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Helping Hands

A crisis caused by Buffalo’s recent snowstorm reveals the best of the sign industry.

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During the Christmas season, we (consciously or subconsciously) seek out stories that affirm the best of human nature. Perhaps, reflecting on the birth of Jesus and the many celebratory gatherings during this time of year, when connections to family and fellowship are often paramount in our minds, leaves us inclined to seek out heartwarming stories.

When I walked into work on Monday morning, I had no idea what my topic would be for this newsletter. That changed after having read a message from Trace George, proprietor of VSP Marketing Graphic Group (Buffalo). After hearing about the Buffalo area’s powerful November 17-18 blizzard and dramatic thaw – and flooding — amidst a quick rebound to 60° temperatures, I was fearful of hearing of about a Buffalo signshop decimated by this extreme weather; George’s message realized that fear.

George recounted the 6-ft. accumulation of snow that occurred within 24 hours on the roof of VSP’s 60 x 120-ft. building. He estimated the dense snowpack created a 50-ton load atop the facility’s roof, which collapsed.

George and his employees couldn’t access the shop. He only received word of the roof’s collapse because a firefighter who’s a Facebook fan of VSP’s page posted a note on the site.

“I had to create a gameplan to deal with this crisis from 40 miles away,” George said. “I had local firefighters secure the building, and I reached out to everyone I know through our business to help.”

The response was phenomenal. By the time George could access his building the following Saturday, he’d already been able to rent a property to maintain temporary operations. The next day, clients and employees constructed walls, which allowed the shop to reopen that Monday. The short-term physical plant was ready, but, without equipment and materials, hopes of preserving VSP’s operations would be bleak. The roof collapse exacted a $125,000 loss of materials and $325,000-$450,000 loss of equipment.

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Yet, the sign business’ generosity and camaraderie gleamed bright. Skip Grant, proprietor of Saratoga Springs, NY’s Grant Graphics, who represents both Mimaki and Roland (he also wrote one of ST’s first digital-printing reports more than two decades ago, in a three-part series that ran from March to May 1994), furnished Roland solvent-ink and Mimaki latex-ink printer in time to seamlessly resume production. Laminator manufacturer Ledco (Hemlock, NY), which is located approximately an hour from George’s shop, responded to his plight by delivering laminators within hours.
“They wanted us to resume manufacturing right away, and said they would figure out financing once the dust settled,” he said.

Also, he thanked Rich Williams from Image Supply Source (Tonawonda, NY) and Jason Yard from MACtac’s Stow, OH-based corporate office for providing materials, which arrived immediately before the equipment. Also, several signshop operators, who George knew form his affiliation with the Professional Decal Application Alliance (PDAA), agreed to help with installations.

“Without all of this support, I don’t know that [VSP] would have survived,” he said. ‘We were able to set up a new operational environment without any of our 22 employees losing their jobs. We look forward to moving back into a permanent facility by mid-spring.”
 

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