

Millennials as Managers with A.J. Titus, Signarama

Sep 13th, 2019 11m 8s

A.J. Titus, newly minted president of Signarama, shares his thoughts on family business, an intergenerational workplace, the need for new technology and infrastructure in the sign industry and more.Support the show (http://signsofthetimes.com)

Sales Leads 101 with Lee Gruetter, YESCO

Sep 7th, 2019 11m 1s

Lee Gruetter, training development director at YESCO's corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City, discusses how to build your business using simple sales techniques. But beware, these aren't for the faint of heart; think generating 50-70 leads p

The Need for Evidence-Based Sign Codes with Bill Dundas, FASI

Aug 30th, 2019 11m 25s

Bill Dundas of the Foundation for the Advancement of the Sign Industry discusses the organization's origins, his past with Signs of the Times, ways for signmakers to stay up-to-date on new electrical and building regulations, and the need for e

Building Customer Trust with Cindy Hulen, Essential Architectural Signs

Aug 16th, 2019 10m 44s

Cindy Hulen talks about scrambling to satisfy her first customer, eating costs on a job gone wrong and her top tips for building trust with customers. Plus, she brings her dog to work at Indianapolis-based Essential Architectural Signs. Support

Sign Photography Tips with Jeff Russ, Signs of the Times

Aug 2nd, 2019 10m 49s

Take stunning photos of your sign design and fabrication projects with these easy-to-follow tips from Jeff Russ, who has spent decades sifting through sign photos as the senior art director of Signs of the Times. You can read Jeff's work in his