Help Sign Companies Affected by Recent Hurricanes

AS I WRITE THIS our country has been hit with devastating hurricanes affecting many of the southeastern states. The destruction has claimed numerous lives, changed the lives of countless others and destroyed the livelihoods of many more. This storm will affect the sign industry in two ways as I see it. One, it will put a lot of pressure on our already shorthanded shops to produce signs for the businesses and even complete towns wiped out. Two, many of the shops in the areas affected by the hurricane are lost or in disrepair.

These shops employ many people, who may now be without a steady income. The shop owners are stressed trying to get their companies back up, replacing equipment, replacing buildings, trucks and materials. They are also stressed about taking care of their employees and the employees are stressed about taking care of their families.

As an industry we have an opportunity here. Where I see disaster I also see hope and growing our industry closer together. How do we do that?

Many of us have equipment we no longer use or use very little. Some need small repairs, but you just haven’t gotten around to them yet. Well, why not fix that plotter, crate it, then find a sign company hit by the storm to send it to and help them get back on their feet? What about that extra material you have in the back room that you’re always moving around to keep it out of the way, saying, “Someday I will use that?” Someone can use it now to help them get back up and running or help them catch up on existing projects.

Send the signshops basics like water, dry goods, clothes, generators — anything that can be passed out to employees. Even the shops not affected too badly can hand these things to the local community. Find a group already distributing and give to them.

Many of these companies are so hard hit they are not going to open again any time soon. The owners of other businesses in the area count on these local sign companies for product and they are unable to deliver now. So go after one of these sign jobs; there will be many of them. Hire the local company that normally takes care of them and get them involved somehow. Then, take some of the profit and send it to that local signshop that normally would have been doing the job anyway.

There are many other ways to help, I’m sure. Get creative and think of how you can help out our industry in these areas. Someone out there smarter than I probably has a great idea on how to help. Share it with the rest of us. The Signs of the Times Facebook page (facebook.com/signsofthetimesmagazine) would be a good place to comment with ideas when this column is posted.

I personally have family and friends that were affected. I have been on many of the beaches and in the shallows from the Keys up to Steinhatchee. I have worked on projects in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in the areas hit. These were beautiful places with great people and very friendly signshops. They all have websites and phone numbers. Call them and see what they need.

I have started in my own capacity. Also, hopefully I will soon be getting phone calls back from the sign companies in these areas so I can get them on The Sign Industry Podcast. Let us help our own and the people in our industry that need it.