The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Sign manufacturers yesterday said they are moving away from COVID-19-related signage and getting back to normal business in a “major way”.

Peter Bates, chief executive of the SignMan, told Tribune Business that the pandemic-related spike has slowed down so the company is reverting back more to its regular work.

He added: “We are rebounding stronger. We just added two people to our team. We’re not doing too many COVID signs. We’re still doing COVID desk shields. Not a lot of signs, and certainly not a lot of masks or face shields, which seemed to help us through the pandemic a bit.”

The SignMan’s resurgence is based on businesses announcing their various re-openings, and customers wanting billboards along with banners explaining such moves. Mr Bates said: “People are returning to normal. Our sales are up significantly over nine months ago, and we’re back into normal signs, doing a lot of billboards and doing a lot of vehicle wraps.

“We’re about to introduce a new product. We hired new people. We’re quite happy with the way things are going. Hopefully we will control the number of people that are off work sick and the economy can stay open.

“We have gotten back to regular work in a major way. We don’t get a lot of COVID signs any more, and that’s partly because we did a great deal of them and our signs are not built for temporary use. I don’t think people are expanding with the COVID warnings any more. They’re expanding with getting back to normal.”

Llakel Hart, general manager of DigiPrint & Signs Bahamas, said: “People are still ordering the social distancing signs and all of the signs relevant to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

“I think in some cases, because it’s been so long and the wear and tear on what they may have purchased already, they are just refreshing in some cases. But we do see that it is lessening to a certain extent, so hopefully it’s an indicator that they don’t need them so much any more as we try to come out of this pandemic hopefully.”

Ms Hart says she is seeing business from existing customers wanting to refresh old signage and new companies wanting their material. “It’s a combination,” said Ms Hart.

Due to the COVID-19 Emergency Order mandating businesses put up proper signage for customers on health and safety protocols, Ms Hart acknowledged that while it created a little boost in business at the start of the pandemic the firm hasa to get back to “normal business”.

She added: “Honestly, we are just like everybody else in the middle of this pandemic trying to survive really. We’re grateful that we have been able to reopen following all of the closures and to sustain our staff to the point that we have. But it is still very much a struggle. We’re just putting our best foot forward and trying to meet all the customers’ needs as best as possible.”

Karen Knowles, owner/operator of Signarama, said: “It has been good to be needed and essential during this time. Business is very good. We have been getting a lot of new customers and a lot of repeat business.

“Our business has been pretty sustainable. We’ve been open for eight years, and while we were closed briefly when the lockdown started, we recouped pretty quickly from that when we were able to reopen.

Ms Knowles is “not doing a lot of COVID-19 specific signs”, adding: “It’s not like how it was when all of the businesses were having to reopen as far as COVID signage goes. Everyone got what they needed and that’s that, but as far as regular business for us it has been consistent.”