TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month’s SBI Trivia Question Stumper:
When the ball drops over Times Square on New Year's Eve this month, how many LED bulbs will be used to light it up?
For the answer, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.
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Industry News
[[HOT TOPIC]] WOMEN IN THE SIGN INDUSTRY
In saying goodbye to 2007, SBI Update would like to highlight a very positive trend in the sign industry that we hope to see flourish in 2008 and many years to come. Below is an item we received from the Signs Now franchise corporation; we think it shines a light on the bright future of the industry in which we all work, and is a great, encouraging way to ring in the new year:
According to the Center for Women's Business Research, nearly 10.4 million firms are majority owned by women, employing more than 12.8 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. As one of the first sign franchise companies, Signs Now continues to recruit and assist successful women business owners, with some of the top ranking franchises in the system under women ownership.
After spending nearly 24 years in the sign business, one of the company's original founders, Donna Driscoll, is still passionate about Signs Now and looks beyond the past and into the future for women in the Signs Now family.
"In the last several years, our women owners have an even higher chance for success," remarks Driscoll. "The company is making positive changes every year and continues to stay ahead of the curve in marketing and technology."
Driscoll opened the original Signs Now location in 1983 in Austin, Texas. She sold the original location in 1986 and has since been running a successful franchise in Englewood, Colorado.
"It has been worthwhile and extremely satisfying staying with Signs Now throughout the years," said Driscoll.
For the past two decades, majority women-owned firms have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all firms. Jackie Ciresi and Julie St. Germaine, co-owners of the Rochester, New York Signs Now, have achieved steady growth in their business over the eight-year duration of their ownership. In 2006, sales increased 31 percent over the previous year, and 2007 sales are on track to match that increase, putting them in the Signs Now Top 20 for sales.
"On a national level, the economy is on a downturn and many companies are downsizing," explains Ciresi. "As a contrast, our business has posted positive sales numbers every year. We attribute our growth and success not only to our community involvement and networking, but also to the Signs Now support system and the increase in digital technology."
In regards to technology and contrary to common perception, women business owners are as likely as men business owners to adopt new technology and more likely (24 percent vs. 18 percent) than women in general, according to the CWBR.
Kristin Trevino, co-owner of Signs Now Northwest (four Portland-area locations), is one of the top Signs Now franchise owners and continues to expand upon her equipment base and embraces industry technology.
"In the first half of 2007, our company served as a beta test location for the new OcŽ; Flatbed 250GT," explained Trevino. "It was an incredible experience to work with one of only two machines in circulation."
In addition to serving as a leader in the industry, Trevino is also a prime example of a business woman giving back to her community. Her personal and financial involvement with the Portland-area "Dress for Success" organization has assisted hundreds of women achieve professional success, from business attire to resumes and job searches.
"As a professional and a woman, I am very passionate about doing anything I can to assist other women in the fulfillment of their professional dreams," Trevino said.
In addition to Trevino, several other successful Signs Now women franchise owners have made a niche for themselves in competitive markets with the help of upcoming technology. Lori Pastuszak, owner of the Lombard, Illinois Signs Now, has been in business since 1990. After a professional career in accounting and administrative functions, Pastuszak wanted to get out of the corporate world.
She has since grown her business steadily every year and tries to examine new equipment early on and be one of the first companies to get their feet wet, as it were.
"Adding new equipment, including a new UV flatbed printer, have been the best moves we have made in the business," explained Pastuszak.
Mary Jane Lessley, owner of two Memphis area locations and a Duluth, Georgia center, has added new technology over the years, but also feels the Signs Now business is an ideal fit for women. She manages the businesses with the help of her daughter, Lisa Williamson.
"There is available success for women in this business," remarked Lessley. "This is an ideal situation for women business owners, with regular business hours and a clean environment. The business gives you enough freedom to have your family unit and even involve your children in the future of the business."
Sandie Ridings, Signs Now training manager, echoes these sentiments. Her passion for the company began in 1998 as a franchise owner and regional manager in the Charlotte area. In 2001, she won the Rising Star Award for Women Business Owners in Charlotte from the National Association of Women Business Owners.
In 2003, she opened her own business, Training Matters, Inc. The focus of the operation was business training and development, including team building and corporate strategy. In 2007, she was named the Small Business Association North Carolina Women in Business Champion but made the decision to begin working with Signs Now again.
"I fell in love with this company when I was a franchise," remarked Ridings. "Signs Now really opens doors for women as business owners and gives them the opportunity to compete in a man's world and truly excel."
HP Acquires NUR Macroprinters
HP recently announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NUR Macroprinters Ltd., a manufacturer of industrial wide-format digital inkjet printers.
Based in Lod, Israel, NUR is a supplier of UV-curable and solvent inkjet printers for display graphics, serving commercial printing companies, sign printers, screen printers, billboard and media companies, photo labs and digital print service providers.
According to a press release, the acquisition "expands HP's Graphic Arts portfolio of digital presses and wide-format printers, and furthers HP's Print 2.0 strategy to digitize analog prints by extending the company's overall digital content creation and publishing platform." With the acquisition, HP will be able to offer additional midrange UV platforms and technologies.
"This acquisition marks another milestone in HP's growth strategy to ignite the transition from converting analog pages to digital pages," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "The large-format print service provider market is growing rapidly, and with the acquisition of NUR, HP is strategically building an even stronger portfolio of products and will continue to drive innovation and growth with our industrial wide-format printers."
HP's acquisition of NUR is another step in HP's Graphic Arts strategy to broaden the portfolio of digital presses and wide-format printers. In September 2007, HP announced the acquisition of MacDermid ColorSpan Inc., a manufacturer of wide-format digital inkjet printers and a key supplier to sign shop franchises, quick printers and other small to midsize sign-making and screen-printing businesses.
"The combination of HP and NUR will provide our customers and channel partners with a vastly expanded mix of quality and service that is unmatched in the digital graphics printing industry," said David Reis, chief executive officer, NUR Macroprinters Ltd.
HP will be acquiring substantially all the assets of NUR for $117.5 million. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the deal, NUR will be integrated into HP's Large Format Printing Business within the company's Imaging and Printing Group.
OSRAM Research Team Wins LED Technology Award
For outstanding research work on innovative lighting technologies, Dr. Klaus Streubel and Dr. Stefan Illek from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, together with Dr. Andreas Brauer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Optics and Precision Engineering in Jena, were awarded this year's prize for technology and innovation from the President of Germany. The German Future Prize for 2007 was awarded specifically for thin-film chip technology and its application in the OSTAR family of LEDs.
Thin-film technology is the key to producing LED chips of extremely high brightness and also enables them to be packed tightly together to create a large illuminating surface. High-efficiency light emitting diodes from OSRAM that are based on this innovative technology will open up new applications ranging from mini projectors and rear projection televisions to night vision systems in vehicles and general room lighting. LEDs can already be used, for example, in the headlights and taillights of automobiles, providing excellent visibility and giving automobile manufacturers enormous freedom to create new designs.
For the 2007 German Future Prize awarded by the German President Horst Kohler, the judges were looking not only for exceptional technical, engineering and scientific achievements, but also for practical applications, marketability and job creation. "We are proud of the fact that our creativity and determination will speed up the triumphal march of LED lighting," said Dr. Klaus Streubel, the spokesman for the winning team.
The German Future Prize is the most prestigious award for research and development in Germany and was presented this year for the eleventh time. "OSRAM has been producing pioneering innovations for many many years. And we are intensifying our efforts every year. This is a magnificent achievement for the team and OSRAM as a whole," said Martin Goetzeler, CEO of OSRAM. "This year's award by the German President confirms our position as an innovation driver and is also wonderful recognition of all the hard work done by our employees," said Dr. Rudiger Muller, CEO of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.
The technical innovation of the OSTAR light emitting diode is the ideal combination of different technologies, namely a new production process for high-power chips, a perfectly matched package platform and special optics developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Optics and Precision Engineering. "With these technologies we have achieved a particularly high luminance for LEDs in all colors and also for infrared light; this is a truly groundbreaking innovation," said Dr. Klaus Streubel.
New Appointments
FLEXcon Company, Inc.,
a global manufacturer of pressure-sensitive film and adhesive products headquartered in Spencer, Massachusetts, recently announced several employee promotions and one appointment. Steven Allard was promoted to Product Manager in the Product Identification Business Team. Sander De Jong was promoted to Director of Holland Operations. Stephen Hall was promoted to Director of Supply Chain, FLEXcon Europe. Joyce Laffin was promoted to Director of Corporate Communications.Amit Roy was named New Business Development Manager, Performance Films, in FLEXcon�s Performance Products Business Team.
Ultraflex Mexico,
a division of Ultraflex Systems, USA, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcos Mizerit as Latin America Salesman. Marcos has joined the Ultraflex team to reinforce the excellence of their service to the Latin American market. At Ultraflex, Marcos will support their existing distributors and customers as well as continue to develop and grow their Latin America business.
Meetings and Events
JANUARY
January 28 - 30: Laminating & Finishing: Profits in Post-Print Finishing. The SGIA presents a hands-on workshop in roller lamination, liquid lamination, and post-print finishing applications, to be held at SGIA headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. Read complete workshop details and register at: http://www.sgia.org/training_and_education/SGIA_workshops/laminating/DailyAgenda.cfm
FEBRUARY
February 27 - March 1: Graphics of the Americas Exposition and Conference will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. For more information, call 407/240-8009 or log on to www.graphicsoftheamericas.com.
Sponsored Links
M2 Lighting Solutions, LLC --
NEW epoxy-encapsulated UL recognized LED channel letter lighting system that will stay bright even in your most challenging conditions. www.M2Lighting.com
Elliott Equipment Corporation --
Award-winning HiReach & BoomTruck aerial-workplatforms and cranes. Elliott products increase your productivity, and give you the highest ROI available. Do more with Elliott. www.elliottequip.com
This Month's Trivia Answer:
The 1,200-pound Times Square New Year's ball can display 16 million different colors from its 9,576 LEDs, for a light level of 625,033 lumens.
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For in-depth coverage of these topics and other
sign industry topics, check out
www.signshop.com
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the January 2008 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Wide Format Digital Printing
Dimensional Monuments
LED Channel Letters / Sign Cabinets
Magnet Applications
Polycarbonate Fabrication
Vinyl Tools
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the February 2008 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Dimensional adhesives
Digital printing of vehicle graphics
Dimensional CNC routers
Gold leaf materials
LED architectural lighting
Service trucks
Contact your ad sales representative to reserve your space today.
As the premier e-newsletter for the sign industry, SBI Update encourages readers to send feedback on what you like, what you'd like to see, and any other comments you might have. To do so, send an e-mail to Managing Editor Chris Ytuarte at cytuarte@sbpub.com.
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© 2007 Simmons-Boardman Publishing
345 Hudson St., 12th Floor • New York, NY 10014
212-620-7200
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PlasmaCAM Cutting System Just Released! DHC2 Plasma Cutting System! Cut custom shapes out of steel, aluminum, plastic, or wood. New enhanced Digital Height Control enables you to cut 3-dimensional materials. Easily scan images into the included software for fast custom cutting. To get a free demonstration video, click here:
PlasmaCAM
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Mimaki USA has stood at the forefront of technology with its large-format plotters and cutters. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia with branch offices in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, key strengths include large-scale printing and cutting solutions, smaller, affordable plotters, and breakthroughs in printing for UV curable ink jet systems.
Mimaki USA
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Sign Builder Illustrated presents:
Vehicle Graphics 101 Check out this special SBI supplement for all the information you need to get started, get good, and get profitable in the world of vehicle graphics. From wrap schools and required tools, to marketing your skills and paying the bills, this How-to supplement has it all. Check out the digital version here:
Vehicle Graphics 101
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Sign Builder Illustrated:
The How-To Book Vol. 1 Learn secrets to fabricating neon, illuminating with LED, sandblasting signs, applying paints, cutting and printing vinyl, and more in this 288-page, full-color reprinting of Sign Builder Illustrated's trademark How-To articles. To visit the How-to Book Web site, click on: SBI How-To Book
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Buyer's Guide 2007
Published twice per year in March and September, the Buyer's Guide lists manufacturers, distributors, and sign companies that comprise the industry in the U.S. and Canada.
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Goes Digital With live hyperlinks to video clips, advertiser information, and other features, SBI Digital offers the newest online technology with the familiar layout of a hardcopy issue. To view an example, click on:
SBI Digital Magazine
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HP Acquires NUR