June 1979 Signs of the Times Foreshadows Wholesale Changes

Wholesaling Foreshadowed

THE COVER OF THIS copy of Signs of the Times’ June 1979 issue includes “DESK COPY/JRS” handwritten in the top right corner. JRS was ST Publisher Jerry R. Swormstedt. Further into his desk copy, on page 59 his note indicates one project was “overplayed.” He reserved judgment on the cover illustration, however. A caption in the table of contents offers this description: “Note one important fact about the sign company owner juggling the parts for a more efficient shop. He drops nothing. He may be harried. He may be sweating from hard work. But he’s under control…” The story covered “components… the parts for a more efficient shop.” Today, we refer to this practice as subcontracting or working with wholesalers. “The sign industry is now firmly entrenched in the age of specialization,” the cover story reads. “The trend to supplement production capabilities by ‘farming out’ for components is likely to continue.” And so it has. See complete issues of Signs of the Times from 1906 to June 1934 at signsofthetimes.com/archive.