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Channel Letter Benders Have Come a Long Way, But You Still Need Skilled People

A sign pro with 50 years of experience shares his wisdom in this month’s mailbag.

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Funny Business

  • I enjoyed the “Laughing Matters” article (see ST, June 2022, page 22). There are so many challenges in the sign business bringing high pressure and stress. It’s a good reminder to appreciate the comedy in the chaos. Share a story and have a good laugh with your colleagues and clients. — Tom Dunn, Metro Sign & Awning, Tewksbury, MA
  • I really enjoyed the article on how humor can help your business. I have always tried to keep a sense of humor and make my clients laugh, and I think that is one of the main reasons they like me so much. Customer service is everything, it will make or break you. — Mieke Myrick, Front Range Signarama, Westminster, CO
  • Humor was a good subject. I use humor with my regular customers all the time. — Jeffrey Cross, Cross Signs, Seminole, FL

Branching Out

  • I enjoyed the wayfinding article (see ST, June 2022, page 30). It was interesting to see projects that were for exterior and large-scale wayfinding. I get mired in the intricacies of room numbering and don’t get much of a chance to think about the big picture of finding your way through entire towns and nature preserves. — Sharon Toji, H Toji And Co., Lakewood, CA

Channel Letter Challenges

  • … There was an article about making channel letters which suggested that with just some equipment purchases, a company could make 200 channel letters a day. While the machines might be able to crank out the parts, the parts still have to be assembled, LEDs put in, trim cap put on the faces, raceways made/assembled, etc. Two hundred channel letters a day is reasonable, but there is still a large amount of hand work that goes into making a finished product. I’ve been making electric signs for nearly 50 years and even with pre-bent returns, backs/faces cut on a CNC, etc. well-trained, skilled people are still needed. — Rocco Gaskins, Abco Signs, Pennsauken, NJ

Staffing Up

  • Where are college students and new-collar workers learning the skills needed in the sign industry? (See page 42.) — Russell Toynes, Studio Dzo, Austin, TX
  • [I want to learn about] getting the most from employees! (See ST, July 2022, page 49.) — Michele Bortree, Stonetree Signs & Graphics, Asheboro, NC
  • How have internships worked out for shops that use them? Are they paid or unpaid? Are the interns allowed to actually do any work or are they just observers? (See St, June 2022, page 49.) — Pat Dacy, 3V Signs & Graphics, Torrance, CA
  • How much revenue should a business make per employee to be successful? — Jeremy Vanderkraats, Signs By Van, Salinas, CA

REACH OUT! We always love to hear from you. Send your Inbox letters to us at editor@signsofthetimes.com.

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