I think the most fun we had was creating our entries for The Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation “Festival of Trees”.  Several years ago Lyn Johnson, then CEO of the Foundation, invited us to participate in the Festival of Trees.  This annual event was a fundraiser for the organization, to help with healthcare throughout the southwest.  Participants provided a decorated Christmas tree which was on display at a mall, and later sold to the highest bidder at a gala auction.  Being the “creative” (some may refer to us as “twisted”, but we prefer “creative”) people that we are, we decided to step outside the box and do something out of the ordinary.  We came up with a plan to make a “Charlie Brown” tree, which soon became an entire “Peanuts Gang” Christmas display.

I am proud to say that our effort was sold for several  hundred dollars and then donated to the Children’s Ward at our local hospital.  I like to think that in some small way we brightened the lives of sick children who were unfortunate enough to have to spend part of the Christmas Season in the hospital.

The next year, not to be outdone, we again came up with a rather unique idea for a tree.  This time it was a palm tree, as part of a jungle scene.  One of the features of this entry was a big pink hippo, whom we affectionately named “Howie”.  This display, like the previous year, was also donated to the hospital.

The final year of the Festival of Trees presented a bit of a challenge for us.  But, we came through with “flying colours”.  We created the “USS Santaprise”, complete with flying saucer and alien elves.

This time our entry was purchased by the community of Vulcan, Alberta, even though (according to our directional sign post) it was over 3 million light years away!  I believe they did their bidding online.  Puts a whole new meaning to the term “cyberspace”.

Many of our “suches” (is that even a word?) were in the form of hand painting.  A very time consuming, but once again fun, project was painting graphics on the walls at Irwin School.

Another fun “such” was painting a full wall mural down the stairs and at the entrance to the “Silver Saddle Saloon”, located in the basement of the former Lyric Theatre.  Many hours were spent at the library researching this and getting ideas.  I am forever grateful to my good friend Helen Gauvin for her tremendous help with this one.

We even included a wanted “Dead or Alive” poster for “Dangerous Delaine”.  He was the bar’s owner, and come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around for years… hmmm.

There’s more… wall murals that is.  My summer student, Shelley Holmes, whom we affectionately called our “Executive Gopher”, led the way on the painting of beach scenes at the then newly opened Swift Current Mall.  Shelley was the first ever Signs ‘n Such summer student, and is a very talented artist.  I fondly cherish the four summers she spent with us.

The mall job led us to painting similar scenes on the walls of a residential building which housed an indoor pool.  Once again, great fun, especially when the owner came with fresh out of the oven peach pie!

Over the years, our suches included lettering on helmets, satellite dishes, bug deflectors, casino wheels, toy tractors, little red wagons, soapbox cars, and gas pump tops, to name a few.   

We usually have lots of suches on display at the annual Frontier Days Parade.

We’ve painted and lettered on little kids’ lawn chairs; made picket fences, originally for part of the decorations for a curling event, but later lent out to various organizations, “such” (there’s that word again) as the Prairie Pioneer’s Lodge for their annual Spring Ball; painted a wizard on a draw drum, and a peacock on a screen door; and lettered a life preserver for the local Cadet Corp.

We even got into the brewery business for a short time and made the biggest can of Pilsner beer you’ve ever seen.  Well, not exactly… all we did was make a rather large decal for the front of a beer fridge that was raffled as a fundraiser for a local car club.

A rather challenging such project presented itself when we were asked by a travel agent to replicate a Buckingham Palace guard, a beefeater, and the Eiffel Tower.  Whew!  What a lot of work.  Okay, so our Eiffel Tower wasn’t as big as the real one.  It was still a lot of work, but, you guessed it, FUN.

Almost 5 years ago we got our CNC router “Marvin”.  Well, talk about fun!  Now we can make dimensional suches (and animals)  including our dog and even a buffalo!

A favourite such is the “Coffee News Guy”.  What great fun!  Thanks Sheri!

If you ever need a “thumbs up”, boy have I got a deal for you!

Some suches we’ve made for ourselves, some for others.  We’ve made Rubik’s Cubes to wear on our heads during the Ability Bowl, and nickels to wear on our backs.

A very exciting such, and perhaps a “such to top all suches” is one of the surprises we’re making for our upcoming Open House of Fun on September 16th.  It’s a carnival booth…

Oops!  I just got done saying that the carnival booth was a surprise.  Please ignore the fact that I’ve said anything, and just come out on anytime between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary.  Don’t worry, there will be more than one surprise!  Hope to see you then.

(click to enlarge)

Thanks Darrell for your kind words.  We love working with you and your staff too!

Also, a H-UUU-GE Thank you to “our” Lynne.  Your years of being part of our team are forever appreciated.

Mark Thursday September 16th on your calendar, and stay tuned for more details as to just how much “fun” this event is going to be!

One of our very first customers was “BJ’s Hair Shoppe”.  Although their original sign is no longer, the lettering that we put on their front window is still very much alive and well!

When I saw Pick-A-Deli’s sign, I realized that they had been a customer since very early in my sign career days.  In fact, we even designed “Pickle Pete”.

One of our very first routered signs was that of the SPCA Bookstore.

This is a favourite, I think, because I’m an animal lover.  Actually, all of us at Signs ‘n Such have animals in our lives.  Some of us maybe a bit more than others… but, that’s another story.

My tour eventually led me to the Credit Union.  Now, there’s a customer that goes way back.  I mean, right back to “Pioneer Credit Union and Western Savings & Credit Union” days.  Then came the amalgamation to “Southwest Credit Union”, and once again to “Innovation Credit Union”. All of these name and location changes kept us quite busy!  We did everything from supplying all of the backlit signs on their new building, to brass plaques, and lettering on doors and granite.

A glance across the street from the Credit Union reminded me of the brass lettering job we did for the new City Hall.  Over the years, the City of Swift Current has been a very loyal customer, not only City Hall, but City Light and Power, Parks & Rec., the Ag & Ex Association, the Fire Department, and the City Service Centre.

I’ve seen many changes in the business community over the past 25 years.  One of those changes was watching our local Community College develop from “Cypress Hills Community College”, to “Cypress Hills Regional College”, and more recently “Great Plains College”.  I am proud that we, at Signs ‘n Such, played a part in these changes.

Signs ‘n Such has seen many changes too, over the past quarter century.  Our CNC router (affectionately called “Marvin”) has enabled us to do dimensional work, and special shapes.  Here’s just a few examples:

So, over the years, we have pretty much done it all.  Backlit signs, window lettering, banners, awnings, channel LED letters… I could go on and on!

Well, that’s a taste of my downtown tour.  I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip down memory lane with me.  Deanne

Check out our Facebook Page for all the photos!

Work isn’t the only place where we’re a team.

This is the 10th consecutive year for the Signs ‘n Such team at the Ability Bowl.  Each year our team of five, complete with our loving fans (okay…friends and family, but I still know that deep down inside they secretly are our #1 Fans), arrive at Frontier Bowling Lanes and bowl incredibly high scores, with multiple strikes in a row, setting all kinds of records…  Whoa!, okay, I was getting a little carried away there.  Actually, it’s a good thing we know how to fund raise, because for the most part, our bowling is quite pathetic, with the exception of our fearless captain, Dorothy.  She’s the “pro” on the team, and would set all kinds of records if it weren’t for those annoying corner pins!

We’re not just another pretty face…

No sir, we’re darn good at getting dressed up in costume too.  Two years ago the theme was “The Eighties”.  With the help of the team (and “Marvin”, our CNC router), led by Graham, we made Rubik’s Cube hats, and wore them while we bowled.  They looked awesome, and gave us a great excuse for bowling poorly!  A “such” in its truest form.  The next year we went as “Pirates of the Caribbean”.  Arrr Billy!

Why do we do it?  Because we can!

Our team is committed to this event.  All of the money raised is kept right here in Swift Current to help fund the local branch of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council.  It’s not hard to raise money for such a good cause.  Besides that, we have lots of fun doing it!  Please feel free to stop in and give us your pledge.

As with many non-profit organizations across the province it is essential that good partnerships are developed to ensure that quality programs can be offered.  The partnership that exists between the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and Signs ‘n Such is a good example of a partnership, that in this instance, benefits individuals with disabilities.  Signs ‘n Such has been participating in the annual fundraiser for the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, Ability Bowl, for 9 years, and is committed to fundraising in 2010 as well.  Signs ‘n Such brings a lot of enthusiasm to the event and is always one of the top fundraising teams.  In the previous 9 years, Signs ‘n Such has raised $25,000 to support individuals with varying abilities in the City of Swift Current.  Thank you for your partnership!
Jason Loewer
Regional Director, Swift Current Branch
Saskatchewan Abilities Council

www.abilitiescouncil.sk.ca

Yes, our 25th anniversary is indeed on April Fool’s Day… which won’t really come as any surprise to those of you who already know us.

We’re planning a little Silver Anniversary celebration later in the season – and would love you to join us. Please stay tuned for details.

We were recently chatting with a friend about a bit of the history of Signs ‘n Such, and he encouraged us to share our story here. So here goes…

The concise, unabridged, uncensored history of Signs ‘n Such

When Signs ‘n Such co-founder Deanne Larson found herself in need of a break from the hustle and bustle (and targets and deadlines) of selling advertising (for such notables as the Swift Current Sun, FM94, and The Express News out of Saskatoon), her first inclination wasn’t to start a sign company. Nope. She took a relaxing job selling waterbeds.  It was only after the waterbed company leaked plans to lay her off in 1985, that she made the leap to launching a career in sign making.  When she learned that her dear friend (and Signs ‘n Such co-founder) Bev. Pratt was also facing a career change, they decided to go into business together.  Why signs?  Why not.  There were only two sign companies in Swift Current at the time, and our enterprising young heroines believed they could offer a better service. And have some fun doing it.

Research and Development? You be the judge.

Before officially going into business, Deanne and Bev. set up shop in Bev.’s basement to try their hand at the fine art of making signs.  The first sign Deanne can recall making was a “Here Comes Saskatchewan!” banner, sporting the Roughriders “S” for the Grey Cup game that year. Now, CFL buffs will know that the 1985 Grey Cup didn’t include a team from Saskatchewan. The basement, it seems, wasn’t well ventilated, or – in all the excitement – nobody bothered to to read that label on the paint.  Either way, that first banner looked pretty good, and they knew they were in business.  A better location had to be found.

Humble, hot, and stinky beginnings

The company was formed and moved into our first “official” location – a mezzanine in a local diesel shop. Talk about your humble beginnings.  The place was hot and stinky, and it wasn’t long before we moved into the back of a building across from where the company is now located.  One of our earliest signs made in that first signs shop read “Gone to Auction, back tomorrow”, which was hung in the front door, while Deanne and Bev. travelled to Simmie, where they bought a beautiful oak front counter, perfect for greeting and meeting with customers. With that oak counter, an answering machine, a can-do attitude that has never failed us, and the tools of our new trade now in hand… Signs ‘n Such was in business.

A brief, and somewhat incomplete history of sign making technology

Back in those days, the majority of our signs were painted by hand.  The process seems primitive today, but was pretty effective: A hand-drawn sketch was enlarged using an overhead projector, onto a sign panel, then painted. As business grew, and sign making technology advanced, we graduated to a “state of the art” automated system called a “GK-1″ – which consisted of a desktop computer, DOS software, 12 fonts, and a Houston Instruments plotter that cut whatever lettering we typed into self-adhesive vinyl sheeting – which could then be transfered onto a sign panel, or banner, or vehicle. In 1994, we replaced our old system with the latest and greatest technology of the day – including something called the Gerber EDGE – which gave us the ability to print durable graphics onto self-adhesive vinyl. Business continued to flourish, and we outgrew our space and expanded in that building three times in eleven years – until there was literally no more room to grow.

Fond farewells, friends always

Our dear friend and co-founder Bev. decided to retire around the time that we moved into our present location. We’re all smiling when we use the word “retire”, because anyone in Swift Current who knows Bev. – and most do – knows that she is an absolute dynamo in our community.  From commanding Sea Cadet Drylanders, to her involvement with the SPCA board, The Royal Canadian Legion, curling, and playing ball… Bev. is not a girl who needs to find new hobbies.  We’re very grateful to her for helping us build a great company, and just as grateful to continue to call her “friend”.

A strange letter from an even stranger man

Deanne continued to run the business on her own for several years, until – one day – a strange letter arrived from England, written by an even stranger man.  That man, of course, was none other than our own Graham Parsons, who bought into Signs ‘n Such as a full partner in October, 2001.  When Deanne first read Graham’s letter, she crumpled it up and through it in the wastepaper basket.  A few days later, she dug it out, flattened it out, and read it again.

He found Swift Current on a Map

It seems our pal Graham had owned a sign shop in England since 1976 (still does, as a matter of fact), but had also yearned to move to our home and native land for his entire adult life. So he did some research and started sending letters to sign shop owners to try to buy, or buy into a successful sign company. For whatever reason, Deanne decided to dig Graham out of the trash and respond to his letter. “I thought he must be an eccentric millionaire”, Deanne says, “and I was half right”.  Graham bought in, moved to Swift Current, and the rest (as they say), is history.

A perfect fit

In addition to all those years of experience in running a sign company, Graham brought a love for the work and sense of humour that fit in perfectly with Deanne and the rest of the Signs ‘n Such crew…and his propeller hat (he’s a closet geek).  He and his wife are also Canadian citizens, who are proud and happy to call Swift Current home.  Since Graham’s arrival, the company continues to flourish and expand the services we are able to offer our customers.

The real secrets to our success (Part 1)

We would be remiss in sharing this brief history of the Signs ‘n Such without mentioning (by name) each of the members of our team.  They each enrich our company, enrich the customer experience we provide, and enrich our lives in a myriad of ways.  We are sincerely grateful to and for them:

• Lynne – Design and Production, since 1994
• Henry – Sales Associate in Shawnavon, since 1996
• Dorothy – Administrator, since 1998
• Kim – Sales Associate in Swift Current, since 1996
• Bonnie – Production, since 2004
• Johnny – Production and Installation, since 2008
• Ginger – Guard Dog, since 2009
• Thelma & Louie (formerly Louise) – Goldfish, since 2003

The real secrets to our success (Part 2)

We would be equally remiss by not mentioning that we have been incredibly fortunate to work with some truly wonderful clients over the years – several of whom have been with us since our humble, hot and stinky beginnings…

We have used the services of Signs ‘n Such for the past 25 years. No matter what type of sign/banner we need – and we have had some unique and challenging situations – they always provide us with professional and high-quality products.

We know we can count on Deanne and her crew for their expertise and creativity, and best of all, customer service that is second to none.

Thanks Signs ‘n Such for all you have done for the Credit Union Marketing team over the years!!

Pat Friesen
EVP Marketing
Innovation Credit Union

For the past ten years, we have been working with the fine folks at Signs’n Such and with very good reason.  They are creative, willing to think outside the box, and work with their clients to achieve the ultimate signage image.  Sure, they are quick and accurate when it comes to the regular signage we need, but they are particularly skilled at achieving that unique event or campaign impact for which we often strive in all types of signage.

Lyn Johnston, CEO
Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation

Well, we’re happy to report that our latest addition, Roland, is nothing like Hal. He doesn’t have that creepy red camera eye capable of reading lips, or the disingenuously soothing natural speech processors – or the psychopathic compulsion to kill our crew.  Nope. Roland is a much simpler fellow.

Roland hums quietly along to himself, working hard for our customers, day-in and day-out. He’ll work all day long on mindlessly repetitive work, if we ask him too – without ever complaining.  We don’t recall him ever taking a sick day, and he’s always already at the shop waiting for us,  by the time everyone else shows up for work in the morning.  He’d be employee of the year, except for stiff competition from Lynne, Dorothy, Bonnie and Johnny.

Roland’s job? Lead printer, in our wide format imaging department.

Silly fun aside, our pal Roland was a terrific addition in 2009.  He gives us the capability to print stunning (if we may so ourselves) full colour, large format images on a variety of materials… for an even wider variety of projects – from banners, to development site signs, to vehicle wraps, to those lovely Living Sky Casino billboards, you’ve probably noticed in the sign corridors, just outside of town.  One of the things we love most about our dear Roland is that he’s given us the opportunity to expand our design chops. The more creative we can be, the more fun serving you is.

Recently, Marketing Administrator, Andrea Stevenson was kind enough to pass along the following:

“Signs ‘n Such is a Silver sponsor and Official Sign Supplier of the 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship.  They have been a tremendous partner and a complete pleasure to work with.  They consistently meet deadlines and produce great products.  Thank you Signs ‘n Such!!”

Rob Dewhirst,
Event Manager
2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship
306.550.7041